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The economic crunch hasn’t affected patronage at Ikeja City Mall – Store managers, visitors

Ikeja City Mall is very close to Lagos seat of power, State House and secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Ever since the mall was opened for business in December 2011, they have consistently recorded huge sales daily. With the current economic crunch, one would have thought it would affect sales and patronage at the mall.
ENCOMIUM Weekly visited the mall and had a chat with some store managers and visitors and they made us understand that patronage has not in any way affected sales by the economic situation of the country.

 

Chika Michael (Store Manager)
Will you say the economic crunch has affected patronage?
No, it hasn’t affected our store at all. People will always eat. In fact, people on their way back from work come to our outlet to eat.
Can you compare sales this time last year to now?
I would say sales have risen, compared to last year. Many times people do not have seats, they to wait for people to vacate the seats before they can sit down and eat. Weekends and public holiday sales have been really high too.
Do you think the high exchange rate is affecting sales?
No, it hasn’t because we did not increase the price of our food. So, it is still the way it is.

 

Kemi Fatade (store manager)
Will you say the economic crunch has affected patronage?
No, the economic crunch has not affected patronage. Our outfit is never empty. There is no time you get here that you won’t meet people eating or drinking.
Can you compare sales this time last year to now?
Yes, I can compare sales and I can categorically state that sales have increased and we have not run short of daily sales since the beginning of the year.
Do you think the high exchange rate is affecting sales?
No, I don’t think so.

 

Tolu Adesina (store manager)
Will you say the economic crunch has affected patronage?
No, the dwindling economy hasn’t affected sales at all. People still come in to do business as usual.
Can you compare sales this time last year to now?
It might sound funny because of the economic situation but sales have actually risen between this time last year and now. The sales rate has risen.
Do you think the high exchange rate is affecting sales?
No, the high exchange rate is not affecting sales, though it did affect us before but things have normalized now. We deal in accessories and people understand that the increase in prices is not our fault.

 

Helen Allen (store manager)
Will you say the economic crunch has affected patronage?
No, it hasn’t affected sales. The economic crunch is visible but people still patronize us daily. I cannot even say sales have dropped for once.
Can you compare sales this time last year to now?
Patronage was slow for a little while but between January and now, it has picked up and better than this time last year.
Do you think the high exchange rate is affecting sales?
We actually thought it was going to affect sales but it did not. In fact, sales are better than before and ladies still troop in to shop from time to time as we stock the trendiest wears in the mall.

 

Tonia Francis (Visitor)
How many times have you been to the mall this year?
I have been here so many times this year that I cannot remember the exact number.
Has the economic crises affected your patronage level at the mall?
No, it hasn’t at all. I still come here as I used to.
Which stores do you patronize and how much do you spend on an average?
I visit Casabella, Shoprite, Cold Stone, KFC, The Cinema, Mr Price, Mud Store and Rhapsodys. I spend at least N10,000 on an average.

 

Adetola Davies (visitor)
How many times have you been to the mall this year?
I have been here so many times this year. I haven’t been counting.
Has the economic crises affected your patronage level at the mall?
No, it has not affected my patronage at all.
Which stores do you patronize and how much do you spend on an average?
My friends and I patronize Bheerhugz, Rhapsodys, Ocean Basket, Mr Price, The Cinema, Shoprite and the fast foods outlet. Sometimes we spend over N100,000 whenever we visit the mall depending on how many we are.

 

Lolade Akande (visitor)
How many times have you been to the mall this year?
I have been to the mall uncountable times this year (laughs). I have lost count. Ikeja City Mall is like my second home. I come here every day after work and wait till traffic subsides in my area.
Has the economic crises affected your patronage level at the mall?
Yes, the economic crisis has affected my patronage level. I can’t imagine spending every time I come here because prices of things are a bit higher now.
Which stores do you patronize and how much do you spend on an average?
I spend at least N3,000 every time I step into any store. I visit Mr Price, Shoprite and Casabella.

 

Olatunde Yusuff
How many times have you been to the mall this year?
I have been to the mail about 10 times or more. I’m not so sure.
Has the economic crises affected your patronage level at the mall?
I won’t say it has because the only time I am ever chanced to visit the mall is during weekends and there are always so many people everywhere. I really do not like crowd so, I would rather just stay at home.
Which stores do you patronize and how much do you spend on an average?
I come to The Cinemas and to Shoprite. I also walk into any fast food whenever I am hungry which isn’t too often because all the fast food joints are also always filled up. I spend nothing less than N10,000 on each visit.

 

Ademola Adekola
How many times have you been to the mall this year?
I have lost count, because I come here almost every weekend to hangout with friends and see movies.
Has the economic crises affected your patronage level at the mall?
No, it hasn’t affected it at all, economic crisis doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy ourselves.
Which stores do you patronize and how much do you spend on an average?
When my friends are around, we usually patronize The Cinemas, Bheerhugz, Rhapsodys and Shoprite. We spend over N30,000 most of the time we hangout.

-TINUOLA JOSEPH

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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