Woolworths withdraws 'Good Old Fashioned' vintage soda range

Following a ruling by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of 1 February 2012, Woolworths has announced that it will withdraw its entire vintage soda range from the shelves, despite the fact that the ruling only called for the removal of the phrase 'Good Old Fashioned' from the labels. 2 Feb 2012 10:07

South Africans invited to join global creative storytelling contest, win trip to Cannes Lions

Marketers from 30 countries across the world, including South Africa as part of the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, have been invited to enter the Microsoft Advertising Story Awards (MSAs), by submitting a campaign idea for a brand or non-profit of their choice, using Microsoft Advertising's storytelling platforms. The prize is two VIP trips to Cannes Lions this year. 1 Feb 2012 12:40

Draftfcb (South Africa)

Barnwell's return shot in arm for Cape Town ad industry

Cape Town's advertising industry has been given a shot in the arm with the return of Mike Barnwell, who left South Africa in 2010 to guide the creative fortunes of Publicis Mojo Auckland. He will be taking over the executive creative director's chair Draftfcb Cape Town on 1 March. 1 Feb 2012 11:21

[2012 trends] In case the world doesn't end...

[Louise Marsland: @Louise_Marsland] While the theme song for the Year 2012 will undoubtedly be ''It's the end of the world as we know it..." by R.E.M., and we'll be bored with all the End-of-the-World theme parties and raves and launches by March already... in case the world doesn't end, these are some essential trends and things you need to know for the year to come [with additional editing and contributions from moi - managing ed]. 31 Jan 2012 14:13

Francois de Villiers joins Haas Collective as agency takes Spur account

[Herman Manson: @marklives] A small Cape Town agency has just taken the Spur account and brought on board the former executive creative director of Draftfcb - Francois de Villiers. Haas Collective is a creative collective run by Mike Orrey, one of the founders of Orrey, Rightford & Drysdale Advertising (ORD Advertising) and Glynn Venter, a former ECD of the Draftfcb through-the-line studio. 31 Jan 2012 09:25

John Farquhar, a man of fascinating contradiction

[Gill Moodie: @grubstreetSA] John Farquhar, the legendary ad man and commentator who died at the weekend, was a man of fascinating contradiction: a sophisticated thinker with a poor education; a loner who worked in the team-based world of advertising; an irascible man who was shy at heart. 30 Jan 2012 15:58

RadioGauge launches radio advertising effectiveness research study

RadioGauge is seeking six advertisers/advertising agencies whose campaigns meet with set criteria for measurement in a free radio advertising effectiveness research study in South Africa. 30 Jan 2012 13:32

Conduit Productions

Conduit's creative roundup

Conduit has been hard at work on a variety of great creative briefs. 30 Jan 2012 12:52

Pendoring relocates to Cape Town as part of Creative Week

The Pendoring Awards - which celebrate and encourage the use of Afrikaans advertising, as well as Truly South African communication for Afrikaans advertising - will this year be part of Creative Week Cape Town, on Friday evening, 21 September 2012. For the first time, too, the Loeries judging week and judges' seminars will also be held in the Mother City during Creative Week. 30 Jan 2012 11:59

Chris Moerdyk pays tribute to John Farquhar

[Chris Moerdyk: @chrismoerdyk] This is most unlike you, John. This dying thing. I mean, dash it all, we had a lunch date in mid-February and it really is most unlike you to do anything that might compromise lunch, especially as it was my turn to pay. 30 Jan 2012 10:31

Cannes Lions 2012 entries open

CANNES, FRANCE: The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is now accepting entries across all 15 categories for its 2012 awards - Film, Press, Outdoor, Direct, Media, Cyber, Radio, Promo & Activation, Titanium & Integrated, Design, PR, Film Craft, Creative Effectiveness, Mobile and Branded Content & Entertainment. 30 Jan 2012 10:16

Skincare giant selects OMD as media agency

Following a tender process to procure a new media agency to handle the media strategy and implementation for all of the Beiersdorf brands, previously handled by TBWA, OMD Media Direction South Africa (OMD) was selected from the four agencies pitching. 30 Jan 2012 09:35

[2012 trends] Thoughts to challenge SA's communications industry

[Marcus Sorour] With social media and connectivity transforming communications, clients are asking for dedicated, proactive and tech-savvy teams who can provide content and counsel which talks beyond 'the product' and positions them as industry leaders. Lower marketing budgets and higher client expectations means agencies need to continually develop and deliver more to address the challenges faced by the communications industry in 2012. 27 Jan 2012 14:16

[2012 trends] Getting found in 2012

[Lana Hindmarch] In 2012, businesses will take a more aggressive approach to transforming their marketing efforts and reducing their cost per lead, by focusing more on permission-based, inbound marketing programmes that allow customers to find them. 27 Jan 2012 13:01