Tapping into the power of strategy
[Antoinette Tyrrell] Contrary to popular belief, having a plan isn't having a strategy. While a plan is a core element of any strategy, a plan on its own isn't enough to guarantee tactical exploitation of your opportunity.


Courting the lucrative women's market
[David Wolstenholme] Tom Peters has made a fortune teaching American marketing managers how to communicate with women. This mostly male-dominated sector still fails to understand the basic tenets of persuading women to invest in a particular product or brand. Unfortunately, when it comes to marketing to South African women, local marketers are often also in the dark – this time not Eskom's fault!


Bluetooth marketing three years on
[Petros Kondos] Late 2005 saw the first malls in South Africa go live with Bluetooth as location-based marketing communication medium. The idea is to use Bluetooth to communicate relevant retail and mall communications to accepting customers' cellphones.

Edward de Bono live in Joburg
The world's foremost creative and lateral thinker, Dr Edward de Bono, will present his Creativity and Lateral Thinking programme live and in person in Johannesburg on 4 June 2008. The full-day conference is the latest in a series of thought leadership events to be held in South Africa, organised by Global Leaders.

Pointeq introduces point-of-sale software for auto parts and service industry - Pointeq Teqnologies
Pointeq Teqnologies has recently announced the launch of their new Windward System Five (WWS5) software package. The package is aimed at business owners who struggle to effectively manage day-to-day point-of-sale activities.

An advertising campaign without marketing is just wishful thinking - Chris Moerdyk
Getting a measureable return on investment from advertising depends entirely on making sure it is monitored by marketing.

2010 LOC being petty
[Chris Moerdyk] It is not remotely surprising that Tumi Makgabo has resigned as communications and international relations manager of the 2010 Local Organising Committee. It seems to be a nest of vipers beset by backbiting, petty jealousies, K-words, one-upmanship and egos the size of soccer stadiums.

Seven SA Cannes Lions judges
This year, there will be seven South African jury members judging at the 55th Cannes Lions interational advertising festival. The announcement was made on Friday, 7 March 2008, by Independent Newspapers, the representatives for the awards in South Africa.

Clios looking for future gold
NEW YORK: Applications from around the world for the 2008 Clio Future Gold | Young Creatives Programme are now open until 1 April 2008. The programme, with its mission to elevate and inspire up-and-coming talent in the advertising industry, is run by the 49th Annual Clio Awards and Festival, a global awards competition for advertising, design and interactive, in conjunction with ihaveanidea.

Dubai Lynx launches honouree award
At a press conference held in Dubai earlier this week, the organisers of the first Dubai International Advertising Festival announced that a new honouree award will be introduced from this year.


New “wings” for Net#work
Well-known industry player WingWing Qingqile Mdlulwa has taken up the post of creative director at Net#work BBDO, effective 1 March 2008, the agency announced yesterday morning, Tuesday, 4 March 2008.

Advertisers, brands, media take center stage at MIPTV
PARIS: MIPTV featuring MILIA 2008 will see advertisers, brands and new media out in force, both in the conference programme and the exhibition space. The 45th MIPTV featuring MILIA will be held in Cannes, France, 7– 11 April 2008.

BEHP finds rare new blood group - BEHP
Someone with over 30 years experience in marketing and advertising is rare blood indeed. That's what pumps through Phillip Wharton, the newest addition to management at BEHP, the full service agency based in Cape Town.

Lowe Bull gets fired up over St Elmo's win - Lowe Bull
Lowe Bull Johannesburg has kicked off 2008 on a positive note, with the news that St Elmo's has appointed the agency to handle the brand's through-the-line communications.

singh&sons reinvent fun with the new KIA Picanto - singh&sons
KIA Motors' most successful model, the Picanto, has received a facelift. As successful as the car was the s original Picanto ad, the first to be done for KIA by Cape Town-based agency singh&sons.


Joe Public executes door wrap for Italtile - Joe Public
Female shoppers in upmarket Sandton City had to look twice in the ladies washroom when Joe Public executed a cleverly applicated door wrap for client Italtile.


I say Russia, you say? Vodka. What else is Russia famous for? The Cold War? The Cold? Umm… - Lowe Bull
That's the premise on which Lowe Bull Cape Town built a 360 degree brand and communications campaign for client Russian Bear Vodka.


Merger of two proudly South African communication specialists - ChilliBush Inroads Communications
Inroads Communications and ChilliBush Communications have merged recently, forming two new company effective 1 March 2008: ChilliBush Inroads Communications and ChilliBush Inroads Public Relations.


Redline's financial advertising division beats the big guns - Draftfcb (South Africa)
Redline's financial advertising division beat the big guns in this specialist sector to the most prestigious prize awarded at the Business Day Financial Advertising Awards this year – first place in the Year End Financial Results category for its long-standing client, Impala Platinum.

AMPS 2007 B for next week
Industry presentations on the South African Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF) All Media And Products (AMPS) 2007 B take place next week in Johannesburg (Monday, 10 March 2008) Durban (Wednesday 12 March) and Cape Town (Thursday 13 March). Registration forms are available at www.saarf.co.za under “Register: AMPS 2007 B Industry Presentations”. Alternatively, email saarf@saarf.co.za.

SAB launches new brand
The South African Breweries (SAB) recently announced it would introduce new brand Skelter's Straight to the South African market. This follows the launch of brand variant Sarita Ruby Dry in January this year and a new peach variant of Brutal Fruit in November 2007.


A virtual life less complicated
“Broadband. Simplified” has been iBurst's new payoff line since 1 March 2008. With a sometimes bewildering array of marketing messages and product choice available to consumers, all iBurst marketing communication now reflects that consumers are switched off by complexity and turned on by simplicity.

kulula set to take off with The Brand Union - The Brand Union
Innovative South African airline kulula.com has teamed up with The Brand Union to refresh its brand.

Brand Alive appointed to Deneys Reitz Attorneys - Brand Alive
Brand relationship company Brand Alive has recently been appointed to handle the internal brand engagement and expressions for top South African law firm Deneys Reitz.

Web2.0 – a marketing boon or a platform too far? - Talk2Us
[Linda Hamman] I would like to contribute to the emerging debate around the so-called Web2.0 Revolution. It is heralded as a platform for interaction and social networking, where anyone with an Internet connection can now be a publisher, a journalist or an advertiser.


Game on: New study takes an in-depth look at brands in gaming - Added Value
Mention computer gaming and what springs to mind? A niche market? Teen grunge? Think again! The computer gaming industry is bigger than the film and music industries put together – and doubling every five years! It is also changing fast.

Is SA ready to welcome the world?
According to a survey of 6000 South Africans that assessed 12 industry sectors in the country, 40% of consumers have widely varying service expectations among different companies and industries.

Design course to bridge creative potential, training gap
A new graphic design training course will launch in Khayelitsha in 2008 to assist 12 previously disadvantaged youth who do not have the funds to study at mainstream tertiary institutions. The course has been developed in conjunction with the University of Stellenbosch's Graphic Design department.

Improved functionality for local youth social network
Blueworld, a South African social networking site for the youth, has recently introduced familiar-looking new functionality and some new additions which makes Blueworld distinctly South African.


Stormhoek calls on social media power – again
[Eve Dmochowska] If your company's outsourced contractors were in a R6 million financial crisis due to no fault of their own, and you wanted to help them out, who would you turn to for help? If you are Stormhoek winery, you dodge the bank manager and turn to your biggest fan club – your customer base.


SA WiMAX impact dampened by delays
Delays in the awarding of licences for providing the new WiMAX high-speed wireless broadband service to businesses and consumers has resulted in dampening of its potential impact. This is the core conclusion of the first study on the impact of the technology in South Africa, conducted by World Wide Worx.

Songs of Web 2.0 collaboration
IBM is inviting professional and amateur musicians from all over the world to use its Internet collaboration tools to compose songs about South Africa. The initiative, called Songs of Good Hope, is being officially announced at CeBIT 2008 in Hannover, Germany, currently taking place.

Thumbs up for ACAP from UK government
LONDON: Automated Content Access Protocol (ACAP) has recently been cited as a new solution for the vast array of end-uses of content in the UK Government's major content industry strategy document. “We are of course absolutely delighted with the UK Government's support and ACAP is now cited directly in two policy documents: this one and the European Commission's Communication on online creative content,” comments project director Mark Bide of Rightscom.

Rapid increase in ebilling 'push' technology adoption - Striata
Acceptance of secure ‘push' electronic billing direct to individual email inboxes is rising steadily in South Africa to the point where companies, particularly in the mobile telephony, banking and financial services sectors, are achieving customer adoption rates of 30% or more.

SA Blog Awards 2008 nominations are out
The finalists in the SA Blog Awards 2008 were released today, Wednesday, 5 March 2008, after a few days' delay. Bizcommunity.com's breaking news blog (http://blog.bizcommunity.com) has been nominated in the Best SA Business Blog category. Certain categories discontinued due to insufficients nominations are: Best GLBT Blog, Best African Language, Best Post about SA Blog Awards, Best Social Upliftment and Most Controversal Blog. Go to www.sablogawards.com/2008/ for the full list.

Newspaper training from audio content to typography
DARMSTADT, GERMANY: IFRA, the worldwide research and service organisation for the news publishing industry, released its programme of training events for 2008 and 2009 yesterday, Tuesday, 4 March 2008. About 40 training events will cover editorial, design and concept, production, quality assurance and management and business development.

How to get your press release read
An average daily newspaper or radio newsroom receives literally hundreds of emailed releases a day – so how do you make sure yours gets read? Journalist and media consultant Marion Scher will be looking at this and other issues around release writing and dealing with the media in her one day workshop on 2 April 2008. For more information, contact journo@icon.co.za or call +27 (0)82 467 6046.

True Colour Events "drives up the right streets" - True Colour Events
True Colour Events recently launched the newest stand-alone dealership which opened in Midrand. Set in a luxurious environment, the premises promises to allow customers an experience like never before.

Computer expo returns to brand roots
Appropriately, as it celebrates its 30th anniversary, one of South Africa's longest running annual exhibitions is returning to its roots as Computer Faire, offering an exhibition that caters to corporate, consumer and SMB visitors.

Exhibition sponsorship – marketing's silver bullet - Biz Events
Information overload and its effect on individuals is one of the most pressing realities facing marketers today. How do you get directly to your target market, then cut through the clutter, so that you're able to not only grab but hold their attention long enough to drive your message home? In short, where or what is the silver bullet?


Oasys makes French connection - Oasys Innovations
During the two-day visit in February 2008 by French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Oasys Innovations facilitated with state-of-the-art technology and logistical support at one of the meetings at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg.

What's hot with babies in the UK? - Baba Indaba
The SABC Education Baba Indaba team, embarked on their annual visit to the UK and Europe to gauge what the latest gadgets, gizmos and fashions were in the parenting and baby market.


Exhibitions and events: powerful marketing tools - The Exhibitions and Events Association
According to the Exhibitions and Events Association, the association has firmly positioned itself to advance the interests of its members across all sectors of the market – from baby care to mining.

Infrastructure to A1 Grand Prix - Oasys Innovations
The recent Durban leg of the A1 Grand Prix recaptured much of its inaugural success. Oasys Innovations again provided infrastructure for this event.

JHB Homemakers Expo 2008 - Homemakers Fair
Last month's Johannesburg Homemakers Expo saw some 46 741 visitors experiencing over 650 stands covering 16 000m².


Celebrity chef back by popular demand
Celebrity chef Reza Mahammad, whose flamboyant style attracted thousands of fans to last year's inaugural Sunday Times Food Show, returns to this year's show. Says Susan Russell, GM Marketing at Avusa Media, “Reza has incredible star power underscored by a brilliant sense of humour.” Exhibition partner BBC Food will also soon be announcing the arrival of two well-known ‘celebri-chefs' in South Africa to participate in the show. For more information, go to www.sundaytimesfoodshow.co.za.

Exposing global biotechnology trends
More than 5000 delegates are expected to attend Bio2Biz, taking place alongside INSITE 2008, the International Science, Innovation and Technology Exhibition, at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, 15 – 17 September 2008. “Bio2Biz aims to expose business and industry to international biotechnology trends and developments, while ensuring the country is in line with the international world in terms of the developments in biotechnology. Ultimately it affords both industry and business with the opportunity to work together and utilise this technology to the country's best advantage,” explains CEO of BioPAD, Dr Joe Moleti.

Global brand to entertain at Rand Show
The Disney Festival is coming to the Rand Show 2008 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec, 21 March – 6 April 2008. Its children's entertainment lineup will include a fantasy wonderland of attractions and interactive zones for toddlers through to teens. “We are absolutely thrilled to be able to bring the magic of Disney to Rand Show visitors by giving South African children a once in a lifetime experience,” enthuses Amanda D'Halluin of Disney. For more information, go to www.randshow.co.za.

Showcasing career opportunities for learners
The fifth ScienceUnlimited Exhibition is showcasing interesting career opportunities in mathematics, science, engineering and technology for school goers and students. The expo runs 3 – 7 March 2008 at the Tshwane Events Centre, Pretoria. “Absa Bank has been a major partner since 2006. Skills and entrepreneurship development are amongst Absa's Corporate Social Investment key focus areas,” says Riah Phiyega, Absa's group public affairs executive. For more information, go to www.scienceunlimited.co.za.

RS&P celebrates 75 years of publishing
Team Ramsay, Son & Parker raised a collective glass last week to toast 75 years of successful magazine publishing in South Africa.

Queried Finweek circulation reclassified
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) yesterday, Thursday, 6 March 2008, released the results of this week's ABC board review of Finweek's request that the decision to exclude ‘Business Subscriptions' obtained from inter-group transactions be reconsidered.

Thumbs up from Sandton stakeholders
Sandton magazine has secured crucial endorsement from key Sandton stakeholders, including the Sandton Tourism Association (STA) and the Sandton Central Management District. A recent presentation by Sandton publisher Tony Vaughan and editor Josef Talotta to the board of the STA resulted in a number of Sandton hotels requesting copies for distribution.

CLASSICFEEL goes nationwide: demand necessitates extended distribution - DeskLink Media
CLASSICFEEL magazine's steady growth has prompted the need for wider distribution networks. Presently available at Exclusive Books and independent bookshops in the metropolitan areas, the magazine is since March 2008 now available at selected CNAs and Spars nationwide.


Lewis Club magazine goes kiddie crazy - New Highway Publishing
It's kiddies all the way in the June 2008 issue of Lewis Club magazine, which will run a special supplement for parents.

Monique Goosen leaves MPASA - Magazine Publishers Association of SA (MPASA)
MPASA special projects coordinator Monique Goosen has left to take up a position at Touchline Media, effective 1 March 2008.

Who's worth their weight in gold?
Online publication Miningmx.com, a joint venture between Fin24 and David McKay, has just released its first annual review of the who's who in the South African mining industry, sponsored by attorney Bell Dewar Hall. According to Miningmx executive editor David McKay,Rainmakers and Potstirrers is not simply a glammed-up directory of big cheese names in mining and their CVs but a show-and-tell collection of the personalities that made us sit up and take notice during 2007, as well as those who may become important in 2008. The book is available with Finweek this week.

Looking for instant fame and celeb status?

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The face of Sutra competition is offering instant fame and celebratory status to any South African or international woman, regardless of race, and the opportunity to meet with exclusive Sutra brand ambassador Jack Devnarain (Rajesh in Isidingo on SABC) for a prejudging conference on what is expected and needed of a brand ambassador, and the workings of the media world internationally. The winner will also be eligible for a bursary to study an array of business courses and SAQA-approved qualifications valued at more than R 40 000. For more information, go to www.sutramagazine.net.

Grocott's to take government to court
[Simone Puterman] NEWSWATCH: The country's oldest newspaper, Grahamstown'sGrocott's Mail, is planning on taking Government to court in protest against the local city council's refusal to place advertising because “Grocott's is a launching pad to throw missiles against the leadership of the municipality and the ANC,” according to former editor Jonathan Ancer, blogging on Thought Leader.

Finweek journo takes Citi award
Finweek contributor Bruce Whitfield was recently awarded the South African Citi Journalistic Award for Outstanding Business Reporting. This annual financial/business journalism award, which began in 1982, recognises outstanding business reporting and editorial writing in participating Citi markets.

Scholtemeyer's husband dies in bike accident
Immanuel Scholtemeyer, husband of M-Net CEO and former Media24 magazine supremo, Patricia Scholtemeyer, was killed in a recent motor bike accident near the scenic Western cape town of Franschhoek.

Emotive public hearing on FBJ, ‘coconuts'
[Tshepiso Seopa] Emotions ran high at the public forum yesterday, Wednesday, 5 March 2008, on the need to have exclusive organisations in the new South Africa, hosted by the South African Human Rights Commission. The forum was in response to complaints lodged by Primedia Broadcasting against the newly reformed Forum for Black Journalists' refusal to allow white journalists to attend an off-the-record lunch meeting scheduled with ANC president Jacob Zuma.

‘I humbly apologise' – Irvin Khoza
[Tshepiso Seopa] The fear of being quoted as a racist after seeing the video made by the Free State University students has prompted Irvin Khoza, chairperson of the 2010 LOC, to apologise for referring to a journalist as a Kaffir in a recent press conference.

FBJ emergence indicates problems in media – HRC
[Simone Puterman] NEWSWATCH: According to SAHRC CEO Tseliso Thipanyane yesterday, Tuesday, 4 March 2008, the “emergence of the Forum of Black Journalists (FBJ) indicates there are problems in the media”, reports IOL. The SAHRC is holding a public hearing today, Wednesday 5 March, into the recent FBJ incident at its Parktown offices in Johannesburg.

BEE partner for ITWeb
A 25.1% stake in ITWeb has been acquired by Ummango Investment Holdings, a women's broad-based BEE consortium financed by Mvelaphanda Holdings (Mvela Holdings), it was announced this morning, Wednesday, 5 March 2008. The technology media company publishes a technology news website, four magazines and a series of annual publications, and owns related businesses within its chosen space.

National student film, TV festival launches
Sponsored by the SABC and Gauteng Film Commission, the Bafundi Film & TV Festival will allegedly be the first ever national student film and television festival in South Africa. A cohort of South Africa's finest student filmmakers will be descending on Wits University, 16 – 18 March 2008, to share their work, network with industry leaders and find out how to make a living from their art.

RBZ donates new fleet to state media
[Lebo Nkatazo] Zimbabwe's central bank has "donated" a fleet of brand new vehicles to state media houses, to prop them up ahead of the 29 March 2008 elections.

SAHRC public forum details
The South African Human Rights Commission is holding a public forum on Wednesday, 5 March 2008, in Parktown, Johannesburg, to address the phenomena and need for exclusive organisations in South Africa; the membership of such organisations; and access to the activities of such organisations.

Interviews with media personalities
On Tuesday, 18 March 2008 on 3Talk, Noleen will interview ‘renegade' journalist Max du Preez, who has survived murder attempts, a plain crash and a bombing just so he could tell the truth as he saw it. Then on Friday 21 March, Noeleen talks to Thami Ngubeni, actress, producer, radio host, scriptwriter and the editor of O magazine.

Brandscape fuels Powerade digital strategy at the Argus 2008 - Brandscape
Brandscape unveiled a powerful new use of Bluetooth content delivery and instant prizes at Powerade's Pick n Pay Argus Expo registration stand.


Multimedia Solutions empowers mobile web users - Multimedia Solutions
Multimedia Solutions has launched its chain reaction engine (CRE) which enables companies to provide individually customised mobile websites (mobisites) to consumers.

New technology helps SA publishers embrace mobile Internet - Thumbtribe Mobile Solutions
Thumbtribe, which successfully introduced the mobizine platform late in 2006, has recently launched Mippin, a new mobile Internet platform, to the local market.

First Newspaper Next event in Europe
Following the release of "Newspaper Next 2.0: Making the Leap Beyond Newspaper Companies" by the American Press Institute, the World Association of Newspapers will host the first Newspaper Next seminar outside of North America on 4 April 2008, in London, at the end of its Digital Innovations and Revenues study tour.

Reach for the stars with Rapport - Rapport
Rapport, in conjunction with M-Net, Egoli and Frans Marx Films, recently launched a new reader competition aimed at the female market.

Running with the bulls – OfferForge launches eToro Forex Trading Platform affiliate program - Forge
Forex traders are making a killing in the current fluctuating currency markets, especially those that are betting against the dollar and Rand. Currency trading used to be open only to the elite few, but with the launch on the OfferForge affiliate network of the eToro Global Trading Game currency trading is set to go mainstream.


Cutting out the clicks
iBurst's revamped website (www.iburst.co.za) launched late last week with the promise that fewer clicks would be required for navigation. “We've cut out the clicks to help simplify life on the information superhighway in the same way companies commit themselves to plain English campaigns or consolidate their product range,” explains Thami Mtshali, CEO of iBurst.

The new Scénic Navigator held back... - Clear Channel
The spirited and adventurous new Renault Scénic Navigator is just rearing to go! The new outdoor advertising creative encapsulates the essence of this energetic and feisty range by holding it down with wheel clamps and ropes.


Advertise on Greenpoint stadium – the largest and most prominent site available in Cape Town! - Tractor
Tractor Outdoor have been awarded the exclusive marketing rights for all commercial signage opportunities on the Green Point Stadium project during the construction stages of this development.


e.tv re-enters the Kraal - The Marketing Kraal
e.tv has renewed its outdoor advertising contract with The Marketing Kraal for another 12 months.


A little imagination goes a long way... - Right Stuff
The Linear Stand is a dynamic display system which can be set up in a variety of configurations to achieve the desired effect. It is the next generation of showroom stands, doubling as a banner display as well as a product holder.


Face 2 Face's Promobile rolls into town - Primedia Face 2 Face
Last week, at Mindshare, Nota Bene, Starcom, MediaCompete and Mindshare, Primedia Face 2 Face launched a roadshow to showcase its Promobile to media planners and buyers in Gauteng.


Embodying the promise of convenience

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Integer, the newly launched home loan provider, recently boosted its advertising reach by unveiling a fleet of 25 Integer-branded vehicles. Says Simon Stockley, Integer CEO, “Integer doesn't have a branch infrastructure and the cars provide us with a street presence – they are our mobile billboards. They are already proving effective as our mobile consultants receive at least five calls a month because people are seeing branded cars. We believe the branded cars embody our service promise of convenience.” For now, the cars may be seen in Cape Town, Durban and Gauteng.

Adobe licensing options made easier - Exell Technologies
When selling selling the Adobe range of products, understanding the licensing options and differences isn't an easy task. Find out about the advantages of paper licence, the options on paper licence and the difference between box product and paper product.

Efficient software license management could save companies thousands - Exell Technologies
Efficient software license management could save South African graphic arts and print companies thousands – if not millions – of rand. This is the view of Dewald Rosema of Exell Technologies, a Pretoria-based company that provides total IT solutions to the printing industry.

Worldwide leading Hiflex MIS system now also available in South Africa - Exell Technologies
The technology-leading Hiflex MIS (Management Information System) will be featured at South African Print Expo 2007 in Johannesburg (Expo Centre, NASREC). From 13 – 16 March 2007, locally based workflow automation specialist Dewald Rosema from Exell Technologies will provide detailed information about the benefits of Hiflex MIS System on his booth 7C1.

BoE animates the way to entrepreneurial success - Masters & Savant
BoE recently decided to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit by sponsoring Upstart, a television program that showcases young, innovative and successful business people. When briefed to create billboards for the sponsorship, Saatchi & Saatchi creative team of Katherine Botes and Hanlie Kriel decided to use animation to communicate how a simple idea can grow and multiply into a success story. They turned to animation studio Masters & Savant to realise their vision for the short but effective billboards.


Grant De Sousa shoots cheeky 1Time Airline spot - Collective
Grant de Sousa, director at Collective Films, has no thoughts of slowing down this year. Hot on the heels of his Sport's Illustrated shoot with Saatchi & Saatchi Cape Town, Grant recently shot the new 1time Airline spot for agency DDB.

Real Juice inserts unique magnetic whiteboard into Longevity magazine - Mango Moon
The Real Juice Company wanted a fun and functional give-away that would reinforce the ‘healthy lifestyle' image associated with the brand. Mango Moon, in conjunction with Pop2Position, designed and developed a magnetic whiteboard that was used as an added-value insert in Longevity magazine.

Web 2.0 for communications professionals
Web 2.0, blogs, wikis, social media, WebPR, user-generated content, online reputation management, folksonomies, RSS, podcasts, social bookmarking… what do these concepts mean and how can they enhance a communications strategy?

PRISA PRISM award for Tutu
The Public Relations Institute of South Africa (PRISA) has announced that it will award its highest honour, the PRISA Gold Medal for Outstanding Public Relations and Communication for South Africa, to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu at the annual event on 26 March 2008.

How to reach more people, more of the time
[Tiffany Markman] The average individual is confronted with 3500 commercial messages a day. Billboards, streetpole ads, text messages, email, TV, radio, magazines, newspapers – and that's before he or she even gets to work, where there's a mound of communication waiting.


PR agency rebrands
After a refocus within Symbiotic Communications, Tynago Communications, previously Symbiotic Communications Johannesburg, has rebranded. Symbiotic Communications in Durban will remain an associate of Tynago's, as does Paula Wilson Media Consulting in Cape Town.


Bob Martin appoints Grapevine Communications - Grapevine Communications
Bob Martin has appointed Grapevine Communications to launch a new product range of pet supplements.

Honoured for company growth
Trinitas Consulting was recently crowned the Fastest Growing Company in the Raizcorp Group for 2007. The Trinitas team has grown from only two people in January 2007 to 10 fulltime employees and six contract workers within the space of one year. Frances Wright, MD of Trinitas, says the extreme need in the market for operational consulting as well as the alignment of marketing and communications with operations, is responsible for the company's growth.

FAPRA 2008 to tackle corporate social responsibility
The 21st All Africa Public Relations Conference by the Federation of African Public Relations Associations (FAPRA) will take place at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Kumasi, 28 April – 2 May 2008. The main conference theme is ‘Corporate Social Responsibility – Global Trends and Public Relations Implications'. The weeklong conference is expected to be officially opened by the President of Ghana John Kufour on Tuesday 29 April. The event will feature special facility visits to the AngloGold Ashanti/Newmont Mining Company and a royal visit to the King of Ashanti Kingdom. For more information, go to www.fapra.org or or www.iprghana.com.

New Radio North West announces lineup
The launch of new commercial radio station North West FM (NWFM) in March 2008 means the return to the airwaves of seasoned presenters with significant followings, courtesy of their previous experience at the legendary Radio Bop and Radio Mmabatho, as well as various commercial and public broadcasting stations around South Africa and overseas.

Red Cherry's Interactive Radio brand - WOT'Z UP - is now on all the Student Radio Network stations! - Red Cherry Television
WOT'Z UP Radio, one of Red Cherry's Interactive brands, will now be running on the Student Radio Network stations.

Kevin Fine bids farewell to 5FM - Alerting the Media
After 12 years on air with 5FM, and some very memorable moments, Kevin Fine has announced that he plans to leave the national broadcaster to pursue several business and broadcast options. His last show will be on Sunday, 30 March 2008.

Counter offers becoming standard practice
In the current skills climate, counter offers are becoming an automatic response from managers desperate to hang on to talented people. So says Debbie Goodman-Bhyat, MD of Jack Hammer Executive Headhunters.

War for talent calls for hardened HR generals - CRF South Africa
A cursory look at the job supplements of any reputable newspaper or magazine reveals there are thousands upon thousands of openings in the higher end of the employment market, be it in private or public sectors.

New recruitment ad agency launches
Matrix Recruitment Advertising is a recently launched specialist recruitment advertising entity that services the needs and requirements of both current and new business, headed up by Wayne van der Wath. According to Matrix, the current market value or adspend for this category is estimated at R15 million per annum.

International guest speakers for SAMRA conference
Three international guest speakers are set to intrigue delegates and spark debate at the 2008 Southern African Marketing Research Association (SAMRA) Conference, thanks to sponsorships from Millward Brown, TNS Research Surveys and Research International. These international speakers, together with the presentation of 20 local papers, will cover new and innovative trends in marketing, branding and research.

Shipments of hardcopy peripherals in south Africa pick up towards year-end, says IDC - IDG
The South African hardcopy peripherals (HCP) market picked up slightly towards year-end 2007, showing year-on-year volume growth of 0.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the IDC.

It's in the jeans - Synovate
Sixty two percent of South Africans keep a keen eye on the jeans brands worn by others on the street. This is compared to a 26% global average, according to a recent global study conducted by Synovate.

Eighty20 Trends Database – the times they are a-changin' - Eighty20
South Africa is a country in rapid transition. One only has to look at the traffic in Johannesburg, or the construction in Cape Town to see that things are changing everywhere. Eighty20 has launched its Trends Database, giving you online access to dozens of 21st century trends.

Naturally yoghurt
Woolworths has recently reformulated its entire yoghurt range to ostensibly become the first in South Africa to offer a range made with only natural flavours and colours and containing no added preservatives and no artificial sweeteners.


FMCG ‘Footprint' urges review of wealth creation, sharing
The results of a critical study of global FMCG company Unilever's economic footprint in South Africa is expected to create the impetus for other multinationals and large businesses to reconsider how they create and share wealth.

Hertz Rent a Car appoints new Chief Executive, General Manager - Hertz Rent a Car
Car rental veteran, Pat O' Brien, has assumed the role of Divisional Chief Executive of Hertz Rent a Car, taking the reigns from current CEO, Gareth Tindall who has adopted a non-executive role until June 2008.

Clover Mama Afrika welcomes new partner - Clover
It is one thing to do the right thing because you have to, but it is quite another when you do the right thing because you want to. Engineering company Zimmermann & Jansen SA has been searching for a worthy corporate social investment (CSI) project to support and found Clover Mama Afrika.

Newspaper extends online partnership to ad sales
Joburg.co.za has been brought on board to handle the sale of online advertising on The Citizen's website, it was announced yesterday, Wednesday, 5 March 2008. This move serves to extend the current partnership with Joburg.co.za, which provides the content for the newspaper's weekly CitiGuides supplement.

Forget the ABCs of lead scoring
[Lisa Cramer] If your sales team loves your ABC lead-ranking system because it really works, good for you. Stop reading and get back to generating leads. However, if your hot-warm-whatever system is leaving the sales team cold, there is a better way.

Taking up the Lapdesk Challenge
In participation of the Lapdesk Challenge, a public-private partnership that provides portable desks to learners, Old Mutual SA Retail Mass Market division is donating 60 000 lapdesks worth R3 million to 74 schools in all nine provinces.

MATCH Hospitality appoints exclusive sales agent for South Africa - SAIL
MATCH Hospitality AG, the exclusive worldwide rights holder for the FIFA Hospitality Programme until 2014, has appointed a newly formed joint venture company as its exclusive sales agent for South Africa and the rest of sub-Saharan Africa for the Official Hospitality Programme of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.


Sponsoring moving needs

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As part of its social responsibility programme, Berco Express recently provided the logistics and transport for all the Cansa Shavathon's promotional material, as well as equipment such as chairs and tables, to the various venues throughout South Africa. Berco Express has been sponsoring this event for the past four years as it believes it is a great way to communicate that cancer can be beaten.

BBC Arabic television news channel launches
The BBC is strengthening its multimedia news services for the Arab world by tomorrow's launch of a TV news channel alongside its existing radio and online offer to serve audiences in the Middle East and North Africa.

Let's Fix It proposals - e.tv
Do you want to make a difference in the world? Be part of a dynamic team that purposefully sets out to enrich the lives of the less fortunate. Free-to-air channel e.tv is looking for a production company with fresh and exciting ideas to produce the next season of the popular show Let's Fix It.