1.1 Introduction
The social construction of sales and usage of second hand clothing has been a contemporary issue in Nigeria which cannot be overemphasized. Secondhand clothing (SHC) traces their origin from wealthy westerners who contribute their obsolete clothing as donations to charity organizations (Dougherty, 2004; Slotterback, 2007). Larger charities first sort through the donations to add to their stock stores and then sell the surplus to secondhand clothing dealers to help generate funds towards assistance programs. Clothing merchants from the importing countries visit the offices of exporters to ascertain the quality, negotiate the price, pay for the bales and then ship the clothing to the country of origin (Olumide, 2011).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
In years past, a lot of women took pride in the business of textiles selling, since it was very lucrative. However, the situation is today different, as the cost of buying a second-hand dress is far inexpensive than buying material and taking it to a seamstress to sew into dress. A number of the scholars are able to touch on some of the likely effects the patronage of second-hand clothing have on the Garment and Textiles Industries. However, they failed to state the effect of imported second hand clothes on the performance of the local textile industry in Nigeria.
Buying behaviour according to Dawson et al (2006), are set of attitudes that characterize the patterns of consumers’ choices. Apart from the essential internal factors, which are recognized as influential to buying behaviour, there are a number of external situational contexts that affect consumer choices. Consumer behaviour is a combination of customers’ buying consciousness and external incentives which are likely to result in behaviour remodeling. The society’s culture such as norms, philosophies, settlement, customs religion, festivity, class, lifestyle and other subculture influence how individual consumers buy and use secondhand products, and help explain how groups of consumers behave. There has been a current need for individuals and families to develop sustainable ways of living. One of the important areas of sustainable living is through maintainable clothing and textile consumption. Maintainable consumption is using resources in a way that minimizes harm to the environment, while supporting the well-being of people (OECD, 2008). Maintainable clothing or fashion consumption is the use of clothing for purposes beyond utilitarian needs which is achieved while enabling the future generations to meet their needs (Nordic Initiatives, Clean and Ethical (NICE, 2012). Secondhand Clothing trade (SHCT) represents an insignificant proportion of the total global trade in clothing (0.5%), more than 30% of the imports goes to the Sub Sahara African (SSA) countries (Baden & Barber, 2005). Despite being overtaken by imports from Asia to Africa, the use of Secondhand Clothing still significant.
Bradley (2013) argued that until the mid-19th century, second hand clothing was an important way of acquiring clothing. Just through industrial development, bulk production and growing income, was the general public able to buying new clothing instead of second hand clothing. The greatest economic debate that has surrounded the internationally used-clothing trade is the possible effect that used-clothing imports may have on local and new clothing industries. In Africa, the importation of used clothing poses a potential threat to indigenous textile industries as used-clothing can be retailed at lower prices than the locally produced clothing (Akhil ,2010).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Sales and Usage of Second Hand Clothing among Nigerians.
1.3 Statement of Problems
The economic downturn of the past has affected nearly every segment of the Nigeria economy of the past has affected nearly every segment of the Nigeria economy. The sales and usage of secondhand clothing is one of the business, people are engaging themselves with and its increasingly gaining ground in Nigeria. The rapid increase of population unemployment is one of the major factors pushing many individuals to sell and buy secondhand clothing, all over the world.
Nigeria as a country is posed with a lot of problems, which includes poverty, unemployment, lack of resources, and low wage income are making individuals sell and use secondhand clothing.
Typically, the importation of used clothes would result in a downward shift of the demand curve in the new apparel industry. According to studies (Slotterback 2007) many reasons accounts for the sales and usage of secondhand clothing.
- Unemployment among individuals.
- Poverty, both relative and absolute poverty.
- Low wage income and lack of better job opportunities.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate social construction of sales and usage of second-hand clothing in Alimosho local government area of Lagos metropolis. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To know whether there is any meaning attached to the sales and usage of second-hand clothing by people of Alimosho local government area of Lagos metropolis.
- To ascertain the reasons why people use and sell secondhand clothing
- To identify the categories of people that use secondhand clothing Alimosho local government area of Lagos metropolis
- To identify the business strategies involved in the sales of secondhand clothing.
- To examine the problems associated with the sales and usage of secondhand clothing.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the meanings attached to the sales and usage of secondhand clothing by people?
- What are the reasons why people use and sale secondhand clothing?
- What categories of people use secondhand clothing?
- What are the business strategies involved in the sales of secondhand clothing?
- What are the problems associated with the sales and usage of secondhand clothing?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant relationship between social construction of sales and usage of secondhand clothing in Alimosho Local Government
- H1: There is a significant relationship between social construction of sales and usage of secondhand clothing in Alimosho Local Government
Hypothesis Two
- H0: Consumer do not attached meaning to the usage of second-hand clothing in Alimosho Local Government
- H1: Consumer do attached meaning to the usage of second-hand clothing in Alimosho Local Government
Hypothesis Three
- H0: There is no significant problem associated with the sales and usage of second-hand clothing in Alimosho local Government area of Lagos metropolis.
- H1: There is a significant problem associated with the sales and usage of second-hand clothing in Alimosho local Government area of Lagos metropolis.
1.7 Significance of Study
This study will be of great importance to policymakers in the sense that it will be an assistance to make rightful and necessary policy that will encourage and favorable to Nigerian textile industry, individual have found that thrift stores often reflect the community in which they reside and quality clothing with the tags still in some wealthier neighborhoods. Also, Goodwill found to be expensive, as far as thrift store goods or cloth cheaper than new one. Their prices are definitely higher, but it does seem that they do a better job of filtering out junk, spouses often believe that the level of income determines the purchasing power, researchers and general public in the sense that it will assists them to know the adverse effect of social construction of sales of usage secondhand clothing, causes and solution to the consumption.
The Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) significantly emphases that an ideal vehicle for studying not only the linkages between secondhand clothing usage and health and demographic outcomes. This study will help to solve current or existing problem as it affect Textile Company in Nigeria. It will also help the government in terms of planning and budget revenue in the appropriate ways putting all things into consideration such as what the people so desire. This study would raise various suggestions and recommendations that will go a long way to minimize these problems and their attendance effects. Student writing their research project on similar topic will be guided as the finding and recommendations will be serve as a map, pointing them to the path to treat. Undertaken a study of this nature will expose the researcher to rigorous and challenging exercise of writing a project, which need a lot of concentration handwork and patience.
1.8 Scope of Study
The study is designed to investigate the social construction of sales and usage of second-hand clothing in Alimosho local government area, Lagos metropolis. Specifically, the scope covers social construction of sales and usage of second-hand clothing in Iyana-Ipaja, Egbeda and Ikotun area of Lagos State. This covers:
- Iyana Ipaja (Kantagwa Market)
- Ikotun (Ikotun Market)
- Egbeda (Egbeda Market)
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
For better understanding of the various terms related to and in this research project, it is necessary to briefly define these term their general meaning and specific contextual application to the topic under discourse:
- Sales: In general, a transaction between two parties where the buyer receives goods (tangible or intangible), services and/or assets in exchange for money.
- Social Construction: This is perception of consumer towards any social phenomenon and the meaning attached to it. Social construction is something you might not be aware of. You are somewhat living in segregation depending on what gender, race and class you are. Race, class and gender don’t really mean anything. They only have a meaning because society gives them a meaning. Social construction is how society groups people and how it privileges certain groups over others.
- Secondhand Clothing: Items of clothing that have been previously owned by someone else. Besides, second-hand or used good is one that is being purchased by or otherwise transferred to a second or later end user. A used good can also simply mean it is no longer in the same condition as it was when transferred to the current owner. When “used” means an item has expended its purpose (such as a used diaper), it is typically called garbage, instead. Used goods may be transferred informally between friends and family for free as “hand-me-downs” or they may be sold for a fraction of their original price at garage sales or in church bazaar fundraisers.
- Usage: Usage is defined as the way that something is being used, or to the proper way to make use of something such as a word or phrase or tool.
