Throw your strategy away: it's time to stretch

[Sid Peimer] Strategic intent has not entered the everyday lexicon of strategic planning. The reason I think is that it lies outside all the formal methodologies and processes of planning.

Claire Cobbledick on new role, marketing agenda at Gumtree SA

[Ilse Burger] Appointed recently as Head of Marketing for Gumtree South Africa, Claire Cobbledick shares about the transition from her previous role as MD at the Jupiter Drawing Room Cape Town to her current position at what is described as South Africa's largest online classifieds site.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 kicks ass

[Daniel Dercksen] We've always known that Spider-Man's most important conflict has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man.

New meat labelling requirements to come into force today

[Leana Engelbrecht] Over a year has passed since the infamous meat labelling scandal that revealed gross misrepresentations in respect of the content of meat products and the incorrect labelling of meat products not only in South Africa, but globally.

The most important story of all

[Louise Burgers] Telling stories is as old as time. Before mass media, bards would go from village to village singing the news and market day in any century was a place to catch up on the latest gossip.

Brand South Africa launches 20 Years of Freedom campaign

[Danette Breitenbach] Brand South Africa launched its 20 Years of Freedom campaign at an event yesterday that hosted media and stakeholders at its offices in Houghton, Johannesburg.

Why I know nothing about social media

[Jason Perelson] Knowing what you're doing in your job is the cornerstone of being able to do something constructive in the day. That feeling of "I got this" pervades across the scores of social media pundits.

GLA is Merc's new urban warrior

[Henrie Geyser] Mercedes-Benz has taken its first steps into the popular compact SUV market with a new GLA which is not only the most appealing A Class to date but also the three-pointed star's challenger in the upper end of the market where is takes on the BMW X1 and the Audi Q.

Glow well with WellSkin

[Ruth Cooper] If you're like me you might have thought that the Wellness Warehouse stores only housed wasabi flavoured peanuts, organic face washes and super-healthy meals for the hippies and hipsters, but no, they also run a well-equipped beauty salon, WellSkin, which offers massages, facials, waxes and mani/pedis.

How to tell if your business needs social media

[Catherine Milward-Bridges] Surprised that this is even a topic for discussion? Don't be. Many are still debating the relevance of social media as an integral part of business in SA.

Contextualise yourself

[Dylan Laubscher] The current reality of the ad industry is that of Charles Darwin's quote - 'It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.'

Pistorius trial tells us a lot about our society

[Anton Harber] We have seen one style of cross-examination at the Oscar Pistorius trial: the pit-bull approach. It is tough and brutal...

Joe of all trades

[Eugene Yiga] Cape Town comedians David Isaacs and Oscar Petersen are back with the latest instalment of Joe Barber. The show, named after Isaacs's actual barbershop of the same name, began back in 1999 and is still going strong after 15 years.

Foreign suppliers of electronic services must register with SARS

[Graeme Palmer] Advances in technology have seen a significant increase in e-commerce transactions where goods and services are supplied to South African consumers through the medium of the internet. The Value Added Tax Act requires VAT to be charged on these transactions at the standard rate of 14%.

Top marks for Die Windpomp

[Daniel Dercksen] Die Windpomp gets my vote as one of the best films ever made in South Africa. Well done to writer-director Ettienne Fourie on an exceptional film: well scripted, directed, first-rate performances, brilliant cinematography and an excellent music score.

Intelligence will hamper your progress

[Sid Peimer] Here are a couple of examples of strategy by design, or a strategy that emerges - both devoid of copious amounts of market "intelligence"

2014 Elections: Nitty-Gritties and The Rabbit Tricks

[Tralone Khoza] Are South Africans looking forward to casting their votes, and be active participants in how their country will be managed going forward?

Closing the divide between social and media

[Matthew Arnold] Social community management and paid media campaign management are often treated as two separate entities.

[BizCareers] Avoiding job spec misrepresentation

[Juliette Attwell] This week we cover good questions to ask during an interview, how to avoid falling into the trap of job spec misrepresentation, and how to follow up after an interview.