INTRODUCTIONWe are an emerging leader in Internet Marketing in Nigeria, and as part of our public enlightenment efforts, we have drawn up plans to educate and create awareness of an emerging Internet market estimated to worth over $350 billion globally in the year 2000, and in the United States alone, the eCommerce revenue for 2010 amounted to over $167 billion, increasing by over 300% from a 2009 figure of $89 billion. This is an increase exceeding an earlier five year projection of $162 billion. This is according to the U.S. Department of Commerce 2011 Report. With a projected annual global growth rate of about 188%, the total annual eCommerce marketing revenue is expected to rise to $4.6 trillion in the year 2015.
We are officially introducing our first Annual International Online Business Conference slated to hold in October 3, 2011, at the prestigious Liberty Hall, Lekki Peninsular, in Lagos. The conference will feature renowned speakers from various universities, EFCC, embassies, financial experts in both banking and private sectors, and other key players in the internet marketing industry.
The conference will be an expository of yet untapped resources in ecommerce marketing and unveil new business opportunities with potentials to redefine the Nigerian financial and business landscape, particularly the banking sector. Participants will learn first-hand, the secrets of success in internet marketing and acquire new skills on how to effectively manage an online business. Participants will also be exposed to new partnership opportunities with leading payment processors and acquirers in the United States.
STATE OF E-COMMERCE IN NIGERIA
E-commerce is about buying and selling on the Internet. Nigerians are presently buying online and not selling. Good enough, in the last couple of years the banks have managed to provide access to online payment through the various debit card services like Visa and MasterCard. Though there are still challenges making online payments with these cards on many merchandise websites as they are often refused.
What about selling online, how does a Nigerian merchandising site owner receive payment for goods and services on his website from a customer in China? That is the big question, and what is the answer? No bank presently provides acquirer or payment processor services to facilitate fast and easy receipts of payment by Nigerian Internet merchants. With such astronomical figures in dollar currency, it is obvious why it is important for Nigerian banks to become Acquirers, and also, for online merchants to start accepting credit cards on your websites.
The internet market currently enjoys a steadily increasing patronage estimated by Google to be over 8 million people each day, making it the busiest and largest single market in the world, with people from all parts of the globe engaging in buying and selling of products and services without having to physically see each other. Sadly, Nigeria is yet to be a beneficiary of this huge market. Rather, we buy online than sell, therefore contributing to the growth of foreign economies to our own detriment.
Internet marketing provides self-employment opportunities to millions of people all over the world. Therefore, providing access to payment processor services to Nigerians will increase participation in Internet marketing, therefore encouraging self-employment and wealth creation by selling our local commodities on the Internet. The lack of acquirers and payment processors in Nigeria deprives us of the benefits of engaging in legitimate online merchandising and increase foreign exchange earning just like most other country in the world.
BIG REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BANKS
The International Online Business Conference is majorly designed to expose the tremendous business opportunities in the Internet marketing business to the banking sector. The conference will unveil the step-by-step approach to becoming successful in Internet marketing. It will also cover the risks, fraud and legal pitfalls associated with online business.
Current annual estimate by the Freedom House 2010 Report of Nigerians surfing and shopping on the net is 44 million. At a modest $10 spending per customer and at 10% profit on every item sold to 44 million Nigerian online shoppers, we will realize over $484 million in a year. If we include purchases from shoppers in other parts of the world, sales are very likely to triple to $1.452 billion in the first year, giving us a whopping 222.156 billion naira in foreign exchange in the first year. That put Internet marketing as one of the potential top foreign exchange earner for businesses and institutions in Nigeria.
At 2% commission, an Acquirer will earn over $29 million in the first year. Full participation in Internet merchandising by Nigerians, will lead to possible astronomical increase in the number of online shopping in subsequent years.
BENEFITS OF ECOMMERCE MARKETING FOR ENTERPRENEURS
The processes of marketing products and conducting business on the Internet, opening a retail merchant site and increasing brand recognition have several benefits to both merchants and shoppers, major of which include the following:
Lower Start-up Costs, Increase Efficiency and Profitability: Merchant stores are much cheaper to run and take less start-up capital to open when compared to a physical store. Permits are not required, fewer licenses, no lease payment, low utility bills, few or no employees required. By commencing business with less start-up funds, it helps to increase efficiency and profitability.
Creates New and Lasting Business Relationships: The setting up of an eCommerce site instantly opens the business to new and long lasting relationship with potential customers, business associates and new product, manufacturers around the world. New product suppliers will request you become their affiliate and business partner. The relationships you form with shoppers and existing customers can very well determine the overall success of any business. That, combined with tools make customer management and servicing more efficient.
Expands Geographical or Customer Reach: Ecommerce is basically a global business because it hinges on the Internet. Therefore, having an online store front gives you a global out-reach, meaning you have no bounds and you can sell your products anywhere in the world. Some countries have introduced restrictions by way of regulations, licensing requirements or currency differences, but generally you will be able to sell to an unlimited audience.
Increases Brand Awareness: An online presence of your business allows you reach out to millions of consumers searching for your products from anywhere in the world. Ecommerce let you reach out to a new global market and your presence positions you prominently in search results and that help to improve your company brand marketing and also increase awareness of product lines.
Open for Business Round the Clock : An eCommerce site basically gives you the ability to have unlimited store hours, giving your customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week access to shop and buy items from you. The costs of running a store 24/7 are far lower than the physical storefront. Orders can still be taken from shoppers while you are out of office.
Helps Establish Customer Loyalty: Having a merchant storefront that display and describe your product information clearly, visually and interactively, allows for your customers to navigate and make purchase of items easily. They will become more loyal each time they shop on your site.
Potential to Increase Sales and Reduce Cost: Setting up an eCommerce store front creates opportunities for you to increase overall sales and company profits across. Online merchandizing opens up many opportunities for businesses. Companies already operating a physical store have more benefits starting an online store. Apart from increasing sales and profits, eCommerce business owners enjoys reduced cost of warehousing and personnel. eBusiness c an also reduces the cost of building leases, phone bills, utility charges and other costs associated with running a brick-and-mortar storefront.
Smaller Market or Niche Targeting: Merchant sites have more control selecting their target market and promote goods and services to this niche market. You can target a gender, age group, a particularly locality or group. By using keywords common to a niche market attract more patronage from the target market.
Easier Delivery of Information: Being present Online creates direct access to product and company information, special offers, promotions etc. This saves the time of both you and your customers by helping you make updates or announce new product lines.
Conduct Cheap Market Research: Ecommerce merchants use information of customers and competitors gathered from their site to carry out a research of the market or a particular product. Conducting a market research for a brick and mortar store can be difficult and time consuming. With the availability of data on the site and through the use of new Web applications, eCommerce merchants are able to conduct market research quickly and efficiently.
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Success is measured by the number of battles you win against failure. It is always about the smartest gets the most! This conference being the first of its kind in Nigeria, presents again another opportunity to play smart and take leadership in this niche market ahead of your competitions and showcase your organization as a leading service provider in this emerging global Internet market place.
Therefore, we are delightful to invite your organization to be part of this great transformation process of the eCommerce industry in Nigeria. As such, we would like to hold discussions with your organization to introduce and explain plans about the conference. Call or emails us today!
Sponsorship Benefits:
This conference offers your organization the following unique opportunities:
· Generate a new stream of high and medium income portfolio
· Partner with other industry leaders, universities, government agencies and SME’s
· Extensive media exposure and press opportunities
· Increased domiciliary account customer base
· Become a key global player in ecommerce marketing
· Expand your international business portfolio by becoming an acquirer
· Easy access to partnership with leading international payment processors
· Increase relevance in the global financial environment
· Pioneer the growth of ecommerce and promote entrepreneurship
· Become an agent of change by contributing to wealth creation and national development
Additional Event Benefits:
· Free exhibition space to market your bank’s products and services worth N250,000.00
· Get free corporate table for 5 worth N120,000.00 with lunch and conference materials)
· Place your corporate roll-up banners at strategic points in the auditorium
· Access to a large network of participants and potential merchant account holders
· Display your banks hallmark on all conference materials
· Extensive media exposure and mention as one of our sponsors
Sponsorship Fees:
· Diamond Category – N5 million (naira)
· Gold Category – N3.5 million (naira)
· Silver Category – N2 million (naira)
All payments are to be in bank draft written in favour of March Global Trading Enterprise. Sponsorship opportunity is open until August 30, 2011. Diamond category becomes the main sponsor, therefore, gets more prominence in the media and on our publicity and conference materials.
EXHIBITION BOOKING
Exhibition spaces are now available to corporate organizations to market their products and services. There will also be press opportunity.
· Exhibition spaces per square meter N 5,000.00
· Roll-up banner and/or back-drop banner N35,000.00
· Light decoration N10,000.00
There are limited exhibition spaces, and those who make early booking have the chance to select vintage exhibition spaces. Exhibition opportunity is open until August 30, 2011.
For booking, call our business lines 01-4054438 and 0702333151 or Mark Ukazu on 01-8280070. All payments should be in bank draft written in favour of March Global Trading Enterprises.
PRESENTATION OF PAPERS
We would be delighted to receive your request to deliver a paper from a list of topics specially chosen for the IEC 2011 Conference. If you meet our criteria, you will be scheduled to speak either in the first or second session as may be available.
We would appreciate if you could also provide a talk-point that relates to the conference theme. All presentation are to be in PowerPoint format to enable us develop materials for the event.
Facilitator(s) are expected to arrive at the conference venue on or before 9:00am.
SALES OF TICKETS
Tickets are available in all Tastee Fried Chicken outlets. We are willing to partner with reputable food vendors or restaurants for the sale of the event tickets. Partnership terms are negotiable. Give us a call, sent an email or written request to us today at the address below.
The tickets are in the following categories:
· Corporate: N120, 000
· Individual: N5, 000
Your organization shall be the official food vendor to serve around 350 participants and corporate representatives at the conference. We will be available for further discussions with you as soon as possible to conclude arrangements in this regard.
MEDIA SUPPORT/PARTNERSHIP
We are offering sponsorship, partnership and exhibition opportunities to a few reputable media organizations, which you are considered as part. This is a unique opportunity to establish your leadership in the media industry, and position your organization as a key player for the growth of eCommerce in Nigeria. You can schedule a meeting for us to formally introduce to you our conference plans, and what is in it for your organization.
CONTACTING AND SCHEDULING OF MEETINGS
Scheduled date for the conference is October 3, 2011 at the prestigious Liberty Hall, Lekki Peninsular, in Lagos. For more information, visit our blog at http://marchglobal.blogspot.com.
