A new year, a new lookSince 2001, Bizcommunity.com has been the voice of the advertising, marketing, media and related industries in South Africa. From the start, our mission has been not just the delivery of news for passive consumption, but to be a platform for engagement and opinion and a launching pad for companies and individuals. The African communications sector is currently gearing itself up for the imminent broadband explosion and Bizcommunity.com is proud to be at the hub of these developments. In this regard, we are paring down, updating and analysing every nook and cranny of our community interfaces to ensure you are all are poised to capitalise on the unique advantages of our region - high-speed Internet access will enable a more dynamic multimedia showcasing of our community and the new-look biz has been built to anticipate these opportunities. We congratulate our IT team for its unwavering commitment to improvement, and the incredible passion and know-how in our editorial, production, sales and support teams - we look forward to developing new ways for our 270,000-strong community to best leverage what will manifest in the months and years to come! Please join us in celebrating the launch of the new-look biz and we look forward to continuing to present your industry's news and to promote your contributions and opinions! We welcome your feedback on the new site. The biz teamPlease send all retail news to retailnews@bizcommunity.comResponses to this column welcomed in our new online editor's column archive. | Top stories
Design Indaba 2009
 [Terry Levin] Inspiration levels at fever pitch, the 1500 privileged delegates of the 2009 Design Indaba once again assembled in the dark to witness the criteria that make up the world's design elite. In order to contextualise the levels of excellence and awesomeness of this conference, we might say that comparing it with most of the design we see around us everyday - like supermarket signage, tourism brochures, pole posters etc - is a bit like comparing a mediocre musician with Bob Dylan. Read more >>
Marketing & Media
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] While some multinational companies review their African investments by measures such as shedding jobs and cutting their marketing budgets and even planning to vacate the ‘dark continent' as the global economic downturn takes a nasty turn, LG Electronics looks to South Africa and Africa to expand its horizons and build brand leadership. Read more >>
Retail
[Lihle Z Mtshali] Car sales in February — to be released tomorrow by the National Association of Automotive Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) — are expected to have been no better than January's, which fell a record 32.3%. Read more >>
 [Michael Appel] South African motorists will be forking out 45 cents more per litre of petrol from 4 March, while diesel drivers will enjoy a decrease of 38 cents per litre, the Department of Minerals and Energy reported on Friday. Read more >>
 Eden on the Bay promises to be a unique new shopping and lifestyle destination in the Cape when it opens its doors on 26 March 2009. This mixed-use development is situated on a prime location on the shore of Blouberg's Big Bay, with no road separating the building from the beach, and will host a selection of upmarket stores and restaurants. Read more >>
The National Credit Regulator (NCR) has released its first Consumer Credit Report, representing an estimated 90% of all consumer credit as based on reports submitted to the Regulator by registered primary national credit providers. Read more >>
[Zenoyise Madikwa] Boutiques close as recession and Chinese imports bite. Read more >>
[Michael Appel] The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is the Reserve Bank's new inflation measure, dropped by less than expected to 8.1% in January 2009, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported, Wednesday. Read more >>
[Michael Appel] South Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figure at market prices for the fourth quarter of 2008 has contracted by 1.8% quarter-on-quarter (q/q) from 0.2% growth in the third quarter, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) announced on Tuesday. Read more >>
Advertising
Gordon Muller, an independent media consultant, will explain the new 14-segment LSM model at an AMASA meeting in Cape Town, on Wednesday, 4 March. Read more >>
Banking & Finance
[Theodore F. di Stefano] The financial world is looking for ways rebuild people's trust and confidence in markets, and Morrison Bonpasse sees a future for a single global currency. Read more >>
[Michael Appel] The significant 1.75% drop in the amount of credit commercial banks extend to the private sector is indicative of South Africans spending less and trying to save more in the current economic climate. Read more >>
[Michael Appel] Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni says no emergency meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has been convened as yet. Read more >>
At a time when the official interest rates are coming down in South Africa, First National Bank (FNB) has sounded a clarion call, urging the senior investors to now consider investing some of their money in longer term fixed deposits. Read more >>
Banking & Finance
Enquiries to credit bureaux had declined by almost one third since the worldwide financial meltdown. Read more >>
Banking & Finance
[Evan Pickworth] With retail bank confidence falling in line with profits, the critical issue is how they manage increasing challenges over the next year, according to Ernst & Young's credit crisis report released on Monday. Read more >>
Brand news
Sony CEO Howard Stringer has taken some sharp measures to revitalise the battered company, including the assumption of the president's role and the reorganisation of several important business operations into new units with new leadership. Read more >>
 [ActivRetail] Lux is, for the first time, joining forces with washroom advertising company The Letter Corporation (TLC) as part of the brand's re-launch campaign. The new range of soap and bodywash has been launched, in part, in the form of delectably designed mirror decals in ladies only washrooms in 22 malls throughout South Africa's major metropolitan areas. Read more >>
KWV Investments has announced a 19.3% increase in headline earnings a share of 451.3c for six months to end December. Read more >>
 Ferrero, Italy's world renowned chocolate brand famous for its hazelnut creations, has added a decadent new treat to its collection: the Ferrero Rondnoir. Read more >>
In an effort to head off involuntary layoffs, the world's largest mobile phone maker is first asking employees to voluntarily leave the company. It also is asking people to take sabbaticals or unpaid leave, and Nokia says it has seen an encouraging response so far. Read more >>
 Phoenix Software, traditionally a software republisher and distributor have branched into the accessory market by introducing a range of Zagg invisibleShield products that provide protective film coverings for the recently released iPod nano, iPod touch and classic and iPhone devices. Read more >>
Branding
 Diageo, the global drinks business, yesterday announced that it has reached an agreement with Namibia Breweries to produce and distribute Windhoek beer globally. Read more >>
Corporate Social Investment
 Snackworks Category Director, Heather Partner and newly appointed Bakers Mini Cricket Co-ordinator Darren Hampton recently joined a delegation from Cricket South Africa on a two day tour of the Boland region to establish how the mini cricket programme is being run in the area. Read more >>
[Rudo Mungoshi] The Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market (JFPM) has teamed up with the City of Johannesburg to prepare 9,000 food hampers for poverty-stricken households in all seven city regions. Read more >>
CRM
“Now, more than ever, companies should be placing greater emphasis on customer care, especially with consumers becoming more discerning as the impact of the global recession hits home and they want value for their money,” says Gerian Miller, senior write at InZalo Communications. Read more >>
e-Commerce
[Ori Eisen] As long as people can get away with it, there will be fraud. However, there are signs you can watch out for that might raise a red flag on potentially fraudulent transactions. Look for questionable street and email addresses as well as multiple orders from the same device. Read more >>
Eventing
Thebe Exhibitions and Projects Group will be hosting the 2009 Trade and Investment Africa Exhibition and Congress in South Africa from 3 - 6 November 2009 at the Sandton International Convention Centre, Johannesburg. Read more >>
 Hilary Prendini Toffoli talked to five exhibitors at the Design Indaba Expo this weekend, 27 February - 1 March 2009, where overseas buyers and the cream of SA's design talent were seen following the conference in the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Read more >>
 Africa is the latest continent to provide a host city for the international Automechanika brand of automotive aftermarket trade fairs, when South Africa stages one of these global events at the Expo Centre, Johannesburg, from 18 - 21 March 2009. Read more >>
Hospitality
 96 Winery Road has launched its new Degustation Menu, with the aim to add a sublime twist to food and wine pairings at this renowned Winelands restaurant. Read more >>
 Entries in the 2009 AA Travel Guides American Express Accommodation Awards programme are now being judged, based on feedback from approximately 47,000 consumers on more than 1,300 establishments across the country. Read more >>
Import/Export
A Joint Presidential Advisory Council on Investment was launched by Nigeria and South Africa on Tuesday, 24 February 2009, to encourage investment between the two countries. Read more >>
[Michael Appel] The trade ministers from South Africa and Saudi Arabia on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing the South African - Saudi Business Council. Read more >>
Manufacturing
[Michael Appel] The Producer Price Index (PPI) for January 2009 has come in at 9.2% year-on-year (y/y) which is 1.8% lower than December's figure of 11% y/y, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported on Thursday, 26 February. Read more >>
[Nicolas-Patience Basabose] If the South African textile industry wants to survive, they need to raise their game. Read more >>
Mobile
 The Mobile Banking Conference to be held from 18 - 19 March 2009 in Lusaka, Zambia hopes to create a network platform for its speakers and attendees by developing relationships and engaging various industries on key topics. Celpay Zambia Limited, sponsor of the first Mobile Banking Conference is a mobile and internet banking payment solutions company. Read more >>
Regulatory
The National Credit Regulator (NCR) launched an application early last year in the Pretoria High Court for a declaratory order on the interpretation of debt review provisions in the National Credit Act (NCA). This application is going to be heard on the 2 - 5 March 2009. Read more >>
The music industry has lost more than 30% in sales since 2001 because of illegal downloading, a top industry official said Wednesday, giving evidence in a Swedish trial. Read more >>
Consumer watchdog, the National Credit Regulator (NCR), has taken on a credit provider that flouted provisions of the National Credit Act (NCA) and won. Read more >>
Research
Despite the global recognition of the importance of environmentally responsible business practises, a large number of companies in South Africa are not implementing sustainable strategies as a key performance indicator. This is according to the results of a recent study - the Supply Chain Intelligence Report (SCIR) 2009. Read more >>
The 2009 edition of what is claimed to be South Africa's most authoritative and established supply chain research study, supplychainforesight, has been launched this week - and it contains some encouraging conclusions. Read more >>
Retail services
[Monica Laganparsad] As the credit crunch creeps into the lives of consumers, advertising agencies have taken on the challenge of marketing products in the global recession. Read more >>
Retail services
[Ian Michiels] Recession. Nine letters you never want to see together in one word; at least not in that order. Sales and marketing departments across the globe are reeling from one of the worst financial crisis in recent business. The stock market is down, unemployment is climbing, and businesses are bracing for what could be a long, slow recovery. Read more >>
[Anthony Mitchell] The effects of the recession on outsourcing companies have made them attractive targets for acquisition, but with opportunity comes risk. There are distinct differences between the way things are done in say, India vs. the United States, and they can impact the true value of a company. Read more >>
Retailers
[Sasha Planting] Truworths is boringly predictable; Woolworths is in denial and Shoprite is riding a wave. Though the past six months have been a rough ride for the SA consumer, all these retailers managed to grow earnings. Read more >>
Wholesale and retail group Massmart on Thursday reported a 13.3% increase in headline earnings per share for the 26 weeks ended December 2008 from 370.3 cents to 420.1 cents. Read more >>
Truworths has said it expected space growth to moderate over the next few years as the development of malls stalled. Read more >>
 Clayton-Emil Coutriers is the first winner of the House and Leisure Green Designers at Woolworths competition. Read more >>
Sponsorship
The Business Day-BASA Awards are designed to bring South Africa's business and creative communities together. Entries are now open for the 2009 awards. Read more >>
Technology
[Jeff Meisner] Struggling mobile phone maker Motorola announced Tuesday that it will sell Good Technology - its "push" email, calendar and contacts unit - to Visto. Read more >>
[Annie Huang] Thinking small might help Taiwan's computer industry emerge from the global downturn as an even bigger global player. Read more >>
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Technology
Tracer CQM has released a new version of its mobile sales tool of the same name. It installs itself automatically and loads updates as soon as they become available, ensuring that mobile sales teams have access to new features and functionality immediately. Read more >>
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| Responsible stock and staff supervision in Weylandts Distribution centre; production of various reports and providing relief cover for other office positions. Matric plus excellent admin/PC and supervisory/customer care experience. Read more >>
| | Area Manager - Retail - Cape Town | | Sales Assistant/PA - Cape Town | | Sales - Cape Town/Johannesburg | | Buying/Sourcing - Cape Town | | Senior Buyer - Cape Town | | Financial Credit Manager - Cape Town - CBD | | | |
| | AMASA Cape Town February meeting - Cape Town, 4 March | | Supply Chain Intelligence Report Terranova Research - Johannesburg, 9 March | | Hostex 2009 Exhibitor enquries - Johannesburg, 15 March | | Retail Marketing Mix Marketing Mix - Johannesburg, 18 March | | Shoppex 2009 What's On Event Management - Durban, 3 April |
| | Eastern Cape Gourmet Fair 2009 Studio 55 (Pty) Ltd - Port Elizabeth, 6 March | | Bridal Africa NichePro (Pty) Ltd - Midrand, 7 March | | More... Submit an event | | |
| Harley-Davidson's Dark Custom range is revealed in style
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| | "Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises." - Demosthenes | | "Every sale has five basic obstacles: no need, no money, no hurry, no desire, no trust." - Zig Ziglar | | "I personally believe we developed language because of our deep inner need to complain." - Jane Wagner | | "Use what talent you possess - the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best." - Henry Van Dyke | | "I am one who believes that one of the greatest dangers of advertising is not that of misleading people, but that of boring them to death." - Leo Burnett | | More... Submit a Quote | | |
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