Hello Frappuccino - 20 Jul 2015

Following Taste Holdings' announcement that Starbucks stores are soon to open across South Africa - starting with a Johannesburg café due to open early next year - Michael Wood raises concerns about the global brand's long-term sustainability, arguing that successful coffee shops have to create a total social experience based on attractive and inviting environments, innovative products and high quality service.

Sane Mdlalose explains the post-2000 shift in consumer experiences and perceptions and advises how brands can maintain customer loyalty under the circumstances.

Then some firsts for SA: Nedbank is the first South African bank to offer a big data service, more specifically, a data analytics tool that records customers' shopping behaviour, as well as income segmentation, gender and age demographics; and South Africa's first true escrow service, powered by Standard Bank, has been launched to provide a seamless and secure online purchasing experience.