Retail loyalty programmes are at a crossroads, according to a new Retail Systems Research report, Getting Loyalty Programmes Back to Loyalty. RSR's research confirms that retailers must transform their loyalty programmes from a pay-for-data scheme into something that captures the customer data they need, while still providing the kind of value to a customer that generates real loyalty. 20 Aug 2007
Apparel and footwear giant Nike, has collaborated with seventeen magazine on an innovative digital campaign. 20 Aug 2007
Nikki Akanbi has been appointed executive officer of the inland region of the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA). 20 Aug 2007
Soweto is the host of the first day of Joburg Fashion Week, which runs 21 – 25 August 2007. Organised by African Fashion International, conveners of Cape Town Fashion Week and the new talent showcase MTN Durban Fashion Week, the hosting of the first day of a major international fashion week is intended to be a symbol of the rapid transformation of Soweto. 20 Aug 2007
The upcoming Good Food and Wine Show, which takes place 1 – 4 November 2007 at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Johannesburg, will include an array of top international chefs. Newcomers include the Hairy Bikers; Mich Turner, who makes cake creations for the likes of David Beckham, Pierce Brosnan and Madonna; chocolatier Keith Hurdman; Sophie Grigson; and old favourites Brian Turner and Andrew Nutter. 20 Aug 2007
Several leaders in the international music industry suffered a bitter defeat as a Russian court found that Denis Kvasov, music site AllofMP3.com chief, committed no copyright violations. The site sold tracks to consumers at prices below the market without the permission of copyright owners. 17 Aug 2007
The IT sector in Kenya, and to a greater extent East Africa, is set for a major price war following the launch by Acer of low-priced but innovative products. 17 Aug 2007
Rising food and energy costs have been flagged as the main contributors to the Monetary Policy Committee's (MPC) decision to hike the repo rate by the expected 50 basis points to 10%. 17 Aug 2007
London, UK - Dr. Robert L. Phillips, founder, chief science officer, and vice president of product management of Nomis Solutions, a leader in profit-based pricing for banking and finance, will be a keynote speaker at the upcoming Credit Scoring and Credit Control Conference hosted by the University of Edinburgh Management School. 16 Aug 2007
USA - Guerrilla Marketing Strategies, an exclusive guerrilla marketing partner for franchise companies, recently teamed with sales expert Aaron Bare, CEO of the National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP). Together, the pair aim to provide expertise in sales effectiveness and marketing execution, in order to assist business owners create long-term success. 16 Aug 2007
Buying gifts for men can be a tricky situation. While most men prefer gifts they can actually use, the traditional stand-bys (such as clothing, hardware and gadgets) sometimes leave much to be desired. MenScience Androceuticals recently hosted an online poll to find out what men really want... 16 Aug 2007
Radio 2000's Plight of the Homeless campaign, now running at Somerset Mall, The Mall of Rosebank, Northgate and the Village Walk Shopping Centre, ends on 31 August, and since its launch in June, it has helped SANTA, Meals on Wheels, Somerset Night Shelter and other charities to assist the needy. 16 Aug 2007
TrueShip has introduced support for UPS WorldShip® version 9, aimed at adding new expandability to TrueShip's ReadyShipper shipping software. 16 Aug 2007
The Liberty Group announces new team for Rest of Africa to drive strategic growth. 16 Aug 2007
Zimbabwe's freight industry is operating at under 30% of its capacity - an unsustainable rate that could see the industry collapse. Observers say the main reason is for the low operational level is the currently crippling rate of exchange for the local currency. 16 Aug 2007
Nampak, Africa's largest packaging company, has expanded its African footprint with the opening of its first manufacturing plant outside of South Africa – in Botswana. 16 Aug 2007
Michael Torchia has formed the Operation Fitness "Healthy Task Force," a team of health experts that conduct research into manufacturers and distributors of products containing toxic chemicals, refined sugars, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and genetically modified ingredients. Members of the task force will report all their findings to legislative representatives, Governmental agencies, as well as to school officials. Their goal is to provide essential information to children and parents so that healthy choices can be made. 15 Aug 2007
Consumer electronics importers have been hit by a sudden rise in prices this month, as Chinese factories unexpectedly ran into global shortages in supplies of Taiwan and Korea-made NAND flash memory chips. 15 Aug 2007
According to a new study by integrated online marketing site Oneupweb, 81% of Internet Retailer Magazine's top 100 retailers' websites are not fully utilising search engine optimisation and marketing - missing profitable opportunities and risking loss of market share. 15 Aug 2007
ODIN technologies, a leader in RFID solution design, testing and deployment was recently awarded another RFID patent, which related to a project dubbed the "Secure Material Accounted in Real Time (S.M.A.R.T) container". US Patent No. 7,256,682 relates to, for example, a wide range of embodiments having active and/or passive RFID to provide efficient and accurate visibility of assets as they travel in a closed container. 15 Aug 2007
