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Retail

Sustainability is the theme

As promised, I interviewed Aisha Pandor of SweepSouth on being named both Best Female Tech/E-Commerce Entrepreneur and Best Black Tech/E-Commerce Entrepreneur at the recent PriceCheck Tech & E-Commerce Awards, while Leigh Andrews investigated how your website could be driving away customers.

Big news in the fashion sector is that Country Road Group is acquiring Australian menswear brand Politix, adding to Woolworths Holdings Limited's existing stable that already includes David Jones, Country Road, Witchery, Trenery and Mimco.

In other international news, Facebook launched a new online 'Marketplace' allowing over-18 users to buy and sell items with their online community. What's more is that from tomorrow MasterCard will enable its new biometric payments option, whereby shoppers can make online payments using the fingerprint scanner on their smartphone or via facial recognition tech by taking a selfie.

Sustainability is the theme this month, and I gave it a green light for Retail featuring a truly inspiring interview with Lush co-founder and product inventor Rowena Bird. For more, visit this month's special section.

Jessica Tennant, Retail Editor (@Biz_Retail)
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".




BizWeekly top stories
Is your website driving away customers?
Is your website driving away customers?

Leigh Andrews

US consumers in particular are very discerning when shopping online, so much of the global ecommerce research stems from there, but it's more than just a 'Western concern'. Here's why African business should take online shopping cart abandonment into account locally and when selling to an international market... Read

Country Road Group to acquire Politix
Country Road Group to acquire Politix

Country Road Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Woolworths Holdings Limited, has agreed to acquire Politix, an Australian menswear brand with 75 stores, including 31 concessions across Australia and FY2016 sales of $56m... Read

Credit card or selfie? Mastercard starts biometric payments
Credit card or selfie? Mastercard starts biometric payments

PARIS - Shoppers in a dozen European countries can make online payments using a selfie from Tuesday, under a rollout by Mastercard of new payment technology... Read

Aisha Pandor sweeps up two titles at the PriceCheck Tech & E-Commerce Awards
Aisha Pandor sweeps up two titles at the PriceCheck Tech & E-Commerce Awards

Jessica Tennant

Aisha Pandor, co-founder and CEO of SweepSouth, swept up two titles at the 2016 PriceCheck Tech & E-Commerce Awards, where she was named both Best Female Tech/E-Commerce Entrepreneur and Best Black Tech/E-Commerce Entrepreneur... Read

Facebook launches buy-and-sell 'Marketplace'
Facebook launches buy-and-sell 'Marketplace'

Facebook on Monday launched a new online "Marketplace" allowing members of the huge social network to buy and sell with each other... Read

#SustainabilityMonth: Life's too Lush for normal cosmetics, Q&A with co-founder Rowena Bird
#SustainabilityMonth: Life's too Lush for normal cosmetics, Q&A with co-founder Rowena Bird

Jessica Tennant

Here's a company that believes in true sustainability to the extent of turning shampoo into a bar and toothpaste into a tablet, thoughtfully designing out the need for packaging at the product creation stage... Read

Retail
Navigate Bizcommunity to where the business is
Navigate Bizcommunity to where the business is

Issued by Bizcommunity.com

An increasing number of our core advertising, marketing and media audience and other professional subscribers are discovering that navigating editorial offerings across Bizcommunity's 18 multi-industry portals makes good sense... read

Sustainability month
#SustainabilityMonth: Green Worx uses enzyme technology to limit ecological footprint
#SustainabilityMonth: Green Worx uses enzyme technology to limit ecological footprint

Sindy Peters

Green Worx Cleaning Solutions recently became the first bio enzyme company in South Africa to be certified as compliant with the Certified Quality System ISO 14001 : 2015 standard... read
Wahl, Ingarfield and Du Plessis.
#SustainabilityMonth: The immersive consumer experience

Leigh Andrews

Some brands are taking event activations to the next level by creating beautifully conceptualised spaces as a new touchpoint to enhance consumer experiences. Here's how Pernod Ricard has done so, while keeping sustainability top of mind... read
Read more
Banking & Finance
Retail industry 'has growth potential'
Retail industry 'has growth potential'

Colleen Goko

Stretched consumers with reduced disposable income are not unique to SA's retail sector, says Raam Ratnam, S&P Global Rating's senior director for corporate ratings for retail companies. But pressure on credit spend is a significant local risk... read
Whitey Basson.
Picture:
Shoprite defends Whitey Basson's R100m pay

Colleen Goko

Shoprite's top man, Whitey Basson, took home a little more than R100m in the year to June 30 2016 - an amount double his earnings in 2015 - after delivering what the group called excellent results during the period... read
Bottles of SABMiller's flagship brew, Castle Lager, at a bar in Cape Town. Almost 120 years after first listing, its name will disappear from the JSE board this week.
Picture:
CGT on shares of SABMiller a point of dispute

Hanna Ziady

Despite rumblings from SA's tax authority suggesting that the opposite could be true, Nedbank Private Wealth believes its offer to SABMiller shareholders - which would delay capital gains tax (CGT) liabilities on profit earned in the Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) takeover - is provided for in the Income Tax Act... read
Dave Woollam.
Picture:
Lewis targets Woollam with fresh claims
The legal battle between Lewis and activist shareholder Dave Woollam appears to have moved back to the Financial Services Board (FSB) where its directorate of market abuse, hours after clearing Woollam of insider trading charges, informed him he was once again under their spotlight... read
Branding
Oreo launches Oreo Golden in South Africa
CSI
Shoprite Group ready for World Food Day
Shoprite Group ready for World Food Day
World Food Day, on 16 October every year, is an international day of action against hunger, with people from around the world coming together to declare their commitment to eradicate hunger in our lifetime... read
World Food Day receives pledge from RCL Foods
World Food Day receives pledge from RCL Foods
RCL Foods is calling on South Africans to #DOMORE and donate a meal through its Facebook campaign. It will donate a meal to a needy person this World Food Day for every 'like' its CSI Facebook page receives... read
CRM
123RF
Improvements to contact centre environment should be incremental

Wynand Smit

With new or greater demands, the business offering and its supporting processes must be developed to retain and attract more customers... read
ROI on customer experience as simple as replacing these 'apps'
ROI on customer experience as simple as replacing these 'apps'

Johan Botha

Some might reason I am a bit of an "appsoholic" as I just cannot help myself when new apps are released. I have little self-control and just have to experience them! So the download begins... read
The customer experience ripple effect
The customer experience ripple effect

Mareli Smit

In celebration of Global CX Day today, 5 October 2016, it is perhaps time to look at customer experience with a different lens on... read
Celebrating Global CX Day - a tribute to brand warriors!
Celebrating Global CX Day - a tribute to brand warriors!

Chantel Botha

As 5 October approaches, customer experience professionals worldwide are preparing for a celebration of acknowledgement, knowledge sharing and showcasing of customer experience stories from around the globe... read
E-commerce
Local partnerships could change the game for budding entrepreneurs in SA
Local partnerships could change the game for budding entrepreneurs in SA

Issued by Nona Creative

Nona Holdings, Shopstar and Kamers have joined forces to give e-commerce the push it needs in helping SA businesses develop more holistically... read
Should South Africa be writing its own PSD2 regulations?
Should South Africa be writing its own PSD2 regulations?

David Liu

Europe's PSD2 is referred to the biggest development in banking history, one wonders why South Africa hasn't already followed suit... read
Fashion, Clothing & Textiles
Bernie Brookes.
Picture:
Edcon's Bernie Brookes up for the challenge

Adele Shevel

Why would an Australian who is nearing retirement age come all the way to SA to be CEO of Edcon, a company that could have gone bust? read
Fashion victim: Edcon's near-death experience
Fashion victim: Edcon's near-death experience

Adele Shevel

The untold story of just how close Bernie Brookes got to being the man to turn out the lights at SA's largest clothing retailer, Edcon, is the stuff of nightmares... read
FMCG
Bumper crops to keep global food prices relatively stable
Bumper crops to keep global food prices relatively stable
Global food markets will likely remain "generally well balanced" for the year ahead with prices for most internationally traded agricultural commodities relatively low and stable... read
Wilderer Distillery wins at Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards
Wilderer Distillery wins at Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards
At the recent Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards, Wilderer Distillery received two gold medals and a silver medal... read
From left: Trevor Strydom (MD of Audacia Wines) and Ernest du Toit (Director of SARC and CEO of Annique)
SA Rooibos IP innovation attracts international attention
The extensive trademarks and patents protecting two South African botanical treasures, Rooibos and Honeybush, caught the attention of the international community... read
Rhodes Food Group to acquire Pakco
Rhodes Food Group to acquire Pakco

Robert Laing

Rhodes Food Group intends acquiring instant food maker Pakco, whose brands include Bisto gravy and Trotters jelly, in exchange for shares valued at R200m... read
#FreshOnTheShelf: DENNY® launches mushroom burger patties
#FreshOnTheShelf: DENNY® launches mushroom burger patties
DENNY® has launched South Africa's first mushroom burger patties, DENNY® Mushroom Burgers... read
#WorldAnimalDay: getting McDonalds SA to commit to cage-free chickens
#WorldAnimalDay: getting McDonalds SA to commit to cage-free chickens
Media and other influencers joined Angus McIntosh at the Spier Biodynamic Farm last week to see what free-range chickens actually look like, in support of the petition to get McDonals to commit to... read
Manufacturing
Manufacturing still in doldrums but outlook improves
Manufacturing still in doldrums but outlook improves

Ntsakisi Maswanganyi

Numbers coming out on manufacturing activity suggest the sector was not a big contributor to third-quarter growth... read
Data expected to confirm manufacturing weakness
Data expected to confirm manufacturing weakness

Madeleine van Niekerk

The Barclays purchasing managers' index kicks off the economic data releases on Monday, with economists forecasting that its reading is likely to confirm the weak pace of activity in the manufacturing sector... read
Merchandising
Facebook's Oculus pushes virtual reality with new gear
Facebook's Oculus pushes virtual reality with new gear
Facebook on Thursday worked to ramp up enthusiasm for its virtual reality line, unveiling new gear including a lower-end wireless headset prototype... read
Packaging
Private equity opportunities in African currency devaluation
Private equity opportunities in African currency devaluation
Recent currency devaluations on the continent could create an opportunity for African manufacturers according to African investment experts, RisCura... read
Friedel Sass
Picture:
SoftBev: Time-frame troubles

Marc Hasenfuss

An unexpectedly flat performance from plastic packaging specialist Bowler Metcalf's 43%-owned soft-drink bottling subsidiary, SoftBev, has resulted in an outpouring of speculation... read
Astrapak CE Robin Moore.
Picture:
Astrapak: A sitting duck

Stafford Thomas

After four years in intensive care, Astrapak is on the mend... read
Amarula wins gold at Travel Retail Excellence Awards in Cannes
Amarula wins gold at Travel Retail Excellence Awards in Cannes
The new Jabulani bottle from Amarula has won a Gold Travel Retail Excellence Award at this year's Drinks International Travel Retail Awards held in Cannes earlier this week... read
Regulatory
stevepb via
Warning to firms who don't lower food prices after drought ends
The Competition Commission is closely watching businesses in the food sector whose prices may have risen as a result of the drought... read
Retail Marketing
Clover launches second Manhattan Ice Tea Shop Like a New Yorker competition
Clover launches second Manhattan Ice Tea Shop Like a New Yorker competition
Clover recently launched the second Manhattan Ice Tea Shop Like a New Yorker (#SLNY2) competition... read
Primedia Lifestyle accepts the Gold Award for the Grocery Avenue campaign at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, in the category of grand opening, expansion and/or renovation.
From left to right: Jeff Zidel, SACSC Fortress and President; Olive Ndebele, GM of Menlyn for Mowana Properties; Andrea De Wit, Marketing Manager of Menlyn for Primedia Lifestyle; and Amanda Stops, SACSC CEO.
Primedia Lifestyle takes home 13 Footprint Marketing Awards
Primedia Lifestyle took home 13 of these prestigious awards, including one Gold, six Silver and six Bronze out of the overall 33 awards (approximately 40%), across multiple categories... read
Retailers
Regulator to rule on retailers' lawsuit
Regulator to rule on retailers' lawsuit

Moyagabo Maake

The National Credit Regulator (NCR) is finalising its response to a lawsuit brought by three retail groups in June challenging its new affordability assessment regulations, which retailers claim caused millions of rand in lost sales... read
Supply Chain
Jan-Mallander via
Why a resilient supply chain will future-proof the organisation

Paul van Nierop

Business is moving into a period of higher market disruption - with economic upheaval, political uncertainty, and industry innovation all challenging the ability to sustain market positions... read
Technology
The benefits of private Wi-Fi solutions for retail
The benefits of private Wi-Fi solutions for retail
Marius Visser, executive: Business Solutions at Metacom explains how business decision makers can benefit from Wi-Fi solutions and suggests things to think about when implementing one... read
International
Amazon said the "Prime Reading" program would include "over a thousand popular books" ()
Amazon launches 'unlimited' reading for Prime members
WASHINGTON - US online giant Amazon on Wednesday launched a new "Prime Reading" programme for US members of its subscription programme, allowing unlimited reading of a rotating selection of e-books... read
Amazon has banned reviews of products received free or at generous discounts, unless authors have been deemed trustworthy by the online retail giant ()
Amazon bans most 'incentivised' reviews
SAN FRANCISCO - Amazon on Monday banned reviews of products received free or at generous discounts, unless authors have been deemed trustworthy by the online retail giant... read
More International
Business
How to maximise your ROI on postgrad studies
How to maximise your ROI on postgrad studies
It seems the best time to inject more skills and knowledge into your career is when making the shift to middle or senior management... read
Jobs offered
Copywriter - Cape Town
Cash Crusaders Franchising is recruiting a copy writer with excellent writing skills in product marketing, training material and online marketing. Independent worker with good time management skills required! Read more >>





New events to diarise
Masters of Business Lunch and Learn
PR Expert - 11 Oct 2016, Johannesburg | 12 Oct 2016, Johannesburg


Short course in customer experience practice
Enterprises University of Pretoria - 26 Oct 2016 to 28 Oct 2016, Pretoria


Marketing, communication and customer relations
Enterprises University of Pretoria - 26 Oct 2016 to 28 Oct 2016, Pretoria


Hands-on supply chain management
Enterprises University of Pretoria - 7 Nov 2016 to 11 Nov 2016, Pretoria


Mastering Sales and Marketing Using Social Media Tools
NES Consulting - 16 Nov 2016 to 18 Nov 2016, Johannesburg


Professional sales
The Peer Training Group - 7 Dec 2016, Johannesburg


Blockchain Africa Conference
Bitcoin Events Pty Ltd - 1 Mar 2017 to 3 Mar 2017, Johannesburg


Small Business Expo
Thebe Reed Exhibitions - 31 Aug 2017 to 2 Sep 2017, Johannesburg


Upcoming events
Handling conflict in the workplace
Sobethu (Pty) LTD - 13 Oct 2016 to 14 Oct 2016, Johannesburg


Quotes
Confucius
"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."
Vince Lombardi
"The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have."
Baltasar Gracian
"Know or listen to those who know."
Audrey Hepburn
"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!"
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"Correction does much, but encouragement does more."

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