This December's retail trade could well be an improvement on last year, despite 2016's frail and fickle economy. This festive season, people will spend mostly on first-order goods, such as food, pharmaceuticals, services and clothing. In contrast, furniture and other discretionary purchases are likely to be less appealing to shoppers. 23 Nov 2016
Black Friday is an American tradition that has quickly taken root in Africa. The large online e-commerce shops and the major retail chains in many parts of the continent will be splashing out with big promotions and marketing campaigns to get consumers to part with their cash. 23 Nov 2016
Pick n Pay has introduced tap-and-go technology in its stores‚ and the JSE-listed retailer says this will significantly reduce queues at tills. 23 Nov 2016
Local food producers Rhodes and Pioneer have warned that the effects of the severe drought could continue to be felt in 2017, which would put a strain on their interim earnings. 23 Nov 2016
Dis-Chem Pharmacy in Rosebank Mall, Johannesburg.
Picture: Financial Mail
Investment company RECM & Calibre (RACP) finds itself flush with cash after notching up a large profit on selling an indirect holding in Dis-Chem ahead of the healthcare retailer's listing on the JSE last week. 23 Nov 2016
Nampak revenue jumped 11% as trading profit from the rest of Africa surpassed turnover from the group's South African home market for the first time yet in the year to September 30. 22 Nov 2016
Astral Foods, the Big Bird of the JSE's poultry sector, was ready to swoop on consolidation opportunities in an embattled industry where margins have been shredded by increased inflows of imported chicken and higher feed costs. 22 Nov 2016
Nederburg cellar team
At the 2016 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) Nederburg was announced as the South African Wine Producer of the Year at a gala in London, late last week. This is the second time it has achieved this prestigious award, the first time was in 2012. 22 Nov 2016
Mpact Recycling has called upon consumers to take greater care when disposing of their refuse. "We urge consumers to separate recyclable plastic bottles and other recyclable items at home instead of relying on recyclers to do so at landfill. By that time, the plastic is often too contaminated with items such as soil to be recycled," says Ronald Fairbanks, GM: Mpact Polymers. 22 Nov 2016
From my 20 years' experience of running franchise outlets, franchisees can earn a comfortable living, and in some cases an exceptional living, if they adhere to 10 basic rules. Abiding by these has seen many franchisees earn reliable livings through good economic times and bad, while not following them has resulted in some franchisees failing. 22 Nov 2016
As the festive season approaches, with the influx of domestic and international tourists, as well as celebratory food and gift spending, retail business increases significantly. 22 Nov 2016
From left Charl Cillie (SwiftPay), Jacobus Kriel (Grocer-E), Michael Clampett (ATTACQ Head of Asset Management), Werner Mostert (Spatial Edge), Brandon Pascal (LaunchLab’s Operational Manager), Courtney Bentley (Visibiliti Insight), Anneli Krige Nel (Slippy) and JD Naude (SwiftPay)
The LaunchLab, a network of university campus-based business incubators, recently ran the Attacq Retail Innovation Challenge in Western Cape and Gauteng universities to test students' retail innovation. 22 Nov 2016
MIAMI - Sometimes, there is such a thing as being too popular, Tommy Hilfiger says, explaining that after his label's crazy romp in the 1990s, he had to reinvent the brand. 22 Nov 2016
With constant security threats like robberies, theft and burglaries, and increasing concern, Monica Hallin, CEO of Vindico Group, identifies three of the most prominent trends in retail security for 2017. 22 Nov 2016
Packaging group Nampak on Monday reported a 48% drop in first-half headline earnings per share (HEPS), affected mainly by foreign exchange losses. 22 Nov 2016
When running an e-commerce website, downtime is the equivalent of locking your doors to the public. Not only are you not doing business, but you're also actively pushing your customers into the arms of the competition. 21 Nov 2016
Consumers may be staying away from budget-breaking spending on clothing and furniture, but they are indulging in small luxuries, retail data from Statistics SA shows. 21 Nov 2016
![Bernie Brookes
Picture: [https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/retail-and-consumer/2016-11-23-edcon-aims-to-win-hearts-and-reap-rewards-in-peak-season/ BDlive]]](https://biz-file.com/c/1611/369868-240x135.jpg?3)
Let's do Biz