Idea Engineers' Press office on Bizcommunity

The phrase New World Order has seldom been used this frequently, nor with such intent. From politics to economics, changes have swept the globe. Some of the changes have been sudden and unexpected, while others have been steadily morphing for years already. So, what are the key forces coming into play for marketers and brand strategists? What, in other words, does our new order look like, and what are industry professionals likely to have to deal with over the next few years?

Idea Engineers' Janice Spark explores some of the major brand trends currently emerging across the world... 2 Jul 2009 Read more >>

Idea Engineers' Janice Spark peers across the 2007 brand scape, examines the winners, the losers and those negotiating troubled waters... 21 Feb 2008 Read more >>

The Rugby World Cup (RWC) is finally done and dusted and New Zealand is still abuzz with rugby angst and referee loathing. Interestingly, publications like the New Zealand Herald have cited many members of the New Zealand public bemoaning "the new professional money-driven age of rugby which has seen rugby become a 'brand'". 26 Oct 2007 Read more >>

News of the death of traditional PR at the hands of online media has been greatly exaggerated. Even in the new world of Web 2.0, RSS, blogs, podcasts and online media, traditional reputation management disciplines still have a vital role to play. 28 Aug 2007 Read more >>

Many South African companies are overlooking the important role that public relations (PR) plays in shaping perceptions of their brands in a media-saturated world. That’s according to Janice Spark, managing partner at Idea Engineers. 9 Mar 2007 Read more >>

The recently retracted FNB crime campaign has everyone talking. From analyses of the possible impact of the retraction of the campaign on customer loyalty to criticisms of FNB's apparent bow to government pressure, South Africa is abuzz with different angles on what FNB intended to do, and how it could have been done differently. 23 Feb 2007 Read more >>

From political power struggles to preparations for the 2010 World Cup and the relentless advance of interactive, mobile communications, 2007 looks likely to be another frenetic year in the South African economy. 28 Nov 2006 Read more >>

Ten years ago, an accounting firm enthusiastically attaching itself to rugby sponsorships would have seemed more than a little out of the character expected from accountants. Today, however, KPMG is an established rugby brand - and just one of many Business to Business (B2B) companies placing emphasis on branding strategies and activities as a means of achieving differentiation in competitive markets. 24 Aug 2006 Read more >>

As South Africa holds its breath and waits for the looming battle between an entrenched telecoms monolith and the second national operator (SNO), there are important brand principles at play. The outcome of the battle could well hinge on which entity displays a more sophisticated understanding of the central pillars of modern brand management - particularly those pertaining to the way new brands enter industries and deal with intense, focused competition... 14 Aug 2006 Read more >>

Ericsson, one of the world's leading suppliers of telecoms equipment and services mobile and fixed-network operators, has appointed Idea Engineers as its advertising agency for its sub-Saharan African operations. 6 Jun 2006 Read more >>

As Makaya Ntini failed to fend Shane Warne off on a gloomy Durban evening, most South African cricket fans would have been desperately trying to transport themselves back a few weeks, to the Wanderers, to the one day record and the dream that finally beating the Australians at test cricket was about to become a reality. 18 May 2006 Read more >>

Idea Engineers, a strategic brand and reputation consultancy, and Sorcery, an award-winning advertising agency, have merged their businesses to create a marketing house that offers an end-to-end portfolio of branding, advertising and reputation management services; operating under the name and brand of Idea Engineers. 13 Mar 2006 Read more >>

From telecommunications price hearings to 3G, Richard Branson teaming up with Cell C and a string of political scandals, 2005 was an eventful year on all branding fronts. So what will the brand landscape look like in 2006? 23 Jan 2006 Read more >>

The more than one billion people around the world that are connected to the Internet are emerging as a force that is reshaping the way that the economy works, with profound implications for traditional brands. 22 Jan 2006 Read more >>

Brand consultancy, Idea Engineers, has added Associated Computer Solutions (ACS) and Imperial Car Rental to its fast-growing list of clients. 22 Jan 2006 Read more >>

Sorcery has been selected as South Africa's best-performing advertising agency in an Objectivity study that asked clients rather than the industry to choose the country's best agency. Sorcery came out on the top of the sub-category - South African Agencies in the study. 8 Dec 2005 Read more >>

Idea Engineers' Janice Spark unpacks the workings of modern brand management, and points the way to an effective (and profitable) marriage between the brand promise and the delivery of the customer experience. 16 Oct 2005 Read more >>

Public relations needs to become more transparent and interactive to remain relevant in an age where technology allows consumers to participate in the process of gathering and disseminating news, says Janice Spark, managing director of marketing consulting firm Idea Engineers. 29 Sep 2005 Read more >>

Reputation management and brand consulting firm, Idea Engineers, has entered its fourth year of trading with a substantial increase in its turnover and the announcement of several key new clients. 5 Jul 2005 Read more >>

Are negative employees chasing your customers away? What can you do about it if they are? What impact does an actively positive workplace have on the bottom line? Idea Engineers Director, Janice Spark, discusses the concept of workplace positivity and its relationship to the critical issue of customer retention... 11 May 2005 Read more >>

The market is saturated. Competition is cut throat. Churn is the sword hanging over every business - most particularly in the cellular and banking industries. High value customers are the key to long term success; if yours are switching brands, you're in trouble... Idea Engineers' Janice Spark elaborates on exactly what it takes to win the hearts and minds of customers through 'on-brand' internal performance. 17 Mar 2005 Read more >>

Janice Spark and Mandy de Waal, founders of Idea Engineers, offer a guided tour past the winning and losing brands of 2004. 19 Jan 2005 Read more >>

Recent research shows that American brands are facing a deepening image crisis in the wake of a series of corporate scandals and the war in Iraq. Although US-based multinational companies are starting to explore ways of restoring the shine to the Stars and Stripes, there are no quick fixes to the perception problems America faces, write Mandy de Waal and Janice Spark, founding partners at Idea Engineers. 19 Sep 2004 Read more >>

Even though a recent survey points to a rising reliance on PR in the marketing mix, it also shows that it remains surprisingly under-used. Idea Engineers' Mandy de Waal explains why the neglect of PR comes at a price. 14 Sep 2004 Read more >>

South African rugby has come in from the cold, but a hot win shouldn't make us forget the lessons of the past six years too quickly. South African Rugby is an entirely unique animal - a blend of commerce, sport, provincial interests and media investment. Janice Spark of Idea Engineers believes that the game's turbulent history offers interesting lessons for business. 10 Sep 2004 Read more >>

Viral marketing and consumer activism unite in an expression against global greed that's grabbling mega clicks. 22 Apr 2004 Read more >>

Don't let your legal team run your reputation campaign. When culture jammers target your organisation, get into crisis mode and don't knee jerk. Use sound thinking to respond to the situation say Janice Spark and Mandy de Waal of brand and reputation company, Idea Engineers. 21 Apr 2004 Read more >>

Brand consultancy, Idea Engineers, today marked the close of its second year of trading with a substantial increase in turnover and the acquisition of new clients. 1 Mar 2004 Read more >>

What will the brand environment look like in 2004? What lessons have been learned from 2003, and what will the brand trends for the coming year be? The founders of Idea Engineers, Mandy de Waal and Janice Spark, examine brand trends for 2004, and beyond. 16 Feb 2004 Read more >>

The concept of the brand has undergone a seemingly rapid historical evolution. Today, smart executives have realised that brands are not just visible or emotional symbols, but rather that they define relationships with ALL key audiences, including investors and employees. 12 Jan 2004 Read more >>

'Living the Brand' is a peculiar concept. On the one hand, companies recognise the value of a powerful brand and are aware of the need to build their brand. On the other, they tend to focus most of their brand building efforts on external communications such as advertising, PR and direct mail - without taking cognisance of the crucial role played by their employees in the power of the brand. 13 Nov 2003 Read more >>

When Documentation & Training International (DTI) decided to change their name, Idea Engineers were the ERP training company's first port of call. "We needed a new name that would better reflect the company's brand values and vision for the future," says Ivanna Granelli, Managing Director of Can!Do Consulting. 14 Apr 2003 Read more >>

What will brands do in the future based on how they've behaved today and in the past? The founders of Idea Engineers, Mandy de Waal and Janice Spark, look at brand trends for the coming year and beyond. 5 Jan 2003 Read more >>

In Idea Engineers we knew we had found a company that could accelerate our brand from zero to hero," says Consology CEO John Ziniades. 4 Dec 2002 Read more >>

The marketing landscape has changed dramatically during recent years paving the way for the rise of marketing consultancies who manage integrated solutions across an array of marketing disciplines. Idea Engineers believes the drive for value for money and a decline in marketing expertise will increasingly make marketing consultancies a business partner of choice. 13 Nov 2002 Read more >>

Idea Engineers accelerates market share by stealth, and adds business value by building client brands and reputations simultaneously. Despite a depressed advertising climate, Idea Engineers has flourished in six short months, growing month-on-month by carving a new niche for themselves in the marketing industry. 30 Sep 2002 Read more >>