The best shopping centers to open a boutique in Nigeria are those located in urban settings. They are shopping centers that are located in exclusive areas with a large middle and upper class population that can afford to buy designer brand clothes, shoes and bags, which can be sold at a higher price.
Another advantage of locating your store in a prosperous area is that the buyers who sponsor your business will be familiar with the brands you can sell at a high markup relative to your costs. Because this is a very fashion conscious society, there is a high demand for very fashionable clothing and footwear.
The following are the main commercial centers of Nigeria:
1. The Palms Mall. The Palms, located in Lekki, is Nigeria’s oldest and largest premium shopping mall. It has become a retail phenomenon as it is not only built to Western standards, it has also introduced many of the shopping experiences found in the United States and across Europe to this corner of Africa for the first time. Well-known South African retailers such as Game, Shoprite and Nu Metro rented commercial premises in this shopping mecca, helping to attract even more customers to the center. While the rentals reflect expected foot traffic, the benefits of being a neighbor to these retail chains can be very lucrative.
2. Ikeja shopping center. The Ikeja has differentiated itself from the competition by developing a very strong and popular entertainment center. While it also offers a wide range of exclusive shops, its entertainment offerings attract shoppers of a wide range of ages to its retail tenants. By locating your store on your premises, you can capitalize on your wide range of customers by bringing brand-name products for all ages.
3. Ceddi Plaza. The Ceddi Plaza is located in the capital Abuja. The mall developers have taken a different approach than the two previous malls. Rather than focusing solely on commercial tenants, they have developed office spaces geared toward professional businesses. The fact that there are office workers working on their premises makes this mall an idea for Nigerian retailers who wholesale professional work suits and dresses. In addition, its high-class champagne lounge attracts business people looking for a convenient place to meet and celebrate their achievements. These entrepreneurs can generate ideas for high-end buyers, as they have the buying power that a high-end clothing or footwear boutique can support.