| | | What was that? | I happened to be listening to the radio on the way into work this morning when one advertisement caught my attention. It was for a medical aid scheme and goes on about the fact that the human body is composed of many parts (in my case, very hastily assembled) and that when one part hurts, so do the rest. Now I may be missing something, but to me that doesn't sound right - and I talk from personal experience. Last week I was in my garage and reaching through the mess for a hammer when my crowbar fell off its hook and landed on my head. My reaction – “Gosh!” – was instant, as was the pain. But it was a pain in my head (scalp, to be more precise). My toes were fine, as was the rest of me; it was just my head that hurt like hell. So perhaps the message in the above-mentioned advertisement does not apply to me, and it's not going to work to entice me to change my scheme to the one advertised. The only instance I recall of “hurting all over” was that of the blond who goes to her doctor and tells him that wherever he pokes herself with her finger, it hurts – and she proceeds to demonstrate. He quickly diagnoses the ailment: “You fool – you've broken your finger!”
Rod Baker, Content Manager: Send your news to: retailnews@bizcommunity.com; or visit https://www.bizcommunity.com.
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| | Headlines | Recall site calls for boycott of dangerous Chinese products
Online self-help tools and financial information for retailers
Zimbabwe: A way out of the crisis?
Internet adspend set to trump newspapers
Darkie puts the world in the shade
ASCCI to honour Zambia's first president
Award-winning wine cellar looks for winners of a different kind
Angry homeowners: Building a case online
Golden arches trick kids' taste buds
Global consumer confidence down
SA blocks UK meat after foot and mouth outbreak
Celebrating local jewels
Survey finds executives frustrated with global 'innovation'
Important safety notice! Toys recalled
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Retail | | Corporate blogging brings benefits for CEOs
[Eric Ombok] In the new era of networked economy, personal interaction with stakeholders of a business is of paramount importance and constant conversation is necessary for building and maintaining a strong brand.
Online self-help tools and financial information for retailers
The Retail Owners Institute has revamped and expanded www.RetailOwner.com to help independent retailers fight large franchises, survive and prosper.
Online casinos face advertising ban in UK
Online casinos operating outside of the European Economic Area will not be allowed to advertise in the UK, as the nation's 2005 Gambling Act takes effect next month.
Does the iPhone mean business?
As Apple aimed the iPhone first at consumers, the company made it extraordinarily easy to use - and it appears to have all the key core functions that most enterprise business customers are looking for as well!
Enabling interactive shopping experiences with RFID
Two innovative retailers will present new case studies showing how radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies can boost sales and improve the customer shopping experience, at the second annual RFID Journal--AAFA Apparel & Footwear Summit, which takes place from 20 - 22 August 2007, at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.
Targeting elusive male consumers
Nielsen Business Media has announced the full agenda for Marketing to Men 18 - 34, being held on 8 August 2007, at The Altman Building in New York City. Hosted by Adweek, Mediaweek, Brandweek, Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter and presented by Ripe TV®, this one-day conference unites top-level marketing, agency and media executives with thought leaders from the sports, entertainment and lifestyle industries to discuss the lucrative male market.
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Banking & Finance | | First credit card introduced in Ghana
[Emily Nyarko] ECOBANK Ghana has introduced the first Visa credit card in the country to offer clients and non-clients the chance to conduct flexible business transactions.
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Brand news | | Awarding creative play
 Creative Child magazine has presented four iPlay products with top honours at its annual toy awards ceremony recently.
Introducing new 'designer' soups
 Heinz Foodservice will be launching two new lines of soups - Truesoups and Chef Francisco Healthy Creations - to commercial foodservice distributors and buyers at regional and local trade shows across the United States starting in September.
Technology group gets new head
HP has appointed Rainer Koch as managing director and Technology Solutions Group lead of HP Africa with immediate effect.
United against hunger
All Gold, a core brand in the Tiger Brands stable, in conjunction with Spar, have launched their 2007 campaign to raise funds for Unite Against Hunger (UAH).
Promoting Africa
Independent producers, Gary Gerber and Peter Gladwin, of The Gap, host and produce, African Paradise, a travel and leisure show scripted and recorded in East London, South Africa. Gerber and Gladwin joined the Radio Bangkok.net team in May this year.
New sugar-free musk gum
Stimorol has launched South Africa's first sugar-free, musk-flavoured chewing gum: Stimorol Musk. “As a flavour, musk is unique to South Africa but until now, musk-flavoured chewing gum hasn't be available in a sugar-free offering,” says Kirstin Stapelberg, brand manager, chewing gum. The sugar-free market is booming, on both a global and local scale, as consumers are becoming more health conscious. In South Africa alone, sugar-free gum constitutes 78% of the chewing gum market. The release of Stimorol Musk follows hot on the heels of the launch of Stimorol Green Apple and Stimorol Watermelon in October last year. In just six months, these two flavours have catapulted into the top 20 selling SKUs.
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Consumer research | | Internet adspend set to trump newspapers
This report reflects the US experience, but it is likely that the same trend will be seen here in South Africa as well; perhaps not in the same time frame, but nevertheless, it will come in time.
It's all about the 'Experience'
Service providers need to build their strategies based on fundamental consumer needs. Increasingly, they'll have to offer personal services instead of household services.
Global consumer confidence down
Global consumer confidence fell two Index points from 99 to 97 over the last six months, according to the twice-yearly 47-country Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index. South Africa remains near the middle but adheres to the world's downward trend, dropping four points from 99 in October 2006, to 94 in May 2007.
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Health & Safety | | Recall site calls for boycott of dangerous Chinese products
The consumer product information website, US Recall News, has reported hundreds of recalls over the last three months, but all of the most dangerous and wide-spread have come from Chinese products. Now the site's editor is asking government to wake up and smell the melamine.
Important safety notice! Toys recalled
Lead paint concerns lead to toy recall worldwide.
A gift for children with cancer
Danone Clover has come to the end of yet another successful ‘Caring for Our Children' campaign. This annual campaign has benefited children being treated for cancer.
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Import/Export | | UNECA supports e-trade in Ghana
[Emily Nyarko] Ghana and the rest of Africa can make significant progress in developing high-tech export products' industry to boost trade if attention is given to the development of scientific and industrial research base.
Zimbabwe: A way out of the crisis?
With Zimbabwe's economy in meltdown, drastic and fundamental changes are crucial if there is to be a return of international investment and a recovery in that country.
SA blocks UK meat after foot and mouth outbreak
[Michael Appel] The South African government has confirmed that until further notice, no veterinary import permits will be issued for cloven-hoofed animals and products derived there-of originating from the United Kingdom.
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Logistics | | Launching GPS fleet management e-newsletter
Navtrak has announced it will be launching a free online resource for fleet owners, managers and dispatchers researching the benefits of GPS fleet tracking.
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Merchandising | | Darkie puts the world in the shade
 [Terry Levin] At the opening day of Cape Town Fashion Week on 8 August, models for local fashion brand Darkie swept the ramp like an unseasonal South Easter.
Golden arches trick kids' taste buds
A recent study involving 63 low-income children ages 3 to 5 from Head Start centers in San Mateo County, California, United States, shows that the youngsters prefer food and drinks in McDonald's packaging instead of items in unmarked packaging. The study will likely stir more debate over the movement to restrict ads to kids.
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Promotions | | Big Seven '07 prepares for ‘08
Africa's Big Seven exhibition that took place recently saw 243 companies on show.
Recruiting the Smirnoff Ten
 As part of the Smirnoff Experience, the makers of the Russian spirit have launched a global search to recruit the 'Smirnoff Ten' - a team that will travel the world for a year, re-tracing the journey of the Smirnoff brand, in the search for original nightlife experiences. Now the search has begun for the lucky South African who will ultimately be part of the exclusive Smirnoff Ten.
Award-winning wine cellar looks for winners of a different kind
Award-winning wine cellar Simonsvlei has announced the launch of the Simonsvlei Achiever of the Year Awards 2007, a project which will identify the top 101 achievers in South Africa.
Celebrating local jewels
Cape Town will host South Africa's first ever Black Diamonds Festival at the International Convention Centre from 7 - 9 December 2007. The event is a celebration of the success and lifestyle of SA's burgeoning black middle class; and is also scheduled to take place in Johannesburg at the Sandton Convention Centre and at the Durban ICC in May and August 2008 respectively.
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Supply chain | | Survey finds executives frustrated with global 'innovation'
The Boston Consulting Group's (BCG's) fourth annual global survey and report on innovation illuminates deepening executive frustration with innovation returns. It also shows continued recognition that innovation is an imperative for performance and growth.
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Technology | | RFID 'Dock to Stock' demo
NEW YORK, USA - Avery Dennison, Motorola and Vue Technology will run a live 'Dock to Stock' demonstration at the RFID Journal--AAFA Apparel & Footwear Summit, illustrating how radio frequency identification (RFID) can deliver benefits throughout the supply chain.
Addicted to Amazon rank checker
Authors, publishers, and others craving their daily fix of Amazon sales ranks may well overdose on Sales Rank Express, a next-generation rank checker that delivers sales ranks, customer ratings, availability info, stock figures, promotional pairings, and much more, all in a compact and convenient display with up to 10 books per page and 400 pages per search.
Lenovo to load Linux on laptops
Lenovo and Novell have partnered to deliver Suse Linux pre-installed on certain models of notebook PCs.
Angry homeowners: Building a case online
It's not only South African home owners who get stuck with shoddy workmanship. It happens in many other countries, but in the United States disgruntled owners are turning to technology to get their own back.
Nokia to play ball with Microsoft's PlayReady
Handset giant Nokia has partnered with software Goliath Microsoft in licensing the latter's PlayReady digital rights management technology for its phones.
Tunisian telecommunications boosted
Nokia Siemens Networks is to expand fixed access networks for Tunisie Telecom in Ennasr, Jardin du Lac and the Kheireddine industrial zone.
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Wholesalers | | Wholesaling all natural beauty
SharAmbrosia, the company that founded the 'All Natural Beauty' website to educate consumers about what to look for, and what to avoid when it comes to healthy daily grooming and beautifying, have launched 'All Natural Wholesale' for retailers and spas.
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| | Business | | ASCCI to honour Zambia's first president
The Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce and Industry, ASCCI, will honour former Zambian President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda at its AGM at the Sandton Convention Centre from 18 to 20 August. [Management] |
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| | Galleries | | Five Roses High Tea at The Westcliff
 
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| | Events to diarise | 2007 Flux Trend Review Flux Trends - Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 7 September
The 2007 Flux Trend Review, in association with Bizcommunity.com, is a two day trends conference aimed at both business and consumers aimed at anyone who needs to navigate the ever changing face of South African business. | | | | |
| | Quotes | | | "I have always felt a gift diamond shines so much better than one you buy for yourself." - Mae West | | "We used to build civilisations. Now we build shopping malls." - Bill Bryson | | "The only really good place to buy lumber is at a store where the lumber has already been cut and attached together in the form of furniture, finished and put inside boxes." - Dave Barry | | "In department stores, so much kitchen equipment is bought indiscriminately by people who just come in for men's underwear." - Julia Child | | More... Submit a Quote | | |
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