[2013 trends] Africa's dynamic markets

[Obaika Consulting Team] The year 2013 for most brands, especially the ones coping with saturated markets in developed countries, will be a decisive one. Incorporating Africa into their corporate brand strategy, if they haven't done so, will be the better part of valour, so to speak. 31 Jan 2013 13:20

[2013 trends] Opportunities for growth within marketing and advertising arena

[Johanna McDowell] There are a few trends to be aware of in 2013 which will help create opportunities within the advertising and marketing arena in South Africa. A number of these come from local and international intelligence. 29 Jan 2013 12:41

[2013 trends] 'Goodvertising' - the key to brand leadership

[Thomas Kolster] There's a transformational shift happening and it's picking up pace in the New Year. Business and its far-reaching (some might say overreaching) arm, advertising, are becoming more responsible, more caring and more sustainable. 22 Jan 2013 10:53

[2012 trends] Back to school for marketers on teen basics

[Cathryn Treasure] It's back to basics for marketers on teen marketing - between all the talk about millennials and the born-digital, marketers have been swept up in a wave that makes it easy to forget the fundamentals. Here are several that marketers need to keep in mind when talking with today's teens (age range 11-19), regardless of what channel you choose to use. 25 Jan 2012 12:23

Retailers need to sense a brand revolution

[Michael Hinze] Legions of squealing teenage girls would vehemently disagree, but they're actually not in love with Justin Bieber. Infatuation - yes. Fantasy - yes. Love and a relationship? No. And that's why anyone who thinks consumers can form meaningful relationships with brands based on one-dimensional visual interactions is also living in a fantasy world. 16 Sep 2011 13:20

Are retailers forgetting the basics?

[Dave Nemeth] The retail sector is very aware that they need to do things differently in the wake of the recession, fast-paced technology and ever-changing consumer attitudes. These attitudes are still an unknown and we will be seeing retailers experiment with an array of different techniques and strategies to meaningfully connect with their consumers. While spending a couple of days in the field investigating various stores, what became glaring obvious to me is that in their pursuit of future brilliance, retailers have simply forgotten the basics. 30 Jun 2011 14:26

Will the fashion police blow the whistle in 2010?

[Dr Nikolaus Eberl] One of the most prolific media spectacles off the pitch during the 2006 FIFA World Cup - and sure to be replicated in 2010 - was the shopping spree of the English footballers' wives and girlfriends (also known as WAGs). 4 Nov 2009 12:30

Barbie's birthday adds flavour to SA Fashion Week

[Ilva Pieterse] Sanlam's SA Fashion Week's opening last night, Wednesday, 16 September 2009, was well attended by a broad spectrum of eager and excited fashion fanatics, all dressed to the nines. Amid flashes of fuschia, ribbons of rose and pink posters, trendspotters gathered at the Sandton Convention Centre to see what local talent has to offer while celebrating the 50th birthday of pop-culture princess Barbie. 17 Sep 2009 11:19

The silver lining in the retail storm

[ActivRetail] JWT Johannesburg recently hosted WPP's Global Retail initiative, presented by The Store's Gwen Morrison (CEO, Americas and Australasia) who heads up the group's division. Morrison shared her insights into the US retail market to demonstrate how these trends can be implemented in the South African market. 29 Apr 2009 16:37

Smash your brand - Lindstrom's advice

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] According to the findings of Martin Lindstrom's Buy-ology, the majority of the US$600 billion global advertising spend is currently wasted, and that TV commercials are ‘dead in the water' and product placement is completely off-track. Delegates in Johannesburg were told yesterday, Monday, 9 March 2009, that product placement needs to be reversed and brands need to be smashed. 10 Mar 2009 10:04

Grey goods remain a serious threat

[ActivRetail] Grey products are a serious threat to the sustainability of the stationery, home and office products industry and are often a convenient cover up for resellers dealing in counterfeit and stolen goods. Each year, counterfeiting and grey products cost official distributors and independent resellers millions of Rands in lost revenue, sub-standard returned products and legal proceedings. 23 Feb 2009 13:43

Impact of advertising on retail brands: Tesco case study, Part 1

[Pedro de Gouveia] How 'Every Little Helps' - advertising helped Tesco's brand image in the 1990s. The radical transformation of Tesco's fortunes from slumbering number two to Britain's largest supermarket chain, has been well documented in the UK. 12 Nov 2008 12:30

Trendy home catalogue offers easy shopping

[ActivRetail] Boardmans is releasing its second Home Catalogue, a convenient home-shopping guide that offers three effortless ways to shop - in-store, online or telephonically. 19 Feb 2008 12:37

SA consumers want good value for money

[ActivRetail] According to a recent survey conducted by The Nielsen Company, Good Value for Money is the most important factor in determining where consumers spend their grocery cash. 30 Nov 2007 08:32

Darkie puts the world in the shade

[Terry Levin] At the opening day of Cape Town Fashion Week on 8 August, models for local fashion brand Darkie swept the ramp like an unseasonal South Easter. 13 Aug 2007 13:04