₦airaland Forum

The group has been so educative and revealing in all manners.

We have participants from various parts of the country. And it isn’t just about making contributions by way of suggestions but it also involves learning from other peoples past experiences.

More importantly, there is mutual encouragement on that platform and action has commenced.

We started with a particular product serving in mind and was just when we were about to zero in another brand overtook that and the first order was made by a very forward looking young man who is filled so much drive. This one is a daredevil and he undertook a serious and comprehensive survey before taking a very expensive yet careful decision.

By the close of business today, I hope he will present us with great news about this project and his experience.

I may even request that he put it up here by way of a post for others to draw inspiration from.

valenu:
Thank you so much for your advice. To be sincere with myself, I would like to go into buying and selling of any fast moving commodity but in whole sale.

A friend already suggested wine and drinks wholesale. I don't know how lucrative it is but some people are already into it. I would be glad to go into distribution of any fast moving product but I don't know which one to go into and how to go about it.
I appreciate ur advice.

I read your very sincere request for suggestions. I normally wouldn't do this but I must say that your request is dripping of sincerity and earnestness. I have been selling fast moving consumer goods for a while now and you can read my posts on Nairaland business Section.

Your location which is Bariga is a very densely populated area and interconnects with other densely populated areas like Shomolu, Oworonsoki, Abule Ijesha/Morocco and down to Akoka.

My advise to you is that you adopt a not so available product and push it aggressively in that area. Look for something that sells for between 20.00 and 50.00 or thereabout and nothing more. It must be something that appeals to both children and adults alike. The preferred product must be something that will require your pushing only initially as the consequences of your aggressiveness should be a pulling from the market sooner or later.

Finally, I wish to add that some of these products are there and pretty unknown. Your singular responsibility is to find out the pone that will sell best in that locality and bring it in as soon as possible. Try sampling for a few days in a small sample area and then drawing from your experiences it should be matter of I will or will not.

Indeed several products abound and your territory is the delight of a prolific F.M.C.G practitioner.

We created a whatsapp group for Nairalanders who desire to build a business around F.M.C.G.

Honestly, I must confess that I am so overwhelmed by the dynamism and energy that we the young people of this country possess as manifested on this platform.

My prayer is that we may one day attract the kind of leader that will harness the potential of the creativity and energy of this youth and give it the direction that can bring only benefits for the commonwealth both in Nigeria and globally.

I need information on supply of vegetable oil from Cotonou to Nigeria

I have not been here for a while.

I have been ever so busy but I am fulfilled with the fact tat we are making some progress.

Its amazing what can be achieved when we join forces together.

I will update you subsequently.

oladypopsy:
Well done ma,i'm highly interested,I stay at Egbeda

Which Egbeda? is it the one in Lagos by Ipaja and Akowonjo?

Please indicate.

Do send an email with details; name, address and phone number.

classicTutor:
What an inspire thread! Nice work from you Karin!
I'm olusola
Place of Residence: Sagamu (Ogun State)
07017118963

Great location. I suppose you can cover the whole of Sagamu, Mowe, Ibafo up to Arepo/Punch.

Kindy send me a via email; your full names, location and phone numbers. This will enable me add you to whatsapp.

Baldg:
Hello Karen001. been a while we saw you here. I hope everything is fine.
I am interested.
I stay in Akure, and I am enthusiastic on being a distributor. Here's my number to add. 07069412303. thank you.

Please send me a mail with your details especially full names and location.
I will then add you to the whatsapp group.

onyeudo234:
well done ma. you are really doing a wonderful job. I am Udoka residence in Abuja. I am very my interested. 08069150623 this is my number

You have to forward your details by mail to me. I will then populate our database and add you to the whatsapp group.

Please send the email. We still have room for Abuja, I suppose.

Brosobukeni247:
Hello karin, I came across this thread earlier in the year and I was very inspired. The template you gave us for the FMCG was perfect. While I faithfully read through each page, a brand new idea came to me. Instead of having to go through the hassle of persuading or bribing or kicking someone else out of the game with a similar product (I believe most schools already have someone supplying either donuts or chin-chin), I decided to go with a new product... Pancakes... And I have stories to tell...Thank you for sharing your ideas and experiences. I also want to thank and appreciate everyone else who positively contributed to this thread.. . I believe there are so many ghost readers such as myself who have benefited immensely from your writings... Attached to this are pictures of the pancakes.. ..

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than this effort madam.

This is one of the few testimonies about this thread that keeps me driven to write more and to help even more people come to terms with the benefits of selling something that is needed and is affordable.

I felt really humbled when a particular lady wrote and thanked me profusely for initiating my snack thread series. She was so motivated that she started making meat-pies and selling through her Children's School tuck shop.

She was so pleasantly surprised at the positive response she received that she was drew confidence enough to approach neighbouring private schools and while some said yes some of course accepted to deal with her.

Today, she proudly serves over ten private Nursery and primary schools in Ilorin with fresh home-made meat-pies and she is happier for it and it is indeed quite fulfilling. She only sells about 1000 pieces a day and each one costs fifty Naira but she is satisfied with that and is looking confidently into the future.

Thanks you Madam pancakes.

May you remain in the forefront of the blossoming pancakes segment of the snacks industry.

Let us learn from this poster and commit to taking action immediately.

Karin001:
I have spent a lot of time thinking through our take-off programme especially as it regards products. I do not intend to expose on this platform the things that we can and will sell as a group but I assure you that my mind has already narrowed down on some of them.

Today I had to visit Aba from Port Harcourt and on my way back, I noticed very unusual heavy presence of Policemen on the ever busy Port Harcourt – Aba Expressway causing a serious snarl. On inquiring I was told that the Vice President was in Aba for a made in Aba exposition. This got me thinking. One of the few things that I have sold in my trading spell and which gave me a lot of profit and gratitude/referrals from the buyers was a made in Nigeria product which I used to order in their dozens while I resided in Lagos and actually resold them in within Lagos. It was a beautiful crafted product and I sold about Eighty pieces (or more) within a three month period (though with a lot of help from my hubby).

The profit margin was about 70 percent and there were zero overheads. This realization hit me like a ton of bricks and I there and then decided that I would introduce this product for each participant of the whatsapp group. With an investment of less than 25,000 Naira each, they should be able to smile home with about double that amount within thirty days without a fuss . And this is just a small aspect of the busines on the side. When we launch the whatsapp group next week I will send pictures of this as one of the very first items that will be considered.

Back to the Aba thoughts. Within your environment if you search closely there will be something that your location has a comparative advantage over other places which you can mobilize and dispatch to other places for a profit.

Earlier in life I had dabbled into the sales of used items(clothes, bags and shoes) and I couldnt but marvel at the dynamic nature of the used items trade. Even though the more popular seaports were in Lagos it never ceased to amaze me that certain items were cheaper in Aba than in Lagos. Used towels and bed sheets had better prices and quality in Aba than in Lagos. Generally, Aba has been the home of all manner of imported fabrics for a very long time. Even in Lagos, the headquarters for very good used footwear and other leather products like bags and belts was a market in Badagary more popularly known as Vespa.

Then there was this location in Orile, just opposite one of the Eleganza Factories where fresh bales of used shirts (great brand names) were opened three times weekly. I can tell you confidently without fear of equivocation that many houses have been built, school fees paid and cars bought from the multilayered profits made from the sales of used clothes in this country.

The question here is, what positive signals can we draw from Prof. Yemi Osibanjo's visit to Aba in his capacity as the 'Ag' President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

(Please also note that he could transform into the substantial President in the immediate or remote future, so do not take lightly his thought patterns, words and actions. You do this to your very own peril. I must confess that I looked at him closely today 'pictures online' and he does appear as serious minded with underlying good intentions. This is my personal opinion though)

I can tell you that this is a very epochal event and some serious people will be spending this night and the coming days to think of how to re-position themselves in the light of the purport of this visit. There will be super significant ramifications.

Are we in preparation mode or we are still complaining about the recession. My whatsapp group-mates, I promise you we will revisit this event in detail next month with a view to uncovering the potential benefits stacked beyond the appreciation of the regular eyes.

We have to benefit from this visit.

The BIG question is how?

I have spent a lot of time thinking through our take-off programme especially as it regards products. I do not intend to expose on this platform the things that we can and will sell as a group but I assure you that my mind has already narrowed down on some of them.

Today I had to visit Aba from Port Harcourt and on my way back, I noticed very unusual heavy presence of Policemen on the ever busy Port Harcourt – Aba Expressway causing a serious snarl. On inquiring I was told that the Vice President was in Aba for a made in Aba exposition. This got me thinking. One of the few things that I have sold in my trading spell and which gave me a lot of profit and gratitude/referrals from the buyers was a made in Nigeria product which I used to order in their dozens while I resided in Lagos and actually resold them in within Lagos. It was a beautiful crafted product and I sold about Eighty pieces (or more) within a three month period (though with a lot of help from my hubby).

The profit margin was about 70 percent and there were zero overheads. This realization hit me like a ton of bricks and I there and then decided that I would introduce this product for each participant of the whatsapp group. With an investment of less than 25,000 Naira each, they should be able to smile home with about double that amount within thirty days without a fuss . And this is just a small aspect of the busines on the side. When we launch the whatsapp group next week I will send pictures of this as one of the very first items that will be considered.

ugonology:
Mummy karin001 please do not stop here...your words are Challenging, inspiring,motivational Yet lovely and soothing




Mummy karin001 please do not stop here...your words are Strong, Challenging, direct and unsweetened,motivational Yet lovely and soothing, Just reading through your post was enough education for my ignorance as well as an exposition of my negligence towards self development. I regrettably confess to being careless and plaqued with this entitlement mentality, by virtue of my merely being a graduate Just as you stated in your post. No wonder i have been jobless....well, in as much as i need a job, i believe what am in dear need of is such words of advice from one that is more experienced. would you please be my online mummy? please.......

I am humbled by your compliments and appreciation. Thank you and may you grow into further recognition that will help you escape from the tyranny of entitlement and dependency. Then you will have no room for excuses but will only position yourself to learn from the actions and in-actions of others and even yours.
All you need is to commit to improve and you can achieve so much and it can only be seen by others as a miracle.

HUGE CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR INITIAL PURCHASE; For many companies the status of a distributor is determined by the volume of purchase initially and subsequently. To qualify for this status, you must therefore be able to buy at least a minimum quantity per specified time frame (usually analyzed in terms of purchases made within a month or a quarter). This also implies that you must also have a ready market to sell these goods to as fast as possible. Indeed, it wouldn’t make any sense to stock your warehouse with goods without selling them. So what is the way out here? How do we circumvent this scenario?

Again, Synergy comes to play.

DELIVERIES/LOGISTICS (INBOUND); For many companies the cost of delivery of the products is woven into the selling price. For others they do not get involved with logistics or transportation at all. I assure you that in the event that you are able to take charge of your own delivery, you have reduced the cost of purchase of the goods to a bare minimum and you thus indirectly increase your profits.

Again there is a way out of this; Synergy.

ACCOMODATION/WAREHOUSING/SHOP SPACE;
Quite truthfully you need a lot of space if you are to start a distribution business at some level. Goods must be stored appropriately. In many towns in Nigeria, commercial property is very expensive to rent but we must look for a way to overcome. Synergy is the answer here because we must have some form of space but help hovers around us.

Essentially, we must get some understandings on territorial exclusivity with the companies that are producing for us. We really don’t want to work so hard making a product viable and attractive within a sales territory and then ceding it to some interloper with a lot of money.

Someone has already recommended a format to follow so choosing a product should not pose that much of a difficulty. We will start with the ones
I have successfully negotiated with. Snacks is my forte.

In starting out I am going to suggest that we look at the options available for us. Do not be deceived, we are going to meet certain requirements if we are going to start well and progress effectively.

I have been advised in a previous thread to start with something (product) that I have sold successfully. I think that makes a lot of sense.

I have been advised in a previous thread to start with something (product) that I have sold successfully. I think that makes a lot of sense.

The Preferred product.

I honestly do not have any product in mind at the moment but I do know that the product must have the following characteristics;

It must be an everyday usable product.

It must be cheap enough for as many people as possible to buy without qualms.

It must not be too heavy to ease moving about with it

It must come from a company that has the capacity to produce it consistently with the right quality control measures in place.

It must also provide a profit margin of at least 10 percent for the very fast moving ones and more for the lesser ones.

Sometime last year, I was invited by the management of a major food company for the grand opening of their ultra-modern factory located in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. I was unable to attend that event for reasons that bordered on timing and convenience.

This doubled as a launch event for their recently developed soft drinks. I understand that those interested in becoming the distributors were asked to apply and make a deposit of a certain huge amount. This is the stuff of distributorships.

The above model will of course be impossible for my target readership so I am going to show you how we are going to take the market by storm using alternative means.

One of the biggest impediments to starting out as a as a distributor is the huge capital outlay.

A large shop has to be rented, mobility has to be secured and then in some cases you have to make a deposit to the producing company (sometimes refundable, other times non- refundable). After that, you still need to make an investment in the purchase of the goods and normally a minimum quantity order is required which may necessitate an investment running into Millions of Naira.

You can therefore see that it is an uphill task raising that kind of money. Even for those who have been in business for a while the requirements may still appear quite steep.

How does one then overcome this kind of impediment. There must be a way out.

Actually there are several ways to overcome this obstacle.

We will adopt the one I think is best for us as we embark on this journey.

I was banned for some reason which I don't understand but it has been lifted.

I just got information about a job availability in Lagos;

Position; Accounting Executive

Location; Fagba, Agege

The preferred candidate must be B.Sc, B.Ed (Accounting) H.N.D, N.D or A.A.T qualified.
Proficiency in the use of MS Office Suite (Especially Excel) and Peachtree Accounting Software.

Experience in a Costing position in a previous role in will confer some advantage.

Only candidates residing in areas within the proximity of the Office will be considered.

Resumption is on February 1st 2017.

You may forward your cover letter with attached resume through my mail account;

karinebinne@gmail.com

Good luck

Whatever you read herein is my very personal opinion predicated on my experiencing this far.

Prior to independence the public service and industry was serviced by expatriates. The key roles were essentially handled by the foreigners. With the expansion of government in the colonies the bureaucracy grew bigger requiring more personnel especially at middle level management. It was practically impossible for more expatriates to be brought in considering the limitations of the home population and the fact that other colonies were also being serviced. Locals had to be trained to provide this level of manpower. Thus, the first graduates in not so wonderful disciplines.

As the clamour for independence heightened there was a need to prepare more local professionals for the system. Please note clearly that the primary goal of the pre-independence education was to provide staffing for the bludgeoning civil service and nothing else.

Fast forward to post independence Nigeria, our leaders continued with that model and I daresay that we still are producing manpower for employment with the only difference now being that we are producing for bouth government and the private sector.

Just about every undergraduate is seeing his certificate as a payslip. The education does not in any way prepare him for self-reliance. All you advised is to graduate in flying colours in order to have a fighting chance at getting a job.

In recognition of this failure successive governments have not taken any measure to arrest this development but all they do is to put palliatives in place. The palliatives are what they are; palliatives. Giving fresh graduates or unemployed youth 5,000 per month is ludicrous and reflective of a system bereft of ideas. You are not helping the individual beneficiary nor the society at large but just postponing doomsday.

I have been unemployed myself and have gone through the pain of an extensive job search with the attendant disappointments, outright deceits, and flagrant extortion among other vices. It just occurred to me one day that getting a job required much more than that. We are not even adequately prepared by the system for the search for a job. You need to see the resumes/profiles people send out in the search of a job.

If you really seek a job, you need to clear some cobwebs from your visual path. First thing being that sense of entitlement that is commonplace here in Nigeria. That you have a degree does not entitle you to a good job. That thinking was only obtainable in the past. It is now dead on arrival. Showcase whatever other skills you may have which can enhance your suitability for a job. I am aware of many examples where people are employed not primarily because of their qualification but more because of their skillset.

In a major food company you will be surprised that the Accountant that was eventually employed after a rigorous selection process was a lady with a B.SC in Economics, ATS qualification but most importantly she also had super baking skills and sugarcraft experience having worked in a major Cake shop in Lagos post O/Level and whenever she was on holidays.

To attract yourself the right job, you must be able to offer incontestable value at a reasonable price. If you cannot during the selection process, clearly and convincingly demonstrate the value you can bring to bear in the organisation then you are wasting your effort. If you have someone in the system who smuggles you in It is just a question of time and you will be either frustrated or relieved.

Big question is; What is your unique Selling point? Why should anyone employ you? let this question reverberate within you at all times leaving you with no peace until you can answer it clearly. Then you will be able to retool your c.v accordingly and seek opportunities where your value will be invaluable.

ajsans:
Words on marble. I had to read this over 10 times. Please can you explain more on the bolded

There is no news in the above statement. It is information that we all have slumbering subliminally.

I am persuaded to respond to your request for explanations because of my perception of the benefits some others may draw.

Whatever you read herein is my very personal opinion predicated on my experiencing this far.

Prior to independence the public service and industry was serviced by expatriates. The key roles were essentially handled by the foreigners. With the expansion of government in the colonies the bureaucracy grew bigger requiring more personnel especially at middle level management. It was practically impossible for more expatriates to be brought in considering the limitations of the home population and the fact that other colonies were also being serviced. Locals had to be trained to provide this level of manpower. Thus, the first graduates in not so wonderful disciplines.

As the clamour for independence heightened there was a need to prepare more local professionals for the system. Please note clearly that the primary goal of the pre-independence education was to provide staffing for the bludgeoning civil service and nothing else.

Fast forward to post independence Nigeria, our leaders continued with that model and I daresay that we still are producing manpower for employment with the only difference now being that we are producing for bouth government and the private sector.

Just about every undergraduate is seeing his certificate as a payslip. The education does not in any way prepare him for self-reliance. All you advised is to graduate in flying colours in order to have a fighting chance at getting a job.

In recognition of this failure successive governments have not taken any measure to arrest this development but all they do is to put palliatives in place. The palliatives are what they are; palliatives. Giving fresh graduates or unemployed youth 5,000 per month is ludicrous and reflective of a system bereft of ideas. You are not helping the individual beneficiary nor the society at large but just postponing doomsday.

I have been unemployed myself and have gone through the pain of an extensive job search with the attendant disappointments, outright deceits, and flagrant extortion among other vices. It just occurred to me one day that getting a job required much more than that. We are not even adequately prepared by the system for the search for a job. You need to see the resumes/profiles people send out in the search of a job.

If you really seek a job, you need to clear some cobwebs from your visual path. First thing being that sense of entitlement that is commonplace here in Nigeria. That you have a degree does not entitle you to a good job. That thinking was only obtainable in the past. It is now dead on arrival. Showcase whatever other skills you may have which can enhance your suitability for a job. I am aware of many examples where people are employed not primarily because of their qualification but more because of their skillset.

In a major food company you will be surprised that the Accountant that was eventually employed after a rigorous selection process was a lady with a B.SC in Economics, ATS qualification but most importantly she also had super baking skills and sugarcraft experience having worked in a major Cake shop in Lagos post O/Level and whenever she was on holidays.

To attract yourself the right job, you must be able to offer incontestable value at a reasonable price. If you cannot during the selection process, clearly and convincingly demonstrate the value you can bring to bear in the organisation then you are wasting your effort. If you have someone in the system who smuggles you in It is just a question of time and you will be either frustrated or relieved.

Big question is; What is your unique Selling point? Why should anyone employ you? let this question reverberate within you at all times leaving you with no peace until you can answer it clearly. Then you will be able to retool your c.v accordingly and seek opportunities where your value will be invaluable.

akins56:
Ma'am, please complete this thread. Thanks

Will do. I've been quite busy. I also thought no one was interested thus the lethargy.

samuel3818:
Very spot on ma. Thanks for reaching out to her. Now do you mind reaching out to me too?
My kind regards please

No need to reach out to you. Your pity seeking cries are not solicitous enough. Try harder!

samuel3818:
Hi sis. Morning. The title of the thread says "what's your pain", so you shouldn't be surprised that many posts are 'pity seeking'. One describes a pain to show how 'pained' one is. This is not some competion to find out the best Cover letter or motivation letter
But I understand you. Please reach out to that sister. If she gets a job, that's one less individual removed from the statistics of the unemployed. God bless and and I extend my regards

Very mature response thus he need for me to revert. True, indeed very true that the title of the thread is actually 'Whats your pain'.

Judging from the quality of your response I can safely assume that you understand the value of perception in our society. The underlying reason for the wanton failure in our society especially as it regards the unemployment saga of the last two decades is primarily due to the archaic educational system inherited hook line and sinker from our colonialists which in turn has eroded the self confidence of many graduates. You cannot put people in school for 20 years and all you do is prepare them for 'employment' and then fail to provide opportunities. Our education does not provide for self reliance in any form.

Some fundamental re-positioning that is clinically precise must be effected. I would however add that despite this wobbly educational structure you still find a few people who have self developed beyond what the school system offers. It is this lot that luck is likely to smile on. And by the way, I draw from a well of personal experience in recruiting both entry level and middle level manpower for the private sector. An experience that spans 15 years.

We need to get our graduates to understand that they are as god as the knowledge they have which they can transform and not the grade registered on the piece of paper called a certificate.
And yes Sir, I have reached out to her.

Sarahbukky16:
I am aliu sarah bukky born 16 june 1993, a graduate of Geography and planning kogi state university anyigba,served in govertment technical college tombia Rivers state batch 14C 2014, worked with a private school for awhile after service,i also worked with quarry in lokoja,voluntered at an N.G.O,worked as an enumerator,worked with others team to organised a spelling bee program in my state capital but currently jobless..i am young in willing to learn and improve on service to humanity when giving an opportunity plus i am tired of staying at home oh...if you can help me please help me reach me on 09092599866 and saraholuwabukola@gmail.com

Best post on this thread so far. No pity seeking attempt. Objective and straight to the point. Which part of the country do you reside madam Sarah?

The typical process of becoming a distributor at least in Nigeria is to identify a company (mostly through observation or from testimonies of others who have become distributors or mostly those who have observed other distributors)

The biggest distributors for the conglomerates in Nigeria are usually retired staff of those organisations. From Total stations to Mega distributors for Cadbury, Guinness, Nigerian Breweries and Unilever. Most of them are usually people with some strong ties with the company, one way or another. In some cases the Husband works there and the wife is the distributor and vice-versa. Another trajectory is where companies woo existing distributors of the competition. In the noodles business for instance you will observe that the sellers of Indomie Noodles are also the sellers for all the other brands be it Honewell, Dangote, Golden Penny and what have you. In the snacks business the distributors of Gala from UAC are also the ones distributing Superbite from Chi Industries and Biggie from Hotty from Leventis foods.

You will also observe that in the majority of cases these products are sold together in order to ensure that the products move to the advantage of the distributor. So a combined brand approach is adopted. For the street hawkers they have top buy Gala together with Superbite and maybe Biggie and Hotty with Meaty.
So in the traditional distributorship building approach, you need a lot of initial capital outlay sometimes running into tens of Millions of Naira. So, for many of us becoming their distributor is quite desirable but very unreachable on account of this outlay and of course other requirements. Should we therefore fold hands and and become like Charlie Brown resigning ourselves to fate? No I don't think so. That is the thrust of this thread. We are all going to become Mega - distributors through the back door. And this will start this year and we will grow it gradually till we get to Eldorado.