Shoppers, exhibitors express excitement over Lagos Intl Trade Fair 2023
By Felicia Nwosu & Abimbola Mohammed
The 2023 Lagos International Trade Fair, which was held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, ended with a huge price splash and impressive turnout on Sunday, 12 November. Shoppers and exhibitors, who shared their experiences with MARKETING EDGE at the fair said it was a week of fun and excitement with exclusive discounts, as well as huge boost on sales.
Describing this year’s fair as an unusual due to the impact of the economic pressure on consumers’ purchasing power, some of the exhibitors said that the engagement was commendable despite the downturn.
Some shoppers also commended the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) for indulging participants with a 10-day free entry this year. They noted that this strategic move spurred many buyers to revisit the fair severally within the week without fear of harassment over issuance of tickets at the entrance.
Mrs. Ginakanwa Monye, a business woman and one of the shoppers, thanked the organisers for empathizing with Nigerians with such a gesture in a challenged economy. She said that the incentive greatly encouraged people to visit the fair, especially during the last two days of the event.
“Although some people might have looked at the discounts as small, it encouraged lots of shoppers. Some people decided to peep in to see what was available because of the free entry and ended up buying lots of things just like what happened to me. I was here yesterday, and I am here again today, but I might not have done so if I am taking ticket fees into consideration,” she said.
Mackson Aloysius, one of the staff of Grand Oak Limited, expressed optimism over this year’s outing while commending the organisers.
“Generally, this edition of trade has been good. During the weekend, more and more people trooped in here and that boosted more sales. I commend the organisers in terms of the facility; we have power supply with a secured environment even though we have our own paid security. Everywhere is well-secured,” he said.
In a similar vein, another exhibitor from one of the leading Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) firms, who demanded anonymity, though absent from the fair last year, commended LCCI for the effort at ensuring that exhibitors have memorable outings this year.
“For us as a brand, there is a huge opportunity to leverage this platform to reach a larger number of consumers and we are happy to be here. This year’s fair has had a huge impact on our sales. The weekend has been much better,” he said.
In all, it was an intriguing and fulfilling experience for all participants as they look forward to next year.
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