Retail South Africa

Crystal ball of retail - 26 May 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] When out shopping, it's unusual to find me not using my phone. Whether it's just for basic price/quantity calculations, snapping pictures for a friend's opinion, or for something more online intensive like store or brand price comparisons and product reviews. read more

Creating the sale - 19 May 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] All right, so you've set up the "Sale" and other digital signage, the cardboard product cut-outs and the POP displays; now all there is to do is sit back and wait for consumers to buy the goods on promotion. But they're not. read more

The tipping point - 12 May 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] We're not even halfway through the year but in retail, it seems it's never too early to start planning for the festive season. Marketing strategies, new products and, of course, service. Last week we had a look at the importance of good service. read more

Voting for service - 5 May 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] As the country celebrates 20 years of democracy, with Freedom Day held last Sunday, 27 April, the CGCSA's Gwarega Mangozhe took a look at what the consumer goods industry has achieved during this time. Wednesday will mark the last of this week-after-week stretch of public holidays, when people make a mark of their own. Election day can be compared in some ways to a customer service survey - the theory is to vote for the party that provides the best service delivery (although in practice, we all know it's a little more complicated than that). read more

Business is blazing - 14 Apr 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] Just when it seems like things are slowing down for the autumn and its ubiquitous holidays, someone turns the heat back on. And I'm not talking about the heatwave we had in Cape Town over the weekend. read more

Winter warner - 7 Apr 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] For those who missed it, there were reports of snow on the mountains around Ceres on 2 April, and no, it wasn't some kind of belated April Fool's joke (did you spot the prank release, though?). This early dusting certainly feels like a "long, cold winter" warning; time to start putting away the shorts and flip-flops, and pull out the coats and boots. read more

Whining and wining - 31 Mar 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] Well, it's that time of the month again... That time to go rushing off to your local petrol station to fill up your tank before midnight tomorrow. read more

Gearing for growth - 24 Mar 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] Autumn has arrived, and with it, the minefield of school and public holidays. Of course, this is usually a good thing as far as retail is concerned, but we'll have to wait and see which way this weather drives us - home or in-store. read more

On the winning track - 17 Mar 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] The 2014 awards season is well underway and in the circle this week, we have the winners of the Product of the Year Awards and the TAJ Classic Wine Trophy. Tetra Pak is also celebrating its iF Award win. read more

What you need, what they want - 10 Mar 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] After all this talk of Pravin Gordhan's speech the other week, some SMMEs might think they're too small to bother to compile a formal budget; Gerrie van Biljon tells us otherwise. But one needs to have money in order to manage it. David McWilliam explains that keeping loyal customers is a more profitable option than winning new ones, and helps us understand customer behaviour through analytics. One new development that has gone a long way to understand customer behaviour is Nedbank and iMobilise Transportation Systems' new PocketPOS device. read more

Budgets and business boosts - 3 Mar 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced the 2014 budget last week, and those with vices will, as usual, be paying more for their sins. The wine industry, however, didn't take as hard a knock as spirits in the liquor trade. read more

Stormy weather ahead - 24 Feb 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] Retailers appear to be battening down the hatches for a bleak winter... Last week, Edcon announced it will start retrenching staff this May in order to lower operating costs, while Naspers said it intends to shut down several of its ecommerce sites. read more

Bizness of trends - 17 Feb 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] Following on the trend of big industry moves, Edcon announced, last week, it has appointed a new CFO - Toon Clerckx. read more

Moving and shaking - 10 Feb 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] Some big moves in the industry this week: first, Taste Holding's has been so pleased with Marcel Strauss's leadership of The Fish & Chip Co., it's been decided that he will head up the company's new chicken acquisition, Zebro's. Woolworths today announced that Christo Claassen will be taking over as MD of clothing and general merchandise from Brett Kaplan, who is planning to retire this year after an admirable 37-years with the company. In other news, the annual SACSC Research Conference will be taking place in Sandton this April, British Airways has launched a new credit card in conjunction with MasterCard, and there's new opposition to Foodcorp and Oceana's merger. Have a love-filled week! read more

Interesting times - 3 Feb 2014

[Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)] The glow on the faces of many new homeowners dulled a little last week as the MPC decided to up the repo rate, the interest rate rising along with it. Banks expect consumers to exercise increased caution, while a cycle of interest rate hikes could see bad debt levels rise. These fears don't seem to be slowing down the restaurant industry though, with Ocean Basket eyeing global expansion and Taste developing a palate for chicken. read more

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