Some businesses are devising more ingenious ways to survive the extreme competition posed by business trends especially in cement sale.
The challenge therefore has resulted in this creative way of retailing especially cement in Kumasi in cans and other plastic containers.
A visit to Railways line, a suburb close to Alabar and the Central Market showed that cement is sold in bits and pieces other than in bags.
Twenty-one year old Faila Salifu, does not have enough money to rent a shop plus buy in large quantities to retail.
With a bag of Cement selling at ex-factory price of between Ghs29 and Ghs35, sales have dwindled drastically with retailers being at the receiving end.
Faila Salifu who has been in this business for the past three years is happy at the prospects.
“In a day I can sell either two or three bags, the business is good, there are no jobs so this is what I am doing”, he said.
Prices range from the small ‘magarine’ container which is 3 Ghana Cedis, the ‘olonko’ goes for 7 Ghana Cedis, while the rubber paint is 9 Ghana Cedis.
This style of retailing used to be peculiar with grains and cereals.
But perhaps the complexity of the market and the quest to make income is pushing it to other commodities.
Forty-three year old Yaw Amankwaa has been doing this for seven years. But competition has eaten into his sales.
“I used to sell seven bags a day. It has reduced because now a lot of people are getting into this business,” he complained.
According him, he started at the Railways Line (an area close to Central Market), but it has now spread to Aboabo Station, Sofoline and other areas.
So as with every business, the customer will almost always dictate how products are sold.
“If I need little cement for the job I am doing then I buy it, in fact it really helps my business but with cement when you keep it open for a long time , it loses its potency,” Kobina Okyem, a mason said.
Kofi Sarfo, a tiler at Maxima Junction in Kumasi who has been patronising what has become known as ‘cement-in- tots’ is happy at the development because he is able to save some money on the product.
“As little as 5 Ghana Cedis, I can buy what I need, so I don’t waste cement and money.”
For young Salifu, “one would only complain of no work if you are lazy to work.”
Perhaps other products might follow suit.