[2013 trends] The year ahead for experiential marketing

[Mike Silver] It's that time of the year where agencies are asked to haul out the old crystal ball and provide pearls of thumb-sucking wisdom. Before we do so, it would be wise to see how history might repeat itself. Reflecting briefly, for experiential marketing, 2012 was quite a year locally and abroad. Oh, and mazeltov on surviving the Mayan apocalypse - it was touch-and-go for a second there. 29 Jan 2013 11:18

Rules of engagement: Minimise awkward client/agency physical interactions

[Mike Silver] In many ways, the new business-development game has many parallels with dating. It all starts with making eye contact from across the room (or PC), then the manipulative schemes to frequently 'bump' into one another at random. This leads to the exchange of personal details, the initial credentials coffee-date, the follow-up credentials date, the opportunity to prove your worthiness and trust and, finally, all things going well, the first kiss. 1 Oct 2012 10:19

The art of brand war

[Mike Silver] Travelling one early evening back from Joburg to Cape Town, my tired mind was concerned only with berating myself for leaving my Slow Lounge card at home. En route to a rubbery toasted sandwich, I stopped, impressed by this large netted installation of empty bottles. 5 Jul 2012 09:29

Student spending: a new school of thought

[Mike Silver] In days gone by, the university student was viewed as a dreamer. Their jovial and carefree existence was juxtaposed with real adult life of taxes, mortgages and in-laws. Until only recently, brands looked at them with a similar disdain. In recent times, though, businesses have been schooled that maybe it's time to take their studies into the student market a little more seriously. 8 Mar 2012 14:52

Experiential marketing - The Dark Knight

[Mike Silver] When Christian Bale donned his plastic body suit to fight Gotham City's evil-doers, he was near invincible in his vigilantism crusade. In an environment fraught with corruption, inefficiency and lack of service delivery, Batman's approach was really a last resort for a desperate city in search of freedom. 1 Jul 2011 09:31

Festival marketing - celebrating good times

[Mike Silver] South Africa appears to be following the developed market trend of the growth in the number of lifestyle properties/events and the involvement of sponsor brands that follow suit. 1 Jun 2011 09:09