 10 Jan 2011 |
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Welcome to 20-heaven!
The retail giants have been cleared of colluding over prices, the Department of Health is proposing a benchmark on the price of medicine, good results are expected from the silly season splurge and there was a debacle over refrozen chicken. Kim Kardashian was in SA to launch Brutal Fruit's new flavour, Cape Town's newly curbed nightlife got a little leeway, while Joburg is set to receive a new Sunday market. Black Glamour is the new niche beauty product expo, Sony Ericsson has just released its latest Xperia - arc smartphone and Lenovo is launching its "LePad" laptop-tablet hybrid. Anyone still wanting to submit trends pieces can mail them to: contributors-retail@bizcommunity.com. Please use 'Retail Trends 2011' as the subject line. Here's to the start of a great new year - may it truly be 20-heaven! Shan Radcliffe, Retail editor Please send retail news to: retailnews@bizcommunity.com Responses to this column welcomed in our new online editor's column archive. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and jscreationzs Top stories
RetailBanking & FinanceSA's credit spending increases, new Consumer Credit Market Report outThe National Credit Regulator (NCR) has released its 'Consumer Credit Market Report', based on data submitted to it by registered credit providers covering credit market information from September 2009 up to September 2010. Read more >>Brand newsAmarula makes top 10 hot liqueur brands In an international industry poll, undertaken by global drinks publication Drinks International, which surveyed 700 bartenders, bar owners and mixologists across 60 countries, respondents were asked to identify the hottest brands on the lips of their patrons. Local brand Amarula listed sixth in the Top 10 Hot Liqueur brands. This is the first time the brand has been featured on the list that includes a selection of leading international brands. Read more >>Tiger Brands to spend R2.5bn in building capacityConsumer goods group Tiger Brands announced late last week that it would invest domestically in excess of R2.5 billion over the next five years in building capacity to meet demand. Read more >>Swartland - new viticulturist, new wine Swartland has appointed a new viticulturist, Claude Uren, and launched a summer range of everyday wines known as D'Vine. Packaged in the new environmentally friendly, ultra light bottles, the screw cap range offers a red blend of Cabernet/Merlot, a fruity white blend of Chenin Blanc/Sauvignon Blanc and a rosé. Read more >>Commercial propertyMall of the North announces tenants The Mall of the North, owned and developed by Resilient Property Income Fund, Flanagan & Gerard Property Development and Investment and Moolman Group, has announced some of its tenants expected for the opening on Thursday 14 April 2011 in Polokwane. Read more >>CRMTraining essential in IT sales environment [Daniel Silke] I am a good example of a connected, discerning customer who already has done most of his research even before entering a store and I usually shop around looking for the best deals from different vendors. Therefore, I was armed with all the information I needed and I knew the different offerings from the two major outlets selling the new Apple iMac. I was setting the outlets up for a bit of healthy competition by visiting both just before making my decision where to lay down my credit card. Read more >>e-CommerceExhibitions & EventsBlack glamour on showWhat is reportedly Africa's first exhibition showcasing all beauty related products for the black market, Black Glamour, will take place at the Coca-Cola dome, Johannesburg in October 2011. Read more >>Health & SafetyGlobal fears rise over German meatBERLIN, GERMANY: Global fears mounted over the safety of German meat due to contaminated animal feed, with South Korea banning pork imports and Slovakia suspending poultry sales. Read more >>Rift Valley fever warning in Free StateThe heavy rains over the past few weeks have been a welcomed development in water-strapped parts of the country, however, the Free State Agriculture Department has warned of an imminent outbreak of Rift Valley fever. Read more >>Pick n Pay denies selling refrozen chickensPick n Pay denied on Monday that it was selling refrozen chickens that had past their sell-by date. Read more >>HospitalityFree tourism seminars in JanuaryCapitalising on the 2010 FIFA World Cup tourism boom and the new interest of Central and Eastern Europe in South Africa, a series of seminars have been organised by European and South African tourism organisations to assist South African tourism product owners on ways and means to enter these new markets. Read more >>Informal retailingNew Sunday market for Johannesburg Market on Main, a weekly food and design Sunday market, will open on Main Street in the Maboneng Precinct, Johannesburg city from Sunday 23 January 2011. Read more >>RegulatoryCounterfeit goods seized at Durban harbourCounterfeit goods with a street value of R120 million were seized at the Durban harbour on Friday morning, 7 January 2011, the Hawks said. Read more >>Drug firms 'let down' by snub on price rules[Tamar Kahn] Pharmaceutical manufacturers expressed disappointment on Monday, 3 January 2011, with the Department of Health's latest proposals for benchmarking medicine prices, saying the bulk of their recommendations were ignored. Read more >>Collusion inquiry lets retail giants off the hook[Michael Bleby] The Competition Commission has quietly cleared SA's supermarket sector of collusion, 18 months after it began its inquiry into the sector with great anfare by cataloguing a detailed list of alleged transgressions said to be driving up the price of food. Read more >>ResearchConsumer confidence should lead to good retail resultsThe last quarter Economic Confidence Index (ECI), released by TNS Research Surveys on Monday 21 December 2010, shows both a return to a more normal, non-recessionary, pattern but also a strong improvement in how people are feeling about their current economic circumstances - reaching levels not seen since early 2008 and well up on the same time last year. This is even more marked in the upper income bands, suggesting that there is a high potential for good retail results in this final week before Christmas. Read more >>Retail marketingRetailersRetail stocks too expensive?[Zeenat Moorad] Woolworths and Pick n Pay stand out as the two worst performing companies in the retail sector in 2010, according to a retail analyst. Read more >>Supply chain'Do not sacrifice' other farm sectors for sugar[Hopewell Radebe] Efforts to get the European Union (EU) to give the sugar industry privileged access to its market should not sacrifice other key farming segments, an expert has warned. Read more >>TechnologyNew generation of smartphones from Sony Ericsson Late last week, Sony Ericsson released the new Xperia arc smartphone with cutting edge technology and a multimedia experience on the latest version of the Android platform - 2.3. It is the first of a new generation of smartphones to be announced in 2011. Read more >>Lenovo 'LePad' combines tablet, laptop in oneLAS VEGAS, USA: Chinese computer colossus Lenovo on Tuesday, 4 January 2011, unveiled an IdeaPad computer that serves as a laptop for work tasks then converts to a touch-screen tablet for play time. Read more >>Mobile app turns phone into promo media for retailers For consumers, the Mobile Shopper app, newly launched by Point of Sale (POS) solution provider DigiPoS, turns their phones into a handheld scanner, self-checkout device and information portal all at the same time. It covers a full range of retail touch points including ecommerce, a store locator, coupons, loyalty, advertising and promotions, price verification lists and in-store navigation. Read more >>
Emerging markets enjoy digital camera boom NUREMBERG, GERMANY: Sales of digital cameras rose significantly during in the first three quarters of 2010 the latest GfK Retail and Technology data has revealed, with the emerging markets very much at the forefront of this increase. GfK Retail and Technology presents key market figures as the International CES 2011 kicks off in Las Vegas. Read more >>Turning Tide - The prospects for media M&A in 2011 LONDON, UK: According to PWC, media mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in 2011 will be driven by the economic recovery, easing of credit conditions and technological change. Read more >>Dina Howell named CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi X NEW YORK, US: Saatchi & Saatchi has announced the appointment of Dina Howell as CEO worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi X, a global agency in shopper marketing. Howell has retired as VP, Global Media and Brand Operations at Procter & Gamble. She succeeds founder and WWCEO Andy Murray, who is moving to the role of founder and chairman. Read more >>Hungarian media law draws international concern The European Newspaper Publishers¹ Association (ENPA) and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), have expressed concern at a draft law in Hungary that would impose extensive fines against journalists and publishers if they refuse to disclose their sources or publish information deemed inappropriate by the government. Read more >>More International news...
Prettier, bigger and much better X3 [Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Even though the previous BMW X3 was tremendously popular it certainly was no striking beauty with its style-clashing bodywork and rather boxy shape - but those days are over because it's has undergone a complete make-over and the latest model is as handsome as any mid-sized SUV can ever hope to be. Read more >>More Motoring news...
UK flu worries continue[Dr Ananya Mandal, MD] Planning a trip to the UK? The flu season continues to affect more people and experts have warned the Britons are still at risk as the surge in flu cases has still not yet peaked. The cases would increase they warn, over the next two to four weeks. Read more >>De Noordhoek... where local is very lekker [Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] While hotels scramble to improve their "green" credentials by using home-grown and biodegradable bathroom amenities, De Noordhoek Hotel places minimising its negative impact on the environment, on top of its agenda. Read more >>More Travel news...
Balkan Beat Box hits SA Balkanology has brought Balkan flavour to the local party scene since 2006, a mix of gypsy, Balkan and Mediterranean melodies blended with hip hop, dub, house and electro. The Balkan Beat Box will be in Joburg on 21 January and Cape Town on 22 January, 2011. Read more >>The Eccentric Four and the spoon that is Jesus [Johann Smith] Good Will Acting, written, directed and edited by Fleur du Cap winner Megan Choritz, is a comical tale about when actors can't find jobs. It's such a familiar problem that this play practically writes itself. Read more >>Foot-tapping salute to Harlem heyday [Debbie Hathway] The Free Flight Dance Company returns to the stage, cabaret-style, as it revisits the "music, rhythms and vibe" of Harlem's Cotton Club in 1920s' New York. Its production of Cotton Club Moves is on at the Baxter Theatre's Flipside until 30 December daily, at 6pm and at 7.30pm on New Year's Eve. Read more >>More BizLounge news...
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