| 30 Jan 2012 |
| Retail | South Africa |
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Retail, Associations, Banking & Finance, Brand news, Clothing & Textiles, Cold chain, Commercial property, CRM, CSI, Distribution, e-Commerce, Exhibitions & Events, FMCG, Franchising, Green sustainability, Health & Safety, Hospitality, Import/Export, Informal retailing, Instore, Logistics, Manufacturing, Merchandising, Packaging, Refrigeration, Regulatory, Research, Retail marketing, Retail services, Retail trends, Retailers, Security, Shipping & Transport, Shopfitting, Supply chain, Technology, Training
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Where's the love? |
We're about to enter the "month of love", yet with Valentine's Day a mere two weeks away, I have yet to see a single TV ad spouting on about chocolate hearts, discount kisses and diamond sales. I was, however, appalled to see the Easter Bunny hopping all over my screen this weekend and had to double-check that I hadn't pulled a Rip van Winkle into March. But then I recalled last year's shocking discovery of Easter eggs hidden amongst the back-to-school goodies, and it became clear: that enterprising little rabbit has the jump on Valentine's Day advertising. And while I'm relieved to say we haven't had all things red and squishy shoved down our throats since Boxing Day, this early bird - er, bunny - has put things a little out of kilter. I know every year we whine about how commercial Valentine's Day has become, but that's just the natural order of things; like winter sales clearing the way for swimwear, Valentine's Day ads are supposed to follow two-for-one exam pad offers. Are retailers giving up on love? Or am I just not tuning in to the right channels? And while I get the feeling I may be eating my words tomorrow, whatever you do this February, go share the love. Shan Radcliffe, Retail editor
Please send retail news to: retailnews@bizcommunity.com
Responses to this column welcomed in our new online editor's column archive.
Image: luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.netTop stories
Retail |  |
 The petrol prise will rise by 34 cents a litre at midnight on Wednesday, said the department of energy. Read more >>
The Producer Price Index (PPI) slowed to 9.8% year-on-year in December, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said on Thursday, 26 January. Read more >>
 [Leron Varsha] The South African retail sector has received a significant shakeup since the announcement of Wal-Mart's entry into the field. But there are lessons that can be learnt from a global retailer in the sense that continual improvement is always positive. As a global retailer, Wal-Mart has developed expertise in the area of negotiating with international suppliers, whilst our retailers do not operate on the same global scale. However, I maintain that with South Africa's level of expertise, retailers will hold their own against the global giant. Read more >>
Associations
The deadline for entries to the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) Small Business Stars business plan competition has been extended from 31 January to 29 February 2012. "Although interest has been beyond expectations, with several thousands of entrants registering, many have indicated they require more time for thorough market research and to work on their financial projections," explains Koenie Slabbert, COO of Seda. Read more >>
Banking & Finance
According to a Mail & Guardian report, three top executives in Absa have announced that they will be leaving the banking group. Alfie Naidoo, the group's chief operating officer, Happy Ntshingila, chief marketing and communications manager, and Daphne Motsepe, head of unsecured lending will be leaving Absa. Read more >>
 [Craig Wilson] Financial management website 22seven has been live for just a day and already it's facing its first serious challenge. Read more >>
 First National Bank and Pep stores countrywide now offer FNB eWallet, which allows any South African consumer, with a bar-coded South African ID, to deposit, withdraw or send money, make payments and purchase goods in store. Read more >>
Brand news
MONTREAL, CANADA: Research In Motion's new chief executive Thorsten Heins said Monday, 23 January, he plans to focus more on the consumer market but that a "drastic change" is not necessary at the struggling BlackBerry maker. Read more >>
Clothing & Textiles
 SA's textile industries are experiencing contrasting fortunes, with wool prices at record levels and cotton down substantially from its highs of 10 months ago. Read more >>
Commercial property
Corporate Social Investment
In an effort to improve the quality of life in the world, Unilever announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday 27 January 2012 the launch of the Unilever Foundation, which through the provision of hygiene, sanitation, access to clean drinking water, basic nutrition and enhancing self-esteem will deliver sustainable change worldwide. Read more >>
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e-Commerce
 [Zeenat Moorad] Online shopping is the way of the future, according to a survey conducted by PayU, a South African online and mobile payment service provider Read more >>
Exhibitions & Events
 The Oil & Gas Africa Conference takes place on 14 March 2012 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre with a programme of both local and international speakers, all specialists in the oil and gas industry. Conference topics will revolve around the theme, 'Outlook for sub-Saharan Africa and new opportunities'. Read more >>
Design Indaba has selected its creative designers for this year's Emerging Creatives programme at the Design Indaba Expo 2012. They each will display their creative work at the expo and have a ticket to attend the Young Designers Simulcast of the Design Indaba Conference through the sponsorship of the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC). Read more >>
 The BRICS Africa Export Import Forum, described as the only event dedicated to showcasing the range of services and support available for BRICS Intra Africa trade, will run alongside the Southern African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX), taking place 15-17 July 2012 at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand. Read more >>
FMCG
Franchising
[Zeenat Moorad] Spur Corporation announced yesterday that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries had acquired the Kapsimalis Family Trust's 35% interest in John Dory's with effect from 25 January for the sum of R12.25 million. Read more >>
Green sustainability
 US-based Epicor Software Corporation has announced the results of its first global carbon accounting survey, which shows that despite forthcoming legislation mandating carbon accounting, most companies are still lagging in their comprehension of carbon accounting as a whole and in the execution of carbon accounting initiatives. Read more >>
Hospitality
[Helmo Preuss] The total income generated by the food and beverages industry rose 4.2% year-on-year (y/y) in November 2011 to R3.75 billion, according to data published by Statistics SA (Stats SA) on Monday, 23 January. The increase in the first eleven months of 2011 was 4.8% y/y. Read more >>
Import/Export
 The agriculture department and SA's red meat industry have discussed a plan to end the ban on exports that has been in force since early last year because of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. Read more >>
A high-level delegation from Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) emirate is arriving in South Africa in early February to discuss investments from South African companies in this and other United Arab Emirates (UAE). The events will be held in Johannesburg at the Montecasino Palazzo and Cape Town at the One & Only on 7 and 8 February 2012, respectively. Read more >>
Logistics
Manufacturing
 Grundfos, one of the world's largest manufacturers of circulator pumps, covering around 50% of the world market, will have a new R100 million state-of-the-art facility in South Africa. The official sod turning ceremony was held on Wednesday 25 January 2012 in Meadowbrook, Germiston. Read more >>
Merchandising
 [Nicolas Peden] Is China losing its appetite for the hustle and energy of its New Years celebrations? Or is the holiday still an opportunity to connect with consumers? Having delved into hazy Shanghai to unearth the city's "Chinese New Year (CYN) Spirit", I found that just days away from this most important of traditional holidays, the streets are no more animated than usual. It seems Shanghai has lost its New Year spark. Read more >>
Regulatory
South African Post Office group CEO Motshoanetsi Lefoka has left the organisation following a disciplinary hearing into the lease of new offices involving irregular and wasteful expenditure of nearly R450m. Read more >>
National Consumer Commissioner Mamodupi Mohlala yesterday, 24 January, revealed that the commission has set its sights on tackling the high cost of international roaming for cellphone users. Read more >>
Research
According to the 2012 edition of the annual SME Survey, which focuses on assessing the factors behind SME competitiveness, one out of every five small and medium enterprises in South Africa would not be able to survive if they did not have a website. Read more >>
Retail marketing |  |
 [Cathryn Treasure] It's back to basics for marketers on teen marketing - between all the talk about millennials and the born-digital, marketers have been swept up in a wave that makes it easy to forget the fundamentals. Here are several that marketers need to keep in mind when talking with today's teens (age range 11-19), regardless of what channel you choose to use. Read more >>
Retailers
Supply chain
Technology
 [Toby Shapshak] There is universal agreement that this is likely to be the year of the cloud, the mobile, Africa's emergence as a new economic region, the year of the tablet and the app economy too. Here are 12 tech trends for 2012. Read more >>
 NEW YORK, US / LONDON, UK: MediaCom has named Fernando Emilio Silva as its new chief executive for Latin America. Fernando, who was previously chairman of Vivaki for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, will join the company 1 March 2012. Read more >>
 LONDON, UK: According to the latest research from Informa Telecoms & Media, the tablet market will explode over the next five years with retail revenues increasing from US$34.5 billion in 2011 to US$121.5 billion in 2016. However, the company's research also shows that telecom operators will lose out while independent retailers are more likely to benefit from tablet sales. Read more >>
 RESTON, US: comScore, Inc has released the report Next-Generation Strategies for Advertising to Millennials, highlighting the results from a recent comScore study that identifies the unique characteristics of the Millennial generation, commonly defined as persons born between 1981 and 2000. Read more >>
 DUBAI, UAE: The Dubai International Advertising Festival, one of the leading festival and awards events for creative excellence in the Middle East and North Africa, has announced the members of the juries responsible for judging and awarding entries into the sixth Dubai Lynx Awards. Read more >>
 CLEVELAND, US: The 2012 Tabbies call for entries is now available at the TABPI website, allowing all B2B magazine editors, publishers and art directors the opportunity to have their best work judged by their peers. Tabbies' partners include South Africa's SAFREA, and MPASA. [video] Read more >>
 LONDON, UK / MUNICH, GERMANY: comScore, Inc and Telefónica Germany presented the results of a study showing the shift in media consumption triggered by smartphones, tablets and other connected devices at the DLD (Digital Life Design) conference in Munich. Read more >>
More International...
Franchising
 Tiger Wheel & Tyre have special deals and discounts on any set of four wheels or four tyres during the 19 Day Red Ticket Sale. Read more >>Logistics
IMPERIAL Logistics, a global leader in logistics and supply chain management, has acquired a majority stake in Kings Transport. This load consolidation business, with its 80-year track record, strengthens the ability of IMPERIAL Logistics to service customers that move less than full truck loads from source to market. Read more >>
 The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has labelled as "malicious" what it terms "a rumour" that claims that e-toll staff are stopping people randomly in Johannesburg and Pretoria and forcing them to register for e-tolling. Read more >>
 Corruption ought to be declared as the enemy of all South Africans, says Justice Minister Jeff Radebe. Read more >>
 South Africa is working towards a thriving mixed economy that is integrated into the Southern African region and African continent as a whole, says President Jacob Zuma. Read more >>
 The Higher Education and Training Department says R886 million has been invested in connecting South African universities and public research organisations to each other at a minimum speed of 10 gigabits per second. Read more >>
 [Moipone Malefane] Transnet paid R184.4m in bonuses to staff members who belonged to another company. The breach was allowed to happen under the watch of several executives, who have been accused of failing to put controls in place in order to avoid irregular and wasteful expenditure that resulted from the signing of an irregular contract with the consortium Hatch and Mott MacDonald (HMG). Read more >>
 Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula says transformation in South African sports is moving at a snail's pace. Read more >>
Grant Thornton's latest quarterly survey on privately held business owner's perceptions highlights that 37% of South African executives rate over-regulation and red tape as the biggest constraint to business expansion. Read more >>
 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has postponed public hearings on the planned price increases of electricity and Business Live speculates that the government is now likely to change its electricity policy. Read more >>
 [Francis Hweshe] State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele says the Protection of State Information Bill is aimed at stamping out rising espionage cases as well as the business of peddling state information. Yesterday Cwele briefed the National Council of Provinces' ad hoc committee, which is handling the Bill. Read more >>
[Nomboniso Gasa] During a radio interview on education in January last year, the director general of basic education assured listeners that the problems associated with matric results and chaotic university admission were but teething problems that were receiving urgent attention. Read more >>
 Government has appealed to South Africans to refrain from buying land from bogus sellers as they will not only lose their money, but they could be evicted and charged for illegally occupying the land. The warning from Rural Development and Land Affairs comes in the wake of recent and ongoing land invasions in Walmanthsdall, north of Pretoria. Read more >>
 [Cobus Coetzee, Thabisile Khoza, Yvonne Silaule] The Mpumalanga provincial government has started mop-up operations and repairing damaged infrastructure after heavy rains wreaked havoc in the Lowveld last week. Read more >>
More Government news...
 [Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] As part of Peugeot South Africa's plans to boost the brand's image, service and sales during 2012 it is introducing for the first time in the French carmaker's history a full five-year maintenance plan for its entire passenger car range. Read more >>
 [Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Hyundai South Africa is destined to ruffle a few opposition brand feathers again - this time with the introduction of its new H1 Multicab six-seater which cleverly blends the practicality of a workhorse with the comfort, space and drive quality of a leisure vehicle. Read more >>
More Motoring news...
 [Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] Buildings with "stone" cladding made from plaster or other fake adornments disappoint often me. Yet, somehow, the designers and builders of The SunCoast Hotel and Towers have elevated fake to fantasy and created an art deco palace that is a delight. Read more >>
 To transform its portfolio of resorts to 4 and 5 trident luxury, Club Med has revealed the new look and feel of its island resort located in South West Thailand on the small island of Phuket in Kata Bay. Read more >>
 Cape Town's boutique hotels came out on top in this year's TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards Best Hotels with one, Villa Zest Boutique Hotel in Green Point, being voted the Trendiest Hotel in the World. Read more >>
 The latest results of the TBCSA FNB Tourism Business Index (TBI) show a marked improvement in business performance for the last quarter of 2011. TBI registered a performance index of 87.3 in quarter four of 2011, against an expected industry index of 80.7 and an actual index of 70.0 for the previous quarter. This report also marks the first anniversary of the index. Read more >>
More Travel news...
 Cricket SA (CSA) is bracing for another blow in the form of the imminent departure of commercial manager Richard Glover - and possibly the loss of a sponsor. Read more >>
More Sport sport...
 [Sindy Peters] People adorned with tattoos are usually fascinating to those who are not. To some it's frivolous fun, a means of rebellion, a challenge to your pain threshold, a need to stand out from the crowd, or a way to express who you are. For some, however, it's an art form; some people like to hang art on the walls of their home, some like to carry their art with them, wherever they go. Read more >>
 Avicii, known professionally as Avicii, Tim Berg, Tom Hangs, and Ashwin, is the Swedish electronic dance music phenomenon ranked sixth on the international Top 100 DJs list in 2011. The shows will be held on 30 and 31 March, 2012. Read more >>
 [Eugene Yiga] What would it be like if the world was covered in ice and we skated around without car troubles or traffic jams? Well, until climate change takes inspiration from Michael Bay, we'll have to leave that question to our imaginations. And nowhere is it more wonderfully imagined than in The Nutcracker On Ice, showing at the Artscape, Cape Town until 12 February, 2012, after playing to sold-out audiences in Joburg last year. Read more >>
 The final announcement of artists for the 2012 Cape Town International Jazz Festival, on 30 and 31 March, 2012, has been made. The headline acts reflect the festival's philosophy of broadening audiences' perspectives of jazz. Read more >>
 [John Cooper] Some serious Googling the day before and then a quick read of the programme notes just before "curtain-up" (not that there is a curtain, but you know what I mean) were essential prerequisites for my being able to follow the riotous twists and turns of William Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, this summer season's offering at the Maynardville open-air theatre. Read more >>
 [Eugene Yiga] The word "disturbing" doesn't even being to describe The Skin I Live In, a new movie by Pedro Almodóvar. While the legendary Spanish director has been known to push cinematic boundaries (previous works like Bad Education and Volver come to mind), his latest creation is something else entirely. Enter at your own risk. Read more >>
More BizLounge news...
- New appointment at Vector Logistics - more info
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- People effectiveness @ work The People Element - Johannesburg, 21 February
- 13th Cape Town jazz fest Rishile Events, Travel & Tours - Cape Town, 30 January
- 100 posters international exhibition Greenside Design Center College of Design - Johannesburg, 2 February
- BAM consultancy - international trade training BAM Consultancy - Maseru (Lesotho), 6 February
- Ras Al Kaimah investment roadshow CG Consulting - Johannesburg, 7 February
- Ras Al Kaimah investment roadshow CG Consulting - Cape Town, 8 February
- Forbes Africa titans ABN Productions - Johannesburg, 10 February
- Trainer development programme Maurice Kerrigan - Northriding, Johannesburg, 13 February
- Logistics achiever awards seminar Logistics News - Johannesburg, 16 February
- Financial management for non financial managers LeMark Training and Development - Pretoria, 20 February
Click here to customise your events section
"Never use the word "cheap". Today everybody can look chic in inexpensive clothes (the rich buy them too). There is good clothing design on every level today. You can be the chicest thing in the world in a T-shirt and jeans - it's up to you. (via Good reads)" - Karl Lagerfeld "If your reputation sucks, none of it matters. People with lousy products, crummy business practices, and shady backgrounds get found out. And word spreads with frightening speed. (via Mirna Bard)" - Sonia Simone "For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled. (via Quoteland.com)" - Richard Feynman "If we're entering a time when people can improve their health, then it's important to be improving your wealth as well. If you're going to live into your 90s in good health, then you're going to need money. (via Great-Quotes.com)" - Thomas Perls
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