| | | On the way to a nanny state | I'm a great believer in buying on credit - which is why my credit card tends to groan occasionally – but I am also careful, and not once have I ever over-extended myself on anything. Perhaps that's because the wife (aka Boss) and I always discuss - or at least advise each other of any major purchases before actually making them. We're also very democratic: we discuss doing what she wants, then what I want, and then we do what she wants - which explains the lack of a Harley or similar in my garage. And that brings me to the National Credit Act. Quite frankly, my wife is far more effective than any Act and while I accept the intent of the NCA is fine, people need to take responsibility for their own actions: buy wisely, or suffer the consequences. Quite apart from anything, the impact on some businesses has been dire... I heard this morning that two black-owned property companies reported downturns in their business of 40 and 50% respectively, and the latter is planning to close an office, putting people out of work. The same downturn has happened to some extent in the retail motor industry, with some taking strain. The problem with politicians is that apart from making lots of promises and flying here and there on chartered aircraft, they seem to have this quaint idea that they have the ace up their sleeve when it comes to what's good for us. That I don't mind, apart from the fact they also seem to think that God himself put the ace there. Bottom line... less government is better government. In passing, I also chatted to a local furniture retailer, who also confirmed a bit of a late winter chill in their sector – and went on to mention that one of his staff, because he couldn't get ‘normal' credit, went to a loan shark. He borrowed R600 last month. This month he owes R800. Surely the Act wasn't supposed to have that result. But it has.
Rod Baker, Content Manager: Send your news to: retailnews@bizcommunity.com; or visit https://www.bizcommunity.com.
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| | Headlines | SA wine exports on the rise again
Be proactive
Mattel makes third recall
What are my consumer rights?
Alcoholic drinks to have health warnings
Africa's telecoms companies need to adapt
Narrowing the digital divide in southern Africa
Business with China 101
Do NOT let your pet read this!
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Retail | | Be proactive
[Howard Badler] Do not be reactive in servicing your customers; if you are not ahead of the game, they will go to your competitors.
Internet displaces radio as fourth biggest ad medium
In the US, Internet ad revenues are set to pass radio's for the first time, according to eMarketer, a firm that tracks and analyzes spending trends across various media.
EMarketer is pegging Internet ad spending at US$21.7 billion, compared to US$20.4 billion for radio.
Mattel makes third recall
On 4 September, Mattel, Inc. has announced that, as a result of the company's ongoing investigation of its toys manufactured by vendors in China, the company has voluntarily recalled 11 toys globally, including eight pet and furniture playsets sold under the Barbie® brand and three Fisher-Price® toys, due to impermissible levels of lead. No Barbie dolls are included within the recall.
What are my consumer rights?
[Howard Badler] Consumers have rights and as an employee or customer, it is your responsibility to ensure that these rights are adhered to at all times. But what exactly is Consumer Rights?
Business with China 101
Don't end up like a Mattel or Microsoft - doing business with China can cost you if you don't know your facts. There is no question that China has become a force to be reckoned with in global markets. They supply high quality products at outstanding prices - a very seductive offer - but all that glitters is not gold.
Heinz sheds Olivine share, Zim government takes over
[Angus Shaw] The food maker H. J. Heinz Co., one of Zimbabwe's first major foreign investors, has sold its Zimbabwe interests to Cottco, a government controlled cotton company, it was disclosed on Monday, 3 September.
Bread price to stay uncapped
The cost of bread in South Africa will not be fixed, IOL reports on Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's decision made Tuesday, 4 September. This ruling comes in response to the Pan Africanist Congress's call to cap the price of bread after the party was alarmed by the 48 cent increase. Read the full story here.
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Brand news | | 10 Great SEO Tips, Part 1
There was a time when companies could simply boot up a Web site and their content would immediately begin showing up in various search engines. For better or worse, those days are long gone.
Do NOT let your pet read this!
 You know the type: they travel with Louis Vuitton luggage, they're dressed by designer label Little Lily or Fifi & Romeo and groomed by Le Chien, international pooch pamper, and they're never seen without their Gucci bag. And that's just the pet!
Putting SA charities on the payroll
Compass Group SA has thrown its weight behind the Giving Organisation by signing up for its Payroll Giving initiative.
Nintendo makes core decision
Nintendo of Europe has announced that it has appointed Core Gaming Systems (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary company of the Core Group, as its exclusive official distributor for southern Africa.
New mobile company is on the MAPP
Kineto Mobile, a new local mobile commerce solutions provider, has appointed Cape Town-based IT Consultancy Jeshurun Consulting to power its airtime distribution business via both software and technical assistance.
"I'm going" fashionably...
 PUMA has revealed a new campaign for its “I'm Going” series: a collision of lifestyle fashion, colour, and bodies in motion, featuring products from its recently launched Urban Mobility Collection. Highlights of the collection include the Extreme Shopper, the X-ray belt, Utility Shopper, and the Urban Mobility Edition Bag.
Amateur and vintage vinos go under the hammer
This year's collection of wines to be sold in aid of charity on the Nederburg Auction range from an 84-year-old Burgundy to a current vintage Cabernet Sauvignon still in the barrel.
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Consumer research | | Effective communication is key for superior customer service
With 2010 looming on the horizon, many companies are not only revising the service they offer to their customers, but also evaluating their standards from an International perspective.
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Franchising | | Spotlight on franchising this weekend
The annual Franchise & Business Opportunities Expo (FBOE) takes place 7 - 9 September 2007 at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Gauteng, and it is interesting to note the significant developments within this sector. Key among these is the 40% growth in the number of franchising systems operating in South Africa in the two year period 2004 to 2006, and the industry's turnover of R188.23 billion and 12% contribution to GDP in 2006.
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Import/Export | | SA wine exports on the rise again
South African wine exports are back on track, after a temporary hiccup in 2006 when sales dipped around 5% after 12 straight years of growth. So says Su Birch, CEO of Wines of South Africa (WOSA).
Deputy President to strengthen SA-Italian ties
South Africa and Italy are to fortify bilateral ties as Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, supported by Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad undertakes a working visit to the European nation.
Limpopo, Namibia sign trade agreements
[Michael Appel] Economic ties and various trade agreements have been signed to strengthen relations between the Limpopo Province and the four northern regions of Namibia.
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Logistics | | eThekweni tracks success
The effectiveness and reliability of the C-track vehicle tracking and fleet management system had been emphasised with the marked reduction of vehicle abuse and the recovery of 12 stolen vehicles of the eThekwini Municipality recently.
Reverse logistics expo features John Mehrmann
 The Reverse Logistics Conference and Expo in Singapore will feature two leading authorities on Supply Chain Solutions and Reverse Logistics. John Mehrmann, author and industry expert, will present "Evolve or Become Extinct, A Reverse Logistics Model to Deliver Expanded Shareholder Value". Ron Kula, Vice President of Supply Chain Solutions at DEX, will participate in the panel discussion, "Methods of Outsourcing".
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Packaging | | Consol gets new chair
 Consol Glass (Pty) Limited, the largest premier supplier of glass packaging in southern Africa, has announced the appointment of Oyama Mabandla to its board as non-executive director and chairman.
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Promotions | | A sassy sip of pure delight…
 Get adventurous and try out the likes of D'lightiser's apple, lemon and garden mint, or apple, peach and passiflora and even apple, pomegranate and rose, all with a crisp apple juice base.
Go on safari with award-winning wines
 Simonsig is set to launch its festive season promotional campaign which offers the chance to win a safari, while raising in-store visibility and awareness for its new look Premium wine range.
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Regulatory | | Tupac's mom in trademark trouble
Isaiah Israel, owner of a company that designs and markets t-shirts under the Marco Bellini label announced he has filed suit against Amaru Entertainment, Inc, a record and film production company founded by Afeni Shakur - mother of late rap artist Tupac Shakur.
Alcoholic drinks to have health warnings
[Thapelo Sakoana] South Africa has new regulations requiring that containers of alcoholic beverages display messages highlighting the negative effects of alcohol consumption. The regulations have been published by Department of Health under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectant Act, following years of consultation with different stakeholders to address alcohol abuse in the country.
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Supermarkets | | Completing the evolution of Norwood
 After almost 14 months of construction, Pick 'n Pay's much-anticipated New Evolution Norwood Hypermarket opened its doors for business on Tuesday, 4 September.
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Supply chain | | Simplifying supply chain management
The idea behind supply chain management (SCM) is that coordinating the activities of the different businesses on the supply chain can save costs while also adding value, writes Bob Scarlett. The simplest form of chain is where a series of firms supply each other along a continuous pipeline running from the point where raw materials are extracted to the point at which customers are supplied, but the situation is usually more complex than this.
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Technology | | Africa's telecoms companies need to adapt
In the context of changing market conditions, Africa's telecommunications leaders will meet at AfricaCom in Cape Town to discuss growth strategies.
Desperately seeking websites: the power of SEO
Optimizing your website to take advantage of the power of search engines to put you in front of customers gives you a huge competitive advantage.
US newspaper hopes to wring ad dollars from widgets
By breaking up pieces of USA Today's daily output and allowing users to pick and choose how and when they access them, the newspaper is making it possible for Web users to consume only certain parts of it, and not necessarily on the newspaper's own site and without buying a printed copy of the newspaper.
Pic a product
23half Inc, a pioneer of technologies designed to extend the functionality of camera phones, has announced the commercial availability of Thrrum Visual Browser on select Sony Ericsson camera phone models. The application enables camera phone users to search and browse relevant information by simply pointing their camera phones at products and other objects of interest in their physical environment.
Narrowing the digital divide in southern Africa
Community Services Platform for wireless cities looks set to narrow southern Africa's digital divide.
Sony Ericsson President checks out at key juncture
Sony Ericsson President Miles Flint unexpectedly resigned from his position on Tuesday, 4 September, reports Keith Regan of E-Commerce Times. Flint will be replaced by Hideki Komiyama, who is the current chairman of Sony Electronics USA and executive vice president of electronics marketing and sales for Sony.
E-agriculture for Togolese farmers
A 'Center for Commercial and Agricultural Information' (PICA) for the collection and the publication of price lists via the internet has been launched in Togo to enable farmers and traders to interact over prices and availability of the products by ICT, Noel Kokou Tadégnon of the Highway Africa News Agency reports.
All the power in half the size
 Packard Bell, one of the leading consumer electronics brands in Europe, has announced the launch of its new EasyNote XS, a 7-inch notebook which combines advanced portability with a full featured PC running Windows XP Home Edition.
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| | Galleries | | Plight of the Homeless campaign finale
 
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| | People on the move | | | Richard Eberlein makes the move to the restaurant industry - more info | | More... Submit a Person | | |
| | Events to diarise | Hospitality Investment Conference Africa Tourism Business Council of SA - Cape Town, 30 September
The objectives of this conferences are to establish a leading hospitality investment trends conference for Africa, allow for information sharing on technical investment related issues etc. | | |
| | Upcoming events | 3rd Annual Loyalty Marketing Summit Achievement Awards Group - Johannesburg, 11 September The strategic press release The Write Co - Sandton, 12 September Hardex 2007 Exhibitions for Africa - Johannesburg, 15 September | More... Submit an event | | |
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| | Quotes | | | "Thrift is not an affair of the pocket, but an affair of character." - S.W. Straus | | "We want consumers to say, 'That's a hell of a product' instead of, 'That's a hell of an ad." - Leo Burnett | | "Sales are contingent upon the attitude of the salesman - not the attitude of the prospect." - W. Clement Stone | | "In the end, all business operations can be reduced to three words: people, product and profits. Unless you've got a good team, you can't do much with the other two." - Lee Lacocca | | "A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well." - Jeff Bezos | | More... Submit a Quote | | |
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