Don't slash marketing budgets in belt tightening conditions
[Lebo Biko] Business is feeling the economic meltdown and the result is slashed marketing budgets to assist with stabilisation. This is a knee-jerk reaction.


Marketing ethics, responsibility and ubuntu
[Linda Hamman] Almost 40 years ago, the New York Times magazine published a famous (infamous?) article written by economic guru Milton Friedman, entitled "The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits." Things have changed since then.


Strategy is everyone's business
[Romney Taylor] Strategy is not brainstormed on a flipchart by the board of directors sitting around a platter of sandwiches talking about the year ahead. Strategy is not the responsibility of upper management. Strategy is also not rocket science.

Challenges of marketing, branding in this day and age
[Terry Levin] How does one market and brand in 2009 when faced with at least 400 local websites on which you can place an ad, as well as 36 terrestrial channels, YouTube, podcasts, Facebook, radio, newspaper, magazine, mobile and sundry outdoor media options?


Bornfree Children's Festival gives new meaning to 31 October - Egg Marketing & Communications
31 October 2008 once again marked a couple of mild attempts by South Africans to celebrate Halloween. It also marked the birth of the Bornfree Children's Festival - an alternative, indigenous way to celebrate this date, courtesy of Egg Marketing & Communications.


Learners make their mark with Coca-Cola - Egg Marketing & Communications
[Charlotte Bradley] South Africa's business sector has an important role to play in the upliftment of the country's children. In 2006, ABI, the soft drink division of SAB, launched the Coca-Cola Make Your Mark School Programme, which focuses on introducing learners to the world of business.

Visa kicks off 2010 marketing campaign with winner's trophy showcase
The 2010 FIFA World Cup Winner's Trophy was showcased at an event in Johannesburg yesterday, Wednesday, 5 November 2008, by Visa, FIFA's exclusive financial services partner. The event marked the official launch of Visa's 2010 FIFA World Cup South African marketing campaign.


Puma CEO gives 2010 stadium the thumbs up

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Sports brand Puma CEO Jochen Zeitz gave Cape Town's 2010 World Cup Green Point stadium the thumbs up after a site inspection yesterday, Wednesday, 5 November 2008. “This is a world-class facility in the making. It is going to be an impressive stage for all of the world cup dramas to unfold, set against the backdrop of Table Mountain. You can't ask for a better venue,” said Zeitz, who was in town to welcome Puma's il mostro yacht at the completion of the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/9. Zeitz also said the brand is thrilled that South Africa will host the world cup, and discussed the sports brand's plans for 2010 and its commitment to Africa and the continent's football traditions.

Exclusive: Bizcommunity to announce new Loeries destination
[Simone Puterman] EXCLUSIVE SCOOP: Next week, the new destination for The Loerie Awards 2009 will be revealed on Bizcommunity.com. Will it be Margate? Will it be Johannesburg? Will it be Cape Town?


Show that dialup is dead in iBurst competition
Dialup is dead. You know it. iBurst knows it. Now all you have to do is convince South Africa that this is in fact so. Creative South Africans who can do just that with an original television, radio or print ad of their own design, stand a chance of winning prizes worth over R50 000 in the iBurst Ad Competition.

More accolades for Gail Curtis
Gail Curtis, Saatchi & Saatchi group CEO and head of the agency's Africa Group, was last month recognised by CEO magazine as one of the country's most influential women. Curtis received top honours in the publication's annual list of female achievers in the Telecommunication, Media, TV, Radio and Press category.


Crowdsourcing site the antithesis of traditional ad agency model
Last week, Quirk eMarketing launched www.ideabounty.com, the “antithesis of the traditional agency models” according to CEO Rob Stokes. Based on the principles of crowdsourcing, the website allows brands to post a brief asking for creative ideas and offer a reward (or bounty) for the best submission.

Entries open for the 2009 Street Pole Ads Cannes Award - ADreach
Take your creativity to the streets in the 2009 Street Pole Ads Cannes Award and stand in line to win an all expenses paid trip to attend the world's most prestigious advertising event.

If you're in s#@t, call Hyundai - The Jupiter Drawing Room
In these challenging times, how do you come up with effective advertising that talks directly to your consumers and convinces them to invest in your brand? For The Jupiter Drawing Room Cape Town and its client Hyundai, the answer is simple. You go back to basics and simply tell it like it is.


Cross Colours helps Nando's put its best foot forward - Cross Colours
In a classic case of walking the talk, through-the-line creative agency, Cross Colours, came up with a novel way of communicating client Nando's internal brand strategy to employees.


Lowe Bull takes a new angle in fighting germs - Lowe Bull
In scenes reminiscent of a horror movie, the predator lies in wait, unseen by its unsuspecting prey. Under the water in the toilet pan, and from the drains in the shower and sink, the viewer sees through the eyes of lurking germs, in Lowe Bull Johannesburg's new campaign for Domestos.


Another first for Toyota SA, Draftfcb - ‘green' ink - Draftfcb (South Africa)
Toyota South Africa continues to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to ‘going green' - its most recent marketing and information brochure, that for the Yaris Sedan, has not only been printed on environmentally paper, it has been produced using soy-based inks.


JSE building 'To Let' - The Jupiter Drawing Room
The JSE building is up for grabs. A large ‘To Let' banner hangs on the outside of the home of the SA stock exchange. Recently, the media has been dominated by images of traders, heads in their hands in utter dismay at the demise of the market and some of the industry's biggest players. In these tough economic times, we are quickly getting used to the idea of expecting the unexpected.


Billads launches into Protea Hotels nationwide - Billads
Leading South African hotel group, Protea Hotels, has adopted the Billads Bill Folder to be used in its hotels nationwide.


Bizwave's new advertising model - Bizwave
Bizwave created, developed and operates an idea and business development platform that allows idea owners, entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs to share ideas, collaborate with industry experts and build successful business plans.


No more bland leading the bland for Volcano - Volcano Advertising
Anyone who has ever set out to break the rules knows that you have to be one of two things to succeed - naïve or a little crazy.


Pearson to judge D&AD
Vanessa Pearson, executive creative director at McCann Erickson South Africa, is a member of the Ambient jury for the 2009 D&AD Awards, the organisers announced on Friday, 7 November 2008. She was also an Ambient judge for the 2007 awards, as well an as Outdoor judge for this year's Cannes Lions.

Obama: a lesson in branding in a connected world
[Walter Pike] Many would say that Barack Obama's victory in the American presidential race was always a foregone conclusion; after the performance of the Republicans over the previous two terms, it was hard to see a McCain victory. What is interesting is to compare the two approaches, McCain who followed a traditional campaign path and Obama who understood that the world has changed.


Gauteng ignites new identity
[Tshepiso Seopa] “It starts here” is Gauteng Province's new payoff line, set to sell the province as a brand as well as to attract local and international investors. Aimed at positioning Gauteng as a leading investment, tourism and competitive sport destination, the new identity is represented by a new dotted multi-coloured G-shape representing ignition.


A bit of bok, protea doesn't solve anything!
[Anthony Swart] It's been announced that the solution to the ongoing Springbok debate is a half and half approach - the springbok emblem on the right hand side and the protea emblem on the left (over the heart, I may add). It may seem like a conservative solution to this highly emotive issue, but is it in fact the right one?

Rebranding Bearing Man - a case study
How do you transform a brand name that has been established for three decades, without losing brand awareness or damaging brand loyalty? The recent rebranding of the Bearing Man brand to BMG provides insight into the issues that come into play - how intensive planning and skilful execution can make rebranding a success that not only retains brand loyalty, but also reinforces and revitalises brand awareness.


Ads, mantras and Zen
[Mike Freedman] Many great brands have brand mantras that in a few words capture their spirit. The mantra is not a slogan - it is the golden thread that holds everything together, from what a company makes, to its hiring policies.


Spotlight on SA during Service Exporter Network meeting
Nation brands are difficult to get right. When it comes to Africa, the branding of the continent can be particularly one-sided. Africa is often misrepresented. Despite being one of the world's most compelling continents. Africa's dominant image bas been created by charity brands such as Live Aid. The tables, however, are beginning to turn.

Sports branding: specialist skills ensure commercial alignment
[S'bu Manqele] Sport is no longer just about health, entertainment or developing team spirit, but rather a serious business with the potential to yield heavyweight returns on one's investment. With the business of sport as much about fans as it is about players, we're seeing more and more commercial brands starting to feature in this space - and turning to professionals when it comes to branding and marketing in this specialist arena.


Cross Colours gets fresh with a new Nando's concept - Cross Colours
When multi-disciplinary creative agency, Cross Colours, was asked by client Nando's to come up with a concept to extend the brand into new culinary territory, it went where few agencies ever go, coming up with an all-new experience for lovers of Nando's peri-peri.


Zendome - offering brand managers a new universe of activation possibilities - Zendome
The Zendome marquee, with its aesthetic appeal, characteristic dome shape, and uniquely clean lines, is a winner in the world of brand activation.


The power of pull - Rex Creative
[Rudo Botha] Push marketing methods are no longer delivering the goods, and savvy marketers are coming to understand the importance of pulling their audiences in.

A film festival of festivals
The second annual Festival of Festivals has begun its circuit around the country, showcasing fine cinematic fare fresh from gracing the silver screen at the world's top film festivals. And according to the festival organisers, based on last year's lineup and their subsequent stellar awards performance, it may not be too far-fetched to speculate that some could conceivably end up being next year's Oscar frontrunners.

A fresh new look
Freshpak teas has launched two flavours to enhance the existing range of Rooibos, Herbal and Green teas, as well as revamping the packaging across the entire range.


Father, son team wins top design award
Taking top honours at the recent 2008 SABS Design Excellence Awards were the eco-friendly modular filing systems, the Orga8 and Orga15, designed by father-and-son entrepreneurial team Arnold and Adrian van Wijk of the company Orgafile.

The next big thing: reclaiming the 'Net back
[Gary Collins] Each time I scan my favourite RSS feeds for my weekly tech-fix, I'm amazed at the sheer number of products and services that find their way to market. There is apparently no shortage of entrepreneurs and VCs out there, inventing new things for us to do online, or more usually, rehashing old ideas in sexy new outfits.


Call for entries for International Digital Emmy Awards
PARIS & NEW YORK: The deadline for entries for the fourth International Digital Emmy Awards (IDEA) is 12 January 2009, Reed MIDEM and the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (IATAS), announced yesterday, Thursday, 6 November 2008. The awards recognise excellence in content created and designed for viewer interaction and/or delivery on a digital platform originating outside of the US.

SABCnews.com going Web 2.0
The SABC's news website, SABCnews.com, is currently undergoing reconstructive Web 2.0 surgery, all of which will be revealed on Wednesday, 19 November 2008.

SA students feature in CNN World View on US election
As momentum builds towards the climax of the biggest event in the 2008 world political calendar, CNN International is putting viewer comment at the centre of its US presidential election coverage with its ‘World View' initiative. Students from South African universities are part of this.

Sundance Coffee leads Free WiFi wave - RedButton
Gourmet coffee company Sundance, owned by world-renowned chef Conrad Gallagher, has partnered with RedButton to provide free WiFi at its chain of restaurants.


Fuel Group acquires MobileAdStream - Fuel Group
Fuel has announced the acquisition of MobileAdStream, a mobile advertising network which focuses on the growing African mobile market. The deal, which will see the digital advertising group acquire a majority stake in MobileAdStream, is the first of a number of acquisitions to support the rapid growth of Fuel's mobile division.

Simplicity, convenience and savings - a powerful drawcard for ebilling - Striata
South African consumers who have a computer and an Internet connection at home, in the office or through their laptop while travelling, are responding to the fact that they can make their lives simpler, save money and improve their credit ratings simply by choosing to receive their bills electronically.

Fuel launches pan African digital solution - Fuel Group
Fuel announced its expansion into Africa and the Middle East yesterday, Wednesday 5 November 2008, allowing the group to offer a greater degree of ease and targeting for brands looking to exploit African and Middle Eastern markets.

FLUX accreditation as a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner achieved again this year - FLUX
FLUX, a leading South African digital solutions provider, has retained its accreditation as a Microsoft Gold Certification Partner level for the second consecutive year.

Neotel chooses Stonewall+ to be its digital marketing agency - Stonewall+
Neotel has appointed Stonewall+ as its digital marketing agency and will be responsible for the digital design work of all the Neotel business Units for the next three years.

Digital Fire achieves a record 83.7% response rate for Boschendal with opt-in email campaign - Digital Fire
Opt-in (or permission-based) email marketing is earning its stripes time and time again as companies achieve outstanding response rates.

Platform for digital video content launched
Enthusiast Nicholas de Kock has launched a free South African community platform dedicated to the production of digital video content, www.dvfocus.co.za. The intention is to bring together all producers, directors, cameramen and others involved in filmmaking to post questions, share expertise and raise the level of their productions and reputation.

Reminder to book tickets for The Bookmarks
Celebrate cutting-edge digital media at The Bookmarks inaugural awards evening next week Thursday, 13 November 2008. The Bookmarks is South Africa's first award engineered to benchmark the best in creative digital media, while educating and encouraging South African agencies, designers and clients as to the benefits and possibilities inherent in the online medium. Expect to be entertained with by leading comedian Martin Jonas; play the latest interactive games from Nintendo Wii; and network with the cream of the local advertising and online industries. Tickets cost R380. Place: Atlas Studios, Auckland Park, Johannesburg. Time: 6.30pm. RSVP Theresa Vitale on email tvitale@opa.org.za or tel +27 (0)11 454 3534.

All the 2008 Assegais Awards winners
Vodacom, SilverstoneCIS and Multimedia Solutions (MMS) scooped the Inkosi Award for the AdMe Optin Mobile Marketing Platform campaign at the Direct Marketing Association Assegai Awards last night, Thursday, 6 November 2008. Presented by the South African Post Office, this is the second independent direct awards under the DMA banner since 2003.

Time to get ready... - Tollreach
Dust off the boogie board, start the search for your fishing gear, buy the larger bathing suit, locate the Boney M album and start to dream about endless summer days on our country's beaches, leaving behind the stress about economic turmoil and targets not made.

Deputy science minister to open Reporting Science Conference
The Deputy Minister for the Department of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, will open the second Reporting Science Conference, taking place 10 - 11 November 2008 in Johannesburg. The conference is being organised by frayintermedia.

UASA Quadrennial Congress - The Learning Theatre
The Quadrennial Congress of UASA last month had a gala evening with an agenda that would have any person begging for more. With a punctual start at 7pm that night, the master of ceremonies, the inimitable Riaan Cruywagen, welcomed everyone to the start of an eventful evening.

Vuka Sizwe concert pays tribute to Saartjie Baartman
On Sunday, 9 November 2008, the SABC will host the “SABC Vuka Sizwe Concert: a Tribute to Saartjie Baartman” against the backdrop of 16 Days of Activism in Celebrating Women. This follows the success of last year's debut concert honouring Busi Mhlongo.

The Laerskool Laeveld lights up in a kaleidoscope of colour - Techrig Lighting
The very best from start to finish! That's what Techrig did in lighting up The Laerskool Laeveld's annual school play.


Grind serves up a vibey new experience for events - Grind Mobile Coffee
Discerning hosts and delegates alike are wanting more than the usual tea and coffee table stashed in a corner, a feature of all too many events. Event managers now have the opportunity to include a coffee experience which makes the traditional tea or coffee table look like little more than a sad collection of cups and saucers.

3D Deco - Summer 2008! - 3D Deco
Just a little 3D Deco update to keep you in the loop and let you know the latest trends and hottest décor!


3D Deco - Eco journey - 3D Deco
[Alosha Lynov] I am writing this article to awaken the corporate sector of the population towards eco sustainable living. Corporates have the ability to transform our planet and all its inhabitants in any direction due to the large funds that are available.


Frozen assets - ice cold economic climate? - Ice Art
When it comes to ice carvings and ice sculptures, replication of logos in ice is a speciality at Ice Art... always proving itself to be a fantastic method to generate a focal point around a brand or activation.

Soccerex workshops to focus on licensing, sponsorship
As part of the new industry-focused approach for Soccerex 2008, the inaugural International Football Club Summit (IFCS) will feature essential panels dedicated to licensing and sponsorship.

PenQuin International and Suzuki take Platinum at JIMS - PenQuin International
The dynamic partnership between PenQuin International and Suzuki has again proved successful with their exhibition at the Johannesburg International Motorshow. Suzuki was presented with a Platinum award for best Outdoor display. This success follows close on the heels of the best stand award at this year's SA National Boat Show.


3D Deco - Expo art - 3D Deco
Exhibition stands have become our favourite challenge now! We've traded in just dressing the run-of-the-mill shell schemes and have opted for more daring renditions of exquisite artwork and absolutely crazy designs... custom made of course!


The Baby Expo joins Pampers and UNICEF Initiative aimed at saving millions of babies' lives - The Baby Expo
In a new global initiative aimed at saving millions of babies' lives, Pampers and UNICEF South Africa have come together to help eliminate tetanus, a silent killer of mothers and infants on the African continent.

Elle Decoration celebrates 10 years of style
Hot on the heels of Visi, Elle Decoration South Africa's extra - and extra-special - issue Celebrate! honours a decade of stylish living. “It's the magazine's 10th birthday, holiday time, the festive season, the end of 2008 and the beginning of the last year of the decade - need any more reasons to celebrate?” asks editor Karen Roos.


Caxton consolidates community mags
Caxton is consolidating some of its micro-local community glossies Get It to create titles with a bigger footprint, most notably in Johannesburg North, Pretoria and Cape Town. The move coincides with Media24 relaunching its micro-local community title MyWeek with a new look and focus.


Musica relaunches magazine
Local entertainment retailers Musica are the founding brand partners in new quarterly entertainment magazine Play. Published by The Publishing Partnership (TPP), the consumer magazine will be launched in December 2008 as part of the retailer's new branding positioning.


New business mag launches digitally
Mark is a new digital business magazine about people that has been launched on the back of marketing blog MarkLives.com. “Both the digital magazine and the blog works towards refocusing business attention on the importance of building relationships with people,” comments Herman Manson, long-time marketing and Internet journalist and editor of the new title.


It's baby time at Lewis Club magazine - New Highway Publishing
For the third year running, Lewis Club magazine will feature a special pregnancy supplement for its 936 000 readers.

Three ways to raise money without a bank - Succeed
It is a bonus if your bank or a government funder lends or grants you money for your business. But more often than not, attempts to raise funding through conventional channels come out dry. As entrepreneurs, we need to explore all avenues for raising capital to start or grow our businesses. We cannot rely on the banks or the government only.

Men's title crowns brand ambassador

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Out of 10 finalists, Brendan Currin, 30, from Johannesburg was recently named as the winner of the Men's Health Look 2008. The fifth year medical student at Wits has been chosen as the embodiment of every aspect of the Men's Health man and will be the publication's brand ambassador over the next year. Among various prizes, he will also appear on the cover of Men's Health magazine in 2009.


Choosing where to take Time Out

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Now in its third year, the 2008/9 edition of Time Out Cape Town: Weekend Breaks includes the best places to play, eat and sleep in the West Coast, Winelands, Overberg, Garden Route and Karoo. With a cover price of R39.95, the guide is available at all leading retailers as well as selected tourism outlets until January 2009. The annual, along with its sister publication Time Out Cape Town for Visitors 2009, will also be available on the www.timeout.com from December 2008.

Daily Dispatch king of print, online journos
Brett Horner, Chandre Prince and Ntando Makhubu from the Daily Dispatch were crowned the overall national winners of the Vodacom Journalist of the Year 2008 on Friday night, 7 November 2008, in Sandton, Johannesburg, for their powerful story on the tragic death of babies at the Frere Hospital. The newspaper's online team also scooped the inaugural online category.


SABC denies being summoned to ANC HQ
The SABC had categorically denied this morning, Monday, 10 November 2008, claims by a report in The Sunday Independent yesterday that it was summoned to the ANC headquarters last week in connection with its alleged political bias in reporting.

SABC sets up political coverage complaints office
The SABC is in the process of setting up the office of a complaints officer who will deal with all complaints submitted in writing by political parties within 72 hours of submission, it announced yesterday, Thursday, 6 November 2008. This follows a special meeting of the SABC Board News Committee held in Johannesburg yesterday, in which the board reaffirmed its commitment to its news division's unfettered editorial independence.

Top B2B blogger in live webinar - TABPI
The TABPI South African Editor's Chapter will be hosting a live webinar with top American business-to-business media blogger, Paul Conley, next week.

Free State Community Media Awards 2008 a success - MDDA
The third of November 2008 marked a very important day on the calendar of Free State Community Media. It was the first-ever community media award ceremony organised by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) and Mangaung Local Municipality (MLM). It is also the first of such events organised at provincial level.

First SA mobile geo-tagged doccie
Exploring the potential of location-based services (LBS) is Mobikasi, South Africa's first geo-tagged documentary for cellphones. The documentary, which explores youth culture in Soweto, was launched today, Wednesday, 5 November 2008, by Vodacom's mobile social network The Grid. [video]


The impact of location-based services
The proliferation of location-based services (LBS), particularly through the use of GPS navigational devices in motor vehicles, has opened up a world of opportunity to companies and consumers. This will also have a massive impact on tourism - any business which relies on tourism becomes more accessible and is more likely to be visited by foreigners or even just local South Africans from another town or province, especially with the 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

WASPA updates ad rules to protect consumers
Coming into effect on Saturday, 15 November 2008, is a new set of advertising rules in the Code of Conduct of the Wireless Application Providers' Association (WASPA), meant to ensure that WASPA is better able to enforce ethical behaviour by its members and protect the interests of consumers.

Multimedia now accessible on new Times mobisite
Launched today, Tuesday, 4 November 2008, is the Times Mobile, a new made-for-mobile site which allows users to access The Times Online's news content on their cellphones and other mobile devices - content is not just text and pictures but also multimedia.


What is mobile marketing? - Grapevine Media
[Hans Mol] Every day we are seeing more and more companies delve into the world of mobile marketing and I am thrilled to see the transition taking place. I am, however, concerned at the number of companies out there that are pushing their value proposition as mobile marketers, when in fact the truth is they're not!

Arab Free Press Forum looks at issues and changing face of Arab blogging
The World Association of Newspapers is holding its third Arab Free Press Forum in Beirut, Lebanon, on 12 and 13 December 2008.

Avoid teaching young people cynicism about media
PARIS: Media literacy programmes help students learn to read news critically, but often leave them ignorant and cynical about the essential role of a free press in society, a study has found.

Primedia Instore launches innovative marketing collateral - Artifact Online
Having successfully launched its first website in 2007, Primedia Instore has redesigned the site to keep it fresh and in line with the brand's strategy.

Buy your home with a mouse - bidorbuy
Home seekers would do well to visit bidorbuy.co.za: a two-bedroom apartment in Helderkruin, Gauteng is currently on auction, with bidding starting from R1.

Innovative online advertising campaigns reap rewards - MyBroadband
The growth in broadband access in South Africa and a growing interest in online communities have created new opportunities for companies to interact directly with their target audience in a way that very few other advertising mediums are able to match.


Worldwide Partners hits 100 as five new agencies join its books - iLogic
Worldwide Partners Inc (WPI), the world's largest network of independent marketing services firms, passed the 100 agency mark this week, as five new recruits joined its expanding roster.

Plan ahead for freelance holiday cover - Freelancentral
November is here and the holiday season is just around the corner. Have you planned cover for your staff who will be taking leave? Freelancentral offers not only an online directory of freelancers that you can browse and contact directly, but also a placements service if you'd like us to do the searching for you.

Low cost carrier launches in-flight TV
Low cost airline Mango will launch its in-flight entertainment system, Mango TV, on 1 December 2008, it announced yesterday, Sunday 9 November. Operated by Six Degrees Media, the in-flight system, viewed via bulkhead mounted LCD monitors on all flights, will feature selected programming and commercial elements.

Sambuca zaps students with a little TLC
[ActivRetail] South African independent wine and spirit producer and distributor DGB, has again called upon washroom media specialists TLC to run a university washroom campaign for Zappa, the brand's leading sambuca product. Its latest campaign boasts updated creative and aims to instil brand awareness for the month of October and again from 1 February to 31 May 2009.


ComutaNet goes High Definition with Hisense - ComutaNet
ComutaNet has initiated a comprehensive out of home campaign for Hisense to maximise awareness of the company's varied audiovisual offerings to the public.


Dressed to kill - BOO! Alternative Media Communications
In a coup for client Bacardi Rum, outdoor media specialists BOO! Alternative Media Communications has used the latest wrap technology to dress up one of Johannesburg's landmarks.


One Digital Media completes first phase
One Digital Media recently completed first phase installation of its LoXion Network of digital screens in 462 tavern outlets. The LoXion Network (the name was coined from the trendy slang for “location”) first went live towards the end of 2007. Says One Digital Media's CEO and spokesman, Mike Bosman: “We are delighted with the interest that has been shown in the LoXion Network and we're sure 2009 will prove an exciting year for those wanting to target this ever-increasing market.”

Showing how to MOBILE-ise against crime

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Primedia's MOBILE-ise against crime creative is currently being displayed on Primedia Outdoor's billboards situated on main arterials all around Johannesburg. "The world is a hectic and busy place and outdoor advertising reaches people whenever and wherever they travel outside of their homes," says Richard Bode, Primedia Outdoor sales and marketing executive.

Film commission appoints information officer
Seitiso Mogoshane has been appointed to the new position of Gauteng Film Commission (GFC) information officer, it was announced yesterday, Thursday, 6 November. The position was created by the GFC following on from recommendations made by the industry.


What do wheelchairs and crutches have to do with Creative Circle? - Egg Films
Yes, admittedly by some strange coincidence, two ads in September 2008 featured gear for people with disabilities. But it was by no means a metaphor for the commercials - as the results of the recent Creative Circle Ad of the Month proved, with Egg Films scooping first place for Chairs vs. Champs, directed by Slim and third place for Lunch Bar, directed by Kim Geldenhuys.


Ariane Besson of Bouffant directs Appletiser - Bouffant
Ariane Besson of Bouffant has directed the latest Appletiser commercial which reflects her unique sense of what is contemporary. The visually appealing and sensory ad is brought together through the use of a remake of the classic electronic beat named “Delirium - Silence”.


Frieze Films shoots Metro FM - Frieze Films
A new Metro FM spot, a creative collaboration between Leigh Ogilvie of Frieze Films and Net#work BBDO, is currently flighting on select channels countrywide.


Tickle your taste BUDS in a visual feast! - The Refinery
BUDS is going digital this year! Watch out for the Budding Underexposed Young Directors showcase (BUDS) sponsored by The Refinery on the Web in November. The showcase boasts the work of 17 young and inspired directors. Have an opportunity to view their work online and post comments.

Refinery goes green-ish - The Refinery
Every little bit helps right? And while Refinery Visual Effects would love to install solar panels and create a completely green-friendly building... it has to start with baby-steps.

Telkom gets technical with new commercial - The Refinery
Refinery Visual Effects was approached again with a tough job and an even tighter deadline... The turnaround time was four weeks and the set was vast, entailing one of the main streets in Joburg's CBD to be cordoned off. Director Johnny Cohen and producer Darren Gordon were at the helm.


Creative Vision booms as budgets shrink globally - Creative Vision
Creative Vision has experienced a boom during these turbulent economic times. We attribute this to the quality and cost effectiveness of our work. Our animation, visual effects and editing teams are working harder than ever and producing exceptional work. Our quotes are considerably lower than most facilities, and our work has won awards all over the world.

Big risks, big rewards for integrated radio promotion
Don't be surprised if you tune into the Rude Awakening show on 94.7 Highveld Stereo on a Friday morning and it sounds like they're smashing plates, or sawing through metal - they probably are. It's part of a new promotion called Tossers, sponsored by MiWay, that asks listeners to nominate something that's really valuable to them - and with the toss of a coin, they will either win something or lose everything.


Hitting the promo mark - Cross Colours
[Joanina Pastoll] This year's Cannes Lions revealed a whole new way of approaching promotions. There's no recipe - but there are some key ingredients.

New VP for PRISA elected
Professor Ronel Rensburg CPRP, head of the department of marketing and communication at the University of Pretoria, has been elected VP for 2008/2010 for the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA), it was announced late last week.

SAA - an ORM crisis plan
[Tim Shier] For ages now, we've been arguing the critical importance of online reputation management (ORM), using overused international case studies including Dell Hell and Kryptonite locks - for lack of better local example. Then SAASucks (South African Airways Sucks) arrived at our door and South African ORM instantly got a local case study.


RedCube Porter Novelli scoops Samsung Electronics
Independent brand public relations agency RedCube Porter Novelli has been selected to handle the Samsung Electronics account nationally, it was announced yesterday, Thursday, 6 November 2008. Responsibilities will include managing all strategic brand PR activity for the corporate, mobile and electronics giant in southern Africa going forward.

Mutual & Federal goes to Firehouse Communications
Mutual & Federal Insurance Company has appointed The Firehouse Communications to handle its public relations with effect from 1 November 2008, it was announced earlier this week.

Disney's High School Musical 3: Senior Year has danced its way into the record books! - Alerting the Media
It's Go Wildcats Go, as Disney's High School Musical 3: Senior Year has danced its way into the record books, becoming Disney's highest opening film ever in South Africa.


Partnerships achieve great results - Tshirundu Communications
Adcorp, Graphicor's long-standing client, was recently crowned winner of the small cap category for the best annual report for 2008.

Communicating “The Art of Possibility”, featuring Benjamin Zander - ChatROOM
In this trying time of financial turmoil and talent crunch, posing tremendous stress on companies and individuals, it is difficult to remain optimistic and to look ahead in a positive spirit. A different approach is suggested by Ben and Rosamund Zander, the authors of The Art of Possibility, who will return to South Africa in December for presentations on the subject.

Businesses need to start crisis planning for December - Crisis Communications Consultancy
With the festive season almost upon us, all companies are advised to ensure that they have updated their PR crisis communication plans. Shopping centres, cash-in-transit companies, banks, logistic companies, passenger transportation organisations, utility suppliers, fuel retailers and security companies have an elevated chance that they could be involved in a crisis situation.

Tough times = radio's opportunity! - Jacaranda 94.2
Newly-appointed Jacaranda 94.2 commercial sales manager Warren Bedil says there is no doubt that the next 12 months will be a difficult period for all media. The highs of the past three years have come to a sudden halt and with high targets meeting a receding market; the immediate future will be a real test.

SAMRA announces rates for 2009 Conference at Spier - SAMRA
SAMRA, the Southern African Marketing Research Association, has announced the rates for delegates for the 30th SAMRA Conference, which will be held 28 - 29 May 2009 at the Spier Wine Estate Stellenbosch in the heart of South Africa's Cape Winelands.

Vision Africa - 100% Namibian - Vision Africa
“We are proudly Namibian," says new MD of Vision Africa, Cornelius D'Alton. "There has been a change of ownership at Vision Africa and we are now 100% Namibian-owned.” Not only is the company completely local, but the new majority shareholder is a Black Economic Empowerment company.


The young and the techno-savvy: South Africa's young adults revealed - Synovate
South Africa's young, techno-savvy adults have set the record straight in a study conducted by global market research company, Synovate.

Buyology: The one lesson you simply cannot afford to miss! - Random House Struik
Martin Lindstrom is one of the world's most highly regarded branding gurus, boasting clients ranging from McDonald's, Disney, Microsoft and Mercedes-Benz.


It's onwards and upwards for SA's Black Diamond women - UCT Unilever Institute of Strategic Marketing
Independent, financially secure and ambitious, South Africa's 1.5 million Black Diamond women are increasingly calling the shots when it comes to making decisions about purchases, report Unilever Institute of Strategic Marketing and TNS Research Surveys.

Now is the time to market and create brand awareness
[Renato Palmi] The meltdown of international, regional and country specific financial institutions and the global economy as a whole and the subsequent trickle-down consequences for consumers is having a negative impact on the apparel industry. However, there are opportunities for companies and in particular for smaller independent boutiques and designers to consolidate their business, revisit their marketing strategy and customer relations in order to capture market growth.

Evolution of the retail industry in the 21st century
Gone are the days of quaint tailors on cobbled streets, shopkeepers that know your name and product preference by heart, and shops that thrived off a client base of a mere 40 customers. Looking back to the 19th century a lot has changed over the years but the customer focus remains the same and has again come into the limelight, only this time on a much larger scale.

World's largest mall opens in Dubai
The Dubai Mall opened its doors earlier this week, with close to 600 retailers under its roof - marking what is said to be the world's largest mall opening in retail history.


DDB SA breakfasts with McMuffin
Fast-food giant McDonald's recently announced extended morning trading hours, targeting the rapidly growing South African convenience breakfast market with its McMuffin range from 6am - 10.30am. DDB SA account management director Paul Binikos says the agency conducted extensive research alongside its client for the past several months, extracting valuable insight. [video]


Cape selected to host world experts in wine tourism
Some of the foremost role players in international wine destinations are set to meet in the Cape to discuss important new trends in wine and wine tourism, when the city of Cape Town and the Cape Winelands Municipality will co-host the annual general meeting of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network in November.


No cart required - The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA
The Heart and Stroke Foundation's Bellville Golf Classic takes place on the 28 November. Proceeds raised from this event go towards the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Children's Programme, which educates disadvantaged children on heart healthy habits from a young age and has reached almost 1,9 million children on a national basis.

Pointeq's Windward System Five software offers you a complete computer store solution - Pointeq Teqnologies
Pointeq's Windward System Five Software (WWS5) is billed as a fully integrated point-of-sale software package that helps you run your computer store instead of just reporting on it.


Hertz makes five new appointments - Hertz Rent a Car
Hertz Rent a Car has announced several internal promotions.

Rentokil: Pioneers in strategic fly control - Rentokil
With fly season on our doorstep, Rentokil Pest Control has recently launched a unique four-step programme to control flies.


Clover Mama Afrika/Flexifleet Win a Car Competition - Clover
Ontbytsake on KykNET has been featuring Clover Mama Afrika since last month, giving viewers the opportunity to find out about the Clover Mamas over the seven-week campaign on Ontbytsake.

Customers for life
[John Boe] The most successful companies place great value on developing lifetime relationships with their customers. In today's competitive marketplace, they're aware that their customers are aggressively prospected and their loyalty cannot be taken for granted. Customer-focused companies recognise that relationship building and follow-on service are critical components for promoting both customer retention and revenue growth.


How to sell in these tough times - SALESGURU Publishing
After having debated the state of South Africa's markets for many months, those in the economic know have whispered the R word: recession. You can almost hear the collapse of sales funnels across the country.

South African philanthropists honoured
The second Inyathelo Philanthropy Awards were hosted by Inyathelo - The South African Institute of Advancement - yesterday, Wednesday, 5 November 2008. Supported primarily by Standard Bank South Africa, the awards publicly recognise and acknowledge individual philanthropists who personally play a vital role in the ongoing development of South Africa.

Kelly, Cassette, Asa warm up for the Africa music awards
Charismatic R&B star Kelly Rowland will be in Abuja, Nigeria, on 22 November 2008 to perform at the first-ever MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain. Joining Rowland on stage at The Velodrome, Abuja, for this celebration of African music and artists will be South African rockers, Cassette, and Nigerian soul diva, Asa.


Expanded lineup for cartoon channel
The Cartoon Network (DStv channel 301) channel offering will increase over the next 12 months with over 450 new episodes, including 15 new family movies and favourites such as Ben 10, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends and George of the Jungle. The heroes and villains theme will introduce Chop Socky Chooks with the evil Dr Wasabi as the villain and three chickens as the warriors of Wasabi World, who fight to protect innocent civilians. On a creative side, Out of Jimmy's Head will play on viewers' imaginations with a boy who undergoes a brain transplant, only to discover that the brain belonged to an animator and his world is now an interaction between reality and animated cartoon characters.

Channel's first game-show millionaire in eight years
This past weekend, 24-year old Dustin Carr, a recruitment agent from Bryanston in Johannesburg, became M-Net's first game show millionaire in eight years in a nail-biting episode of Power of 10. The previous R1 Million winnings were paid out in 2000 when David Paterson from Port Elizabeth climbed all the way up the money ladder in the channel's first game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? M-Net's head of Original Productions, Carl Fischer, commented that this was the moment M-Net viewers have been waiting for, for many months.

SABC2 official Miss SA 2008 broadcaster
SABC2 will be the official television broadcaster of the Miss SA 2008 pageant, broadcasting live from the Sun City Superbowl on Monday, 15 December 2008, at 7.30pm. The station will also screen the regional finals on 21 and 28 November, as well as on 5 and 12 December at 6pm. Voetspore, which normally shows in those times, will resume on 19 December.