FAD designer of the year announced
Tawny Reynolds, a final-year student at the Cape Town College of Fashion Design, has been named the Foschini Annual Design (FAD) Awards' star designer for 2008. The exclusive awards evening, which took place on Thursday, 21 August 2008 at the Mandela-Rhodes Place in Cape Town, attracted the “who's who” of the fashion industry such as Gabi Rosenwerth and Doreen Southwood, both of whom were showing at the Virgin Mobile Cape Town Fashion Week.


Woolies may give up half its Vincent store
[Siya Miti] Vincent Park could become the first casualty in East London's battle of the malls with a major tenant considering cutting its store in half in favour of another outlet in the new Hemingways Mall.

SA's capital expenditure remains robust
South Africa's economy remains in good health despite a slowdown in consumer spending.

Chinese fashion: A threat for South African designers?
[Renato Palmi] At a fashion workshop I was surprised by the claim from members of the fashion community that China will never be a threat to local fashion designers because they only focus "on the low-end" of the fashion value-chain and do not and cannot produce "design intensive clothing". Such a fallacy is misleading and dangerous. A claim like this can lead to complacency amongst our designers.


Klûk CGDT and Magnum tempt summer at SSAFW
[ActivRetail] This year fashionistas and opinion leaders will be in for a new surprise at the Sanlam South African Fashion Week (SSAFW) as Magnum ice cream and Klûk CGDT take on the catwalk and redefine ‘Tempting Summer'. The partnership marks Klûk CGDT's return to the SSAFW catwalk, having not participated for the past three years.

2008 Sanlam SA Fashion Journalism winners

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The Sanlam SA Fashion Journalism Awards, held to coincide with the annual Sanlam SA Fashion Week in Johannesburg on Friday, 29 August 2008, has seen Tamara Rothbart scoop her second win in the writing category, with Jenny Andrew taking first place in the visual fashion editing category. According to Sanlam's head: group marketing, Nandi Scorer, the comapny recognises the positive impact that a thriving fashion and clothing industry can have on the South African economy and in particular, on large-scale job creation. "Key to stimulating a recognition of and demand for locally produced design, is, however, the need to raise awareness of local talent by encouraging high calibre media coverage of our industry." See the full list of award winners here.

Union not yet done
[Kea' Modimoeng] The South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) will meet soon to decide what further action to take to press retailer Pick n Pay to up its pay offer.

New franchisee association launched
UNITED KINGDOM: As a result of increasing demand from industry franchisees, today marks the official launch of a new franchise association and dedicated web portal: www.franchiseeassociation.org.uk.

Woolworths protest moves to Durban
SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers' Union (Saccawu) members will march in Durban on Friday against the alleged anti-union stance of Woolworths.

September: Heart Awareness month - Know your numbers and prevent becoming another heart statistic - The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA
September is Heart Awareness Month - an entire month dedicated to creating awareness and preventing heart disease in South Africans. The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA), a non-governmental organisation, is calling everyone to have their cholesterol and blood pressure checked, often termed ‘silent killers' because there are no visible symptoms when levels are raised.

July CPIX records at an all time high 13%
[Bathandwa Mbola] Price increases in food, fuel and electricity as well as transport have pushed July's Consumer Price Index excluding interest on mortgage bands (CPIX), to an all-time high of 13% year-on-year (y/y).

Finance package to power up students' lifestyles
Absa, in collaboration with Intel Corporation and Microsoft, has developed a PC and notebook finance package, aimed at tertiary education level students. The intention is to enable students to have access to affordable finance for purchasing a new PC or notebook computer for use in their studies.

Amarula launches interactive African online experience
Amarula Cream is stepping into a fresh digital space with the launch of its new interactive website.


Apple, loyalty and the power of forgiveness
[Jessica Mintz] Like any company, Apple has its shortcomings. It's turned out some products even its biggest fans call mediocre, it gives customers minimal information about its plans and intentions, and developers complain about unusual restrictions. However, the company has managed to cultivate a culture of fierce loyalty, and situations that would have other companies in crisis mode seem to roll off its back.

Limited edition to celebrate Bantam's 25th
The popular Ford Bantam bakkie is celebrating its 25th birthday with the introduction of a limited edition model, the Bantam Montana.

Simonsig's Shiraz honours Mr Borio
Simonsig Estate has named its full-bodied Shiraz, Mr Borio's, in honour of a remarkable friend of the Malan family.


Milky Lane celebrates 50th birthday
[Tshepiso Seopa] The JSE-listed pleasure foods franchise Ola Milky Lane is turning 50 this week, and to celebrate this milestone, the company took celebrities and VIP guests to a restaurant in the sky to enjoy its trademark product at the Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead on Wednesday, 27 August 2008.

Launching the Intelligent luggage collection
Luggage designer Samsonite launches its new range, Solana: The Intelligent Collection, in South Africa this month; showcasing a unique approach to lightness, flexibility and strength through the use of innovative materials.


Khune, Bartlett new Samsung brand ambassadors
[Tshepiso Seopa] Samsung Electronics has chosen soccer heroes Itumeleng Khune and Shaun Bartlett as the brand ambassadors of its new corporate social responsibility programme, the NextHero Campaign. The aim of this sports sponsorship initiative is find the young players who will in future fill the shoes of Bartlett and Khune.

New range of tea is 'blended for you'
Twinings has blended a range of three herbal tea infusions for the enhancement of well-being in the new 'Blended for You' range.


Pravda Magic Martinis - perfect for cocktail parties - Cornucopia Industries
Spring is around the corner, bringing with it perfect sunsets for cocktail parties. To add elegance and sparkle to your party be sure to include Pravda Vodka. Not only is there a delicious and fresh Pravda Magic Martini range to sip on but the design of the bottle is unique and matches the supremacy of its content.


Spekko Rice launches a delicious newsletter with Yudhika Sujanani - Spekko Rice
Renowned chef and Spekko Rice brand ambassador, Yudhika Sujanani, has joined the Joburg.co.za, Durbs.co.za and Capetown.co.za teams to present a delicious new foodie section called "What's Cooking?".

Study reveals why so many adults hate their cell phones
USA: More than a third of mainstream consumers over the age of 30 experience deep frustration associated with their cell phone's interface according to a study revealed yesterday by Bowen Research, a firm that researches and evaluates consumer attitudes and behavior about high tech products, software and electronics.

Worldwide mobile phone sales increase 12% in 2Q 2008 - Gartner
Worldwide sales of mobile phones reached close to 305 million units in the second quarter of 2008, a 11.8% increase over the second quarter of 2007, according to Gartner, Inc. Sales of mobile phones in the mature markets of Western Europe and North America slightly recovered after a difficult start. Western Europe reached close to 42 million units while North America surpassed 44 million units in the second quarter of 2008.

Egoli burger campaign becomes annual initiative
In August 2007, Egoli partnered with Steers on the successful Project 4000, and, with the help of the public, managed to raise over R400 000 to feed the hungry. The idea was the brainchild of the Egoli stars and crew as a way to celebrate Egoli's 4000th episode. Due to this phenomenal response, Egoli and Steers have decided to join forces again this year, in conjunction with JAM (Joint Aid Management) under the new name Food4All.

Rainforest Alliance to help Lipton turn over a new leaf
Lipton is aiming to revolutionise the tea industry by committing to purchase all its tea from sustainable, ethical sources. The brand has asked the international environmental NGO, Rainforest Alliance, to start by certifying its tea farms in Africa. The Rainforest Alliance works with individuals, communities and companies whose livelihoods depend on the land to reduce environmental impacts and increase social and economic benefits.

Celebrating the strength of womanhood
[ActivRetail] In celebration of the unique relationship shared between women, as well as National Women's Day this year, the Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust hosted a ladies evening, with Appletiser as the soft-drink beverage sponsor.

Microsoft clicks 'buy', spends $486M for shopping site
[Jeff Meisner] In a move that's left some observers scratching their heads, Microsoft has acquired a German comparison shopping site, Ciao for US$486 million in cash.

Analyst: Amazon to Kindle market for e-textbooks
[Renay San Miguel] In a move that could free up backpack space on college campuses nationwide, Amazon is reportedly looking to enter the school textbook market with the release of a new, student-friendly version of its Kindle electronic book reader.

Malawian companies to participate in Chinese Trade Fair
[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi Export Promotion Council (MEPC) has said it will participate in the African Commodities Trade Fair scheduled for early September this year.

Winners all round at the Durban Good Food & Wine Show - Cape Gourmet Wine Show
“The Durban Good Food & Wine will be back next year,” Christine Cashmore, director of the Good Food & Wine Show, promised a packed theatre of VIP guests at the awards ceremony for the inaugural Durban show on Sunday evening 17 August.

New Season opens for J.C. Le Roux
The House of J.C. Le Roux has re-opened its restaurant in the picturesque Devon Valley outside Stellenbosch with the refreshing name of Seasons and a new accomplished chef at the helm.

Malawi: Cheer and concern over ban on private sale of maize
Ordinary Malawians, cheered by the prospect of cheaper food, have welcomed government's ban on the private trading of maize, but food security experts and businesses have expressed concern.

Malawi government takes over trading of maize
[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi government has taken over trading of maize in the country after private traders have been found hoarding the commodity in order to capitalise on the impending high demand towards the end of the year.

Transnet to sue Sunday Times?
Yesterday afternoon, Monday, 25 August 2008, Transnet responded to the Sunday Times headline article, “Transnet sold our sea to foreigners”, published on Sunday 24 August, with a presentation to the press. Here is the complete press statement and presentation, in which Transnet contends that the article is “irresponsible and defamatory” and that it is “demanding an unconditional retraction of the article from the Sunday Times whilst reserving our right to take further action”. It is also considering legal action.

Colgate's comic call-to-action for Oral Health Month
[ActivRetail] Aimed at creating awareness around Oral Health Month and the free dental check up initiative, Colgate-Palmolive has commissioned Mamba Media to create a stand-alone Colgate comic to run specifically in the Daily Sun newspaper on the 4 and 20 August 2008.


Festively indulgent gift set

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Allesverloren, the Swartland wine estate famous for its Port, is aspiring to capture the festive cheer with a Christmas gift pack featuring a bottle of Allesverloren Port 2005, two stylish port glasses and two decadent Lindt pralines. Allesverloren Port 2005 is a lavish blend of the classic port varietals: Tinta Barocca (20%), Souzao (20%), Pontac (20%) and Touriga Naçional, Tinta Röriz, Malvasia Rey and Tinta Francisca. An ideal Yuletide gift, the Allesverloren and Lindt gift hampers will be available from mid-November at selected outlets countrywide at around R155 per set.
- ActivRetail

Embracing Web 2.0 to gain consumer attention
[Derek Engelbrecht] Consumer product companies must adopt appropriate technologies to help sustain a competitive edge in the market place.

Mall store directory at the touch of a screen
Primall Media will be launching its latest innovation, Touch Screen Directory boards, in October 2008, with the placement of 93 touch screen units in 18 of the top malls countrywide. Consumers will no longer have to try and navigate from current 'you are here' static and confusing shopping mall directories.


Packaged CRM solutions: Kind of like baking soda
[John Yaggie] CRM solutions used to be solely the domain of the sales force, but now other departments are taking advantage of their flexibility and versatility. They're so adaptable, Avanade's John Yaggie compares today's CRM solutions to that miracle household substance: baking soda.

Piz Buin doubles its Dischem campaign
Piz Buin has extended its “Hours of protection with just one application” campaign in Dischem stores via Icon Media's branded trolley platform. These carts will be whizzing around selected stores for a second campaign after a renewal was signed with the Unlimited subsidiary. “Piz Buin recognises that Icon Media's child friendly branded trolleys are definitely a medium which works for them in outlets like Dischem, which stock a wider selection of the Piz Buin range. We like to think of the trolleys as walking billboards in complementary environments, a tailored strategy to drive sales,” says Storm Ackerman, general manager for Icon Media.
- ActivRetail

Edcon hopes to beat tough times
Retail giant Edcon said last week it would continue to grow sales in the coming months despite a tough trading environment characterised by rising food prices and high inflation.

Edcon quarterly loss not due to poor sales
Fashion retailer Edcon Holdings suffered a first-quarter loss of R643 million to June, compared with a R1,13 billion profit for the corresponding period a year ago.

Puma store opens in Mauritius
Mauritius received its first taste of dedicated Puma gear this month with the launch of the marque's first brand store on the island this month. Consumers and travellers to Mauritius will now have access to a wide range of Puma's sports lifestyle products available in one store.

Astaro: Tapping the channel for security revenue
[Jack M. Germain] Why sell somebody else's product line when you can do a better job offering your own? That was the question that ultimately pushed Jan Hichert, CEO of Astaro, and two other cofounders to develop their own Internet security solutions for a market they viewed as needy of attention - the small- to medium-sized business (SMB) segment.

Scope of Best Western customer data breach open to debate
[Jordan Robertson] Did a computer intrusion at a Best Western hotel in Germany open the door for a hacker to steal the records of 8 million customers and pull off "the greatest cyber-heist in world history", as a Scottish newspaper put it? Or was the incident a significantly more minor affair, affecting only 10 customers at the one facility, as claimed by Best Western International?

Exacting Woolworths standards
[Sasha Planting] Woolworths's reputation as a tough and demanding buyer of products and services precedes it.

July PPI jumps to 18.9%
[Bathandwa Mbola and Luyanda Makapela] South Africa's Production Price Index (PPI) has increased by 18.9% year-on-year in July from 16.8% year-on-year in June.

More food gardens to be established in Ekurhuleni
[Nthambeleni Gabara] The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is set to double the number of food garden projects set up in the area to respond to the challenge of high food prices and poverty. A resolution was taken at the second annual Ekurhuleni Women's Agricultural Summit which was hosted by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Ekurhuleni Women in Agriculture this week to set up another 1500 food-producing projects.

Tools for the tech-savvy shopper
[Jim Offner] USA: As the general population becomes more comfortable with high-tech gadgets, retailers are looking for ways to incorporate them into the shopping experience. An assortment of devices are now available to help customers buy smarter and faster, reducing the need for customer service while boosting satisfaction.

Will consumers swallow a greener Apple?
[Kimberly Hill] It may be true that environmental groups are singling out Apple for special attention in order to get clean-tech issues more ink. It may also be true that Apple is making an effort to green up its processes to polish its image. The big question, though, is whether the consumers who stand between the company and the activists are willing to spend more of their own green to advance the cause.

New image for Sahara's notebook
Sahara Computers, in association with its international technology partner, Intel Corporation South Africa, has released its latest mobile solution, the Sahara ImageBook 15WS notebook - based on Intel's latest platform and powered by Intel Centrino 2 processor technology.

Six powerful prospecting tips
[John Boe] Why is it that some sales reps consistently earn a six-figure annual income while other reps, putting in the same hours, selling the same products and trained by the same sales manager struggle each month financially to make ends meet? The answer to this question is painfully simple: the six-figure sales reps spend more time on the phone and never forget to ask for referrals!


First CWG protégé to experience US harvest
Howard Booysen, the first aspiring winemaker to be selected for the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé programme, is off to California to experience first hand the grape harvest in this prominent wine region in the USA.


Free expert hands-on help for SMMEs
A Dutch organisation is offering to help Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa, by providing the free services of retired managers willing to transfer their knowledge and experience to local entrepreneurs.