Consumers make early yuletide shopping as Lagos International Trade Fair kicks off

SPENDING TRENDS

The annual Lagos International Trade Fair, the largest international trade fair in Nigeria has over the years become a gathering of top brands and a convergence point for the creme de la creme of Nigeria and foreign top business organizations and personalities to display their latest offering to consumers.

Visit by Businessday to Tafa Balewa Square ( TBS), venue of the event reveal that despite the sluggish economic growth shoppers are taking advantage of the opportunity provided by the Fair to buy different products such as household items, food items, cooking utensils, fabrics, financial institutions were also present at the event

At the event, various brands were also seen jostling for prime space at the venue to catch the attention of shoppers.

The annual event has also helped shoppers from the nook and cranny of the country to make early shopping at discount prices to avoid the yuletide rush shopping.

Elizabeth Adejo, a Lagosbased housewife said she takes advantage of cheaper prices to buy some clothes for her children ahead of

Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“Usually one would expect that the prices would come down, that is the essence of a trade fair, but this year’s trade fair is different as the is no significant change in price compared to other markets outside,” she said. Another shopper at the event, Kingsley Nwachukwu, said he always look forward to the Trade Fair and buy some goods in bulk with the hope of selling them during the festive periods.

“So far the turn-out is still low, but by the weekend, more shoppers would visit this venue to make buy products here,” he said.

Chi Wang, a Chinese and tent owner at the event said Lagos International Trade Fair has become a well- known platform for his organisation to display their latest brands for Nigerians.

“Nigeria is a very important country for several foreign brands on he continent and Lagos being the commercial capital of Nigeria is very strategic to our growth,” he said.

The 10-day event usually begins on the first Friday in November of every year, since 1981. The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is the foremost highly influential in Nigeria, took over the organisation of the fair in 1986 and has been staging the fair annually to date.