Rent in Lagos has gone up again, a cousin has a shop space in Ibadan, and you have decided to take the business with you. Now there are shelves, a freezer, a counter and a few hundred cartons of stock to carry about 120km, and you want to lose as few trading days as possible.
This plan is for a shop owner moving the whole business from Lagos to Ibadan.
Decide what is worth moving
Not everything deserves a place on the truck. Walk the shop with a notepad and sort items into four groups:
- Stock that sells steadily: move it.
- Slow stock: discount it in the last two weeks.
- Fittings that are old or too big for the new space: sell them locally.
- Items that are cheaper to replace than to carry, such as flimsy shelves.
Measure the new shop before you decide. A counter that fits in Lagos may not fit through the Ibadan door.
Choose the dates
You need a closing day in Lagos and an opening day in Ibadan. The gap between them is your lost trading time, so keep it short.
- Tell regular customers the date of the last sales day.
- Close in the evening and load overnight or at first light.
- Aim to have shelves up in Ibadan within a day of arrival.
- Announce the new address on your phone status, your social pages and a sign on the old door.
Our guide on moving a shop overnight in Lagos has a closing night routine you can reuse.
Plan the trips
A full shop often needs more than one trip, and the order matters.
Trip one: fittings and fixtures. Shelves, racks, the counter, signs and the freezer go first, so the shop can be set up while the stock is still coming.
Trip two: stock, by category, packed so that each carton goes to its shelf. Number every carton and list what is inside.
Optional trip three: returnable crates, display items and anything left behind.
A truck is usually right for a whole shop. A pickup van can handle a smaller trip such as fast-moving stock that you want to restock quickly.
For the highway part of the trip, our guide to preparing a household load for a long highway trip covers straps, covers and rest stops, and it applies to shop stock as well.
Keep a stock list
Before the first carton moves, count the shop.
- Write a stock list by shelf or category with quantities.
- Photograph each shelf as it is.
- Number every carton and match the number to the list.
- Keep the list on your phone and a printed copy in your bag.
At the Ibadan end, tick each carton as it comes off the truck. If something is missing or damaged, you will know the same day, when the driver can still help you figure out what happened.
Ready to move?
Request a truck or van on Sphere
Choose your vehicle, propose your price, and verified drivers in Lagos, Ibadan accept or send a counter-offer.
Handle the paperwork and local rules
You cannot assume the same rules in Ibadan as in Lagos. Ask the landlord and the local market or shop association about access hours, levies and where a truck can park to offload. Do not rely on a friend's memory of last year's rules.
If the shop sells items that need a licence or a special approval, find out from the relevant office what applies in Oyo State before you open. Do not assume your Lagos paperwork carries over.
Staff and family
Decide who travels with the truck. One trusted person should be at the Lagos end for the final handover and one at the Ibadan end to receive the load. If you travel with the driver, remember that space in the cab is limited. Our note on what to carry in your own car when the truck goes ahead helps you split the cash box, documents and phones from the main load.
How to do this on Sphere
Open the app and choose a truck for the fittings and stock. Add the Lagos pickup and the Ibadan drop-off, then describe the load: "one shop: three steel shelves, a counter, a chest freezer and about 150 cartons". Mention the road width and any steps at both ends. Propose a price, and nearby verified drivers will accept it or send counter-offers. Agree loading and offloading help with the driver before you accept an offer.
You can also read about truck hire in Lagos, Ibadan moving and business moves in Lagos.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move a whole shop from Lagos to Ibadan in one trip?
A small shop can fit in one truck load if the weight is within the truck's capacity. A larger shop usually needs two trips, with fittings first and stock second.
How long should the shop stay closed?
As little as you can manage. Many owners close in the evening, move overnight and aim to reopen within a day or two, once shelves are up.
Should I discount stock before moving?
Often yes. Slow stock is the cheapest thing to leave behind, and a short clearance sale reduces what you have to load.
Do I need to tell customers I am moving?
Yes. Share the last sales day and the new address with regular customers before you close.
Who should be at each end of the move?
One person at the Lagos end for the handover and one at the Ibadan end to receive the load and tick off the cartons.
Request your move
Request a truck or van on Sphere
Choose your vehicle, propose your price, and verified drivers in Lagos, Ibadan accept or send a counter-offer.
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