Rex Trueform posts a leap in HEPS
Clothing group Rex Trueform has reported a 148% leap in headline earnings per share from 75.3 cents to 186.5 cents for the year ended June. This was achieved on the back of a 17% growth in revenue from R397.2 million to R465.6 million. The gross margin improved from 43.6% to 45.6%.

SA's second quarter GDP rebounds to 4.9%
[Michael Appel] South Africa's second quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rebounded somewhat to 4.9% for the second quarter of 2008 after recording 2.1% in the first quarter.

Organic consumers drive the new world marketplace
[David Wolstenholme] The boom of the natural and organic industry worldwide signals a huge shift in marketing and manufacturing. Big brands - products and stores traditionally don't really embrace change; most prefer to tweak existing models with a percentage move to the left or right. They prefer to implement a new PR spin or design an “improved” package. Those days are over!


South Africans decreased power usage by 0.7%
[Bathandwa Mbola] Calls for South Africans to use less electricity have yielded positive results as the latest figures released indicate that the consumption of electricity in July 2008 decreased by 0.7% compared to July 2007.

New vehicles sales continue to plummet
August was another disastrous month for new vehicle sales in South Africa with totals plummeting by more than 30% below the same period last year.

Great 'golden oldies' head for the block
The Nederburg Auction has a superb selection venerable vintages amongst its line-up, due to go under Stephan Welz's hammer from 19 - 20 September 2008.

Onward to buy luxury brand Jil Sander
TOKYO: Japan's Onward Holdings Corp. has agreed to buy German luxury fashion label Jil Sander for €167 million ($243 million) in a bid to expand globally, a company spokesman said Tuesday.

Elle reveals new SA fashion talent
Anisa Ami Mpungwe is South Africa's newest designer to watch, having walked away with top honours at the Elle New Talent Awards recently.


Shoprite African operations deliver strong results
[Tiisetso Motsoeneng] South African-based retailer Shoprite is confident that its African operations will maintain their strong growth rate.

Go Red and save your heart - The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA
Go Red for Women is an international movement aimed at increasing awareness amongst women of the risk factors and signs of heart disease. The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA) will be hosting a Go Red for Women Wellness Workshop on 19 September at the Riverside Hotel in Durban, to raise funds and awareness of this campaign.

Mboweni to complete his term as Governor
[Michael Appel] South African Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni will complete his current term of office which ends in August next year and will stay on if the new government asks him to continue in his position.

A taste of Modena in new gourmet balsamic vinegar
The latest edition to the Morgenster range of gourmet products in the now distinct dark, square bottle is a balsamic vinegar bearing the certification of the “Consorzio Aceto Balsamico Di Modena”. Morgenster Balsamic Vinegar is produced in Modena where it has been made since the Middle Ages using traditional methods.


AVI diluted HEPS up 5.7%
Consumer brands group AVI has reported a 5.7% increase in diluted headline earnings per share (HEPS) to 154.2 cents for the year ended June 2008 from 145.9 cents a year ago.

New lager launch builds on premium success
Following the recent introduction of Grolsch into the South African market, South African Breweries (SAB) announced earlier this week that it will be launching a new premium brand, Dreher Premium Lager.

The Snack Factory goes Fore Good
[ActivRetail] The Fore Good Investment Group has recently acquired a majority share in the “The Snack Factory” brand adding it to its fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) portfolio. The other subsidiaries under the Fore Good stable include MeriBrands (the exclusive distributor for Canderel and Equal in southern Africa), Stirrr and the Harding Group.

Alvaro to grace Ugandan shelves before 2008 ends
[Walter Wafula] After successfully testing the Kenyan market, Alvaro a new non-alcoholic drink will be launched in Uganda as its second market, an official at East African Breweries Limited (EABL) said.

Fleur du Cap launches first white wine under screw cap
Fleur du Cap has released its first white wine under screw cap with the new 2008 vintage of its Unfiltered Sauvignon Blanc. All 2008 vintages of the brand's white unfiltered wines will be bottled under screw cap instead of cork to safeguard the quality and flavours by eliminating any risk of cork taint.


A new campaign for Cadbury's Lunch Bar? Oviaas! - Cadbury South Africa
There's “Much, Much More” to Lunch Bar this month, as the brand unveils an impressive new “Man Size” pack, new graphics and a quirky new TV commercial.


Vuka strengthens ties with international manufacturers - Vuka Scuta
Local developers, Vuka Scuta has set their target on capturing an even larger segment of the fast-developing two-wheeler market in this country with its introduction of two new models.

Go green with Vuka - Vuka Scuta
Vuka Scuta, the local providers of two-wheeler transport, are now making it easy to be both fashionable and environmentally conscious. One of the latest scooter models that Vuka has introduced to the market is the XT125, which complies with the latest Euro II emission standards.

Public protest action - all for a good cause
Tomorrow, Friday, 5 September 2008, is Casual Day and, through a public ‘protest' action, Absa has been encouraging corporate South Africa to lose it suits and ties this Friday in a bid to help the organisers meet a new record fundraising high of R15 million.


Shona Khona campaign helps youth 'get it'
Metcash, one of the largest distributors of consumer goods on the African continent operating in six African countries, has also become a major player in South Africa's corporate social investment landscape. The company's Shona Khona (“Go Get It”) youth sports initiative is aimed at providing life changing opportunities to South African youngsters.

SATO appoints exclusive distributor
Analytical Design Electronics (ADE Labelling & Barcoding) has gained sole distributorship for the SATO Barcode Printer Range in southern Africa. ADE and SATO have an already well-established partnership, whereby ADE has been an approved certified distributor of SATO's products and software solutions in South Africa. "We are looking forward to expanding our service offering through this acquisition. The SATO brand of barcode printers is renowned for high-quality print-outs, so naturally we are delighted about being the exclusive distributor in SA," says Laura Katzke, Managing Director of ADE Labelling and Barcoding. The company's range of product and software solutions includes barcode printers, tethered scanners, radio frequency equipment and terminals, label applicators and dispensers and batch data collection units. SATO DCS and Labelling is a worldwide provider of barcoding and RFID solutions with a range of products that include hand-held labelers, barcode printers, cutomised software and printers. "Our focus is on technologies available from suppliers such as SATO and other global brands - we are constantly refining our knowledge on the latest international trends," concludes Katzke.

Five burning questions about e-commerce search solutions
[Shaun Ryan] You can thank Google for raising your online customers' search expectations through the roof. The 900-lb. gorilla of Internet search delivers such quality results - in just tenths of a second, as the results page tells you - that online shoppers won't settle for anything less than blindingly fast search results from the e-commerce sites they visit.

Getting a grip on your online reputation
[Neal Creighton] A company's reputation can be made or broken with something as simple as a single online review. Anyone can post an online review and the results can be immediate and severe. Here are some tips on how to manage your reputation.

eBay promotes social consciousness with new site
[Rachel Metz] Most consumers probably associate eBay more with vintage lunch boxes and low-priced electronics than with laptop bags made from recycled plastic by women in New Delhi.

Pillsbury capitalises on its creative promotions recipe - General Mills South Africa
If you've ever wondered how to go about promoting your product amidst the clutter of a food show, you are welcome to take a leaf out of Pillsbury's recipe book. Pillsbury, the producers of quick and easy, yet delectable dessert, muffin and cake mixes, recently made quite an impact at both the Sunday Times Food Show, held in Sandton, and the Good Food and Wine Show, held in Durban.

Malawi: US donates machine to protect consumers from sub-standard products
[Gregory Gondwe] The United States government has donated a machine worth close to US$60,000 to the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) which will enable it to identify banned or sub-standard ingredients that may be used in foods produced or imported into the country.

Mozambique: Cheap rail travel boosts cross-border trade
Angelina Sidumo is one of the hundreds of traders that throng the busy train station in the Mozambican capital, Maputo, on most Wednesday afternoons to catch the once-weekly train south to Chicualacuala town in Gaza Province, an 18-hour journey covering nearly 500km.

SA, Italy to advance North-South relations
[Luyanda Makapela] South Africa and Italy are to advance North-South relations on Saturday when Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma meets her Italian counterpart at Lake Como this week.

PetroSA must begin exploiting Venezuelan oil reserves
[Bathandwa Mbola] Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says the Petroleum, Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA) should begin exploiting his country's oil reserves, which are the largest in the world.

Cabinet approves new automotive programme
Cabinet has approved the new Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP), the Department of Trade and Industry announced on Thursday, 4 September.

BPA impairs synapses formation in brain, new study finds
The controversial chemical Bisphenol A commonly found in hard plastic food and drink containers may impair the brain's ability to learn and remember, according to a groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the University of Guelph and Yale University.

Packaging always needed - downturn or not
[Carryl Harvey] In an economic downturn like we are experiencing now, when consumers are reviewing how much they can afford to spend , packaging needs to be more than usually eye-catching to get the consumer's attention.

Clever Shopper competition launches: know your retailers
[ActivRetail] The Times and Sowetan daily newspapers are inviting advertisers, marketing managers and media planners to put money back in their pockets through its Clever Shopper weekly pages and competition.


International designer sunglass launch hits the road
Yellow Zebra Optical, in association with Fashion TV South Africa, is going on tour this September for the launch of the latest Police, Escada, Givenchy and Jean Paul Gaultier eyewear ranges.

Flip-flopping into spring

click to enlarge

Shoppers at the Design Quarter in Fourways, Johannesburg were greeted by a novel sight on Spring Day, 1 September 2008 - a multi-coloured flip flop tree. Literally hundreds of the exclusive Havaianas rubber sandals were blooming from a tree in the centre court attracting admirers to the visual treat. Net#work BBDO senior copywriter Tim Beckering said the tree had to be almost bare of leaves to have the right visual impact. “While trees nearby were still hibernating, our tree sprung into life welcoming summer. Where normal advertising fails to speak to people, this idea has really touched passersby. One elderly lady said this display made her realise she probably only had a couple of Springs left and it was a reminder to live each year to the fullest.” The “Havaianas Tree” will be up until Sunday 7 September.

Intl guidelines to ease impact of fishing in deep sea areas
Two years of negotiations have resulted in the adoption of new international guidelines to limit the impact of fishing on fragile deep sea fish species and habitats.

Consumer bill needs ‘further work'
[Linda Ensor] The franchising industry would be thrown into disarray by the Consumer Protection Bill that would make franchisors liable for the products and services supplied by franchisees, Parliament's trade and industry committee heard this week.

Advertise: Implications of Insolvency Act on commercial transfers
The downturn in economic conditions is forcing numerous businesses to close, claiming insolvency. However, there are various implications to the Insolvency Act of which owners trying to sell their businesses are unaware, including the fact that failure to adhere to section clauses may render the sale invalid. Simphiwe Maphumulo of the law firm Garlicke & Bousfield Inc explains.

Under 60 character email subject lines increases open rate
Research just released in the United States indicates that if you want potential cunstomers and clients to respond to your email marketing campaigns, keeping it short and sweet is the route to go.

Economic concerns curtail back-to-school shopping
In the United States, high fuel prices have affected the buying trends of parents of school-going children. The trend could well repeat itself here in SA, come 2009.

Survey: DVR makes homes happier
[Walaika Haskins] The digital video recorder (DVR) has become a must-have appliance, according to a survey released by NDS, a digital pay TV technology solution provider. More than 70% of consumers who currently own a DVR told surveyors that they could not live without it.

Tunisia internet users spend US$132,7m in B2C e-commerce
A new Arab Advisors Group major survey of internet users in Tunisia revealed that 36.4% of internet users in Tunisia use e-commerce. Based on the survey results, the Arab Advisors Group estimates that Tunisia's internet users spent US$132,7m during the past 12 months in e-commerce transactions.

BMI Foodpack and Adcheck Research announce merger - Adcheck
BMI Foodpack, a market research house for the food, beverage and packaging industry, and Adcheck Research, previously a division of Adcheck (Pty) Ltd, a market intelligence organisation for the retail and manufacturing industries, have announced a merger of the two companies.

Digital signage grabs, engages, and informs
A study released in 2008 by US-based SeeSaw Networks, conducted by OTX, to better understand how digital out-of-home media can be used to reach mobile consumers, shows that digital signage advertising engages people, has high awareness, and is a compelling media that advertisers can use to effectively reach people with their message.

Mobile advertising lifts brand metrics and purchase intent
Dynamic Logic, a US-based company, recently announced the aggregate results of mobile branding research studies which compared people exposed to the mobile campaigns to those not exposed, suggesting that mobile advertising can be an effective medium for raising brand metrics throughout the purchase funnel.

Branding: a board's responsibility
[Lindie Engelbrecht] Gone are the days when a company's brand - or reputation - relied solely on the efforts of marketers. While the more public efforts to build the brand may still be spearheaded by the marketing team, proactive plans to protect what is arguably the company's most valuable asset, its brand, should be executed by board members, as part of their role in guarding company interests.


When angry customers fight back
[Erika Morphy] The Internet has given consumers a powerful voice to level their complaints when a company does them wrong, and the firm that's unresponsive may have to deal with bad - and potentially very costly - publicity as a result. The sword can cut both ways, though. Complaining customers may face legal risks too, if they're not careful to distinguish opinion from fact.

Quo Vadis to handle CAF Southern Africa's Conference on Sustainability - Quo Vadis Communications
CAF Southern Africa has appointed Quo Vadis Communications (QVC) to work on media liaison and public relations for its two-day conference titled Innovating for Sustainability - ‘Africans investing in Africa', to be held 17 - 18 September 2008.

Retail group eases email exasperation
The Lewis Group, a major JSE-listed retail group, has implemented Mimecast's Unified Email Management (UEM) to ensure business-critical email is always available, and to provide vital archiving functionality. "Email is an important tool for the business and a few power outages made it very clear that email is absolutely business critical. Rebuilding a mail store or restoring a workstation takes valuable time, and puts the business at risk. Mimecast could give us all the redundancy we needed, without any of the costs of doing it ourselves," explains Gareth Hawkey, GM for IT for the Lewis Group. Mimecast UEM provides the Group with hosted email management that gives enterprise-class email redundancy and security, with Internet-based and 'Internet speed' search functionality to allow users to conveniently find stored information or perform e-discovery. All this, without needing to invest in any additional staff or systems infrastructure ­ and in a second-generation pure-play Software-as-a-Service architecture that will grow and scale as needed.

CRM magazine honours SAS yet again
For the sixth year running, CRM magazine has recognised SAS for its industry-leading analytics and marketing automation capabilities. SAS was recently announced the winner in the business intelligence category of the CRM Market Awards and a CRM Market Leader for marketing automation. "No one's surprised at SAS' strong finish this year across multiple categories, including its outright win in Business Intelligence," said Joshua Weinberger, managing editor of CRM. "Its depth and breadth is legendary, but it's SAS' commitment to innovation that really seems to have the most lasting impact on the marketplace. We inducted Dr Jim Goodnight, the company's founder, into the CRM Hall of Fame several years ago, and we'd probably induct him again if it were possible.”

Service stations seek higher retail margins
[Siseko Njobeni] Service stations are hoping for an increase in the retail margin next month, the Fuel Retailers Association said.

Mr Price announces new board appointments
The Mr Price group yesterday announced changes to its board of directors, to take immediate effect.

Shoprite pushes its expansion harder in Africa
[Thabang Mokopanele] Food and furniture retailer Shoprite has vowed to push ahead with its expansion into Africa.

Shoprite earnings up 54.1% to 298.6c
South African supermarket group Shoprite Holdings on Tuesday reported a 54.1% increase in diluted headline earnings per share to 298.6 cents for the year ended June 2008 from 193.8 cents a year ago.

New PCI security standards: Lock it down, lock it tight
[Jack M. Germain] USA: New Payment Card Industry (PCI) regulations are just around the corner, and retailers dealing with credit cards will need to tighten up their standards in order to comply. For instance, your firewall performance will be reviewed more often, and you'll have to use anti-virus protection even on non-Windows platforms. Also, if you're still using WEP encryption, better get ready to chuck that and move to something better ASAP.

Oil markets: when is a fundamental a ‘fundamental'?
[Matthew Hulbert & Tariq Akbar] Strange things have been happening in oil markets of late, leading to massive hikes in fuel prices in countries around the world, including South Africa. And even though our fuel price has just dropped, the future still looks ‘interesting'.

China faces post-Olympic slump
[Adam Jura] Researchers expect that post-Olympic slump will see reallocation of manufacturing IT budgets. Are there lessons for South Africa and post-2010? The World Cup is not the Olympics, but it is a huge event - can we too, expect a downturn? After all, other countries have also seen downturns after hosting the Olympics.

Twitter: A customer communication lifeline
[Louis Columbus] When you're talking with your best and most trusted friends, there is no need to defend yourself with disclaimers, overly defined examples, or defensible arguments. The conversation just happens. When two friends know each other well, they finish each other's sentences.

Microsoft gropes for market share with Xbox price cuts
[Walaika Haskins] USA: As the video game industry begins to ramp up for the holiday season, Microsoft announced Wednesday that it has cut the price of its line of Xbox 360 gaming consoles. The new pricing, which goes into effect Friday, starts at US$199 for the low-end console, the Xbox 360 Arcade model, down from $279.

Nokia set to open Comes with Music buffet
[Renay San Miguel] So far, no mobile phone company has been able to make subscribers dance to its tune with a wildly popular, downloadable-to-handset music service. Yet Nokia, the world's biggest maker of mobile phones, still wants in on the action, so it's announcing that the first handset preloaded with its Comes with Music service will be sold in the United Kingdom in October.

Mic-equipped Sony PSP-3000 to hit Japan this fall
[Walaika Haskins] Sony is attempting to gain some ground on the Nintendo DS with a PSP upgrade that includes a built-in microphone that can be used, among other things, to make phone calls. Whether that new functionality - as well as a better display and more storage - will be enough is questionable. If any audience is likely to be receptive, though, tech-savvy Japanese gamers would likely top the list.

Keeping e-waste out of landfills
[Walaika Haskins] USA: Gadget cravers who constantly seek the best and newest consumer technology will often leave a trail of old, forgotten or broken gizmos in their wake. At best, these toys of yesteryear end up in a drawer. At worst, they end up in a landfill, leaking toxic chemicals into the environment. Startup BuyMyTronics.com wants those devices to fix them, resell them, salvage their parts and properly recycle what's left.

Isenzo Mediacaster selected by Moving Tactics for digital signage channels - Isenzo Broadcasting cc
Moving Tactics, a South African specialist in retail advertising, have selected Isenzo as its digital signage technology provider after a successful three-month field trial.