Shops on wheels? Take caution
Jan 18, 2007
First, they hit the streets during the festive season. But are now a permanent feature on Kampala streets and the suburbs.<br>
By Alex Balimwikungu
First, they hit the streets during the festive season. But are now a permanent feature on Kampala streets and the suburbs.
Shop owners no longer wait for the elusive customers to saunter into their shops. Men perched atop trucks shout their lungs out to attract customers to the wares on display.
The items are cheap. For instance, whereas male jeans of different brands cost between sh13,000-25,000 in the arcades, they charge a paltry sh10,000.
Ironically, it is the unbelievably low prices that have left some customers fuming.
“Majority of the items on the streets are different from those sold in the shops. They are fake,†Cox Kalyesubula, a client, says.
Juma Sebulime, a jeans dealer at the Mukwano Arcade entrance, says: “Some unscrupulous traders take advantage of the buyers’ ignorance and import cheaper options from Congo and China. They use the pretext of taking the items closer to the buyer before fleecing them.â€
However, James Kalyango of Zainabu Aziiza Emporium, says stiff competition has warranted this new trend thus more innovation is needed.
First, they hit the streets during the festive season. But are now a permanent feature on Kampala streets and the suburbs.
Shop owners no longer wait for the elusive customers to saunter into their shops. Men perched atop trucks shout their lungs out to attract customers to the wares on display.
The items are cheap. For instance, whereas male jeans of different brands cost between sh13,000-25,000 in the arcades, they charge a paltry sh10,000.
Ironically, it is the unbelievably low prices that have left some customers fuming.
“Majority of the items on the streets are different from those sold in the shops. They are fake,†Cox Kalyesubula, a client, says.
Juma Sebulime, a jeans dealer at the Mukwano Arcade entrance, says: “Some unscrupulous traders take advantage of the buyers’ ignorance and import cheaper options from Congo and China. They use the pretext of taking the items closer to the buyer before fleecing them.â€
However, James Kalyango of Zainabu Aziiza Emporium, says stiff competition has warranted this new trend thus more innovation is needed.