Competition for regular changing of sitting room furniture at short intervals is a source of ostentation among married women in Kebbi State.
It is a show of class, most especially among the less educated ones, who usually take part in various contributions to enable them to raise money for a new set of furniture.
Majority of these women change their furniture set in every quarter of the year while some in every half of the year depending on their financial muscle.
The furniture showrooms that dotted the state capital, Birnin Kebbi, might not be unconnected to the passion these married women have for furniture in the state.
Apart from the showroom business, there are women among the locals that deal in the sale and buy of second-hand furniture.
These dealers sell for those that are willing to change for a high grade. The deal is usually sealed after an agreement on the amount to be top up on the old furniture before the buyer takes over the ownership of the new set.
Check by the Caliphate reveals that the phenomenon is gradually becoming an all women affairs because even the educated ones are becoming active in the passion for frequent changing of furniture set.
Mallama Tumba Muttaka, a mother of three, told the Caliphate that she had been a good customer to three showrooms in the metropolis and that whenever some good stock arrives in town, she would be among the first few that would be informed.
Mallama Muttaka explained that she frequently changes her set of furniture in some instances as frequently as once in a month though, it all depends on new supply.
She added that if one changes in a short interval, it does not require much as top-up to take a new set, noting that in most cases, the top-up are within the range of N30,000 to N60,000.
Hajia Hussaina Rabiu, a civil servant, told the Caliphate that she changed the furniture of her house yearly, saying she takes part in contributions purposely in order to change her house furniture.
On why yearly, Rabiu said this is the new trend in most families and it gives her comfort as her children enjoy the sight of a new set.
She said that whenever she wanted to change, she goes to Kaduna or Abuja for high quality though, expensive one.
On what she does with the old one, Rabiu said for the fact that women knew she always buys high quality, many used to book my furniture in advance. “Whenever I am changing, I don’t have a problem looking for a buyer.”
