Amongst the most consumed substances in Nigeria are fruits. Asides from the fact that they have nutritional value and are a great alternative to fats and other unhealthy foods, fruits are tasty.
Some people just want to munch on fruits to satisfy their craving for sweets, which is better than processed candy. This goes a long way to posit that people that go into the fruit business have a high chance of being profitable.
All that is needed is to know your market and position yourself strategically. In this article, I outline tips on how you can start a successful fruit business in Nigeria, even when you are on a budget.
Do your market research
This is typically the first stage of starting any business at all. You need to know the market you will be selling to. Market research involves identifying the kinds of fruits that people purchase more frequently, the availability of the fruits for wholesale purchase, and the cost of getting them to your customers.
This is the time you identify the location that will serve you and your customers best. It could be a marketplace, a hospital area or just anywhere else you think people are most likely to buy fruits. This will help you know how to make your budget.
Get capital
Carrying out your market research indicates you must have drawn a plan that includes how much you need to start the business.
You will then have to source funding. If you want a low-profile kind of business, you can just use what you have in savings or get funds from people you know. It will help you avoid trouble with seeking bank loans and overdrafts.Get a location
After drawing out a plan and getting the capital needed, the next step is to pay for the space. This is where you will also need to get the equipment/items you will use for the business. These include tables, chairs, packaging nylon/plates, knives, blenders, etc. If you will be using a store space, you will have to pay for it and get your items stocked there.
However, if your budget is really slim, you can rent a market space or even at the corner of your house, where you might not need to pay a dime.
Buy the fruits
Ensure you are not just buying your fruits from anyone. Like every other buying and selling process, you should identify a reliable wholesale fruit vendor. The vendor should be one you can buy from at an affordable price and one that has a good preservation technique. You can also buy from farmers that grow fruits, especially from northern Nigeria. You can even grow your own fruits, if possible, and just get them right off your farm to sell.
As a fruit vendor, you should be mindful of your neatness and packaging. These are areas your potential customers will judge you on. And you can‘t afford to fail. I encourage you to do proper market research to know exactly what to sell and how to go about it. You will be sure to have a profitable fruit business.
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