There is no gainsaying that the coronavirus epidemic has really hit the dealers at Ikeja Computer Village. As a result of the lockdown occasioned by the pandemic, a lot of them could not sell their goods for some time until it was partially lifted.
Incidentally, as it turned out, some of these people already had orders from China before the pandemic hit. Though they were able to take delivery as a result of the continual functionality of the ports, they were unable to sell them to the final consumers. Hence, a lot of new gadgets have flooded the market with only a few buyers ready to part with their money in exchange.
Since no one anticipated the crisis the world is currently facing, a lot of manufacturers and startups produced the latest of their brands to be marketed this year, only for this pandemic to hit. Some of these products are now flooding the computer village as they frantically search for buyers.
These include phones, computers and allied products as well as different kinds of smart gadgets,
including speakers, locks, and cameras. There are also accessories for various kinds of devices. A lot of dealers complain that sales are yet to come up to speed.
USED ITEMS NOW SELLING FAST AT COMPUTER VILLAGE
We learnt from some dealers at Computer Village that more people are coming to the market in search of second-hand gadgets and computers. We heard that the rate at which people are asking for used items has more than multiplied since the lockdown was lifted. Only a few people are currently asking for new items.
Consequently, dealers of such used items have been raking in more money than dealers who sell new items. We gathered that as a result of this, a lot of dealers have decided to bring in used items. A lot of dealers in the village are complaining right now that they are currently very broke.
SLOT LTD ENCOURAGE SOCIAL DISTANCING
Slot Phones is currently at the forefront of the sensitization of the public in general and its customers in particular when it comes to social distancing. Slot which is a leading mobile phones and accessories vendor in Nigeria has ensured that there are sanitizers at the entrance of all its showrooms.
The company is also ensuring the use of facemasks by customers to all its showrooms in Lagos and has increased the demarcation between workers and customers. Of course all its workers are complying with the wearing of facemasks and to get into their showrooms, it mandatory that you wear your facemask too.
ABOUT THE ALTERNATING OF MARKET DAYS AT COMPUTER VILLAGE
The lockdown in Lagos State has been relaxed but dealers at Computer Village are still complaining very bitterly about the fact that they cannot open their shops every day for business. This is still impacting on their businesses negatively, especially since customers are not coming the way they should.
As part of the slow easing of the lockdown to prevent a resurgence of the contagious coronavirus,
the federal government mandated that various markets be opened in an alternate fashion.
Consequently, the Ikeja Computer Village has been mandated to open only three days in a week.
The market opens only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday until further notice.
THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST TIME TO BUY PHONES AND GADGETS
This might be the best time to buy that phone or gadget you have been eyeing for a very long time as a lot of dealers have crashed prices because of low sales. The world economy has unfortunately gone into the biggest recession the world has known since the Second World War. Hence, there is little cash flowing in the economy.
Manufacturers all over the world have crashed the prices of their products and services. A lot of
goods and services on sale and Nigeria is no different a lot of phones and technology products are currently on sale and now is the right time to check out those items that you have been planning to buy as they are currently at their lowest rate.
COURIER COMPANIES KEEP RAKING IN MONEY
Since the beginning of this Coronavirus pandemic, one sector of the economy which has seen an increase in business in multiple folds is that of logistics. Right from the onset of the lockdown all over the world, courier services was one of the few businesses allowed to go on unhindered.
This business has not only been going on unhindered, but the demand for their services has also skyrocketed as people continue to do a lot of shopping online instead of visiting brick shops. While other businesses are sacking workers, the courier companies have been adding workers to their payroll.
A lot of vendors have continued to engage their services in order to do business despite the relaxation of the lockdown. This is because a lot of companies are yet to allow visitors into the premises as people do everything in their power to curtail the spread of the diseases while they do essential businesses to keep their companies afloat and stop it from going under.
BEWARE OF THE BATTERY YOU BUY
Unfortunately, everything we do these days, we look under the prism of Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the entire planet. Inedible food business, otherwise known as groceries, there are items termed as perishable. In technology products, batteries are perishable products. This is because as a result of their chemistry, batteries become damaged if they are not charged for a period of time.
A lot of battery sellers are now counting their losses in Nigeria as they came back from the almost two months of lockdown to see that their batteries are damaged. We learnt that a lot of the batteries are not even chargeable any longer while some of them have a little life inside them.
People should make sure the batteries they buy around this period are tested very well before they leave the retailers’ shops with the products or they end up buying dud items.
DAJCOM LTD MOVES FROM AKIN ADESOLA
One of the biggest marketers of technology products and electrical appliances at Victoria Island,
Ikeja, Dajcom Lld suddenly relocated from its location along Akin Adesola Street in Victoria Island.
Strategically located between Akin Adesola Street and Adeyemo Alakija Street as its doors opens to both streets, Dajcom was a retailer of choice for a lot of customers around that axis of Lagos State for so many years.
However, it seems the retailer has been affected lately by a lot of competition from new entrants into the sector. We heard that the company has probably lost a lot of customers to these new entrants and decided to relocate from that environment. Dajcom also had a branch in Port Harcourt.
ANDREW OKELEKE LOSES WIfE
Globacom’s Head of Public Relations, Mr Andrew Okeleke has been inconsolable as he has lost his soul mate of so many years in unfortunate circumstances. Mrs. Okeleke was attempting the cross the road around Agric Bus Stop at Ketu area when she was hit by a Lagos BRT bus with registration number EPE 59 XR around 7.20 pm. Unfortunately, she died on the spot while the bus ran away from the scene.
We learnt that she was trying to cross the road after her driver dropped her off. Unfortunately, there was no pedestrian bridge at that spot. All efforts to resuscitate her proved abortive as she gave up before she could be taken to the hospital.
The late Mrs Okeleke, a businesswoman hailed from Issele-Mkpitime, Aniocha North Local
Government Area of Delta State.
Survived by her husband and children, she was a leader of her town’s women group in Lagos as well as a minister with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Grace Parish, Ikorodu.
