Many vendors have expressed concerns over low patronage as the maiden Lagos’ 72 hours nonstop shopping festival ends today, Wednesday December 25.

Daily Trust observed that the festival held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena offered the vendors to display a different array of products ranging from fashion, electronics, beauty items, home decor and food.

Daily Trust checks further showed that despite the provision of stalls for 500 vendors, some stalls were left unoccupied, begging for vendors.

In an interview with some of them, they attributed the low patronage recorded to poor marketing and organisation by the organisers.

Rita Ishaya who came from Kaduna to sell oil perfume and burning incense expressed her fear over the return on investment (ROI) considering the cost of transportation, N100,000 paid to secure a space and other expenses incurred during the festival.

“So far, the trade fair was not really the way we expected because the arrangement was really very poor; the agreement we were supposed to start yesterday was wasted because they didn’t really organise the place for the vendors, so we couldn’t make our stalls or make any sale.

“So I think that is the reason why it is quiet. So spending N100,000 for a stall and then coming from Kaduna, the transport cost and then there is no sale. It is really poor,” she said.

She advised the organisers to invest on publicity and marketing, attributing the low patronage to lack of massive awareness about the festival.

“Today (on Tuesday) is a bit quiet, I don’t know because it was like there was no much marketing about the shopping festival. So I will actually encourage the organisers to work on marketing and it should not end in Lagos because people in my part of Lagos do not know about it,” she said.

Mojeed Akanbi who sold Adire fabrics expressed optimism for a better return, confirming that the level of patronage was low.

“I am just starting today (Tuesday) but it has been getting better. I have not recorded much sales but it is encouraging. The level of patronage is fair.

Deborah Ofili, one of the few customers who bought an Adire T-shirt for N10,000 identified the freebie and gifts received after buying an item as the icing on the cake during the festival.

“I think the items at the festival are quite fair and what I like is the freebie. The vendors are willing to give something when you patronise them and the organisers are also sharing gifts,” she said.