Stormhoek scoops Marketing Excellence Award
Stormhoek, a small winery in Wellington, walked off with the Brand Marketing Campaign of the Year at the Sunday Times Business Times Marketing Excellence Awards 2007 last night, Sunday, 18 November 2007, at the new Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City, Johannesburg. Happy Ntshingila was crowned Marketing Person of the Year 2007.

Joburg design house for Coke marketing remix
In 2008, Coca-Cola celebrates 125 years of Coke and it has invited Rex, a small Joburg-based company of designers turning four next year, to participate in its global birthday celebrations. The project, dubbed Coca-Cola Remix, sees 125 artists from around the world taking 125 years of Coca-Cola marketing material and re-inventing it to create a series of fresh visuals inspired by the brand's new global positioning statement – the Coke side of life.


Local TV soaps overrating Black Diamonds?
[Rose Setshoge] Could South African television soaps be overrating the Black Diamonds? … And are marketers and their agencies watching?


New Pick n Pay ad campaigns launch Sunday
[Louise Marsland] The rebranding of the 40-year-old Pick n Pay brand is about more than just a new logo and new colours and fonts. It is about a new business direction for a company that has set benchmarks in retailing, not only locally, but abroad too; a greater focus on customers; and about meeting global retailing challenges in the future… It is an extremely brave step for any brand to take.


Perfectly pragmatic Pick n Pay
[Chris Moerdyk] There is nothing at all surprising about Pick n Pay's multi-million rand marketing makeover. It is what one would have expected from this iconic brand that in all its years has never once deviated from the basic fundamentals of marketing. This time is no exception.


Lifestyle SA Festival - Celebrating Black secures the SABC Group as media partner - Human Element
Organisers of the Lifestyle SA Festival - Celebrating Black, Shiru Githiomi, Zuki Hani and Zuki Mzozoyana of Human Element Inc, have secured the South African Broadcast Corporation (SABC) as an official media partner of this landmark event.

Learners win with Coca-Cola Make Your Mark - Egg Marketing & Communications
[Charlotte Bradley] Following the launch of the very successful Coca-Cola Make Your Mark School Programme in schools around the country this year, the first Make Your Mark Gala Evening was held in Johannesburg last month to announce and celebrate the learner entrepreneurs of 2007.

Stage is set for 2010 preliminary draw
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] A 1000 metre stage has been set at the International Convention Centre in Durban where a total of 280 African artists will perform on 25 November 2007 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup preliminary draw, to be conducted in the presence of South African President Thabo Mbeki and FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

SA websites not ready for 2010
[Roelof Vermeulen] In recent months I have done some research into South Africa's readiness for 2010, in terms of Internet marketing. The majority of businesses seem to think that, by having a website, they have all the visibility they need to be found by the thousands of soccer supporters that will flock the country in 2010. Some even think they have a lot of time to get their web presence sorted out, as the event is only in 2010. Nothing can be further from the truth.


Soccer film world premiere at 2010 preliminary draw
The world premiere of the film More Than Just a Game will take place at the Preliminary Draw of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Durban on Friday, 23 November 2007, at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre. The film, which tells the dramatic and little-known story of organised football played among prisoners on Robben Island, is produced by Anant Singh and Helena Spring, directed by Junaid Ahmed and stars Presley Chweneyagae (Tsotsi) and Wright Ngubeni (Generations).

Digital advertising in the townships
[Tshepiso Seopa] One Digital Media last week launched a digital advertising system called Loxion Network, aimed at directly linking brands with their consumers in the townships. The system downloads content via satellite, Internet and GPRS to a network of screens that are automatically monitored.

Draftfcb launches social marketing
[Louise Marsland] Advertising and communications agency Draftfcb (formerly FCB) launched a new division at an industry media lunch in Rosebank yesterday, Thursday, 15 November 2007, called Social Marketing. It will focus on targeting campaigns to influence the behaviour of target audiences “for the greater good of the individual and society”. Sort of like ‘PR with empathy'.

Community media leads way on ad packages
[Chris Moerdyk] Community media in South Africa has realised that its survival depends on working together by offering clients multiple media advertising "packages" rather than each medium trying to go it alone. For example, recently Johannesburg community station Radio Today took the initiative by creating a community media "hub" which will look at a number of community radio stations, TV and newspapers wanting to share management resources, skills and particularly offer joint advertising packages.

The state of advertising today
[Pedro de Gouveia] Is traditional advertising dead? No, it's not, but the landscape has changed…


Singh&sons pen a new chapter for Prudential - Singh&Sons
“If you had to choose the only book your child would ever read, which would it be?” asks the television commercial for Prudential Portfolio Managers by singh&sons. Now, just think about this for a second. What book would YOU choose? A dictionary? An encyclopedia? A fable with lingering life lessons?


Sweet 16 for Red Cherry Advertising - Red Cherry Advertising
On Saturday, 24 November 2007, Red Cherry Advertising turns 16 years old. Not bad when the average start-up agency is lucky to last a year.

Instant pain relief – a campaign with a humorous twist - Brainstorm Projects
Yunnan Baiyao, newcomer to the South African anti-inflammatory market, recently joined forces with through-the-line ad agency Brainstorm Projects to produce its first television ad. The advert comprises real-life humorous video clips showing people in painful situations, such as trying to punch through slabs of concrete, or getting knocked over by a friend on a swing.

Nando's comes home to roost at Black River F.C. - The Jupiter Drawing Room
Johannesburg hot shop, Black River F.C., has recently been awarded the Nando's account. No stranger to the brand, Black River F.C. has done work for Nando's in the past, including the controversial and popular ‘Wandos' campaign and the recent tactical Rugby World Cup ad campaign.

Agency and rock band set on breaking 'deadly silence' - Joe Public
Music is a powerful medium, with the ability to unite people from all creeds and colours, raising awareness on matters of social importance. Rock4Aids is a charity concert founded and organised by advertising agency Joe Public with the primary aim of raising funds for much-needed education on the subject of HIV/Aids. In support of this worthy cause, the popular South African export Just Jinjer will be performing live at the Alexander Theatre on 28 November 2007.

Vrot start for new PnP logo
[Tshepiso Seopa] The revamped 40-year-old Pick n Pay brand did not go down well with most readers of Bizcommunity.com, who started debating this issue when the first blogpost with the breaking news was published as the press conference last Monday was happening. The poll drew 4038 page impressions (Fresh new look for iconic Pick n Pay brand) and 144 comments over the week. A total of 48.53% (642) votes by this morning indicate that our readers do not like the new logo, while 34.39% (455) think it is a winner, and 17.08% (226) are undecided.


More brand revamps
Two 20-something year-old brands have recently been revamped to keep up with the latest trends. Lotusfm and Auto & General launched new corporate identities and advertising campaigns, with the insurer adding on a new communications strategy.


Africa TV travel channel to be launched - Interbrand Sampson
Southern Africa Direct, a free-to-air channel promoting 25 countries in the region, will launch on the UK's Sky Channel on 26 November 2007. Interbrand Sampson Africa is part of the team that has created and launched this new offering.


Brand Alive wins gold for HM Timber - Brand Alive
brandalive, the brand relationship company, has led HM Timber Limited to the Gold Award for the best brand expression at the international Green Building Conference and Exhibition, held last week at the CSIR in Pretoria. The award was presented in recognition of the innovative and exciting presentation of the HM Timber brand in the expo centre.

Start at the top when seeking film distributors
[Charl Groenewald] Hawking your film around a number of film markets and film festivals in the hope that somewhere along the line, someone will want to buy it, could be the most expensive mistake film producers could make. Independent producers should rather contract with and outsource to expert agencies that know and understand film markets and can sell the movie on their behalf.

On-demand sales coaching and BI with new Maximizer CRM 10 - Maximizer
Maximizer Software, a leading provider of simple, accessible customer relationship management (CRM) solutions, recently announced the availability of the milestone tenth version of its CRM solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) – Maximizer CRM 10.

Thebe Ikalafeng to speak on design for TV in Spain
Brand authority Thebe Ikalafeng will be taking part in the third edition of Broad.cat, a space to talk and think about current graphic design on television, 14 – 16 November 2007 in Barcelona, Spain. The theme for this year's conference centres around how design can respond to new challenges and ways of communicating with audiences in an age characterised by technological innovation and new formats or proliferation of TV channels, from a local TV to a global event.

Cannes Lions launches Design category
LONDON: The organisers of the 55th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival yesterday, Monday, 12 November 2007, announced the launch of Design Lions in 2008. The new category will honour the creative and innovative use of design for the brand and product communication and development, broadly including Packaging Design, Brand Identity and Environmental Design.

Lost in translation: design versus marketing
[Henre Rossouw] Small business owners often question the effect their website has on their business and the little actual return on investment it delivers. Why isn't their websites working for them and why do (online) marketers harp on about the necessity of an online presence when it doesn't seem to provide any substantial leads or returns?

Cape residents to get free Internet access
Capetonians who do not own computers or who cannot afford Internet café fees can now access both, free of charge, through the City of Cape Town's expanded Smart Cape Access Project.

Goodbye viral marketing, hello social marketing - Ensight
[John Ginsberg] It's interesting how some terms are used in general speech to describe the exact opposite of what they really mean. Take “viral marketing” as an example.

What's in a click? - Low Fat Digital Communications
When online marketers evaluate their campaigns, typically the gold standard of metrics is the click-through. Unfortunately though, click-throughs can be misleading; they only tell half the story.

Final countdown to Joburg Reshaping Media seminar
With not even a week to go until the Reshaping Media seminar at The Michelangelo Hotel in Johannesburg, Thursday, 22 November 2007, and a successful Cape Town seminar, it is recommended that you book your seats soon. Go to www.platypusblog.com for the day's agenda. For more information about Reshaping Media, contact Natalie Hands on +27 (0)21 423 7245 or email natalie@platypus.co.za. Bizcommunity.com is a media partner.

Exclusive SA membership of global DM agency network
Negotiations have been completed for 5th Dimension to join IDN (InterDirect Network), one of the largest networks of independent direct marketing agencies in the world, the direct marketing agency announced earlier this week. 5th Dimension will be the exclusive South African member of the network.

Silver Echo for Ogilvy Cape Town
Ogilvy Cape Town recently won a silver Echo Award for its Babushka direct marketing pack for MWeb. This was one of 18 Echoes won by Ogilvy offices worldwide at the recent 2007 Direct Marketing Association (DMA) International Echo Awards.

Silver Echo for primaplus

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Cape Town-based specialist direct marketing agency primaplus also recently scooped a Silver Echo Award for its MWeb Business Voice Box at the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) International Echo Awards held in Chicago. Only three South African agencies won Echoes. This win follows on from primaplus' recent Direct Mail Centre's ‘Big Time' award and three Gold Awards and the overall Inkosi Award at the Assegai Awards 2007. Comments MD Peter Farrell, “It's great to be recognised internationally as well as locally. The work we're doing is setting a new benchmark in the industry!”

IT infrastructure roadshow for Joburg
The International Data Corporation (IDC), a global authority on ICT markets, is to host an IT infrastructure event in Johannesburg on 20 November 2007 as part of a series of roadshows being held in the Middle East and Africa region.

A lively launch for HP's newest product range - Kadoro Events and Communications
A fresh approach and plenty of daring are touchstones for Kadoro Events and Communications, as evidenced by its recent launch for HP's new product range – which reportedly grabbed everyone's attention and got them talking!


Ekurhuleni Excellence Awards - True Colour Events
A hive of bees producing a golden product was the inspiration behind the venue design for the Ekurhuleni Excellence Awards held recently at Emperor's Palace in Johannesburg.


Cocktails on the croquet lawns of the V&A Waterfront - Loudfire
Designer entertaining company Loudfire recently set the scenes for an elegant welcoming cocktail event for the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), held on the beautiful croquet lawns overlooking the world-renowned V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.


The Good Food and Wine (Cocktails) Show - Barcode
Representing the finest South Africa's food and beverage industries have to offer, the recent Good Food and Wine Show, staged at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, was a platform for mobile bar specialists Barcode to exhibit the versatility and imagination it is known for.


Techrig in Ghana - Techrig Lighting
The most challenging Techrig gig to date: the rigging of the marquees were three to four days behind schedule, which meant that Techrig really had to pull the cat out of the bag – in temperatures of 49 degrees in the marquee – when it was its turn to start rigging!


Absolutely! Definitely! Maybe - Collyer Lessick & Associates
The greatest challenge this year, and maybe to date, for CLA was the Barclays Celebration of 90 Years in Africa. This celebration was coupled with the celebration of 50 years of Ghanaian independence as well as the launch of off-shore banking there. This launch was the first such initiative in the country and therefore a huge achievement for Barclays.


Microsoft kick off FY07 - Collyer Lessick & Associates
For one of the most prominent players in global information technology, the start to a year has to be something out of the ordinary for extraordinary people. Intended to inspire, motivate and energise the organisation for a bumper year ahead, Microsoft entered the fabulous world of Sophiatown, one of the country's first truly cosmopolitan and racially harmonious environments, to combine elements of the well-known jazz phenomenon, Fats Waller, as well as the spirit, vitality and inherent culture of the era. It was Fifties and fab!


Events company treats children's home to delightful day trip - Stephanie Moss Solutions
Taking the children of the Yenzani Children's Home on a day trip to Hartebeespoort Dam has become an annual event on the Stephanie Moss Solutions calendar. For the second year running, the Sandton events company recently hosted these delightful and deserving children at the dam's Caribbean Beach Club Estate.


Music on the Coke side of life
Following the tradition of 2005's Coca-Cola Colab Massive Mix and last year's festival, Coca-Cola South Africa, in partnership with 5FM and Big Concerts, will be hosting My Coke Fest 2008 at the New Market Racecourse in Johannesburg on Friday, 21 March 2008, and then the Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town on Monday, 24 March. The lineup includes US rock sensation Good Charlotte, Britain's “Best Live Act” Kaiser Chiefs, Sound Garden and Audioslave front-man Chris Cornell, “Supermassive” Muse, and the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning Korn. On the local front, the first band to be announced is one of SA's top rock outfits, Prime Circle.

Fatboy Slim heading for SA

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Legendary DJ Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim is representing the "Coaching for Hope" initiative as the charity expands its programme into South Africa ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The charity uses football to empower young people in the developing world by making them aware of the dangers of HIV and Aids. His South African fans can catch him headlining SA's largest daytime outdoor dance party, H2O, in Boksburg, Johannesburg on Sunday, 2 December 2007. The event is also billed as an official Aids Awareness Fundraiser. He then ends his African sojourn on Friday 7 December at Atmospheer Nightclub in Cape Town.

Italian Trade Commission at Soccerex
The Italian Trade Commission (ICE) is a supporter of international soccer exhibition Soccerex as part of South Africa's build up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Hosted by the City of Johannesburg, Soccerex will run 26 –29 November 2007, serving as a business and networking platform for exhibitors, delegates and media with interests in international football from across the globe.

Cape Homemakers Expo awarded Best Large Consumer Exhibition for 2007 - Homemakers Fair
The 2007 Cape Homemakers Expo was voted The Best Consumer Exhibition of the Year, in the category for large exhibitions over 12 000m², at the annual EXSA (Exhibition Association of Southern Africa) Gala Award Function in Sandton last week.


Baby Expo flying high on big win and rebrand - Your Baby Show
Hot on the heels of its substantial win at the 2007 EXSA Awards last week, Exposure Marketing has announced the evolution of Your Baby Show into The Baby Expo. Renamed and rebranded (with a similar look-and-feel to the established branding) from January 2008, The Baby Expo is set to take over where Your Baby Show has left off.


EXSA Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation - EXSA
The theme for this year's EXSA Gala Dinner and Awards function was 'The Night Before Christmas' and the evening was filled with wonderful surprises, gourmet good, scintillating entertainment and more importantly, the announcement of the 2007 Award Winners.

EXSA Awards – another hat trick for Thebe Exhibitions - Thebe Exhibitions
The Thebe Exhibitions and Events Group scored another hat trick at the annual awards ceremony of the Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa (EXSA) held in Johannesburg last week, walking away with no less than three awards.

Scan Display wins two exhibition and event industry awards - Scan Display
Scan Display Solutions won two awards at the Exhibition & Event Association of Southern Africa's (EXSA) year-end function at the Sandton Convention Centre last week.


Oasys for ANC congress - Oasys Innovations
Oasys Innovations, an exhibitions and events company with numerous autonomous supporting services including audiovisual systems, has been appointed to prepare and maintain the infrastructure during the December 2007 ANC congress in Polokwane.

Mega Media Expo is a must for media owners - CADEK Media
The Mega Media Expo will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, 23 – 24 January 2008. The show promises to be a showcase of media offerings available in southern Africa and will be a buyers' hub for advertisers, clients and media buyers.

John McCarthy new Atoll Media MD
The new MD of Atoll Media, effective 1 October 2007, is John McCarthy, the publishing house announced yesterday, Thursday, 15 November 2007. McCarthy replaces former MD Craig Sims, who will be moving abroad.


Ride Magazine bares all - Ride Magazine
While trying to excite the cycling world beyond the spoke and wheel, Ride's brand manager Natalie Wood took up the challenge to produce a sensual but classy calendar that would appeal to both the male and female market.


Second print run after only six months

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The third edition of the annual Sandton Central Essential Directory, published by Blue Planet Media, enters a second print run this month after only six months in circulation. “The response to the third edition has exceeded all expectations,” says Cara Reilly, marketing manager, Sandton Central Management District. “Year-on-year the directory has shown phenomenal growth, but this second print run has now, beyond a shadow of a doubt, affirmed it as THE premier source of information for the Sandton Central area. Following on this incredible demand, the print run for next year's fourth edition directory has been increased to 70 000 copies – offering advertisers a massive extended reach.”


Student mag pre-launching online
Edge Not for Adults magazine goes live online at www.edgemagazine.co.za on Monday, 19 November 2007. Published by Bakwena Publishing & Advertising, the publication – the first of its kind, compiled by high-school students for high-school students – makes its monthly print debut in February 2008.

Print Media SA seeks Pahad meeting
[Simone Puterman] NEWSWATCH: The latest organisation to enter the fray between government and the media is Print Media South Africa, which on Friday, 16 November 2007, issued a statement saying that it has been “seeking an urgent meeting with Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad after he threatened to withdraw government advertising from the Sunday Times,” according to IOL.

Hardegat Rapport reaction hardly surprising
[Chris Moerdyk] The reaction by Rapport editor, Tim Du Plessis, to scrap Deon Maas's column after references to Satanism offended readers who started an email and SMS campaign to prevent sales of the newspaper, is hardly surprising. It was just a matter of time before some high profile newspaper or other was forced into a corner by either its advertisers or its readers.

Aussie cricket media boycott to continue
NEWSWATCH: Reuters, the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse are planning to extend their Australian cricket boycott by not covering the second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka as they continue to protest the demands of Cricket Australia that media organisations should pay for photograph distribution rights, reports Business Day.

More CNN correspondents for Joburg
In what it billed as the biggest expansion of international newsgathering resources in its 27-year history, CNN Worldwide yesterday, Wednesday, 14 November 2007, announced plans to significantly increase the number of correspondents worldwide, including two new correspondents for the network's Johannesburg bureau, open a regional newsgathering hub in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), invest in a London-based digital-production unit, and make major investments in CNN's International Newsource and CNN's in-house wire operations.

Europe-Africa Summit: Portugal assists African journalists
[Carole Kimutai] Portugal is offering free lodging to eight African journalists eager to take part in the media cover of the Europe-Africa Summit on December 8-9.

Global mobile marketing award winners announced
LOS ANGELES: Recognising the continued strong growth and outstanding innovation in the mobile marketing and media industries, the Mobile Marketing Association earlier this week announced the winners of the MMA Third Annual Mobile Marketing Awards, presented at the MMA Annual Awards dinner and ceremony in Los Angeles following the MMA's Mobile Marketing Forum.

The sermon on Mount Mobile
[Harry Trisos] The pilgrimage in AM13 (the 13th year after the birth of Mobifone, 2007 for unbelievers) was challenging and yet very exciting. The mobilists finally reached the foot of Mount Mobi and gathered there to hear the words of Mobilus.

Your mobile marketing report card for 2007
[Harry Trisos] As our matriculants currently wrestle under the yoke of final examinations and the fear of failure, it is the time of year to take stock and measure our own performance in mobile marketing, least of all to ensure that we head in the right direction for 2008.

Len Pienaar, CEO of Mobile & Transact Solutions FNB, talks mobile banking at US event - Clickatell
Len Pienaar, CEO of Mobile & Transact Solutions for First National Bank (FNB), presented “Cellphone Banking in South Africa, and innovation success” on Thursday evening, 15 November 2007, at the BAI Retail Delivery Conference in the US. The conference and expo aims to help banking executives understand how to increase the bottom line and invest in customer relationships.

SAB Miller delivers promotions without borders - Brandscape
Borders are no barrier to Brandscape's delivery of mobile proximity marketing campaigns with Exp. The proof is the successful roll-out of Castle Lager's brand activity launched in Zambia and Tanzania. Zambia Breweries and Tanzania Breweries The campaign is now rolling out to another four sub-Saharan countries.

Newspaper chiefs balk at price increases after government threats
[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's two independent weekly newspapers, the Zimbabwe Independent and The Financial Gazette, slashed cover prices to Z$150 000 per copy last week after a government agency said the new prices of Z$600 000 per copy were illegal.

Three SA newspapers hit Zimbabwe newsstands
A newspaper marketing company has started selling titles from South Africa's Independent News & Media, just over a month after the Sowetan hit the country's newspaper stands but was quickly withdrawn because distributors had been “testing the market”.

Citizen camera man wins again

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The Citizen's pictures editor Wessel Oosthuizen recently claimed top honours as the Sasol Springbok Photographer of the Year awards for the second year in a row, winning for his iconic picture of Springbok captain John Smit and President Thabo Mbeki at the Rugby World Cup final. "His winning photo of captain John Smit and President Mbeki with the Webb Ellis trophy perfectly captures a historic moment of national unity," comments Martin Williams, editor of The Citizen.

Online game helps to feed the hungry
An Internet game, which donates 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for every correctly answered question, has passed the one billion grain mark after one month.

CapeTownLive arrives - Student Village
Cape Town's urban landscape is set for a major shake-up with the arrival of CapeTownLive – a new urban culture and lifestyle Web site for city slickers between 21 and 35 years old.

Five steps to social networking success - Acceleration Media
[Jacqui Boyd] Social networking has set the online world on fire over the past two years, with the likes of Facebook, MySpace and YouTube enjoying explosive growth in revenues and users. South African Internet users have embraced social networking with the same enthusiasm as the rest of the online world.


Digital democracy: gotta laaik.it - 24.com
Online giant 24.com is entering the social news arena, following its successes in the breaking news, niche interest content and consumer journalism arenas. Aptly named laaik.it, the new service offering is said to enable digital democracy as users are empowered with editorship rights.

An easy trip home with Absa - ComutaNet
Absa brings a striking new taxi campaign to the streets of South Africa with 100 quantum taxis transformed into bold red houses complete with window boxes, doors and curtains.


The Linear Connection - Right Stuff
The Linear Range is the latest suite of products to be introduced into Right Stuff's extensive product range. It is a set of aluminium structures which can be configured in a number of ways to create any one of the five suggested product variations, making it the most customisable item that Right Stuff has introduced to date.


Hey, trendsetter! - Popimedia
A definite first – Popimedia, after being approached by a private Lamborghini owner wanting to “change the colour of his car”, undertook to bring this challenge to fruition. Changing the colour of any car is a major undertaking, however, doing so via vinyl branding is less expensive and arguably just as good looking.

Popimedia launches new Wrap-A-Back product - Popimedia
Popimedia's latest Wrap-A-Back product is innovative and unique, according to CEO Daniel Levy, and has the capability to work nationally at a cost-effective rate. "We create media exposure everywhere as well as in otherwise 'restricted' outdoor jurisdictions such as Cape Town and Durban. Our medium is a great add-on to concurrent TV/radio commercials, print and outdoor campaigns,” he says.


"Shoe Shine Boys" – excellence in innovation - Off The Wall
Journey back to the times of old as Off The Wall bring the Nugget “Shoe Shine Boys” on to the Soweto Business Express travelling to and from Soweto and Park Station.


Media Cube launches new Nokia EL billboards at OR Tambo International Airport - Media Cube
Media Cube, in association with MediaCompete, Grey Worldwide and Airport Media, recently launched the new Electroluminescent billboard at the OR Tambo International airport. Electroluminescent technology allows for paper-thin vinyl to light up in selected animation sequences, causing the billboard or poster to be immediately noticed.

Creda Communications makes debut on CNBC Africa - Creda Communications
Creda Communications executive chair, Jacquie Golding, was recently interviewed on CNBC Africa's Women Entrepreneurs, where she laughed at allegations that women were “too emotional” and unable to run businesses effectively.

Bouffant launch - Bouffant
New boutique production company Bouffant held a launch function recently to celebrate the birth of the new brand. In fitting style there was a Rio carnival, hostesses serving Caipirinhas and tasteful pole dancers. DJ's Khenzero, Bionic and Andrea added to the entertainment playing a mix of old school and electro lounge to the backdrop of a video wall beaming eccentric images.


Coke 'Brr' commercial directed by Erik van Wyk of Bouffant - Bouffant
Erik van Wyk of Bouffant recently directed the new Coca-Cola television commercial, which forms part of the multimedia Coke “Brr” campaign, for agency Ogilvy Johannesburg.


Kiss Films shoots new Revlon fragrance spot - Kiss Films
Kiss films recently shot the commercial for Revlon's new fragrance, “So Very Me”. The commercial follows a creative young woman as she photographs her most cherished and sentimental memories, things and places which define who she really is and what makes her tick.


From little to big news - Pebo Productions
In the last two weeks, the Pebo Productions team has been engaged in two annual events for the BDFM group through Alto events. The launch of ‘The Little Black Book 2007/08' was held on 24 October 2007, followed by the ED Big News Awards on 6 November.

Sasol commercial directed by Keith Rose for Jupiter Drawing Room - Velocity Films
The Sasol Corporate television commercial entitled “Questions”, conceptualised by agency Jupiter Drawing Room and masterfully directed by Keith Rose of Velocity Films, is an approach to petroleum advertising that focuses on the innovation behind the brand.


Ogilvy & Ogilvie liven up TV viewing with Stimorol - Frieze Films
Stimorol's new TV commercial is a collaboration between Ogilvy CPT and Leigh Ogilvie. According to senior copywriter, Kelly Putter, the commercial was intended to position Stimorol as a catalyst for people to ‘seize the moment'. This was achieved with a dramatic interpretation of a very edgy script, which contrasted a nightclub with a battle ground.


New Bidvest Corporate commercial directed by Marc Sidelsky - Bouffant
The commercial for Bidvest, directed by Marc Sidelsky of production company Bouffant for agency Brand Wealth Organization, features the world-renowned dance company Pilobolus. The unusual dance group use graceful and powerful movements and their unique signature style of transforming their bodies into wondrous shapes to reflect the qualities of Bidvest.

A winning boost for reaching dreams

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Lunch Bar lovers Thembiso Motlhale and Malcolm Ogle each won a top-of-the-range Ford Bantam Bakkie in the Cadbury Lunch Bar 'Strength to Win' promotion last week. The promotion, which kicked off in August 2007 and runs until December, rewards hard-working Lunch Bar consumers by giving them the boost they need to reach their dreams. During the first two months, entrants also stood the chance of winning one of eight Bosch DIY Tool Kits, valued at R5000 each, as well as daily prize giveaways of Cadbury Lunch Bars for a month. For the remaining three months, the prize is a hamper of Cadbury Lunch Bars each week. The promotion has been supported by a radio campaign aired on a selection of vernacular stations, as well as in-store marketing communication.

Awarding best PR practitioners worldwide
LONDON: At the recent IPRA Golden World Awards for Excellence in London, the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) chose its “Golden” winners for 2007 from a record number of entries – 403 from 46 countries. The Grand Prix, only revealed on the night, went to Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick with PSP – One Project for USAID (India) for Condoms: Changing the Perception of the Contraception, which also scooped the UN Award as well as being its category winner.

Write a novel in a week - The Write Co.
Due to popular demand, The Write Co is running its week-long novel writing course, Writers Write, this December. Would-be novelists can take advantage of the festive break to kick-start their dream of seeing their name in print.

Celebrating 21 years of music
From 12 November until 23 November 2007, OFM is collecting its listeners' favourite hits from 1986 until 2007. The best of these will be collated and compiled into a day of special programming and music on 26 December 2007, 6am – 6pm, celebrating 21 years of great music. According to Shana Kilbee, programme manager of OFM, the campaign mustn't be seen as a countdown, but rather as presenting a wide variety of genres and covering three eras. The most requested song gets announced just before 6pm and one of the listeners who submitted the song will win R2100.

2008 SAMRA Conference bookings start rolling in - SAMRA
Bookings for the 2008 SAMRA Conference, which will take place at the Royal Swazi Sun in Swaziland 27 – 28 May 2008, opened at the beginning of November, and more than six months before the conference starts, bookings have started rolling in.


Most people don't feel that global warming will affect them - but they are wrong - TNS Research Surveys
Only a third of adults living in SA's metro areas feel that climate change or global warming will affect them much. This is one of the findings of a study conducted in September 2007 by marketing and social insights company, TNS Research Surveys.

Child obesity, advertising and promotions aimed at children – people's views deeply divided - TNS Research Surveys
Child obesity is becoming an issue for discussion around the world, and South Africa is no exception. An additional factor that has recently become controversial is the perceived role that advertising and promotions are felt to play in contributing to child obesity and where fast foods fit in.

Trendsetting on our own turf
In the past, the concept of ‘local is lekker', particularly when it came to store design, tended to lose out to overseas influences. But that now seems to be changing.


Retailers, are you ready?
[Howard Badler] Even though higher interest rates (and it appears that the Governor of the Reserve Bank is in favour of another rate hike before Christmas) and the new credit Act will mean lower spending by consumers this festive season, retailers must be prepared to maximise sales.

A flaming good birthday
[Tshepiso Seopa] The Dome in Northgate, Johanesburg, was in flames earlier this week when up to 6000 Nandocas (Nandos employees) from all the nine provinces in South Africa gathered for Nando's 20th birthday celebration. All of Nando's resturants were closed for business on the day and no Nando's chicken was made or sold.

Local distiller tops International Wine & Spirit Competition
Distell has been judged Distiller of the Year in the 2007 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) to come out ahead of some of the world's biggest names in spirits in the US, the UK and Europe.

Tiger Brands reaches settlement with the Competition Commission
After thorough internal investigations and months of working with the Competition Commission, Tiger Brands Limited has agreed to pay an administrative penalty of R98,8 million for contraventions of the Competition Act by certain employees at its baking operations and has been granted corporate leniency in respect of its milling operations by the Competition Commission.

SADC to open Free Trade Area in 2008
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) says the region is ready to open the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) next year as per the set milestones.

Solly Mokoetle joins Telkom Media
Former SABC COO Solly Mokoetle has been appointed chief content officer of Telkom Media, the board confirmed on Friday, 17 November 2007. "We believe that Solly's vast experience in the broadcasting industry makes him the ideal candidate for the position and we are very excited to have him on board," said Telkom Media CEO Mandla Ngcobo.

UK TV channel to promote SA tourism
New free-to-air lifestyle and culture television channel Southern Africa Direct goes on air on the UK's Sky digital broadcast platform on 26 November 2007, and it is expected to boost tourist numbers to southern Africa by covering 25 countries on or south of the equator. Johannesburg-based Digital Sky Investments was recently awarded the sole and exclusive licence to commission content and market the channel in the southern Africa region.

ICASA public hearings on must carry obligations
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) will conduct public hearings early in December 2007 on the regulations in respect of "Must Carry" Obligations for Subscription Broadcasting Services. ICASA is to prescribe regulations regarding the extent to which subscription broadcast services must carry the television programmes provided by a public broadcasting service licensee.

Big Brother Africa broadcasting scandal
[Liezl Maclean] The ongoing TV Reality show Big Brother Africa (BBA) has appalled millions of television viewers after airing an episode on M-Net with drunken debauchery and alleged non-consensual sex.

Pump Up the Volume with Body on Tap, Publicis and Red Cherry - Red Cherry Television
Procter & Gamble approached Publicis looking for a fresh and innovative advertising opportunity for its brand Body on Tap. The result is Pump Up the Volume, allegedly South Africa's biggest nationwide band search to date. Red Cherry Productions is producing this new reality television series about the tough SA music industry.

TV show to promote small business
My Own Small Business, to be screened on SABC2 from January 2007, is a 13-week TV series aimed at promoting, nurturing, developing and molding entrepreneurship. "This exciting television programme is a critical measure to stimulate SMME growth in South Africa. The show will create a platform for enthusiastic small business owners to showcase their offerings and of paramount importance is the outcome that the show shall equip South Africans who dream of owning their own small business but don't have the know-how or finance to make their dream a reality,” says Enver Buys, founder of Chaza's Vitality Incubator for Entrepreneurs.

ANC presidential race to get 3rd Degree
In the build up to the ANC conference in December 2007, 3rd Degree interviews those vying for the position of ANC president on Tuesday 20 November at 8pm on e.tv. It is the ruling party's most fiercely contested presidential battle and a significant time in our country's history. The candidates share their views on matters that are most important to South Africans such as crime, affirmative action and HIV/Aids. Nobody knows who the ANC will elect as their next president but 3rd Degree will give viewers the chance to rate the party's top candidates and vote for the person they want to lead this country come 2009.