“There is an opportunity to better commercialize roller skating as a leisure activity in the Nigeria. An outdoor roller rink will serve as an establishment for teenagers and the youth to hang out with friends, race around the rink, listening to music and munching on their favorite food. Factors that further reinforce this opportunity include the predictable weather in Nigeria, minimal competition in this space, lack of good roads to support roller skating, and the continuous curiosity to engage in activities popular in the Western world.”
Roller skating as a hobby in the United States started gaining popularity in the 1930s. The Disco craze from the popular 1970s culture led to the increase in the popularity of roller rinks. This trend extended through the 90’s, when roller rinks were popular, where teenagers and young adults skated under mirror balls and special lights to music.
Source – ogscapital.com
Due to increased cost of real estate and more popular technology entertainment options, the popularity of roller rinks in the US has declined over the past couple of decades. However, there is a new geography where roller skating is booming with increased interest in the sport, and that place is…….you guessed it Africa.
The roller skating wave in Africa is real. In Lagos, Nigeria, the youth compete at the National Stadium, performing in freestyle competitions. Some performers gain large followings on social media and make earnings through brands looking for better exposure to their products.
Source: bbc.com
Many Nigerian citizens are fascinated by the roller skating phenomenon and would love to participate not necessarily as a competitive sport but as a leisure activity. There are a couple roller rinks in Lagos but they are nothing compared to the typical rink you find in the United States. I visited a roller rink in Lagos, and it was the size of many living rooms, taking away from the popular roller rink experience. Here is Nigeria’s first skating rink located at Funderland Mall in Lekki-Ajah, Lagos.
Source: Lost in Lagos
There is an opportunity to better commercialize roller skating as a leisure activity in the Nigeria. An outdoor roller rink will serve as an establishment for teenagers and the youth to hang out with friends, race around the rink, listening to music and munching on their favorite food. Factors that further reinforce this opportunity include the predictable weather in Nigeria, minimal competition in this space, lack of good roads to enable roller skating, and the continuous curiosity to engage in activities popular in the Western world.
Source: narcity.com
What it is:
- An outdoor roller rink, where teenagers and adults can have an entertaining experience as a group roller skating to music played by a DJ
Start Up
- Purchase two plots of land in Lagos to setup the roller rink. The location can be on the mainland which is accessible to a large clientele due to the density of the population or on the island which is less dense but accessible to a more affluent demographic where one can charge higher prices. Visit Nigeria Property Centre for land prices in Lagos.
- Visit Alibaba.com and purchase 200 roller skates for initial inventory. Average price of roller skates is $16 each, costing a total of $3,200; shipping not included.
- Setup a 10,000 square foot roller rink with rubber flooring
- Add other structures to the roller rink such as concession for food, DJ booth/lighting, dining area etc
Revenue Sources
- Charge an admission fee for each patron
- Roller skates rental
- Concession (food and drinks)
- Sell new/used roller skates
- Setup a roller skates repair shop
- Host birthday parties
- Offer roller skating lessons
- Host roller skating competition and tournaments
Other Revenue Growth Opportunities
- Turn roller rink to an outdoor venue with tents to host larger parties, birthdays, wedding etc
- Turn roller rink into a night club or outdoor lounge, which is easy due to the existing infrastructure
- Private label roller skates with your own logo that can be retailed for three times (3x) the cost
- Franchise the roller rink to other parts of the country
I really like this idea