Today, a retailer's e-commerce initiative extends beyond the online store. In fact, e-commerce typically becomes the central hub of a company's overall digital strategy. Retailers strive to seamlessly integrate the brand into their catalogs and merchandising, and also to weave these components into the site experience as a whole. Factor in multi-channel integration and modifications for global commerce, and one can see how many brands find themselves struggling to find the most effective way to manage their content. 11 Feb 2010
Jeremy Droyman, MD of Don't Waste Services (DWS) says his company has a solution for the 92% of the country's refuse that is currently placed in black bags and put into landfills. It has pioneered a revolutionary means of recycling on the go, Soccer Recycling Pole Bins. 11 Feb 2010
The 2010 FTA (Flexographic Technical Association) International Awards has given Nampak Flexible, two award nominations for its Imana Chicken Noodle soup and Imana Cream of Vegetable soup packs. Judging took place 24-26 January 2010 in New York, where all entries were judged strictly on technical achievement, by concealing the manufacturer's brand through coding. 11 Feb 2010
The Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) Protégé Programme has selected its 2010 protégés; they are Sacha Claassen from Oudtshoorn and Tamsyn Jeftha from Strand. 11 Feb 2010
The term "ROBO" (Research Online, Buy Offline) was coined by Yahoo to describe the growing number of consumers who research online but buy offline. Online "pre-shopping" has become a common activity prior to a variety of purchases. According to Forrester, online research will influence US$1 trillion in offline sales by 2012, making it imperative that retailers understand the full impact that their online presence - as well as those of their competitors - may have on consumer in-store behavior. 10 Feb 2010
LONDON, UK: US giant Kraft Foods said that it will shut a Cadbury factory in western England after clinching a successful takeover of the British confectionery company earlier this month. 10 Feb 2010
Cloud computing is an emerging trend for the delivery of software and hardware as services via the Internet. It can be either public or private, both with its unique benefits while providing high efficiency, high availability and elastic capacity. 10 Feb 2010
PG Bison, which has run its Student Design competition for 16 years, has rebranded it as the 1.sixoneeight competition, in honour of the golden ratio 1.618, which is central to architecture, design, art, music and mathematics. 10 Feb 2010
Accenture's annual consumer satisfaction survey revealed that consumers in South Africa, India, China and Brazil value quick turnaround, speedy resolution of customer complaints and convenient service availability most and 75% of them expect better service for their buck than they did five years ago. 10 Feb 2010
Energy Indaba 2010, which takes place on 24-26 February 2010 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, features Dr Robert Schock, present director of studies for the World Energy Council (WEC) as a key speaker. 10 Feb 2010
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: The European Union unveiled a new Green logo that will have to be shown on all pre-packaged organic products produced in Europe from July. 9 Feb 2010
The protracted strike at ABI, the soft drinks division of South African Breweries, ended last night, 8 February 2010, after a settlement was reached with the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu). 9 Feb 2010
The Diamond Face Couture fashion house has come apart at the seams as Uyanda Mbuli and Gert-Johan Coetzee have called it quits on their partnership. 9 Feb 2010
"FNB customers can now calculate monthly repayments on any unsecured loan via Internet or a dot.Mobi.site on their cellphones," says FNB head of product and marketing, Jeff McDonald. 9 Feb 2010
The 2010 Jet Community Awards, which have opened for entries, will recognise community projects and grass roots organisations in four categories. With more than R1 million in prize money, the competition is open to entries from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland, with the proviso that winners are obliged to reinvest their winnings into their community building initiatives. 9 Feb 2010
Book now and enjoy a substantial early bird discount. 9 Feb 2010
The SA Cheese Festival takes place at Bien Donné on the R45 between Paarl and Franschhoek on 24-27 April 2010 and offers a wide range of fun-filled activities for the entire family. 9 Feb 2010
Award winning white wine maker, Deon Boshoff succeeds Michael Bucholz as the new cellarmaster at Zonnebloem. Bucholz has been appointed as operations manager at the Bergkelder. 9 Feb 2010
Illovo Sugar aims to spend about R6bn on its African expansion over the next five years in a bid to increase the group's annual sugar production from 1,7-million tons to between 2,5-million tons and 2,7-million tons. 8 Feb 2010
For businesses serving the public, employees are the face of the company. Likewise, the manner in which employees interact with customers shapes their perception of the business and its brand. Ultimately, customer loyalty is built through positive interactions and high-quality customer service that meets the individual's specific needs. Conversely, if needs aren't met and the experience is negative, customers are more likely to take their business elsewhere. 8 Feb 2010
