[2012 trends] Bob, where's my flying car?

[Matt Ross] I'm risking joining the ranks of ludicrousness by jumping in the mire of guesstimation. I'm not focusing on any specific area of our industry; after all, any development affects us all. I have tried to be broad, though. Oh, and I've avoided trends. The following will be stalwarts for years to come - the temporary is never attractive, anyway. Unless you married Liz Taylor. 31 Jan 2012 11:36

Acceleration Media to monitor mentions of SA

As the exclusive South African reseller of Radian6, an online reputation management tool, Acceleration Media has been awarded a three-year contract to monitor and analyse media mentions of South Africa across global digital and traditional media on behalf of Brand South Africa. 31 Jan 2012 09:36

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

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

Knowledge Resources

Direct Marketing Conference & Workshop 2012

The 2012 Direct Marketing Conference & Workshop takes place on 28 February - 1 March. International expert, Ernan Roman will participate in the event and top speakers will discuss topics such as integrated marketing, social and multichannel marketing, CRM, database analytics, mobile marketing, Voice of Customer marketing strategies and more. 30 Jan 2012 11:27

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

[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

Media Basics

Invitation to submit tenders

The Department of Arts and Culture is inviting companies operating in the design and branding sphere to submit tenders for logo design and brand development/application of the SA/French Reciprocal Seasons 2012/2013. 26 Jan 2012 19:14

[2012 trends] The year of the phoenix

[Joanna Oosthuizen] Twenty Twelve, year of the dragon, a leap year and the year the world as we know it is meant to end. I believe it will, not in a dooms-day fill-my-bunker-with-canned-food kind of way but in a thinking, progressive, collaborative and connective way. It's a phoenix year, where great ideas and people will rise from the economic ashes and drive informed action. 26 Jan 2012 12:37

2012 Tabbie Awards open for nominations

CLEVELAND, US: The 2012 Tabbies call for entries is now available at the TABPI website, allowing all B2B magazine editors, publishers and art directors the opportunity to have their best work judged by their peers. Tabbies' partners include South Africa's SAFREA, and MPASA. [video] 26 Jan 2012 11:40

[2012 trends] Influencers take to the web and run the streets

[Mongezi Mtati] 2011 saw the rise of more social media influencers and thought leaders; more conversations influenced how brands are perceived; and the fad of a Facebook page became more questioned than ever before. Or did that apply only in conferences and meetings I went to? Here are my predictions for 2012. 26 Jan 2012 11:38

Avon, Jay Jays launch advertising campaigns

Avon, the direct seller of beauty related products, recently launched an advertising campaign to illustrate its self-employed earnings opportunity featuring a South African rags-to-riches example, while Jay Jays, the fashion retail chain, has launched its interactive virtual First Kiss campaign ahead of Valentine's Day. [video] 26 Jan 2012 10:36

2Bop wins TJDR CT Constructus Award

Ad agency The Jupiter Drawing Room Cape Town (TJDR) has named local street-wear brand 2Bop the first winner of the Constructus Award, which aims to provide support, mentor and reward small local creative black-owned businesses. 2Bop has been awarded a R150 000 grant, as well as ongoing access to the mentorship team at the agency. 26 Jan 2012 07:08

Braille-ant campaign a trend setter for 2012

[Rose Setshoge] Wimpy's recent Braille burger campaign from MetropolitanRepublic is a reminder of some important aspects that should be incorporated in most new campaigns for winning results. Several of these include the significance of paying attention to the market, incorporation of social issues and most importantly, simplicity. [video] 25 Jan 2012 15:30