21/09/2026
G I C ©'26
“I NO GET MARKET.” — Is that really the problem? 🤔
One of the most common complaints I hear from business owners is: “My business no get market.”
And yes, lack of customers is a serious business problem.
But before you conclude that your business has no market, let's diagnose the problem properly.
I like to look at business through three fundamental factors:
1️⃣ VALUE
Every business must create something of value—a product, service, solution or experience.
2️⃣ CUSTOMER / MARKET
Someone must be willing to exchange their money for that value.
3️⃣ PROFIT
When value meets the right customer under the right conditions, the business can generate profit.
So when a business owner says: “I don't have customers.”
The problem is occurring around the customer/market factor.
But here's where the real business diagnosis begins. 🩺
Why aren't they coming?
Because you shouldn't just start throwing advertisements everywhere without understanding the problem.
There are at least two major perceptions I would investigate first:
PERCEPTION #1 — “They don't know you exist.”
Your potential customers may actually need what you sell.
They simply don't know you exist.
In that case, your solution is visibility and awareness.
You need to put your business where your target audience can see it.
Advertise.
Create useful content.
Talk about your product.
Show your work.
Use your social media.
Use banners, flyers, signage and other appropriate visual communication.
And here's where the MEAT principle comes in:
M — Money
E — Energy
A — Attention
T — Time
You must intentionally invest your money, energy and time into attracting the attention of the people who actually need your product or service.
Because if nobody knows you exist, they can't patronize you.
PERCEPTION #2 — “They know you, but they don't trust what you're offering.”
This one is different.
Perhaps people have interacted with your business before and walked away with a negative impression.
Maybe the service was poor.
Maybe the product disappointed them.
Maybe communication was bad.
Maybe your pricing didn't match the perceived value.
Maybe there was simply an experience that made them stop returning.
In this case, more visibility alone won't solve the problem.
You could spend ₦500,000 advertising a business with a bad customer experience, and all you've done is introduce more people to the same problem.
So what do you do?
CREATE A FEEDBACK SYSTEM.
Go back to your past customers.
Ask questions.
Listen.
Find out: “Why did you stop buying from us?”
Don't defend yourself immediately.
Listen first.
The feedback helps you discover the perception your customers actually have about your business.
Then you can work on the real problem.
And sometimes, the solution could be better product packaging, improved service, clearer communication, new product packages, incentives or carefully structured offers.
For example, instead of simply reducing the price of one product because you assume price is the problem, you could introduce a package that creates more perceived value.
Don't guess the problem.
Diagnose it.
SO, BUSINESS OWNER, BEFORE YOU SAY “MY MARKETING NO DEY WORK”...
Ask yourself:
Do people know I exist?
Or...
Do they know me, but have a reason not to patronize me?
Those are two different problems.
And they require two different solutions.
That's why I don't see creative work as simply “making graphics.”
At GIC Concept, I see design, branding, printing and visual communication as tools that can help businesses become visible and communicate their value.
If your problem is awareness, I can help you communicate your existence professionally through the right visual materials.
If you're building a brand that needs clarity, consistency and stronger perception, that's also where intentional branding comes in.
But remember: Visibility brings attention.
Your value and customer experience must give people a reason to stay.
So before you conclude that your business needs a miracle...
Check the strategy. 🩺📊
This is your reminder from your Business Doctor: Diagnose before you prescribe.
And if your business needs a creative partner to help communicate its value, increase visibility and present its brand professionally...
📩 Send me a DM/WhatsApp. Let's talk about the problem before we talk about the design.
I'm GIC Concept
I Design || I Print || I Brand
I don go 🫡