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Marching on...

The year feels like it has just begun, but I turn around and realise we've already stepped into March. With back-to-school and Valentine's Day officially out of the way, we're heading full steam toward the first school holidays of 2015 and, of course, Easter.

Back to the present (and a little past), for those who missed the Budget Speech last week, make sure you read all the fine print here.

Now e-commerce has proven to be a great way to share the market while protecting market share, and the retail industry's mojo clearly lies with mobile devices, however, Neil Watson questions whether South Africa is ready for B2B e-commerce.

Finally, if you were unable to make it to Design Indaba last week, be sure to catch up with what went down at the presentations and events here.

Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)
Image: © Giordano Aita - Fotolia.com Comment online in our ed's column archive. Go mobile with apps and m.bizcommunity.com. Engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Subscribe to YouTube and via RSS. Send all your retail news and event invitations to retailnews@bizcommunity.com, exclusive opinion pieces to contributors-retail@bizcommunity.com and international news to internationalnews@bizcommunity.com. Read "How to contribute to Biz, from op-ed pieces to news".



Weekly top stories


[Design Indaba 2015] Woolworths offers a taste of its design passion
[Leigh Andrews] While it's long had a passion for creativity, Kate Fordyce, Head Agency: Woolworths Marketing tells us exclusively how Woolworths has put design front and centre... read more>>

Brandy industry salutes excise review

Commenting on the Minister of Finance's announcement of an excise hike of 8.5% on brandy, during the annual National Budget Speech on 25 February 2015...

Read more >>



"Set a thief..."

Tony Sales, alleged to have stolen upwards of half a billion Rand from retailers over a six-year period and one of the world's foremost criminal minds, will take retailers undercover into the world of retail crime...

Read more >>



E-commerce - a way to share the market while protecting market share

African consumers are increasingly searching online platforms with commercial intent, which include querying prices of goods, and researching where one can purchase products or services...

Read more >>



Retail industry's mojo is mobile devices

Traditional retailers are in an intense battle against the world of online shopping in a desperate fight to save the high street. Right at the forefront of the battle is the mobile phone...

Read more >>



Visa launches online checkout system in SA

Visa has announced that South Africa is one of the 16 countries where consumers can use the new Visa Checkout service in the second phase of its global rollout...

Read more >>



Budget 2015: Read the fine print

Although Budget 2015 has delivered some good news for small business, the South African Institute for Professional Accountants (SAIPA) says it's not all good news...

Read more >>



Finalist of Middle East and Africa Young Chef chosen

In the Middle East and Africa regional completion for the S.Pellegrino Young Chef competition, Angelo Scirocco, with his Milk is Thicker than Water dish, is the region's winner...

Read more >>



Woolmark predicts seasonal themes ahead of Wool Week in April

Ahead of Wool Week Cape Town 2015, taking place at the V&A Waterfront from 7-12 April 2015, Woolmark has published its new seasonal guide and trend book Wool Lab predicting the themes for Autumn/Winter 15/16...

Read more >>



Is South Africa ready for B2B e-commerce?
[Neil Watson, Issued by Digital Planet]

E-commerce in South Africa is still in its infancy compared to the rest of the world, especially when it comes to B2B e-commerce...

Read more >>



Food and beverages industry income up 7.4% y/y in December

Total income generated by the food and beverages industry in SA increased in nominal terms (current prices) by 7.4% year on year (y/y) in December‚ data from Statistics SA showed on Monday...

Read more >>



Introducing the outside-in customer experience

Leigh Andrews

If your idea of offering good customer experience is based on the 4-star rating you just received, you may be in for a surprise, says Qaalfa Dibeehi, Forrester Research's Customer Experience lead for the EMEA region...

Read more >>



ZipZap keeps businesses tills ringing during load shedding

A mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) solution, ZipZap from Paycorp, allows retailers to continue operating during load shedding, using a Bluetooth connection to a tablet or smartphone, a separate and secure ZipZap reader and a free app...

Read more >>





Biz Takeouts
[Biz Takeouts Podcast] 124: A packed show about an event, a women's academy and research
On the last Biz Takeouts Marketing and Media Radio show, host Warren Harding interviewed Koo Govender and Jaco Van Zyl... read more>>
Retail
Call to enter 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year competition
Now in its 27th year, the 2015 Sanlam/Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year competition continues to pay tribute to the fearless entrepreneurs who remain dedicated not only to fostering a culture of entrepreneurship in the country, but also to their business and staff... read more>>
Banking & Finance
It is time to scale-up or close up
The Ministry of Finance should be commended for allocating R3.5 billion in support of small business, however, the funds should also benefit 'scale-up' businesses to unlock their high-growth potential... read more>>
Brand News
Pioneer Food releases rich value flavour

Marc Hasenfuss

The reshaping of Pioneer's portfolio and operational structures under new CE Phil Roux has released a rich value flavour... read more>>
Spur Corporation H1 diluted HEPS down 28.2%
Spur Corporation (SUR) has reported a 28.2% decline in headline earnings per share (HEPS) to 61.15c in the six months to December from the year-earlier period... read more>>
Commercial Property
Rebosis makes offer to acquire Ascension
Rebosis Property Fund on Tuesday announced its firm intention to acquire the entire A and B linked unit capital of Ascension Properties that it did not already own... read more>>
Competition Commission approves Growthpoint-Acucap deal
Tshwane development has makings of African super city
CSI
Go get your McMuffin on, this National Breakfast Day
Paying tribute to the most important meal of the day, McDonald's will be celebrating National Breakfast Day (#McDBreakfastDay) for the third consecutive year on 9 March 2015... read more>>
CRM
This will be the year of customer obsession
Becoming customer obsessed is one of the top five trends that will impact the contact centre industry this year, according to a recent Interactive Intelligence panel discussion... read more>>
Service versus sales: a new era of customer demands
The advances in technology, economic pressures and shifting cultural norms have resulted in consumers looking for cheaper goods and more convenient ways of accessing them... read more>>
Exhibitions & Events
Frigair back at Gallagher in June
Frigair 2015, being held at Gallagher Convention Centre from 3-5 June, will be highlighting the crucial role played by the heating, energy, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HEVAC&R) industry... read more>>
Decorex Cape Town opens for trade pre-registration
Complimentary access to Decorex Cape Town for all members of the décor, design, construction and allied industries is now available for those that pre-register on the website... read more>>
Fashion, Clothing & Textiles
[Design Indaba 2015] The selfie shapes monolithic fashion

Jessica Taylor

"... Me and the beach, me and my food, me and my shoes, me and my boyfriend, me and Li taking lots of selfies." - Li Edelkoort read more>>
FMCG
New releases from Fat Bastard
Glenelly Estate releases new vintage reds, whites
Hospitality
Total income for accommodation industry up 4.6% y/y in December
Total income for SA's tourist accommodation industry (which includes restaurant‚ bar sales and "other" income) rose by 4.6% year on year (y/y) in nominal terms (current prices) in December... read more>>
Logistics
High quality mounted cameras protect the fleet from fleecing
Inadequate forward facing camera solutions that fail to capture correct data of an accident or driving incident can place fleet operators at risk of severe financial losses... read more>>
Manufacturing
French firm sets up fund to boost energy access in Africa
PARIS, FRANCE: Electrical equipment giant Schneider has set up a fund to finance projects aimed at boosting access to energy in sub-Saharan Africa, the French group said on Monday... read more>>
Merchandising
Best practices when buying coding and labelling machinery

Issued by Pyrotec

When considering buying coding and labelling machinery for an efficient production line, it goes without saying that a 'penny wise and pound foolish' approach will simply not suffice... read more>>
Merchandising made easy with Do-It Display Strips

Issued by Pyrotec

Do-It Display Strips form part of Pyrotec PackMedia's merchandising solution, which includes the Do-It Hang Tabs... read more>>
Packaging
New packaging for Van Loveren wines
Van Loveren has created a new packaging for its range of wines, featuring a more modern and elegant label that appears with a different, applicable colour for each cultivar. The first to feature the new look is the early release of the 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, perfect for a portion of smoked salmon or flash grilled tuna. The price from the winery near Robertson is R43 for a bottle or R228 for a case of six. For more information, go to www.vanloveren.co.za.
Research
Six steps to enhance your customer loyalty programmes

Leigh Andrews

There's no denying the value offered by customer loyalty programmes, but what does it take to get it right? Lauren Barbour, lead consultant for customer strategy at Principa, explains... read more>>
Retail Marketing
Conversations with Africa

Danette Breitenbach

There is always a risk involved when doing business in Africa, but it is not all doom and gloom or as hard as you might think... read more>>
The eternal thumb war between entrepreneurs and social media

Erik Brits, Issued by Nightjar Travel

Erik Brits, head of panic and strategy at Nightjar Travel, looks at the painful road he walked to develop a winning social media product... read more>>
Secrets to improve your email marketing success rate

Leigh Andrews

New MD for engage
Retail Services
Phix-ing cracked cellphone screens
A company in the north of Johannesburg, Phix, has launched a cellphone screen repair business, offering free pick-up and delivery anywhere in its area with an AAA grade replacement. All consumers need to do is log onto the website, www.phix.co.za, create an account, add the make and model of the phone in need of repair, choose a payment method and checkout. Phix will do the rest.
Retailers
Massmart 52-week HEPS down 10.2%
Shoprite H1 diluted HEPS up 8.6% to 370.2c
JD Group sees H1 HEPS from continuing operations between 50% and 60% higher
Security
POPI - to Act or not to Act? That is the question...

Alison Treadaway, Issued by Striata SA

Fifteen months after the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI) was signed in Parliament (November 2013), there is still no official indication of when it will be fully enforced... read more>>
Supply Chain
Drought seen cutting 2015 maize output: survey
South African maize output is expected to be lower this year‚ according to a BDpro survey of traders‚ citing the drought conditions in the Free State and North West... read more>>
Technology
Sony Xperia E = 4G LTE
Riding on the success of the Xperia E4 unveiling earlier this month, Sony Mobile Communications brings customers the exciting Xperia E4g smartphone... read more>>
International
Mystery Apple event planned for March 9, likely on Watch
NEW YORK: Apple sent invitations on Thursday for a mystery event due to take place March 9, amid speculation about an imminent launch of its much anticipated Apple Watch... read more>>
Amazon hires former White House spokesman Carney
NEW YORK: Former White House spokesman Jay Carney has taken a new public relations job with online retail giant Amazon, the company said on Thursday. read more>>
Benetton bows to Rana Plaza pay up campaign
MILAN, ITALY: Italian fashion retailer Benetton has agreed to pay into an international compensation fund for victims of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, in which 1,138 people died... read more>>
Charlie Hebdo team struggles to heal after massacre
PARIS, FRANCE: More than a month after jihadist gunmen massacred much of the Charlie Hebdo editorial team, those who survived are slowly trying to return to a semblance of normality... read more>>
Google backflips on Blogger sexual content ban
Bangladeshis pay tribute to US blogger killed in machete attack
Cannes launches Creative Effectiveness Advisory Scheme
Publicis Groupe Epic Communications
Delhi seeks to block Uber app after rape claim
SIM maker Gemalto confirms possible spy attacks
Jesse Coulter heads up LIA Branded Entertainment jury
Fierce battle looms on US 'open Internet' rules
British American Tobacco confirms possible offer for Souza Cruz minorities
NYF's World's Best TV & Film Awards 2015 finalists
Data conversion has become need of the hour!

Ritesh Sanghani

Call for nominations for 2015 IWMF Courage in Journalism Awards
More International
Africa
Vodacom and Tigo agree on mobile money interoperability
DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA: Millions of M-Pesa and Tigo Pesa customers in Tanzania will soon be able to send and receive money directly into each other's wallets. This follows the recent signing of a mobile money interoperability agreement between Tigo and Vodacom... read more>>
More Africa
Government news
Government to revise toll tariffs
Government has noted concerns regarding the socio-economic impact of the e-toll tariffs and revised monthly ceilings will be proposed shortly, Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene announced on Wednesday... read more>>
South Africa's Budget 2015: the full text
Read the full text of South African Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene's inaugural national Budget speech, the fifth in the country's democratic Parliament, delivered on 25 February 2015... read more>>
Electricity war room focused on keeping the lights on
The "electricity war room" is focusing all its energy towards implementing government's five-point plan, Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti said on Tuesday... read more>>
GDP increases by 4.1% in fourth quarter of 2014
South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 4.1% in the fourth quarter of 2014, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said on Tuesday, 24 February... read more>>
Budget expected to address future of social security system

David Gluckman

For the 2015 National Budget speech, we will focus our attention on the expected future direction of social security and retirement fund reform... read more>>
Budget 2015 - Sanlam Investments expects an increase in taxes

Arthur Kamp

Tax changes, guided by the recommendations of the Davis Tax Committee, are likely to take centre stage when Minister Nene reads the National Budget on 25 February 2015... read more>>
SA must develop mechanisms to address cybercrime

Tayyibah Suliman and Mulalo Tshikovhele

A recent report has found that 73% of South Africans in 2013 were victims of cybercrime... read more>>
NW govt demolishes shoddy houses, blacklists contractor
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr summarises 2015 Budget
Muthambi in firing line over New Age adverts
SABC: Wanted... more zip to Zuma news
Necsa in row over CEO's suspension
Eishkom tops jobs poll
Transfer duty and the 2015 budget

David Warmback

PwC tax comment on the 2015 Budget Review
Basic education to receive over R600bn
Ali Baba and the forty spies

Shaun Smillie and Graeme Hosken

Premier announces interventions to unlock Gauteng's economy; media 'exclusion' from speech slammed
Employment Services Bill soon to be published

Katlego Letlonkane and Gavin Stansfield

Agri minister calls on farmers to engage with government

Denene Erasmus

More Government news
Motoring news
Opel Corsa ups the ante

Henrie Geyser: motoring editor

The fifth generation Opel Corsa has just arrived in SA hard on the heels of the trendy Opel Adam while the cute Mokka waits in the wings to complete the brand's concerted three-pronged attack on the local market... read more>>
More Motoring news
Travel news
All aboard...

Brian Berkman

More South Africans are taking to the high seas than ever before. Last year, 15,000 of us sailed via Cruises International and I'm one of them who have taken to cruising like, well, a duck to water... read more>>
More Travel news
Jobs offered
Retail Sales Executive - Johannesburg
Sales driven on retail technology products to franchisees and corporate customers. Preferably in IT or technology environment specifically. Read more >>

Sales and Business Development - Clothing and Accessories - Johannesburg
Sales person required for quality clothing and accessories brands. Are you a peoples person, brand builder & determined sales person looking for an exciting position in sales? Send us your CV. Read more >>

National Key Accounts Manager - FMCG - Johannesburg
USABCO manufacturers and distributors of the leading Addis brand, a household name in housewares and hardware products are seeking to appoint a suitably qualified national key accounts manager. Read more >>



New events to diarise
Retail Fraud
Retail Knowledge - 12 Mar 2015, Cape Town

Cape Town Carnival
Cape Town Carnival - 14 Mar 2015, Cape Town

Marketing for mom-owned business
LIFT Marketing Brand Elevation Specialists - 18 Mar 2015, Cape Town | 20 Mar 2015, Cape Town | 21 Mar 2015, Cape Town

South African Eco Film Festival
While You Were Sleeping - 26 Mar 2015 to 2 Apr 2015, Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg, East London

Rand Show
Rand Show - 3 Apr 2015 to 12 Apr 2015, Johannesburg

Wool Week Cape Town 2015
Cape Wools SA - 7 Apr 2015 to 12 Apr 2015, Cape Town

18th AutoExpo Africa 2015
Expogroup - 27 Apr 2015 to 29 Apr 2015, Nairobi

REFSA 2015
DLO Energy - 5 May 2015, Johannesburg

SASEC 2015: 3rd Southern African Solar Energy Con.
Prof Josua Meyer, University of Pretoria - 10 May 2015 to 14 May 2015, Skukuza

Africa's Big Seven
Exhibition Management Services (Pty) Ltd - 21 Jun 2015 to 23 Jun 2015, Midrand

Upcoming events
Proudly South African Buy Local Summit and Expo - 3 Mar 2015, Johannesburg
South Africa's National Buy Local Campaign, is hosting the 4th Annual Proudly South African Buy Local Summit and Expo at SCC. Read more >>

Working World Exhibition
Inkanyezi Event Organisers - 4 Mar 2015 to 6 Mar 2015, Port Elizabeth

Contactless Payments Conference
Trade Conferences International - 4 Mar 2015 to 5 Mar 2015, Johannesburg

Veuve Clicquot Masters Polo Cape Town 2015
Vivid Luxury - 7 Mar 2015, Cape Town

Quotes
Isabella Poretsis
"A block won't move without the effort."
Israelmore Ayivor
"Thinking is free, planning is also free, but action taking is not free; you have a price to pay. Success is not luck; it demands work... hard work of course!"
Brandi L. Bates
"Fruit falls when you shake the tree. You have to keep making things happen."
Cheryl Burke
"In the end, the greatest victory we can know is the result of all of our hard work, discipline, and dedication: the realisation of our dreams."
Lyza Matociños
"There's no such word as genius, it is just the combination of hard work and determination."

More quotes  Submit a Quote
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