With the coming of social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instgram, Twitter and more comes a new paradigm shift in transacting business.
Many have taken to online business through these social media platforms selling one thing or the other – and breaking the barriers of physical distance. And women in Kano are jumping on the bandwagon.
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Photos of stock for sale are uploaded as status pics that interested or potential buyers on social media can wade through.
Once an interested buyer sees it and eventually talks to the seller, they later exchange the product with money either through a bank account or pay at point of delivery.
This transaction is done without minding the fact that the buyer and the seller have never met each other, at times they are not even living in the same town.
Sharing her experience, Khadija Kabir who is the CEO of KK fashion, a company specialized in women gowns in Kano said she sells 90 % of her wares through social media marketing.
“Social media has been very effective and efficient for me. I advertise my products on the different social media platforms. The moment I upload my gowns on social media, people will buy and sometimes I have to produce more to meet the people’s demands.”
Hussaina Muhammad who sells veils online relies totally on social media in doing her business.
“I can tell you that the wares I sell through social media is more than what I sell through normal platform. I have buyers from different part of the country. When an interested buyer placed his order I send him my bank details, I will send him the wares only when I received the money.
“I liaise with some drivers in Unguwa Uku Motor park and give them the wares along with receiver’s phone number and I will also send the driver’s phone number to the buyer as well for them to communicate before the driver reaches the town of delivery. And the buyer will pay the delivery charges at delivery point.”
Another online trader, Humaira Adamu who is into cosmetic business explained that online business is the best business for women as it allows them to transact business from the comfort of their room.
“I am always with my phone, not chatting or watching films. I do my business. The moment I wake up in the morning, after observing my prayers, I check my phone to see whether people request for supply or not. If they do, I respond to them and I take my wares to the motor park for delivery. I really make money from the business.”
Firdausi Malam, one of the buyers on social ,told Daily Trust that she embraced the online business idea just as she does shopping online.
“I buy a lot of things on social media ranging from clothes, cosmetics, shoes, kitchen wares and so on. You know you may not get all things in your town. There are towns that are good and known in producing some things and above all you get it at a cheaper rate when you buy from the person there compared to when you are buying in your town.”
Asking if she has ever come across any disappointment with the system, she said, “Not at all, the moment I pay the money I receive my wares the same day, unless if the seller lives in far places like Lagos so I receive the wares next day. And the wares are cheaper when you buy online than to buy in your town. For example I always buy my laces from my Lagos customer and is very cheap. That is the reason I don’t bother paying the delivery charges because the amount you pay is very meagre.”
Another customer Zainab Sani said she is satisfied with the business as it prevents her from going to the market all the time.
“I like the business and I patronise them. In fact, I see it as a good alternative because I am a kind of person who doesn’t want go to market always.
“The only problem I encountered one time was I notice there was difference between the picture I saw on social media and that of the one was sent to me. So with that experience I had in the past, it become part and parcel for me to request for more pictures of the products.”
