[Michelle Francis] A recent article in the New York Post describes the advent of Grand Ambassadors, which is a prognosis of where the experiential activation industry in South Africa could be, given training and investment in brand ambassadors.
16 May 2013 10:49
[Chris Moerdyk] So, South African Airways (SAA) has just borrowed R1,5 billion from two banks to keep alive while it "waits for government to accept its turnaround strategy."
7 May 2013 06:49
[Brian Berkman] Having the right travel gear can make or break a trip. I'm luggage obsessed and have destination-specific baggage that, as someone that travels as much as I do, means wardrobes jammed with cases for every occasion.
11 Apr 2013 09:02
[Bonnie Ramaila] During the December holidays I noticed, without any preoccupation, that many a brands have undergone facelifts or nip-and-tucks, if you like.
12 Feb 2013 09:50
[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
[HKLM Exco Team] No, the concepts of "tribalism", "gamification" and "engagement" aren't a promo for the latest computer game, but are in fact the trends that will characterise the way companies and consumers interact in 2013. The branding industry is constantly developing and. while the following trends are evolutions rather than dynamic, short-term changes, we believe there are 10 areas that will define the brandscape over the next year.
31 Jan 2013 12:33
[HDI Youth Marketeers Team] Young South Africa is savvier than ever before. If you are looking for a smart and discerning
prosumer, this group of kids, teens and young adults will give you more kicks than you've ever bargained for. They know just what they are looking for from any brand, and this makes them that much more satisfying to please. Here are a few trends to look out for in 2013.
31 Jan 2013 11:30
[Nandkishor Buty] As 2013 commences, afro-pessimism seems to cede to afro-optimism. There is a global consensus: Africa is poised for a great future. What will be the impact of Africa's growth on our industry? What will be the major trends of the year? In the business world, predicting the future is a crucial exercise.
30 Jan 2013 12:39
[Dave Nemeth] No matter how slow off the mark, we have all come to the realisation that, no matter what line of business we are in, drastic measures are needed in order for us to not only increase market share but also to survive. It is not, however, all doom and gloom and for those who are embracing innovation and prepared to experiment with new ideas, a lot of opportunity awaits to reconnect with consumers and rise above the negative economic factors.
30 Jan 2013 10:44
[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
[Ryan Williams] I believe this year will be a positive one for cinema in South Africa, with a variety of influential trends taking hold of the industry. Digitalisation, 3D, blockbusters, increased attendance and on-the-mark cinema campaigns are all sure to contribute to a successful year.
29 Jan 2013 12:06
[Mike Silver] It's that time of the year where agencies are asked to haul out the old crystal ball and provide pearls of thumb-sucking wisdom. Before we do so, it would be wise to see how history might repeat itself. Reflecting briefly, for experiential marketing, 2012 was quite a year locally and abroad. Oh, and mazeltov on surviving the Mayan apocalypse - it was touch-and-go for a second there.
29 Jan 2013 11:18
[Doug Mayne] All early indicators seem to confirm that December 2012 was a relatively good year for the mall environment. Certainly not a 'shoot the lights out' result but stable, single digit growth nonetheless. The point now is what 2013 holds in store for us. Here are a few key trends which I think are relevant...
28 Jan 2013 11:56
[Kevin Bassett] "Content, context and customer proclivity" will be the mantra that drives this year's marketing metamorphosis in the arena of mobile technology. I believe that we will see a year of repositioning - of un-automate, de-campaign and game-play - but also of tighten, regulate and measure. In short, 2013 will see the 'mobile moth' turn into a butterfly.
28 Jan 2013 10:52
[Thomas Oosthuizen] I like the number 13. Like with most other things, it is what we
do with it that matters. Great companies never use the excuse of prevailing trends as a reason for them not to perform. They just leverage the circumstances better than their rivals. So, while economists will contemplate economic and social conditions in 2013, it is what
we as marketers do that matters.
28 Jan 2013 10:05
[Gisele Wertheim Aymes] The world is more interdependent and interconnected than ever before. Technology is ensuring the free flow of ideas, information and energy; creative co-operation and influence; and is bringing change across the globe that is happening at an unprecedented and accelerated rate.
25 Jan 2013 12:59
[Janice Spark] South Africa is a complicated place - each year outdoes the last in the 'magnitude of change' stakes. And we just know this year will deliver even more surprises. Nonetheless, important trends appeared across the brandscape during 2012. Here I explore the key brand moments of the year just passed, and take a peek at what might be ahead.
25 Jan 2013 12:24
[Bernard Matlhaga] The following are my thoughts on trends that will emerge in the retail and shopper marketing space in South Africa.
24 Jan 2013 12:54
[Gail Schimmel] So here we are in 2013 - the Mayan trend predictions for 2012 having spectacularly failed to materialise, leaving some of us with hangovers and debt that we had secretly hoped would be wiped clean in a Mayan-flavoured apocalypse. Now is the time for us to look into our crystal balls, and see if we can get our predictions for media and advertising regulation a bit more spot-on than the poor Mayans did.
24 Jan 2013 12:05
[Gareth Pearson] A transformation is in motion amongst shoppers and retailers country-wide. Consumers are becoming more discerning and demanding, and retailers and manufacturers are under pressure to innovate, offer quality and savings - all in one eco-friendly package! Here are some interesting trends for the retail sector that I've identified for 2013.
23 Jan 2013 12:48
[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
[Oresti Patricios] Context is king, but knowing what's around the next corner takes a little more than 20/20 vision. To find out what trends, innovations or environmental changes could affect your brand's future in 2013, here's some foresight.
22 Jan 2013 09:55
[Mongezi Mtati] In 2012, brands asked some pertinent and challenging questions pertaining to influencer outreach and seeding their products. Insights gained both as a delegate and a speaker at a number of enlightening conferences over the past year have led me to the following observations about what brands want and how Africa's youth prefer to be communicated with - from a marketing and advertising perspective.
21 Jan 2013 11:49
[Mike Freedman] How are P&G and Unilever differentiated? Does the Coca-Cola Company want to be known for obesity or health? Will supermarket brands be strengthened or weakened by their supply chains? The perfect storm of social media, continuing social unrest, concerns over the economy and environment will batter brands that are not resilient and adaptive, while shaking established ad agencies to their foundations.
17 Jan 2013 14:04
[Thomas Oosthuizen] We all recognize them, we all love them and we all want them, yet iconic brands are rare.
20 Nov 2012 14:25
[Gaelyn Scott] The results of the Interbrand Best Global Brands 2012 survey were announced at an event in Johannesburg on Wednesday 3 October 2012.
6 Oct 2012 14:05
[Craig Wilson] These are dark days for BlackBerry and Research in Motion (RIM). Though the Canadian company's smartphones continue to sell well in some emerging markets, including SA, consumers at the higher end - they are the more profitable segment for handset manufacturers - are abandoning it for the Apple iPhone and devices running Google's Android operating system.
3 Jul 2012 10:31[Chris Moerdyk] It never ceases to amaze me how corporate egos can lead to stupid knee-jerk decisions that end up damaging brands so much more than if they just swallowed their pride and moved on.
18 Jun 2012 10:39 
[Edward Fisher] Nando's has always been agile and, as technology enhances the turnarounds on production time, it has become even better at flighting ads in the immediate wake of the people and events that it satirises. But here comes the real rub... (pun unintentional...) Santam, on Tuesday, 24 April 2012, has responded to Nando's parody with its own [video].
24 Apr 2012 14:49
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] Motorola Mobility South Africa will initially spend about R20 million to aggressively market its newly launched Razr smartphone, Dorothy Matemba, Motorola sub-Saharan Africa head of marketing, told Bizcommunity.com on the sidelines of the launch of the Android-powered device in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Thursday, 27 October 2011. [video]
28 Oct 2011 11:36
Angola
Botswana
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
South Africa
Zimbabwe
Cote D'Ivoire
Ghana
Nigeria
Kenya
Uganda
Tanzania
Mauritius
Seychelles
Algeria
Egypt
Morocco
Zambia
