Artisans who mend damaged umbrellas in Benin, the Edo capital, say they are enjoying high patronage as the rains intensify in the state.
Some of the umbrella repairers disclosed this on Wednesday.
The high prices of new umbrellas had also made their businesses to boom as people now prefer to repair their damaged umbrellas than buy new ones.
One of the artisans, Mr. Emmanuel Osadolor, told NAN that he makes up to N5,500 on daily basis mending umbrellas since the commencement of the rains.
“I was making between N1,500 to N3,000 every day before the rains started.
“Our peak season is raining season and I can make up to N110,000 a month fixing damaged umbrellas.
“Many of my customers have been bringing their old and faulty umbrellas for repairs since the commencement of the rains.
“I charge my customers between N300 to N2,500 to fix an umbrella depending on the size and extent of damage to the umbrella.
“Even when you buy new umbrellas, you have to bring them to us to sew them round so that they will last longer,” Osadolor said.
Another umbrella repairer, Mr. Isaac Idehen, said “we are having more customers this time because the prices of new umbrellas have gone up.
“A medium-size umbrella that was sold for N1,000 is now N1, 500 while a big size umbrella goes for N1,800 as against N1,300 sold before the rainy season.
“My customers say they now prefer to spend an average of N400 to repair a medium-size umbrella than spend between N1,500 to N1,800 to purchase a new one”.
LG polls: PDP suit challenging our power is a nullity – PLASIEC tells court
Also, Mr. Philip Osas, said that mending umbrellas was a lucrative business, urging youths to learn it as a vocation.
“No youth has come to tell me that he or she wants to learn the vocation, some of the youths I introduced the vocation to, say they are shy to learn it.
“I can make new umbrellas and repair any type of umbrella. I learned the vocation in a company that produces new umbrellas in Lagos about 18 years ago.
“This is the business I am using to feed my family and I am making good money from it; I am ready to teach anyone who is ready to learn”, he said.
