Ariaria Market is one of the major markets in Aba. In fact, it is one of the largest markets in Nigeria, with over 37,000 shops and an estimated 100,000 traders. It is located in Aba, Abia State, and is known for its thriving textile industry. The market is as well known for the sale of a variety of goods such as electronics, shoes, bags, and food items.
But of the 100,000 traders in Ariaria market, a good number of them don’t have shops. In fact, right from the get as a customer you see lots of traders welcoming and introducing you to different products they have. As a first comer, it is almost impossible to know that those people aren’t the owners of the shops they are taking you to. This led to a business concept known as Oso Ahia under the Igbo Apprenticeship System.
Many of the people involved in Oso Ahia has made appreciable income with that business model. However, there are many other ways one can make money in Ariaria Market without owning a shop.
This post is therefore about how to make money in Ariaria without owning a shop. So if you are wondering how to make money in Ariaria Market without owning a shop below is the guide you need:
How to Make Money in Ariaria Market Without Owning a Shop
1. Oso Ahia (Dropshipping)
One smart and popular way one can make money in Ariaria Market without owning a shop is through Oso Ahia.
Oso Ahia is a local way of doing dropshipping service. It is a business model in which people without shop in Ariaria concentrate on getting customers for various products that are available in shops within the market.
So Onye Oso Ahia (a Dropshipper) lays hold on a customer he will take the person to a particular shop. When they get to the shop the owner will not interfere in the business transaction (another good way of collaborating). The Onye Oso Ahia will now negotiate price with the customer and once the customer agrees to pay a particular amount a sale is made. And after the customer has gone, the Onye Oso Ahia will go back to settle with the shop owner.
For example, it is possible that the dropshipper sold a particular T-Shirt for ₦6,000, then he will give say ₦4,000 to the owner of the shop and make a profit of ₦2,000.
By this one can make money in Ariaria Market without owning a shop of one’s own. Many people have hailed this as Igbo traders’ common sense in business.

2. Buying and Selling
The second way to make money in Ariaria Market without owning a shop is through buying goods at a lower price and selling them at a higher price. This can be done by visiting different shops in the market and negotiating prices with the sellers. For instance, if you can buy a pair of shoes for ₦5,000 and sell it for ₦7,000, you will make a profit of ₦2000.
It is possible to buy those products from one end of the market and decide to either hawk it or spread it on the ground anywhere within the market.
This method sometimes may require some capital to start, but it can be highly profitable.
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3. Providing Services
One mistake people make about how to make money in Ariaria Market is that they tend to believe that it is only traders that can make money in a market as such. And such misconception has denied people who otherwise would have been making money in the market.
Another powerful way to make money in Ariaria Market without owning a shop is by providing services to the traders. For example, you can offer to transport goods from one shop to another, or provide packaging services for the goods. You can also offer repair services for electronics or provide tailoring services for clothing. These services can be highly profitable and require minimal investment to start.
4. Affiliate Marketing
Another good way to make money in Ariaria Market without owning a shop there is through Affiliate Marketing.
Affiliate marketing involves promoting other people’s products and earning a commission for each sale made through your referral link. You can approach shop owners in Ariaria Market and offer to promote their products on your social media platforms or website. You can then earn a commission for each sale made through your referral link. This method requires some digital marketing skills, but it can be highly profitable if done correctly.
Note that there is a difference between Oso Ahia (Dropshipping) and Affiliate Marketing. Whereas Oso Ahia means that you have to get the customer and add your profit to whatever the shop owner is selling the product. So basically you determine your selling price and your profit. But in Affiliate Marketing, the selling price is fixed and your profit is based on an agreed commission.
5. Digital Marketing
You can also make money in Ariaria Market even if you don’t have your own shop through Digital Marketing.
Digital marketing involves promoting goods or services through social media platforms, email marketing, or search engine optimization (SEO). You can approach shop owners in Ariaria Market and offer to promote their products through digital marketing. This can be highly effective in reaching a wider audience and can be a profitable business in the long term.
In this case you can agree on the payment terms to render such service.
6. Supplying Goods
Equally good way to make money in Ariaria Market without owning a shop is by supplying goods to shop owners.
You can supply goods to the shops in Ariaria Market. This can involve importing goods from other countries or buying goods in bulk from manufacturers and selling them to the shops in Ariaria Market at a profit. This method requires some capital to start, but it can be highly profitable if done correctly.
7. Catering
You can provide catering services to the traders in Ariaria Market. This can involve preparing and selling food to the traders during their breaks or providing catering services for events and meetings held in the market.You don’t necessarily need to own a shop to do this. An option is to deliver the food to different shops as they place their orders. You can also make it a mobile shop using a van or even a cart.
This method equally require some capital to start, but it can be highly profitable if done correctly.
8. Online Marketplace
You can create an online marketplace for the shops in Ariaria Market. This can involve creating a website or social media platform where the shops can sell their products online. You can earn a commission for each sale made through your platform. This method does not necessarily require capital to start, However, it requires some digital marketing skills. And it can be highly profitable if one is able to build the platform.
9. Business Consulting
Another great way one can make money in Ariaria Market without owning a shop is through business consulting.
You can also make money in Ariaria Market by offering consulting services to the traders. For instance, you can offer to help them with their accounting, marketing, or business strategy. This can be a highly profitable business and requires expertise in a specific area.
And guess what?
Because most of the traders in Aba didn’t attend formal business schools they have little knowledge of how to structure their businesses. So if you are able to convince them about this, the market is big enough.
10. Training
Finally, you can offer training services to the traders in Ariaria Market. For instance, you can offer training on how to use digital marketing to promote their products, or how to manage their finances effectively. This can be a highly profitable business and requires expertise in a specific area.
Wrapping it Up on How to Make Money in Ariaria Market Without Owning a Shop
How to make money in Ariaria market without owning a shop.
In summary, there are numerous ways to make money in Ariaria Market without owning a shop. It can either be by working smart and connecting with customers ahead of shop owners. It can also be by leveraging your skills, expertise, and capital, to create a profitable business in the market. It is however important to research the market, identify a profitable niche, and choose a method that aligns with your skills and interests. With hard work and dedication, you can make a good income from Ariaria Market.
Remember that to make money in Ariaria Market you mustn’t have a shop. And even when it comes to how to make money in Ariaria Market without owning a shop it is not restricted to trading. This knowledge will give you the liberty to think wide and explore opportunities. It is all about providing value in exchange for money.
How to make money in Ariaria market without owning a shop
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How to make money in Ariaria market without owning a shop