Japanese retail giant, Miniso has disclosed plan to aggressively increase the number of its shopping stores in Nigeria by an additional 200 before the end of next year, that will create about 8,000 jobs locally. MINISO, said it plans to achieve at least 45 per cent local material procurement in its production line by 2020, as part of its backward integration in the country.

The Managing Director of Miniso Nigeria, Mrs. Key Yang, said this during an interview with journalists in Lagos at the weekend.
Unveiling its plans in Lagos on Friday, management of the household and lifestyle chain, told select journalists that ahead of its proposed content localisation, it is already in talks with local manufacturers and vigorously pursuing the possibility of sourcing 45 per cent of its production materials locally.

In line with its growth plan and job-creation strategies, the Franchise Specialist, Miniso Nigeria, Eze Igwe, the retail chain, now marking its one-year anniversary in the country opened its franchise and agency business opportunities two months ago.Igwe said: “We have also opened applications from qualified partners with high integrity and good track record, to join our expansion plan. Right now, Miniso has the most lucrative opportunity because the risks have been highly mitigated and the issue of shortage of goods will never arise, as we manufacture all our products. Also, our prices are stable and cannot be matched by competition.”

He added that the retail chain, known for its products quality, plans to be present in every commercial centre nationwide, including malls, stand-alone stores in heavily populated areas.Giving an overview of MINISO, its Managing Director, Key Yang, said: “MINISO is a Japanese lifestyle designer retail brand, which was founded in 2013, by two notable gentlemen; Japanese designer, Mr. Miyake Junya, and a young Chinese entrepreneur, Mr. Ye Guofu, in Tokyo, Japan.

“It is the fastest growing fashion brand on a large global scale, with its product focus mainly on leisure lifestyle, which includes creative home ware, health and beauty, fashion accessories, digital accessories, stationery & gifts, unique toys series, seasonal products, Kitchen ware etc.
“MINISO has made a name for itself worldwide and has beaten all odds with an average monthly growth rate of 80 – 100 stores across countries including the United States, Canada, Russia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Australia, and many more, and all these have been achieved within a five-year mark.”

Also speaking, the Franchise and Investment Manager, Jason Zhou, said: “MINISO has actively explored the international market and has opened more than 2,900 stores in over 60 countries within the years and is in the process of opening stores in 20 more countries. MINISO’s business turnover stands at $1.5billion in 2016, and nearly $1.9billion in 2017.”
He added that “From the sales figures of our existing stores in the past 11 months, MINISO is one of the most profitable businesses in Nigeria that yields returns on investment between 10 – 18months.”

He recalled that the flagship store in Nigeria was opened on September 10, 2017, in Lekki, Lagos, and had since opened additional 11 stores across the country, Ibadan, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, adding that “By the end of 2018, MINISO would have successfully reached the south-eastern states of Nigeria, as documentation processes are being concluded for over 10 stores.”