ABUJA – The Coordinator of “Boot Fair“, Mr Adekunle Adewale, said on Friday the high cost of shops in the FCT motivated him to organise the fair.
Adewale, who is of Bostonbug Media based in FCT, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the fair was to enable people to exhibit and sell their wares from the boot of their cars at discounted rates.
The fair, the first of its kind in the country, is holding at the Millenniun Park, FCT.
The coordinator said that many businesses had been forced out of Abuja due to the high cost of renting shops in the FCT.
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“We usually believe that ideas rule the world and that is why we have been able to come up with this.
“The idea behind this is for people to come make Christmas sales at a discounted price and also network with buyers and sellers, which would in turn increase their profits lines.
“For people exhibiting which are the people selling, people selling are meant to pay; I used the words meant to pay because not everybody selling can afford to pay.
“But usually they are meant to pay but for people buying is absolutely free.
“We believe that because the way rents are in Abuja it is a bit difficult for sellers of goods and products to get rent to pay for shops.
“And we decided to come around as a group to get an avenue for them such that they can sell their things legitimately from the boots of their cars, which automatically discounts what they are supposed to pay in relative to rents they are meant to pay usually.
“So the idea is simple, you come with standard goods at quality pricing and quality goods to sell to the end users and also network.“
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Adewale said at least 150 cars were expected at the fair and that at the moment, only 35 cars had keyed into the fair.
He said traders paid only N15, 000 for space at the fair ground.
The coordinator said it was time Nigerians began to think of doing things differently.
He said that many traders at the fair stood to benefit immensely in terms of quick and huge turnover and acquiring new customers.
Adewale said due to the current security situation in the country, security personnel had been deployed in the venue of the fair to ensure safety of lives and property.
The coordinator, who said the fair would be an annual event, called on all businessmen and women in the Abuja to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the fair and the Christmas period to boost their businesses.
He identified some of the challenges facing the fair to include scarcity of funds and how to attract more traders and customers to the fair.
Mr Osmond Okocha, who sells assorted Italian bags at the fair, expressed gratitude to the organiser of the fair, saying that he had made substantial sales and new customers.
Miss Okpanachi Ojoma, a dealer in jewelries, commended the organiser of the event, saying that she would participate in another episode of the fair if it was organised again.
The fair, which began on Wednesday, is expected to end on Saturday. (NAN)
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