How Igbo traders make more money by selling things online

Posted by Felix Okoli on Wednesday October 5, 2016 at 11:31:53:

One thing I love about Ndigbo is that they are always willing to learn new things and improve their lives by taking advantage of emerging technologies.

The 21st century Igbo trader has evolved such that they now sell their goods on the internet as more Nigerians embrace e-commerce. More and more Igbo people have started selling their goods online and they are selling to millions of Nigerians who need them.

Ordinarily, many people know that Igbos are known to be traders by profession as they prefer making money as independent entrepreneurs rather than relying on a paid job. A tour of shops in many cities across Nigeria shows that the business of buying and selling is mostly dominated by Igbos and they dominate sectors like electronics, auto parts, fashion, cosmetics and so on.They love to buy and sell as they know how to calculate and make profit. They are hardly affected by recession or inflation since they know how to buy and at what price to sell.

One thing that I've seen some of these Igbo traders do is to combine their trading business with the internet so that people can find their products on the web. Since many young Nigerians now like to check for products on the web before actually buying it, the presence of Igbo owned products on the web is helping the traders make more money than they usually did. Nowadays, Igbo people no longer just sell things offline by waiting for customers to come to their shop, they also sell things online by getting orders from people who got to know about their business through the internet.

If those Igbo traders were not that intelligent, they would have not listed their products online but because it's natural for an Igbo man to be intelligent and know how to manipulate his immediate environment to work in his favour, that is why many of them are making good money thanks to the internet.

I recently placed an order online for an electronic product that I needed and I didn't immediately know who was selling it as I only able to know the company name and phone number. After placing an order, I received a response from an Igbo trader who told he he could supply it and funny enough, he also spoke Igbo to which I responded and we talked like brothers. It's easier for an Igbo person to trust and do business with another fellow Igbo person because they share the same background and language and so I was more inclined to buy from him just because he was Igbo and has listed his products on the web.

The Igbo traders who sell their products online tend to list them on shopping websites which they own or have partnered with and then also offer delivery services within the country their business is based in. They accept payment on delivery as well as card or bank payments.

It's no longer fashionable for Igbo traders who buy and sell things not to have an online presence for their business because it's becoming a norm for people nowadays. You either go online or you are killing your business. People now make millions selling their goods online without even having a physical store other than the fact that they have a warehouse or access to a market where they can source for those goods buyers have requested for.

So, if you are an Igbo trader who now sells things online, you have done well and shown that you are a true Igbo son or daughter. If you are not yet listed online, it's time to do so because in 2016, things have really changed.