Have you ever gone shopping at the famous Lagos Island markets, Balogun, Dosunmu, Oke-Arin, and the rest? What was your experience like? Now, have you dared to visit during the festive season? If not, let me take you on a little trip down memory lane.
One December stands out in my mind. I had been swamped with work all year and only found time for Christmas shopping at the last minute. I have two close friends who couldn’t be more different when it comes to shopping. Let’s call the first one Rofiat. She’s that friend who doesn’t mind spending extra money for convenience. Her shopping ritual is simple: browse online, click and buy. No stress.
Then there’s Dorcas, the certified Alaroro (for the non-Yoruba readers, that’s someone who holds tightly to their cash). Dorcas wouldn’t dream of paying extra for delivery when she can head to the market herself, haggle hard, and save every last naira. Her excuse? “I don’t trust these online vendors to deliver the right quality.” And then there’s me, stuck somewhere in the middle, never quite sure which side to pick.
When I shared my Christmas shopping dilemma with both of them, Rofiat immediately suggested I order everything online using her trusted plug. But Dorcas was more persuasive (as usual). She insisted that with time running out, it was safer to go to the market in person to see and feel everything before buying. I foolishly agreed.
Nothing could have prepared me for the madness that awaited us.
Balogun Market during Christmas season is a whole different beast. The air was so thick, it felt like 90% carbon dioxide and maybe 10% frustration. I could barely breathe. As a petite person, I couldn’t even see past the crowd. People pushed from every direction; at one point I swear my feet weren’t touching the ground, yet I was still moving with the crowd like a leaf in the wind. I immediately started regretting my life choices.
Now here’s the real stress, when you want to buy clothes, you go to one section. Need shoes? Another hustle entirely in a different location. Bags? Yet another direction. It’s like an Olympic marathon, but the prize is a Christmas outfit. And let’s not even talk about the body odour that hit me at every turn. All this wahala just to get Christmas clothes.
In the end, I was so overwhelmed that I simply bought whatever I could grab just to escape the madness. When I got home, I called Rofiat and told her the full gist. She laughed hard, rubbing in the classic “I told you so.”
Since that day, I’ve become a loyal online shopper. I can’t kill myself. I’ve realized that online shopping doesn’t have to be a gamble, not when you can connect directly with trusted sellers who are ready to answer your questions, share product details, and even negotiate, just like in the open market. The only difference? You skip the crowd and the chaos.
Now, I rely on platforms that connect buyers and sellers directly, where both parties can communicate, agree on the terms, and handle fulfilment in a way that works best for them. No middlemen, no interference. Just people doing business, one conversation at a time.
As for me? I’ll happily shop from my bed, thank you very much. What about you? Are you Team Market Wahala or Team soft life Online?
Oh, and guess what? Something exciting is coming your way. Blummerx is launching a new social commerce platform that promises to take your online shopping experience to the next level with more perks than the usual boring process. Stay tuned… you’re going to love it!