Amarula Cream is stepping into a fresh digital space with the launch of its new interactive website. 1 Sep 2008
Retail giant Edcon said last week it would continue to grow sales in the coming months despite a tough trading environment characterised by rising food prices and high inflation. 1 Sep 2008
Like any company, Apple has its shortcomings. It's turned out some products even its biggest fans call mediocre, it gives customers minimal information about its plans and intentions, and developers complain about unusual restrictions. However, the company has managed to cultivate a culture of fierce loyalty, and situations that would have other companies in crisis mode seem to roll off its back. 31 Aug 2008
In a move that's left some observers scratching their heads, Microsoft has acquired a German comparison shopping site, Ciao for US$486 million in cash. 31 Aug 2008
USA: As the general population becomes more comfortable with high-tech gadgets, retailers are looking for ways to incorporate them into the shopping experience. An assortment of devices are now available to help customers buy smarter and faster, reducing the need for customer service while boosting satisfaction. 31 Aug 2008
Primall Media will be launching its latest innovation, Touch Screen Directory boards, in October 2008, with the placement of 93 touch screen units in 18 of the top malls countrywide. Consumers will no longer have to try and navigate from current 'you are here' static and confusing shopping mall directories. 29 Aug 2008
Fashion retailer Edcon Holdings suffered a first-quarter loss of R643 million to June, compared with a R1,13 billion profit for the corresponding period a year ago. 29 Aug 2008
Vincent Park could become the first casualty in East London's battle of the malls with a major tenant considering cutting its store in half in favour of another outlet in the new Hemingways Mall. 29 Aug 2008
Woolworths has a steady supplier base. It has teams of scientists developing new products. Woolworths's reputation as a tough and demanding buyer of products and services precedes it. Suppliers confirm this and CEO Simon Susman concedes that working with his company “can be challenging”. 29 Aug 2008
USA: More than a third of mainstream consumers over the age of 30 experience deep frustration associated with their cell phone's interface according to a study revealed yesterday by Bowen Research, a firm that researches and evaluates consumer attitudes and behavior about high tech products, software and electronics. 29 Aug 2008
UNITED KINGDOM: As a result of increasing demand from industry franchisees, today marks the official launch of a new franchise association and dedicated web portal: www.franchiseeassociation.org.uk. 29 Aug 2008
Why sell somebody else's product line when you can do a better job offering your own? That was the question that ultimately pushed Jan Hichert, CEO of Astaro, and two other cofounders to develop their own Internet security solutions for a market they viewed as needy of attention - the small- to medium-sized business (SMB) segment. 29 Aug 2008
South Africa's Production Price Index (PPI) has increased by 18.9% year-on-year in July from 16.8% year-on-year in June. 28 Aug 2008
Simonsig Estate has named its full-bodied Shiraz, Mr Borio's, in honour of a remarkable friend of the Malan family. 28 Aug 2008
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is set to double the number of food garden projects set up in the area to respond to the challenge of high food prices and poverty. A resolution was taken at the second annual Ekurhuleni Women's Agricultural Summit which was hosted by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Ekurhuleni Women in Agriculture this week to set up another 1500 food-producing projects. 28 Aug 2008
Aimed at creating awareness around Oral Health Month and the free dental check up initiative, Colgate-Palmolive has commissioned Mamba Media to create a stand-alone Colgate comic to run specifically in the Daily Sun newspaper on the 4 and 20 August 2008. 28 Aug 2008
Mauritius received its first taste of dedicated Puma gear this month with the launch of the marque's first brand store on the island this month. Consumers and travellers to Mauritius will now have access to a wide range of Puma's sports lifestyle products available in one store. 28 Aug 2008
Did a computer intrusion at a Best Western hotel in Germany open the door for a hacker to steal the records of 8 million customers and pull off "the greatest cyber-heist in world history", as a Scottish newspaper put it? Or was the incident a significantly more minor affair, affecting only 10 customers at the one facility, as claimed by Best Western International? 28 Aug 2008
It may be true that environmental groups are singling out Apple for special attention in order to get clean-tech issues more ink. It may also be true that Apple is making an effort to green up its processes to polish its image. The big question, though, is whether the consumers who stand between the company and the activists are willing to spend more of their own green to advance the cause. 28 Aug 2008
South Africa's economy remains in good health despite a slowdown in consumer spending. 27 Aug 2008
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