Loeries Radio Crafts judging panel announced
Members of the Radio Crafts judging panel for the 2008 The Loerie Awards were announced earlier this week. In other Loeries news, the Travelling Exhibition will be on display next week at Young & Rubicam's offices in Sandton, 9 - 18 June 2008.

It's Markex time again
As budgets become tighter, so the need for creative and effective opportunities for exposure has increased. Markex & World of Events 2008 opens its doors this week, with more than 70 new exhibitors bringing innovations never before seen at this event.

Bizcommunity.com reader survey launches
Come on now... be honest - what do you really think of Bizcommunity.com? What are we doing right? What are we doing wrong? What could we do better? We are inviting you, our valued subscribers and readers, to give us your bouquets and brickbats because we want to improve our service and our offering to you.

Wacky weekend shows how the mouth can market
[Peter Dearlove] The Robertson Wine Valley's annual Wacky Wine Weekend starts today, Friday, 6 June 2008. In one of the most intriguing cases of successful low-spend marketing, literally thousands of South Africans will roll up despite lousy weather, stay for a couple of days, leave their money behind, go home with a case or two of fine valley wine, set a whole bunch of new records and not know for sure what prompted them to go.

Major accounts awarded
brandhouse Beverages has awarded the Amstel below-the-line and activation business to brand experience engineers OwenKessel after a four-way review exercise, and Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has given its nine-month marketing and communication contract, worth R10 million, to local marketing consultancy Strategic Marketing Group (SMG) Africa.

What does the future hold in store for us?
The Weekender, in partnership with FutureFact and Arcay Communications, presents FutureFact Conference 2008, titled South Africa: The 29th Day - Have we reached our tipping point? The conference will focus on the changing social, political and economic attitudes of the people of South Africa, uncovering key trends that impact business and identifying where they are likely to ‘tip' in the future.

Top global marketing awards for Alliance Group
South African asset sales and services group, the Alliance Group recently beat competitors from around the globe to clinch the two top awards - 2008 Grand Champions of the Year and 2008 Auction of the Year - at the 2008 National Auctioneers Association (NAA) International Auction Marketing Competition, sponsored by global media giant, USA Today.

Nurturing your brand through turbulent times
[Louise Marsland] Globally, this is a tough time for brands. As consumers feel the pinch worldwide from rising food and fuel prices, purchasing behaviour will change, impacting on brand campaigns. Rosie Hawkins, new global head of brand and communications research for global market insight and information group TNS, says, however, that there are some things consumers do not give up on.


Everything is measurable in marketing - Chris Moerdyk
One of the biggest myths in marketing is that advertising and public relations are not measurable. Marketing managers, ad agency execs and media owners who tell that to their clients should be fired - plain and simple.

Report reveals good news for South African property market - Knowledge Factory
A recently released report reveals that the country's property market is in good shape and that, while the ‘boom' is tapering off in certain cities, it's only growth rates, not actual property prices that are dropping.

Power to the people with Cell C
Cell C's latest ad campaign, masterminded by Net#work BBDO, encourages the mobile operator's five million subscribers to contribute to saving electricity by unplugging their chargers after charging their cellphones, because although on an individual basis it might seem pointless, when one to five million subscribers join hands, they are boosting power in more ways than one.


DDB SA takes out McDonald's
After a competitive three-way pitch with TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris and incumbent Leo Burnett, McDonald's South Africa has awarded DDB SA its entire advertising account. Comments Glen Lomas, CEO of DDB SA, “The whole agency is thrilled. McDonald's has legendary status for us as marketers and advertisers but perhaps more important it has held a special place in all our hearts since we were snotty-nosed kids."

In-house recording studio for ad agency
In-house recording studio Opus is an expression of TBWA\Johannesburg's commitment to the concept of media arts. It is the brainchild of Charles Pantland, a copywriter at TBWA\Johannesburg and now the man behind its running.

Internships remain critical for ad, design industry
[Peter Upton] The advertising and design industry: a profession that appeals to a select creative few, resulting in an exceptionally small pool of resources. While retaining and developing skills is an industry priority, the decision of the Media, Advertising, Print, Packaging and Publishing (MAPPP) SETA to forego its 2008 internship programme is both extremely disappointing and short-sighted - especially in view of the programme's high rate of success...


Ad campaign puts supporters on the radar
Saatchi and Saatchi's latest Engen TV commercial, filmed by Giant Films and directed by Ian Gabriels, is intended to remind South Africans how the successes and achievements of the few are frequently underpinned by the support of the many, which often goes quietly under the radar.


Networking programme for IAS agency subscribers finalised
The Independent Agency Search and Selection company (IAS) has finalised the programme of exclusive networking sessions for its subscribing advertising agencies. The first session, on 22 July 2008, at Lowe Bull in Johannesburg, will present the findings of a research exercise undertaken by the AAR Group, IAS's affiliate in UK, entitled “Client/agency relationships, why they break down and tips on how to avoid this.”

SA makes D&AD Student shortlist
Of the seven South African student teams from Red & Yellow School and University of Pretoria which have made it into the D&AD Student Annual, three of those teams have been nominated for a Student Yellow Pencil, the organisers announced yesterday, Monday, 2 June 2008. The awards identify and promote the best emerging talent within design, advertising and communications each year.

A promotion and new appointments at Mortimer Harvey - Mortimer Harvey
Jacque Matthee, who has been with Mortimer Harvey a little over three years, has been promoted to design director. Baron Marshall has joined as interactive creative manager, Kirstin Cheetham as motion graphics designer and Helen Smith as graphic designer.


Copywriters.co.za: Expert copywriting services for all copywriting projects - Purple Cow Communications
Copywriters.co.za is a stable of medium to heavyweight, award-winning freelance copywriters delivering a professional service which is all about experience, creativity, fast turnaround, quality, confidentiality, efficiency and value for money.


Innovation pays off for Zoom - Zoom Advertising
After a three-way pitch, Zoom Advertising - Ogilvy's expert retail advertising and ‘brands at retail' agency - has been awarded the Jordan Shoes account and will handle 360 degree marketing communications to create brand awareness, support product listings, develop sales promotions and implement an ongoing PR campaign.


Red Cherry Media produces an interactive TV show for Sof n'free - Red Cherry Media
In September 2007 Limelight (on behalf of Amka Products) approached Red Cherry Media to extend a promotion for Sof n'free (an ethnic hair care brand) into an ATL format.


Booming about clay bricks - Boom Town
Boom Town Advertising recently mastered the art of producing creative advertisements for stock standard masonry products, giving clay bricks a new lease on life.


SABC3's animated titans of UEFA Euro2008 - Masters & Savant
With the world waiting for the UEFA Euro2008 to start, SABC3 is set to own viewership of the 18 live matches of the Euro2008 tournament to be broadcast between 9 and 28 June. To publicise the event, SABC3 turned to animation studio Masters & Savant Worldwide to create a promo that would generate massive excitement for the event and promote SABC3's broadcaster position.


Boom Town invests in its creative roots - Boom Town
Aspiring graphic designer, Tim Jones, a third year student at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), is the latest recipient of a R10 000 bursary from Boom Town Advertising.


Masters & Savant creates animated Getaway for Jupiter Drawing Room Cape Town - Masters & Savant
Introducing the new look of Getaway magazine through a novel television commercial called for the partnership of two of South Africa's top advertising industry companies, Jupiter Drawing Room Cape Town and Masters & Savant Worldwide.


Key appointment at Promise - Promise
With the growth of Promise over the last six months, it has become necessary to appoint a brand operations manager to facilitate the additional workload. Darren Sandras has been employed in this role and will be responsible for managing the workflow in and out of the agency.


New appointments at Boom Town Advertising, Port Elizabeth - Boom Town
Paige Burkette has been appointed as media liaison officer at Boom Town Advertising. With an honours degree in applied media studies from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, her background encompasses experience in advertising bookings, layout design and conference coordination.


Masters & Savant Worldwide blend 3D and 2D animation for FoxP2's Five Roses commercials - Masters & Savant
Five Roses' new animated commercial from FoxP2 and Masters & Savant Worldwide demonstrates how it has brought new tea flavours from around the world to its consumers.


Starcom resigns The Agency business
Gordon Patterson, MD of Starcom, announced this week that Starcom had resigned The Agency's media business. Relations between the two agencies were believed to have been strained in recent times.

Xenophobia - SA's branding crisis
[Vimtha Rajbansi] South Africa's image has suffered greatly from the wave of xenophobic attacks that took place recently. Here is a summary of the damage and some courses of action that need to be taken in order to restore the country's good name.

Cell C appoints brand agency for customer experience
Cell C has appointed The Fearless Executive as its brand agency for customer experience, it was announced this week. “One of our key priority areas at Cell C is customer experience” says Vanda Harries, Cell C executive for consumer marketing. “This focus is rooted in our belief that, in an age where the consumer has more choice of suitable products and services, the only differentiator is how they feel about and experience your brand. We chose The Fearless Executive based on their proven track record as a brand implementation agency.”

Filminute 2008 call for entries
The entry deadline for international one-minute film festival Filminute 2008, which will run throughout the month of September, is 20 August 2008. The festival looks set to attract the largest audience yet as screenings have expanded to include television, mobile and other platforms.

Conexus paves the road for automotive sales and service standards in Africa - Conexus
Outsourced call centre company Conexus has successfully extended its capabilities across Africa, having completed a challenging multi-country project. The venture into the continent continued when Conexus was tasked with implementing a large-scale customer satisfaction study for a leading, international automotive client in African countries.

3D wall in the ‘art of Newtown

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Plascon has transformed an abandoned and dilapidated wall in the heart of bustling Newtown, Johannesburg, into South Africa's allegedly first 3D graffiti wall. "Graffiti is an art form which, when used appropriately can be appreciated by all,” says Monde Sussman, group brand manager for Plascon.”3D graffiti art, especially, is innovative and different and is exactly why Plascon was attracted to this project. Hopefully this inspires other artists to transform one dimensional canvases into three-dimensional works of art. Located at the corner of Miriam Makeba and Jeppe Streets, behind Mary Fitzgerald Square, the Plascon Urban 3D Wall was designed by Craig Drummond of CDD designs and painted by renowned mural artists MakOne, Rasty and Johannesburg's number one underground “graf” artist, Curio.

Banking on YouTube
It's yet another bank getting into the stride of social media. Earlier this week, FNB became reportedly the first South African bank to offer a dedicated YouTube channel, FNBTV. It aims to promote all that is good about South Africa and provide an outlet for local South Africans and people living abroad to celebrate and share all that is positive the country.


In-store media revolution continues
[Louise Marsland] Ad man Mike Bosman was in Joburg last week to launch his new R120 million venture, One Digital Media, officially to the media. His new ‘content' business - his description - is taking in store media up a layer of technological innovation to capture and influence consumers at the brand point of purchase.


Shaking up the digital market
Full service digital marketing agency Bluesouth last week announced that it has rebranded to Shake Interactive South Africa. bluesouth and Edinburgh-based Shake Interactive merged in 2006 to form an international digital agency.

Adobe launches Acrobat 9, Creative Suite 3.3 and Acrobat.com
Adobe Systems earlier this week launched Acrobat.com, a suite of hosted services available as public beta for free signup, that put communication, productivity and collaboration tools within a web browser, enabling individuals to work collaboratively on electronic documents.

Boost your business with RedButton's new Free WiFi product - RedButton
RedButton has launched its Free WiFi product which gives restaurateurs and hoteliers the ability to wholly control Internet access and use it as a tool to control patrons' habits. Establishments control when and how much free WiFi is given away and build their brand in the process.


Digicape opens flagship store in Johannesburg - Digicape Apple Premium Reseller
Apple fans in Gauteng are in for a treat, as top Mac reseller and specialist solutions provider Digicape, opened its flagship store in Johannesburg on Saturday,7 June 2008.

Data and the Holy Grail of customer self-service - Cambrient
[Jarred Cinman] Customer data. It's one of the most sought-after commodities in the market. Companies spend millions a year buying it from marketing list specialists. They spend similar amounts on data cleansing applications and with data scrubbing specialists to ensure their customer data is reasonably clean and accurate.

Stonewall+ launches new Lifestyle Dynamics website - Stonewall+
Digital marketing agency Stonewall+ recently launched a refreshed and revitalised website for Lifestyle Dynamics. The website aims to become the leading online destination for all wellness-related lifestyle content, allowing community members to seek and find anything from balanced eating programmes and massage therapists to cycling clubs and tips on cutting down your golf handicap.

Reigning brain of answers

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After six weeks of 24.com users battling it out for the http://answerit.24.com title, H Matthee of Cape Town aka Thumbsie was the winner of R5000 cash with 10 907 points. Ten other winners won Magic 8 balls. Comments Elan Lohmann, GM of social networking and media at 24.com, “The community is very active and we are happy because within the first four weeks, we went live with a phase two, which made many improvements to the product... In the next two weeks we are launching widgets where, for example, a feed of latest Health questions will appear on Health24 and [we] will do this across all segments. This will move the needle substantially and I believe we will be doing 50 000 monthly users in a short space of time... Many users of Yahoo Answers are coming and saying they getter better value with us.” In the first two weeks, social media site Answerit attracted 20 000 users and since launch almost 3000 signed up as participating users. In that six week period, 3758 questions were asked and over 39 000 answers given.


Mobile, social media topics for IFRA events in Asia
The new IFRA event, Mobile Media for Content Consumers on the Move on 24 and 25 July 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will focus especially on how mobile media platforms can help publishers to increase their reach, gain new audiences, generate new business and diversify their revenues. At the same venue, IFRA Asia will also hold its second Social Media Workshop on 22 and 23 July. For more information, go to www.ifra.com/events.

UCT launches course for SA school leaders - UCT Graduate School of Business
The UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) will this month launch a course that will provide South African school leaders with valuable business acumen and enhance their leadership capacity.

18th World Economic Forum on Africa kicks offs
[Shaun Benton] Over hundreds of eminent individuals who play key roles in leading companies, associations, unions, governments and media organisations are converging in Cape Town for the 18th World Economic Forum on Africa.

Absa reach out and touch the youth at Surge events - Expo Promotions
Having just come out tops in the banking sector of the Generation Next youth brand survey, Absa aims to cement that perception and has signed up as a headline sponsor for the Surge - Branding the teen spirit events.

Load shedding - what has it meant for the events industry? - Gearhouse SA
For many of us load shedding is nothing more than an inconvenience, but it can have a serious effect on any business, especially those in the events industry where the core business is heavily reliant on a stable power supply. Apart from the irritations of planned events going awry at critical moments and interrupted planning, the main impact seems to have been on the client's wallet, which ultimately leads to a decrease in events.

Stirrr serves more than 360 hot beverages per hour - Stirrr Mobile Functions
Stirrr Mobile Functions Specialty Coffee Bars set a new record for itself at the recent Cape Good Food & Wine Show when it beat its target of serving more than 360 hot beverages per hour.

Double whammy for Oasys at Markex - Oasys Innovations
Since the exhibition first launched some twenty years ago, Markex has been branded a melting pot for new ideas for the marketing and communications industry and Oasys Innovations will be there this year. “This is an important exhibition for Oasys to demonstrate our total solution for exhibitions and events to decision makers in marketing positions,” says Brian Kennedy, chief executive for Oasys Innovations.

Oasys makes German connection in Angola - Oasys Innovations
The annual Angola Trade Fair (FILDA) will be held in Luanda, 15 - 20 July 2008, and is expected to draw nearly 30 000 visitors and exhibitors from many parts of the world.

ABC releases rule amendments
The Audit Bureau of Circulations has released various rule amendments, concerning bulk sales and barter deals amongst others, which will be effective from 1 July 2008. The rule changes are highlighted in bold in the pdf which you can download here (62KB). Download notification of recent ABC memberships, suspensions and check audits here (55KB).

More first birthday fever

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SA Woman Golfer magazine celebrated its first birthday with the June/July/August 2008 issue hitting the shelves this week. Although launched as a supplement to Compleat Golfer, it has already successfully gone stand alone for the past two issues. “SA Woman Golfer would like to thank their advertisers and the people who have supported the publication during the first year. We could not have done it without you,” comments publisher and editor Shelley Galliver. The title is available at Mr Price Sports, Exclusive Books, CNA, Spar and other retail outlets.

Kitchenboy passes away
NEWSWATCH: Restaurant critic, newspaper columnist and age-restricted cookbook author Braam “Kitchenboy” Kruger passed away from organ failure on Saturday, 7 June 2008, reports The Times.

Media concerned by global warming
GÖTEBORG, SWEDEN: The problem of global warming has emerged as an issue of concern for the world's newspapers, with calls at last week's World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by media industries.


Rear-view mirror lessons: SA media, coverage on foreign nationals
Foreign nationals in South Africa, particularly Zimbabweans and Mozambiqueans, are consistently linked to criminal behaviour in South African media. These are amongst the findings in new research on xenophobic agenda-setting conducted by Media Tenor South Africa.

SABC board in another attempt to oust Mpofu
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] It's not over until it's over. This is what chairperson Khanyisiwe Mkonza seems to be telling CEO Dali Mpofu as the SABC board prepares to approach the Supreme Court of Bloemfontein to have Mpofu ousted - once again - and have him replaced by suspended head of news Snuki Zikalala, according to weekend reports.

Rugby body calls for publications partner
SA Rugby is looking to appoint a publications partner to produce match programmes and other ancillary publications to coincide with the British and Irish Lions touring South Africa in 12 months' time.

'SABC board born in sin' - FXI
The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has welcomed a recent statement from members of the SABC group executive committee calling for the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the conduct of the SABC board. "The current SABC board was born in sin," said Jane Duncan, executive director of the FXI.

Criticism for UN Human Rights Council from world's press
GÖTEBORG, SWEDEN: The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and World Editors Forum (WEF) has condemned what is terms the United Nations Human Rights Council's repeated efforts to undermine freedom of expression in the name of protecting religious sensibilities. “WAN reminds the UN that the council's proper role is to defend freedom of expression and not to support the censorship of opinion at the request of autocracies,” the WAN board said in a resolution issued during the World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum, which end today, Wednesday, 4 June 2008, in Göteborg, Sweden.

SABC executive, employees urge board to step down
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] The battle for control of the SABC's soul took another twist when seven members of the executive yesterday, Monday, 2 June 2008, endorsed a memorandum calling on the board to step down immediately as it has lost the moral authority and integrity to lead the SABC and continues to allow its power to be abused.

The greener fields of multimedia content
[Eddie Groenewald] After my previous column on Bizcommunity.com, a reader posted a comment stating that in the event of him being a business owner (which he is not) the column had failed to dissuade him from using SMS. While I have written on subjects like this before, I thought some practical examples may help to answer the question.


Marketing goes mobile on UCT business school course - Mobilety
The UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) is launching a landmark course this July that will give marketers and business leaders clear insight on how to best reach the estimated 36-million cell phone users in South Africa.

From strength to strength - Cell C
Fifty thousand girls enjoyed a life-changing experience recently as they participated in Cell C's sixth successive Take a Girl Child to Work Day campaign. This year, 520 organisations hosted girl learners from 600 schools in one of South Africa's biggest and most successful acts of corporate volunteerism.


Red Cherry takes Lasher mobile - Red Cherry Media
Red Cherry recently completed Lasher Tools first foray into the mobile space, with a brand new mobile site, lasher.mobi.

MMA on lookout for new president
The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) yesterday, Wednesday, 4 June 2008, announced that global president Laura Marriott will resign later this year after having led the association since 2005. The MMA board will immediately commence an executive level search for a new global president, managed by a board member recruiting committee comprised and conducted by executive search firm Diversified Search Ray & Berndtson. Marriott will see the association through the transition period and will then assume President Emeritus position on the MMA Global Board of Advisors. For more information, go to www.mmaglobal.com.

Fresh mobile entertainment
Recently launched www.juice.co.za offers global and local content downloads for your mobile or PC such as mobile ringtones, full-track music downloads, screensavers, games and colour backgrounds etc. It can be accessed via mobile phone or computer and is network operator independent. Payment is pay by credit card or premium-rated SMS.

Beauty pageant turns ugly
Namibia's Informanté newspaper recently complained that the organisers of the Miss Namibia beauty pageant have refused to grant the newspaper entry to the pageant for coverage.

Happy first birthday to The Times
The Times, the morning daily newspaper from the Sunday Times stable, officially celebrates its first year today, Thursday, 5 June 2008, and according to Avusa Media, the positive public uptake the daily has exceeded its expectations. “In our first year of operation, not only have we boldly catapulted the company into a new media era but also succeeded as a new South African daily newspaper where many others have failed,” says The Times editor Ray Hartley.


New kid's newspaper on the block
A child of five can already recognise up to 300 logos - and a question for marketers is, “Is my logo one of them?” Launching shortly is an interactive tabloid for six-year-olds, My First Free 4 All. Direct from the Free 4 All stable, it is the baby brother of high school newspaper Free 4 All, and its sibling for senior primary school kids, Free 4 All Early Edition.


Predictions of newspaper industry's decline a “profound mistake” - WAN president
GÖTEBORG, SWEDEN: Newspapers are well-placed to succeed in the modern media environment, and forecasters who predict the industry's decline are making a “profound mistake”, the president of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) said today, Tuesday, 3 June 2007, making the case for a vibrant future for the newspaper industry.

World digital media trends released
GÖTEBORG, SWEDEN: The digital platforms of newspaper companies are growing at double-digit rates world-wide, both in usage and revenue production, according to the World Digital Media Trends report unveiled at this week's World Newspaper Congress by the World Association of Newspapers (WAN).

World Newspaper Congress celebrates print, digital developments
GÖTEBORG, SWEDEN: The 61st World Newspaper Congress and 15th World Editors Forum opened in Sweden yesterday, Monday, 2 June 2008, with recognition of Sweden's superb media example for the rest of the world - top-ranked digital developments combined with a deep love of print. Last year, they were held in Cape Town, South Africa.

Newspapers are growing - WAN
GÖTEBORG, SWEDEN: Newspaper circulations world-wide rose 2.57% in 2007 while rapid growth of both free titles and online platforms was expanding the reach of newspapers everywhere, the World Association of Newspapers announced yesterday, Monday, 2 June 2008. The new data, from WAN's annual survey of world press trends, was released to a record turnout at the 61st World Newspaper Congress and 15th World Editors Forum in Göteborg, Sweden.

O'Reilly president of WAN once again
Gavin O'Reilly, CEO of Ireland-based Independent News & Media, was re-elected president of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) for a third term of two years. Fred Arp, CFO of the Telegraaf Media Group in the Netherlands, was re-elected treasurer. New board members from 13 countries were also elected on Wednesday, 4 June 2008, at the WAN AGM, held during the World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum in Göteborg, Sweden: Frédéric Aurand, board chairman of Groupe Hersant Media, France; Oyungerel Batnasan, executive director of the Newspaper Association of Mongolia; Indira Crasnea, deputy chief editor of Mediafax, Romania; Philip Crawley, publisher and CEO of the Globe & Mail, Canada; Mathias Döpfner, CEO and chairman, Axel Springer, Germany; Dahlan Iskan, publisher and chief editor of the Jawa Post, Indonesia; Tibor Kovacs, CEO of Nepszabadsag, Hungary; Remzi Lani, director of the Albanian Media Institute; François Le Hodey, CEO of S.A. Informations et Productions Multimedia, Belgium; Jaime Mantilla Anderson, director general of Hoy, Ecuador; Veaceslav Perunov, director of the Association of Independent Press, Moldova; Sinha Ratnatunga, editor-in-chief of The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka; Mikhel Reinsalu, CEO of Eesti Pävaleht, Estonia; and Nelson Sirotsky, president and CEO of Grupo RBS, Brazil.

Women's glossy goes online
Cosmopolitan readers can now live the brand 24/7: Associated Magazines has launched www.cosmopolitan.co.za, with the aim of it becoming the number one online destination for fun, fearless South African women.


Investment opportunity - one small seed
One small seed cc is looking for an investor/business developer to jump on board and take this rapidly expanding business to the next level. One small seed already offers a complete multi-media platform for readers and advertisers which includes “one small seed magazine”, “one small seed.tv”, “celebrate this” (concept events) and “one small seed.com/co.za”.


Why do nine out of ten websites in South Africa fail? - R.O.I. Media
[Allen Jaffe] It is estimated that over 90% of new websites fail within the first year of existence. Interestingly enough, the same can be said for the restaurant industry, as only one out of each 10 new restaurants experience success.


"Invest in property," says international expert - Private Property
There is ample opportunity to generate wealth through property, especially in our current economic climate. This was the strong message put across by Dolf de Roos during a recent presentation made to 800 guests hosted by the Private Property Group at Montecasino.


DQ&A SA Marketing eyeballs the local market - DQ&A SA
The online industry is awash with companies offering ad trafficking, ad operations, online reporting and general creative feedback to advertisers, agencies and publishers alike, but a handful of these companies actually understand and make the connection between client needs and the successful fulfillment thereof. Even fewer yet are actually able to deliver on these high standards.


Backpackers and soccer
33 South Backpackers has committed to a season-long deal with South African soccer online community, TheSoccerPages.Com. The partnership will see 33 South secure premium exposure on the soccer website and its flagship free digital soccer magazine DigiDiski. “We are of course setting ourselves for 2010,” says 33 South co-owner Kim Whitaker. “We get a lot of soccer fans from all over the world as tenants and my heart beats every time I see how much they enjoy the game.”

ComutaNet's Rank TV can prove its efficacy - ComutaNet
ComutaNet regularly commissions independent research to ensure Rank TV's leadership position as an advertising channel is maintained.


Dart Ad June special - Right Stuff
The Dart Ad, which is a rotating pole system with three double-sided banner panels, has become very popular over the past couple of years, which could be attributed to its unique appearance and functionality. Right Stuff is running a special offer on the Dart Ad for June 2008.


Demand leads to increased parkade holding
Unlimited subsidiary Primall Media has increased its parkade billboard media offering by a further seven parkade floors to meet the demand of advertisers, bringing it to a total of 22 parkade holdings around South Africa. “The parkade is often the first point of interaction for consumers seeking sheltered parking at busy malls. These areas see an average of 280 000 consumers every month,” says Darren Katz, director of Primall Media. With shopping centres becoming increasingly busier, research shows that it will take a consumer on average between 9 and 11 minutes to find a parking space. Consumers also tend to use the billboards as a landmark to remember where their vehicle is parked.

Paarl Media acquires Print24, Paarl Post
Paarl Media Group has acquired Print24 and Paarl Post as part of its programme to enhance the core printing facilities available to clients, it was announced yesterday, Monday, 2 June 2008. Both businesses will be housed as a collective grouping under the name of “Paarl Coldset”.

SA filmmakers unite against xenophobia
On 23 May 2008, during the crux of the xenophobic violence that hit South Africa, Filmmakers Against Racism (FAR) was launched to promote racial and human unity. FAR is set to produce almost ten 24-minute documentaries and eight 30-second public service announcements on racism and xenophobia.

TCM Classic Shorts calls for entries
Once again, the ninth annual TCM Classic Shorts competition is open to entries from Europe, the Middle East and Africa and, as in previous years, the winner and runners up will be screened at an award ceremony held in October 2008.

Free facilities for xenophobia PSAs - Creative Vision
Creative Vision stands in solidarity with other organisations, institutions and fellow compatriots which are condemning the xenophobic madness. Its contribution to the cause comes in the way of making all its in-house facilities available free of charge for the next two months, to anyone creating a public service announcement reproachful of xenophobia.

Bioscope shoots Cape Union Mart for King James - Bioscope Films
Director Hylton Tannenbaum has just shot a commercial promoting Cape Union Mart's Store Card.

Home-related title launches giveaway, changes frequency
Home-related magazine Home Paige, in partnership with M-Net, recently launched what it claims is of the biggest home giveaway promotion to date - the Building Your Dream Home Promotion 2008. At the same time, Home Paige has changed its frequency, moving from being published on a quarterly basis to alternate monthly.

PRISA cancels national conference
PRISA has cancelled its national conference scheduled for next week citing “the current unrest situation in our country, coupled to the lingering xenophobia” for impacting on bookings. Its press statement to this effect has been contradicted by event organisers whom Bizcommunity.com spoke to this morning.

Website news monitoring service now available
Greg Forsythe and Jane Duminy of Intranews have launched InSite Web Intelligence, a tailored website news monitoring service and web analysis product. “There was a massive gap in the market,” explains Duminy. “Many of our clients have been clamouring for website analysis for ages and we decided that with our expertise we were in a good position to fill that gap.”

Telkom Kenya campaign voted tops
[Carole Kimutai] The Ogilvy Public Relations Kenya campaign to manage and position the restructuring of Telkom Kenya has been voted the best in Africa.

Exclusive pan-African PR affiliate partnership announced
Global PR and communications consultancy Burson-Marsteller earlier this week announced an exclusive affiliate partnership with South African consultancy Arcay Communications, which has an extensive affiliate network throughout the African continent. The agreement covers operations in countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Botswana, Morocco, Rwanda and Burundi, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, Mauritius and Tunisia, with operations extending to the countries around them. “This deal offers us and our clients the ability to undertake communications campaigns across the whole continent of Africa and this is something we have seen increasing client demand for,” commented Jeremy Galbraith, CEO Burson-Marsteller Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA). “We are committed to growing in Africa and delighted to partner with Arcay who have a long and distinguished history there, having been established in Johannesburg for over 18 years.”

Specialised info service for PR agencies
Monitoring South Africa (MSA) has launched a new PR telesales division designed specifically to serve the needs of PR and communications agencies. The prime focus will be to increase turnaround time on delivery of pricing and monitoring information to agencies, which in turn will enable them to improve on their delivery time to their own clients, as well as allow them to act proactively on their clients' media coverage. “The telesales department is equipped to act much more proactively on news than the traditional sales department,” says MSA marketing and sales manager Mandy Govender.

Buli G says goodbye to Highveld
Buli G is leaving 94.7 Highveld Stereo at the end of June 2008 after presenting the weekday 12pm - 3pm slot for the past year. She will be exploring television and the performing arts.

Kaya FM appoints new MD
Finally, Kaya FM 95.9 has a new MD: Greg Maloka's appointment, effective 1 July 2008, was announced this morning, Wednesday 4 June, by the Kaya FM board. Former YFM fundi Maloka takes over from the previous MD, Charlene Deacon, who resigned in March 2008.


5FM finetunes weekend breakfast show
Following the departure of Ryan O'Connor from 5FM weekend breakfast show (UP)⁵, Elana Afrika is now co-presenting the show with a variety of celebrity and expert guests. Afrika will also be joined by Gayle Roux on news and Owen Nkumane on sport.

The new Ukhozi, without feathers
[Tshepiso Seopa] At the unveiling ceremony of Ukhozi FM's new beaded colourful and contemporary logo on the weekend, Welcome “Bhodloza” Nzimande, the station manager for Ukhozi, made it clear that his station's objective is to attract more audiences ahead of and during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Reducing risk for recruiters
Identirisksa is a new recruitment product from Shane Meintjes, due to launch on 12 June 2008, that works in a similar way to ITC, where the person signs an indemnity at the start of proceedings. Before a candidate is interviewed, a simple check by name and id number on Identirisksa will show whether or not the person has been listed by another recruitment or HR company as a bad candidate. This does not mean that the recruitment company cannot proceed with any process with the candidate but at least they are aware of previous defaults and can act accordingly. For more information, go to www.identirisk.co.za.

Tracking growing Gauteng black wealth through LSMs
When Avusa launched its Wealth Measure Index recently, a top industry player commented that since this was the first time the survey had been produced, the industry would not yet be able to track the growth of affluence among the black middle class in Gauteng. But South Africa's oldest wealth measure - the SAARF Universal Living Standards Measure (SU-LSM) - is able to track this, as it has been monitoring the changing face of SA society for the past 15 years.

Approval of President Mbeki remains low - TNS Research Surveys
TNS Research Surveys, a marketing and social insights company, has conducted a series of surveys since 2000 that ascertain whether people feel the President is doing a good job as President of South Africa.

Nestlé's professional relaunch
Earlier this week, Nestlé Food Services hosted its public relaunch to Nestlé Professional. According to Barend Minnaar, the brand's South African country business manager, Nestlé World Wide identified the ‘Out Of Home Industry' as one of the four growth pillars of its international business last year and has been preparing for the changeover ever since.


Retailers need to target crime - not budget for it
Theft is one of the major concerns facing the retail industry today, a fact that was highlighted during the recent Retail Loss Prevention Conference, held last month at the Southern Sun conference centre in Sandton.

Product of the Year 2009 open for entries
One of the world's largest organisations dedicated to awarding innovation in FMCG has finally arrived in South Africa.


Good design is not all feathers and sequins...
[Shan Radcliffe] Sustainable design that will help the fashion industry grow and develop needs to be design that works properly - and sometimes, simpler is better.


Thanking volunteers with a 'helping heart' - The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA
In the light of International Volunteer Week, 1 - 8 June, the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA) would like to acknowledge and thank all kindhearted individuals who have volunteered their services at various fundraising events and assisted with general administration duties over the past 28 years.

Hunting strategies: What the best hunters do and why it makes them top producers - SALESGURU Publishing
It goes without saying that hunting for business is a critical skill for any salesperson. You're always being told to hit the phones, find more prospects, more opportunities. Yet just as some salespeople take to the concept of hunting like ducks to water (or indeed like duck hunters), others struggle.

MultiChoice launches DStv on demand
MultiChoice has launched DStv on Demand pc, which allows subscribers to enjoy selected programming covering a full spectrum for download or online streaming.

New research on media habits of youth breaks stereotypes
GÖTEBORG, SWEDEN: A new study on the media habits of young people in three countries found that television continues to be the most important source of news and information for the young, despite the rise of the Internet - and newspapers can win their attention as well. The study was at the World Newspaper Congress in Göteborg, Sweden, earlier this week.