They say that certain things in this world are inevitable, "no doubt about it," and one of those things is encountering traders. I've come to understand that we can’t live a day without crossing paths with them; our daily lives revolve around them.
Just like a popular Nigerian comedian says, “In this life, there are two things involved.” We experience both the good and the bad, and at every point in life, we have the privilege of experiencing both. I once had an encounter with a trader that made me feel like I could almost sleep in her shop. "Don’t laugh!" There’s a way someone can treat you that makes you forget you have a home to go back to.
I’ve encountered so many traders, but I’m going to focus on this particular one who left a lasting impression. Last year, after finishing work, I decided to stop by the local market before heading home. As I entered, I was looking for something to buy when I stumbled upon a lady who was staring at me with a wide smile on her face. At first, I thought she might not be quite right in the head. "Don’t get me wrong, though." Then she waved at me and asked what I wanted. Normally, I would have just ignored her and kept walking since she wasn’t selling what I had in mind.
But her smile, showing those bright white teeth, was impossible to resist. "I am trapped," I said to myself, so I walked over to her shop. The first words she said were, “Wow, you look beautiful.” You know how they say compliments can melt the soul; that one really struck a chord with me. As I explored her shop looking for what to get, she rushed inside and brought out a seat for me, saying, “My queen, I’m here to serve you. Use me as you like.” I couldn't help but burst into laughter as if I were in my own living room.
At first, I wasn’t interested in buying anything from her shop, but her hospitality made me change my mind. I ended up purchasing several items, largely because of how well I was treated. The excitement on her face made the experience even better. She engaged me in conversation, sharing stories about her college days and her time during youth service. From that moment on, she became my go-to trader and the distance to her shop didn’t stop me from making frequent purchases.
Now, on to my less favorable encounter with another trader. I believe that as a trader, one must be polite and choose their words carefully to attract customers.
There’s a guy at the local market whom I refuse to patronize. In fact, if the entire market went on break and he was the only one available, I would still prefer to walk past him with all humility. My first encounter with him occurred when I wanted to buy something. I had selected the item I needed and was in the process of negotiating the price when he remarked, “You young girls should come to the market with enough money.” I pretended not to hear him. When the negotiation ended, I chose not to buy the item because the price was exorbitant. As I stepped out of his store, he started hurling abusive words at me.
I didn’t respond because I was in my good girl era, so I just walked away and found the same item at a cheaper price elsewhere. When I got home, I shared my experience with my older sister. She reminded me how some traders behave and advised me not to take his words to heart. From that day on, whenever I passed his store, I walked by with confidence, not even glancing in his direction.
Sometimes, I wonder if traders need training on how to treat their potential customers. Even if prices are high, there is a way to treat a customer that will make them less concerned about the cost and more likely to make a purchase. But with this trader, it was truly a case of “bad attitude plus high prices.” How does he expect to survive in business?
Omo! Some traders should learn to do better when it comes to portraying a good image in front of their customers and knowing the right words to use at the right time "matters as well." The marketplace is full of competition; every trader has to be strategic on how to treat a customer and talk about the economy of our nation as well; spending money these days isn't a funny thing to engage in, so traders need to make customers happy so they can spend their money.
Thanks for reading 🧡
