[Michael Wood] Think of those classic sporting clashes between old rivals Springboks and All Blacks, Chiefs vs Pirates, or Nadal vs Djokovic. A battle between two old rivals almost as equal as each other, bitterly fought, won with sweat, blood and tears.
22 May 2013 06:33
[Douglas Kruger] From Amoeba to Icon; where do you currently rank in your industry's natural progression? In this piece, I walk you through the seven stages of development as you strive to position yourself as an industry expert. [video]
13 Apr 2013 06:31
[Nicolas De Sousa] Stability, traceability and consistent representation are all facets of business that a well-established franchising industry is able to offer local and international investors.
10 Apr 2013 07:20
[Chris Grant] I am a compulsive reader and I'm fascinated by the use of the word 'truth' in article headlines. I am pulled in by the word hoping to find a clear, honest and truthful article on the subject matter - sadly, I am always disappointed.
21 Mar 2013 10:25
[Jolandé Duvenage] eBucks, a leading multi-partner rewards programme offered by FNB and RMB Private Bank, offers insight into trends that eBucks believes are influencing the rewards industry.
19 Mar 2013 15:39
[Chris Charter] Consumers have been encouraged by the acting Consumer Commissioner to "seek redress" under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) concerning the content of their meat products but consumers looking for a payday will be most likely be disappointed.
8 Mar 2013 07:19
[Mvelase Peppetta] In the past twelve months or so, what has occurred in the South African digital marketplace can only be described as an explosion of innovation. Whereas "innovation" in the digital marketplace is usually the domain of the small, nimble start-up, South Africans have suddenly started seeing the big retail names they're used to encountering in malls take up position in the digital marketplace.
6 Mar 2013 05:53
[Terry Levin] Context could be said to have emerged as an underlying theme of day two of
Design Indaba 2013, which took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
1 Mar 2013 09:44
[Mike Taberner] I am seeing many people talking about the virtues of big data and what this will do from a customer relationship management point of view. While I agree that the opportunity to dig deeper into your customer and their habits will be greatly enhanced, I fundamentally disagree with the idea that CRM is about the data.
25 Feb 2013 15:02
[Dr KF Lai] 2012 saw the
BuzzCity network grow by 67% with over 210.8 billion ads served across the globe and this extensive growth in mobile usage is certain to continue as we move through 2013.
21 Feb 2013 11:07
[Eve Williams] LONDON, UK / CAPE TOWN, SA: There's often a temptation with content marketing to think about the next big innovation or technology without actually thinking about what it could mean for the customer. It's vital that content is always relevant and empowering to customers regardless of the technology used.
7 Feb 2013 06:20
[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
[Bevan Ducasse] The 2012 African Mobile Factbook (Blycroft Publishing) revealed a few interesting revelations. We know that commerce in Africa is steadily becoming dependent on mobile. Some analysts are even predicting that Africa will become the world's first post-PC region of the world, with countries such as Botswana, Gabon and South Africa having a mobile penetration of more than 100%. And with mobile being such a pervasive, sophisticated, and personal device, comes new and exciting opportunities.
31 Jan 2013 05:43
[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
[Ilse du Plessis] The North Gauteng High Court handed down an interesting trade mark judgement recently. This is interesting because it touched on the vexed issue of the relationship between intellectual property (IP) rights and competition law. And interesting because it did so within the context of another thorny issue, namely the extent to which a trade mark owner can prevent the use or registration of an identical or similar mark.
29 Jan 2013 17:45
[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
[Dr KF Lai] There are several key trends that will present themselves in 2013. From m-payments to HIV/AIDS prevention, emerging markets are leading the way when it comes to innovative uses of mobile technology. Marketers, too, are seeing their roles and responsibilities expand.
25 Jan 2013 10:57
[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