Dining in Ore

A couple of weeks back I took a road trip to Lagos for the annual alumni meeting of my alma mata. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, God in his mercy saw us safely to and fro. But, one thing that did catch my attention, was were we had our rest stop.

Now if you've travelled from Warri to Lagos by road (using Greener line transport), you'll be fairly conversant with the famous/infamous ore road, passing through Ondo state. Along this road is a fast food joint/ eatery/ restaurant , whatever you want to call it, called Vincents. This is where we usually stop to take a rest, eat and partake in the common ritual of buying every and anything for the loved ones you're on your way to meet. It's sort of like a marker signaling the fact that you've made it half way through your journey. I'd been here before, a number of times even, but never really noticed it. The place just kind of fell into the backdrop of the entire landscape as just another one of those places you have to encounter. Maybe it's because I'm a little older, or due to my over-observant nature (duh!architect?) or just because of the fact i recently started blogging, but I finally noticed vincents on this trip.

Its not too different from the regular, run of the mill, quick service restaurants in the country, somewhat tasteful yet generic branding (not the typical signage though) and an okay menu with sensibly prepared food, nothing mind boggling. What did baffle me was their marketing ploy to get you to buy food. Normally, when you go to a fast food joint, you walk up to the servery, look at the high level menu display (however tacky it is), do small maths in your head to know what you can afford, you order and presto, your food is served.

dining area for continental food, the usual rice and chicken

 servery for the same 

 servery for african dishes which was converted to the regulars, guess they
sold more fried rice than eba. 

But, vincent's employed a different strategy. As you step in, you're greeted by shouts and screams of "oga, come and buy, we have it here...", " come to this side, you can find it her"..crazy right? but entirely true, i was shocked to the bones. Its like the attendants get paid on a commission basis relative to what they sell, cuz, the energy they use to shout and try to persuade customers is much, all from behind the serverys full of rice and chicken (as seen above).

the culprits that shout you into buying a meal

Another thing is the speed with which they attend to individual customers, CHAI! All you need to say is "i want rice.." and in a flash, 'rice, chicken, salad and moin-moin is on your plate' if you're not quick enough to stop it. They almost got me but trust omo eko.

what? i had to eat now.

The final thing that didn't really baffle me, but actually got me thinking was the crowd in place. This restaurant couldnt possibly be better located. Its right along the major express, so somewhere around 30-50 16 seater buses are docking in here for for 10 -15mins for at least 12 -18 hrs of the day, and if half of those folks stop by vincents to catch a  bite, then, lets just say vincents will be smiling to the bank. Also they optimised the place for this market, making changes were necessary like the african servery pictured above ( I noticed from the furniture)and even a drivers lounge for the people ferrrying us. They even converted one of their servery's to provide the regular travel essentials one may need from bread, pringles and biscuits. Talk about adaption. 

the drivers lounge where you fill find pounded yam on high demand

the mini mart that used to be a servery

The lessons i learnt? As an aspiring entrepreneur you need to know: 

1. Location is key

2. Quality must be minimum standard at the least. and 

3. You must learn to adapt your business to changing trends and demand

and lest I forget

4. Get your branding right, As well as your marketing.

 Bless.