BIMBO’S ORDEAL ( ….market place experience…)

Bimbo, (not real name ) was a middle aged single lady , that worked with one of the old
generation banks, as a senior manager. She was good at her work as a marketing staff.
And was attached to the head office branch, where she had a very tight work schedule.
However, desirous of having other streams of income , she rented a double shop at a
popular shopping complex in Lekki. She thought of the kind of business to establish, but
could not decide on any up until she met Nike, an old school mate of hers during her
undergraduate days, at the University of Ibadan.
Nike read Creative Arts and eventually went into interior decorations, designs and light
furnishings. Her office, which was situated off Allen in Ikeja, was a sight to behold. The
furnishing was indeed remarkable. “God has been blessing us “ she retorted, when
Bimbo enquired about how she made it so big. Nike, had secured a contract to furnish
two government houses in the south west, which were renewed afterwards
consecutively for three years during the last political dispensation, Bimbo learnt. “
Nike, I’m not surprised because you are very creative, and your works never fail to get
noticed” Bimbo declared.
Bimbo, thereafter decided to go into interior decorations and furnishings. After
tastefully equipping and decorating the shop, she stocked it with choice items that she
sourced from Dubai, Italy, Turkey and England. Since she was always at work, with the
exception of Saturdays and public holidays . She employed two sales persons who
obviously had no knowledge of interior decor and furnishings.
Bimbo, began to entertain concerns about the viability of her business, when the sales
revenue was consistently poor. After a year and a half , she had not sold any appreciable
amount of stock. While paying her staff salaries from her savings. On enquiry, her staff
reported that customers did come in, but often left without making commitments.
While some complained that the items were too pricy.
Due to the busy nature of her work, Bimbo asked her friends to help check up on her
staff during the week. The first friend discovered on two occasions, that the shop was
securely locked from inside with the staff fast asleep , with the air-conditioner switched
on. On another visit, the girls neither did any form of marketing to the potential buyers
nor took their contact details. They seemed to be eager to let the customer leave soon,
so as to continue the hair they were making.
Another friend of Bimbo was shocked to find the shop locked while the sales persons
were in another shop next door conversing with a group of sales girls.
Bimbo, could not justify why she should continue to pay staff salaries from her savings,
when little or nothing was coming in as sales revenue from the business. She
contemplated selling off the items and switching to a “better” business. However, she
was still at a loss about the nature of business to go into this time around.
Comment on the factors responsible for the overall poor performance of Ms Bimbo’s
business and what could have been done to improve it.
By Andrew Ifeanyi