OBSERVATION LAB

I CAME

I SAW

I WONDERED

BENNY AKINYEMI

*Deep sigh* Here is what i was able to come up with after my 3days of hide and seek. Yeah, hide and

seek. This i had to do because the management woudn’t allow me take pictures (took some sneaky

shots though. Had to pretend i was making a call and *click*). Some others started suspecting me after

20 minutes of window shopping. I wouldn’t blame them, one has to be careful this days.

I got a grocery store, a boutique, and an accessory store.

BEFORE ENTRY

GROCERY STORE: In this store, nothing from the outside attracts potential customers. You might have to

take a second long look (through the one-man space open door may be) before you finally figure what is

been sold in the store. The bold and bright colored sign at the front top says nothing about what the

store has to offer (see B1). If your curiosity gives you time then you will take a walk in, just as I did my

very first time at the store three years ago.

BOUTIQUE: Attractive from the outside you want to see more. See through glass walls reveal colorful

and neatly arranged clothes which says a whole lot about the store;” store for organized, co-operate and

professional individuals”. No obvious sign at the entrance at the point of entry, except a big one that

says; 20% DISCOUNT.

ACCESSORY STORE: First thing you see is an open door that leads to a security screening point three feet

from the entrance. See through glass tells you what you will find in the store. You could as well do a

window shop from the outside.

B1

B2

B3

ENVIRONMENT

LIGHTING- White flourescent lights illuminates the grocery store making it clear to read texts on

products and all. Colored lighting in the boutique and accessory store makes the products more

attractive and appealing to potential customers.

PRODUCT ARRANGEMENT- Goods are well arranged and put in sections at the stores for easy

identification and access.

SECURITY: Grocery store has a sitting security, boutique has none while the accessory store has an

obvious security post at the enterance.

PRODUCTS

PERSONNEL

At the grocerry store it was a DIY. You walk the aisle yourself and get what you need or figure out what

you might or think you need. The boutique had two amazing personnel; one has no clue to what is in

store, and the other reckons with the old customers (see P3). I had a warm welcome and attention at

the accessory store as i entered, but it all went sour when she discovered they did not have what i asked

for in store. She didn’t even suggest options. She left me hanging as she goes back to her seat.

As cool as the outfits in the clothe store was, i could have sworn the salespeople were cleaners. The

grocerry store had their personnel wearing branded tee shirts (see P2). The picture below (P1 &2) shows

an empty cashier seat. The cashier’s name had to be announced before she came to seat. Without

apologies she checks my stuff and over charged me. Glad i was alert and my math wasn’t bad.

P1

P2

P3

CUSTOMERS