From purchase decisions to payment options - 13 Jun 2016[Jessica Tennant, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] Last week saw the launch of the Effective Measure e-Commerce Industry Report 2016 that compares online and offline shoppers and explains what motivates their buying behaviour. 58% of the 12,000 respondents indicated that they prefer to pay with a card and bill payment merchants, while 23% would rather pay on delivery. read more Modern retailing - 6 Jun 2016[Jessica Tennant, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] Last week saw a special focus feature on shopper marketing, edited and curated by Louise Marsland, on how technology is changing how people shop, as well as how digital signage will transform the retail environment. Today, based on this year's theme of the Consumer Goods Forum's Global Summit, 'Seizing opportunities in the face of disruption', Marsland shares some of the top shopper marketing and consumer trends that are leading disruption in the retail value chain. A new Nielsen Global Brand-Origin report comparing local and global brands suggests that homegrown brands maintain a powerful hold over local consumers. read more Shopper marketing and #trending products - 30 May 2016[Jessica Tennant, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] Today sees the launch of our special focus feature on shopper marketing, edited and curated by Louise Marsland. Expect a week of exclusive, must-read content on how technology is changing how people shop as well as how digital signage will transform the retail environment. Also sharing on the 'best new products this year', Marsland thinks she might have discovered hers for 2016 already: a cat collar called Catterbox that makes your cat 'talk' back. The case of Candace Payne and the Chewbacca mask is one of the best examples Sarah Britten has seen of social media working in tandem with a retailer. read more How to anger online customers - 23 May 2016[Jessica Taylor, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] This week we touch on things making the online consumer sad and glad. First up, on the 'sad' end of the scale, is the 'online sale of a lifetime' that angered many - clothing store Mango customers after a 'technical issue' lead to an unbelievable R1 sale. read more Tech compatibility and online shopping in full swing - 16 May 2016[Jessica Taylor, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] Felix Erken of Junk Mail Digital Media writes about instant engagement as the next step for online classifieds. He says businesses wanting to realise the benefits of this change will need to find ways to cater to the anytime-from-anywhere delivery that's currently being demanded and ensure compatibility of their service offering with new and old technologies alike. It's an interesting strategy as research shows US retail giants are feeling pain as online shopping hits. read more The slow online retail shift - 9 May 2016[Jessica Taylor, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] Our big focus this week is on big SA retailers slowly making their move to the Web, with Colleen Goko writing that World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck confirms SA is still five to 10 years behind the major Western markets in terms of online retail uptake and innovation. There's little wonder online retailers have become more popular locally over the past decade as consumers look for convenience in a continuously connected world. We also find out about a development that's set to send even more consumers online -Amazon's new air cargo deal, which will provide more independence from freight firms for delivery of online purchases. read more Mall of Africa opening - 3 May 2016[Jessica Taylor, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] A short week, but not short of big news... Top story is the opening of the highly anticipated Mall of Africa in Midrand, said to be the largest shopping centre on the continent. At 131,038m², "it is still far smaller than malls in many developing Asian countries, which tend to average around 300,000m²," reports Alistair Anderson. read more Starbucks in your eyes - 25 Apr 2016[Jessica Taylor, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] Top story is the opening of the first Starbucks store in South Africa, which saw fanatics lining up from the night before. A second Starbucks store will open in Attacq's R5bn Mall of Africa in Midrand on Thursday. read more Key insights driving change - 18 Apr 2016[Jessica Taylor, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] The Broll Shopper Segmentation Report 2016 Volume 1 was released at the 2016 South African Council of Shopping Centres Research Conference held in Johannesburg on Wednesday. Of those surveyed, 83% of South African respondents said trading hours are inadequate, suggesting that ideal trading hours would be from 7am to 8pm. read more Investing in African retail - 11 Apr 2016[Jessica Taylor, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] In international news, Gold Brands Investments has secured the exclusive rights to roll out Britain's Harry Ramsden's restaurant chain (world famous for its fish 'n' chips) across South Africa, and Orange has acquired a €75m equity interest in Africa Internet Group. This investment will enable Orange to assist Jumia and other websites owned by the internet group to accelerate their growth and seize development opportunities. In light of #CommerceMonth, Jovago takes a closer look at e-commerce being both a problem and a solution to businesses in Africa. read more A new paradigm of retail - 4 Apr 2016[Jessica Taylor, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] Nic Criticos, head of store design at Woolworths, says that the South African chain of retail stores is about to undergo a paradigm shift and will soon launch the 'store of the future'. He shares some of the trends leading the innovation. read more Acquisitions and collaborations - 29 Mar 2016[Jessica Taylor, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] Nigerian online shopping portal DealDey has been acquired by Ringler Africa, including DealDey's couponing platform Promohub and discovery platform Lyf (both part of the larger company). Then in the fashion category, to coincide with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg, Jockey announced its launch of a luxury range of underwear in collaboration with David Tlale. And The Foschini Group has acquired (through its UK subsidiary, Phase-Eight) the entire share capital of Whistles, a contemporary fashion brand based in London. For #BrandManagerMonth, I interviewed Silke Bucker, a brand manager at SAB, on the recent launch of Carling Blue Label beer. read more So much in store, in more ways than one - 22 Mar 2016[Jessica Taylor, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] This week, #BrandManagerMonth saw Mokebe Thulo from HDI Youth Marketeers speak on how to market to millennials at the Future-Ready Marketing Conference, and Marina Loubser from Coca-Cola SA share on how they're localising the new 'One Brand' global marketing strategy. While Daisy Masiangoako explains 'the Woolworths difference' when it comes to branding for the leading retailer's private label brands. Big news for Spar and marking its second investment in Europe, is its venture into Switzerland where it will be rolling out a "relatively large international expansion". read more The way to brand and rebrand - 14 Mar 2016[Jessica Taylor, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] As part of #BrandManagerMonth, I interviewed Yuppiechef's marketing team because for them it's all about teamwork in getting the brand message across. Then Leigh Andrews interviews New Media Publishing's Elmari Rautenbach and Andrew Nunneley on how Ackermans rebranded itself with the February edition of the Ackermans Club magazine. read more A taste of things to come - 7 Mar 2016[Jessica Taylor, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)] Taste Holdings has announced that the first Starbucks stores in South Africa will be opened in Rosebank and the Mall of Africa in Midrand next month. Asked if it was the right time to introduce the brand into an economy projected to grow less than 1% this year, Taste CEO Carlo Gonzaga said: "Business is a long-term game. read more |
