Best Buy is trying a new retail channel - the vending machine, of all things. The electronics retailer plans to place automated kiosks at airports across the US in an effort to reach customers while they're travelling. The machines will offer MP3 players, phone chargers and other smaller items. 12 Aug 2008
Are eBay and other e-commerce firms that allow third parties to conduct business transactions on their sites responsible for policing brand infringement? Or is it up to the brands themselves to alert the hosting organisation to suspected infringement? Two recent cases illustrate that it largely depends on where the e-commerce is being conducted. 12 Aug 2008
Swiss-based luxury goods group Richemont announced today it had acquired a controlling interest in the Geneva watch company, Manufacture Roger Dubuis SA in a private transaction with Carlos Dias, one of the founding shareholders. 11 Aug 2008
Baileys cream liqueur has partnered with The Runway and personal stylist Robyn Cooke to become the headline sponsor of The Baileys Fashion Weekend, a first-of-its-kind fashion event taking place on 16 - 17 August 2008. 11 Aug 2008
Bumper attendance and record wine sales in excess of R400,000 herald the 6th Stellenbosch Wine Festival as the most successful ever. 11 Aug 2008
Where are the opportunities that always lie in times of economic change? What should the owners of and participants in global supply chains be doing to maintain or extend their competitive advantage in this global economic downturn? 11 Aug 2008
Monika Christmann, a top German oenologist who will address this year's Nederburg Auction in September, recently commented on how a clear South African wine style has evolved over the past decade. She noted the role of Sauvignon Blanc in helping the country to achieve a unique and distinctive identity. 11 Aug 2008
NEWSWATCH: Pepsi Cola is looking to cut down the size of its canned drinks in China from 355ml to 330ml to combat the inflationary pressures of rising aluminium costs - Packaging Digest reports. Meanwhile, Madonna and Guy Ritchie could be in trouble after reports have surfaced of alleged price fixing at their pub in London - Tonight. 11 Aug 2008
What is unified communications (UC) and why do you need it? UC is not unified messaging, and it isn't a unified desktop. But both of these technology solutions help to support a unified communications architecture. In fact, according to Aberdeen, a Harte-Hanks Company, UC is the convergence of such technologies as instant messaging, e-mail, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), presence and e-commerce in or near real-time. 11 Aug 2008
Budget laptops and the iPhone have been getting most of the attention in gadget circles lately, but there's another intriguing trend under way. 11 Aug 2008
African Bank Limited (Abil) launched its BEE public offering this week with special emphasis on creating value for employees of recently acquired furniture retailer Ellerines. 8 Aug 2008
SA home shopping giant HomeChoice says that it has implemented a VoIP solution from Orion Telecom. VoIP technology converts voice calls from analogue to digital to be sent over digital data networks. 8 Aug 2008
The Juliet Cullinan Wine Connoisseur's Awards, established in 2000, evaluates and highlights the leaders of each Cape vintage. The 2008 Awards will be run in association with The Collection by Liz McGrath, which includes the three five star Relais & Chateaux hotels: The Cellars-Hohenort in Constantia, The Marine in Hermanus and The Plettenberg in Plettenberg Bay. 8 Aug 2008
As the economy weathers day after day of choppy economic news, consumers are cutting back on away-from-home consumption of wine, beer and spirits. New research from The Nielsen Company and Bevinco reveals that on-premise sales of alcoholic beverages have been considerably impacted by the declining economy. 8 Aug 2008
Poor people, especially in the rural areas, are finding it difficult to cope with the rocketing high food prices on their thin wages or social grants. 8 Aug 2008
Actress, model, presenter, producer and philanthropist, Connie Ferguson, is making local history by being the first South African woman to launch her own celebrity fragrance, which has been named ‘True Self'. 8 Aug 2008
Finding the right balance between privacy and convenience online is best left to individual consumers; they are more vested than anyone in protecting their personal information. More control will enable them to decide what information they want to share and how they want to share it. 8 Aug 2008
It's no fun shopping alone. That's the theory behind social shopping, a trend that combines social networking with e-commerce. It's a trend that's coming into its own as increasing numbers of online shoppers turn to the sites for fun, companionship, and camaraderie with other shoppers. 8 Aug 2008
USA - The Department of Justice has charged 11 people with the theft of millions of account numbers from a long list of US big box retailers including TJ Maxx, OfficeMax, Barnes & Noble, Boston Market, BJ's Wholesale Club, Forever 21, DSW, Dave & Buster's and Sports Authority. 8 Aug 2008
Todwil Retail Solutions, a privately owned Cape-based retail-marketing company recently acquired Cape Tech Plastics, a specialist injection moulding company, for an undisclosed sum. 7 Aug 2008
