I remember an argument between some people a few months ago, the bone of contention was if it was wise to buy fashion products in Nigeria, the quality of certain products may be substandard. Trust me when I say this, this argument spans various cities and villages. It is either you have been involved in one or you have eavesdropped on others arguing about this topic.
As a fashion entrepreneur, who is very concerned about the quality of clothes, fabrics, shoes, bags, hair, etc of what you sell, remember that if the products are bad, you stand to lose customers, therefore losing money which is bad for business, you might often question your choice of buying made in Nigeria fashion items, either raw materials or finished products.
It is unfair to emphatically state that made-in-Nigeria products are terrible in quality when compared to their foreign counterparts as Nigerians are not only breaking barriers by being innovative, but they are also paying attention to the overall quality and detail of their products.
We should be grateful for the wake-up call from the media, that has shown us time and time again that Nigerians are ready and already producing world-class fashion items. While some have hopped on this trend and have acknowledged fashion brands that are trying their best to produce worthwhile items, others seem to have turned in the opposite direction.
Asides from the obvious fact that it is somewhat hypocritical of you as a fashion designer or entrepreneur to downplay the glaring efforts put into made in Nigeria products, you are also missing out on some mouth-watering advantages which are:
1. It saves cost
As a small or large fashion business entrepreneur, you are doing yourself a great financial good when you patronize local vendors that sell quality products around you. The word “local“ in this context is not used as a derogatory term to downplay the effort of hardworking Nigerians rather it means” from or in a nearby location” which simply means somewhere close to you.
Patronizing local vendors save you money. With the ever-increasing rate of foreign currency and the high inflation rate, fashion entrepreneurs should start buying made in Nigeria items. A whole lot of cost goes into buying goods and products outside the country.
2. It improves the economy
Buying made-in-Nigeria goods will encourage domestic production and will allow more people to look inwards creatively and innovatively.
If the economy is improved, who benefits from it? We must be patriotic, as we live and do our business in Nigeria. It will not only benefit small and medium fashion businesses but also solidify the economy, thereby adding value to the country at large.
Buying made-in-Nigeria products will give naira leverage against the dollar and will help protect the country’s foreign reserve making Nigeria more financially independent.
Buying in Nigeria is overall less stressful than importing goods to Nigeria. You can easily return your order to get a new one, physically confirm what you are buying, and enjoy easy delivery options.
There are a hundred and one sellers that supply the quantity and quality of goods and products you need as a fashion entrepreneur. You can buy outside the country only when it is necessary.
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