File photo: Vehicle used as mobile shop
It has been revealed that some residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have turned their vehicles into mobile shops.
According to a report by The Nation, the trend has become
widespread in the Federal Secretariat car park, Area one secretariat,
gardens and recreational parks.
When our reporter visited the FCT Federal Secretariat, which housed
some Ministries, Departments and Parastatal Agencies (MDAs), on Monday,
various items including clothings, shoes, jewellery, electronics, and
phones were on display.
Others include cooking ingredients such as spices; crayfish, dry fish, as well as drinks, snacks and bread.
Those who spoke expressed divergent views saying that the cost of
renting a shop has become a nightmare in the FCT, while there was also
an unhindered access to reaching prospective buyers.
Malam Isiaka Maiyadi, a textile dealer and a shop owner at the
Garki market, said he still preferred mobile shop due to easier
accessibility to customers.
“I sell more goods here than my shop because not everyone likes the stress of going to the market to buy materials.
“Workers can easily come out from their offices to buy materials and I even link them up with tailors to sew for them,’’ he said.
Similarly, Inuwa Aminu, a shoe merchant, said lack of patronage in
his rented shop, spurred him into converting his car boot into an
automobile shop.
“Even though I am here often, I am not restricted or confined
to a particular place as I move around to any gathering; Before, I used
to stay in the shop without people coming to buy from me.
“On Fridays, I usually go to Central Mosque, while some days I go to any gathering with my goods in my car trunk to sell, Aminu said.
Similarly, Mrs Joy Nwosu, a civil servant said she started selling
food items in her car trunk because the cost of renting a shop in Abuja
has become a nightmare.
“I want a business that will generate more money for me in
order to add up to my salary not the one that all my money will go into
renting of shop.
“But I don’t have enough capital to place order for large
quantity of goods and rent a shop, I decide to start selling in small
quantity to my colleagues.
“So I usually move these food items like crayfish, dry fish, palm oil, and melon around in my car.
“Sometimes, I will park at the secretariat and my daughter will be selling the goods.’’
Also, Mrs Bose Adeyemi, who deals in hair products and other
accessories, said rather than rent a shop: she preferred to use the
money to buy stuff and sell from her car boot.
Adeyemi however said that there were challenges including arrests
by law enforcement agencies, theft by some customers and selling below
what shop owners would have demanded.
“It is still far better because I don’t have to pay for a shop, sales person or utility bills.
According to her, selling from the vehicle was more convenient for
her as it affords her the opportunity to sell her products anytime and
anywhere there is a gathering.
“Most times, I attend occasions uninvited and when I see ladies
that look easily approachable, I will walk up to them and market my
products.
“Moreover, I always make contacts at every occasion so that when the need arises, I can respond.’’
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