 14 Feb 2011 |
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Love to loathe Valentine's ads
Another classic I saw posted on the social space today was "Sales ad at a store: 'You are my one and only' valentine cards, now on sale: 4 for R5.[sic]" This must have been a joke though; you'd never find cards that cheap in this country. And then of course, a few years ago, there was that line of cards for the other lover that said things like "I wish I met you first" and "One day, it'll just be the two of us". I'm not sure how well that concept took off as I've never seen them again, but hopefully some of this year's ads will follow suit into the black hole of bad ideas, never to be seen or heard again. Still, love it or hate it, however you plan to spend your evening (out on the town with your significant other or at home with the cat) may you have a happy Valetine's Day! 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 Idea go Top stories
RetailWal-Mart transaction approvedThe Competition Commission has concluded its investigation and has referred Wal-Mart's proposed acquisition of 51% of Massmart's equity to the Competition Tribunal with a recommendation that the transaction be approved without conditions, it was announced Saturday, 12 February 2011. The next step in the approval process is the Competition Tribunal hearing, followed by its ruling on the transaction. Read more >>Department wrong, says Country Bird[Michael Bleby] Feathers flew as Country Bird Holdings, SA's third largest poultry producer, angrily denied accusations by the Department of Agriculture that the company had contravened regulations in its preparation and packaging of chicken. Read more >>'Convalescent' retail set to evolve, soar higher in 2011 - expert [Issa Sikiti da Silva] Currently undergoing a process of recovery after severely affected by the recession, analysts predict that in 2011 retail will be taken to higher levels and sail into peaceful waters, thanks to factors such as new technological trends, collaborative consumption and "f-commerce", among others. Read more >>Africa's engagement with China, India reshapes global economy - report [Issa Sikiti da Silva] Africa's engagement with China, India and other Asian economies is a new megatrend that will reshape the global economy for years and decades to come, as Africa gradually moves away from the West and heads towards high-growth economies of the East, according to a recent report released by MasterCard Worldwide Insights. Read more >>New cheese making contest from Woolworths Cheese makers who are considering launching a new cheese, or who have launched a novelty cheese in the previous 12 months that's not currently sold in retail supermarkets, are encouraged to enter Woolworths first Cheese Makers' Challenge. The winning cheese in each category will be sold exclusively through Woolworths for an agreed period. Read more >>HCI has acquired a 33.9% stake in KWVInvestment holding company Hosken Consolidated Investments announced on Monday, 7 February 2011 that it had acquired a 33.9% stake in KWV Holdings for R274.12 million. Read more >>New Metal competition theme announcedThe theme for the R50 000 2011 Metal competition, sponsored by Carrol Boyes, is 'Serviette Holder - mess around'. Entries open on 1 March and close on 30 June 2011. Read more >>AssociationsEntrepreneur of the Year announcedThe TechnoServe Entrepreneur of the Year award, in partnership with Standard Bank, has announced its 2011 winners. The Entrepreneur of the Year and winner of the Agri-processing category is Ezekiel Madigoe. Other winners are Gaynor Francke, Female Entrepreneur of the Year and Tourism winner, Thabo Ramokgadi in the Light Manufacturing category and Rapelang Leshoto in the Construction category. Read more >>Banking & FinanceAccess Absa without airtimeWith its announcement yesterday, 8 February 2011, of free Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) access to Vodacom users who are Absa Cellphone Banking Lite Service clients, Absa has enabled its clients free access to perform a host of transactions from their mobile handsets. Read more >>Brand newsEngen acquires operations in Mauritius, Tanzania Engen has concluded its purchase of two more country operations from Chevron in Africa and the Indian Ocean islands in Mauritius and Tanzania. This brings to five the number of successful acquisitions from its competitor, in terms of a package of seven sales and purchase agreements signed in August 2010. Read more >>Clothing & TextilesJoburg Fashion Week opens with Die Vorm Joburg Fashion Week, opening on Wednesday 16 February 2011 at the Bus Factory, in Newtown, Johannesburg, will launch with the new autumn/winter (A/W) collection - Die Vorm from Suzaan Heyns. Read more >>Egypt textile workers stage strikeCAIRO, EGYPT: Workers at Egypt's largest factory walked out on Thursday, 10 February 2011, on an open-ended strike in solidarity with anti-government protesters and to demand a raise in the minimum wage, they told AFP. Read more >>Commercial propertyRenting commercial property, tips & taboos[Sean Liebenberg] From years of experience in managing extensive commercial property portfolios for clients, the JHI property services group has identified a number of key issues of importance. Read more >>Corporate Social InvestmentDistributionExhibitions & EventsCelebrating a decade of good South African cheeses Agri-Expo will celebrate a decade of good South African cheeses with the 10th SA Cheese Festival being held on 29 April to 2 May 2011 at its new venue, Sandringham Farm, situated along the N1 between Cape Town and Paarl and close to Stellenbosch. Read more >>AB7, SAITEX on events calendar Exhibition Management Services has announced that Africa's Big Seven Food and Beverage Trade Show (AB7) and the Southern African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX) will run from 17-19 July 2011 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand. Read more >>Tomorrow's leaders in Sandton The fourth annual Tomorrow's Leaders Convention will take place at the Sandton International Convention Centre on 31 March 2011. At the one-day convention, hosted by Leadership magazine, delegates, nominated by their companies as potential chief executives, will be addressed by leaders in politics, finance, business and industry on a range of issues that the delegates are likely to face in their boardrooms in the months and years ahead. Read more >>FMCGProfessional hair care system launches in SA Colomer South Africa will run a series of launches for its newly acquired black American Creme of Nature Professional hair care range, beginning in Johannesburg on 21 February 2011. With its roots in the US, the brand can currently be found in the UK, France, South America and North African countries. Read more >>Green sustainabilityWind power wows bankThe first wind-powered bank branch opened in the Western Cape town of DuNoon on Saturday 5 February 2011, powered by wind turbines installed by Eveready Kestrel that will generate all the electrical power that the branch will need to operate. Read more >>Health & SafetyHospitalityImport/ExportPackagingPackaging as an experience [Stephen Beattie] Packaging is a critical factor in influencing consumers' purchasing decisions, as 70% of all purchasing decisions are made in-store and consumers spend an average of only 20 minutes in a store at any given time. It is now mostly about the brand's ability to grab consumers' attention, relate to their own identities and then create an emotional connection - the experience. There are a few key trends for the year ahead that reinforce this view. Read more >>RegulatorySupreme violated the meat safety lawsSupreme Poultry violated the meat safety laws by reworking returned frozen chicken, an agriculture department probe has found. Read more >>Govt acts on frozen chicken sagaInspections have revealed that Supreme Poultry, the company at the centre of the frozen chicken controversy, is abusing brine injections in its chickens. Read more >>ResearchSearching for love this Valentine's Day Cupid's arrows are shooting through the air finding their mark - or missing it completely - depending upon which side of the fence you stand. What is for certain though, is that it's definitely that time of year again. With Valentine's Day already here, Google Zeitgeist (a tool that provides insights into Internet search trends) has revealed some curious and surprising results... Read more >>Retail marketingRetailersSecurityNew cyber security conferenceThe first Cyber Security Conference, Securing Mzanzy's Future, focusing on issues relevant to business, government and private citizens concerned about the integrity of sensitive information in today's connected world, will take place on 23-24 March 2011 at the Gallagher Conference Centre, Midrand. The aim of the conference is to create awareness of cyber threats and to alert stakeholders of the need to adopt a robust cyber-security framework. Read more >>TechnologySMEs cautious about cloud[Chris Welham] Despite IT publications and technology pages in mainstream media being filled with articles on cloud computing and how it will change the way companies communicate and do business, South African SMEs are still cautious and I believe we will not see the massive uptake of cloud computing predicted by providers at least until 2012. Read more >>South African software company in top 10 internationallySAN FRANCISCO, USA: The RSA Conference, one the world's leading information security conferences and expositions, announced the top 10 finalists for its 'Most Innovative Company at RSA Conference 2011' contest, which included South African software engineering company, Entersect. Read more >>TrainingSponsored education in hospitality Extending its social economic development programme, the KWV, in partnership with the International Hotel School (IHS), is offering study assistance to previously disadvantaged individuals who aspire to receive a formal, specialised qualification in the hospitality sector - an 'earn while you learn' alternative to full-time tertiary education. Read more >>
Informa comments on Microsoft/Nokia announcement [David McQueen] LONDON, UK: The Microsoft/Nokia partnership is a "make-or-break" strategy by both Microsoft and Nokia - the partnership might not be to Nokia's advantage, however. Read more >>January 2011 US search engine rankings RESTON, US: comScore, Inc, a leader in measuring the digital world, has released its monthly comScore qSearch analysis of the US search marketplace. Google sites led the explicit core search market in January with 65.6% of searches conducted. Read more >>Connecting consumers in the virtual loop [Robin Jaffray] LONDON, UK: In the final instalment of my "Closing the Loop" series, I explain how the "social" in social media doesn't always mean digital. Read more >>Advocates and conversations [Robin Jaffray] In his second article examining the shopper-consumer journey, Robin Jaffray discusses some of the techniques brands can use to "close the loop". Read more >>Anti-corruption Act scuppers deals NEW YORK, US: According to results of Deloitte's annual Look Before You Leap survey of corporate executives, investment bankers, private equity executives and hedge fund managers, 63% of respondents reported that the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and anti-corruption issues caused their companies to renegotiate or pull out of planned business relationships, mergers or acquisitions over the last three years. Read more >>More International news...
FMCGCapture your moment of longer lasting pleasure with Häagen-Dazs ice cream this Valentine's - General Mills This Valentine's Day Häagen-Dazs is offering a limited edition photo frame and personalised photograph with the purchase of one of their Valentine's menu items at the Sandton and V&A Waterfront Shops. The promotion runs for five days, from 10-14 February. Read more >>ResearchSouth Africa - The Nielsen Company - Research Partner of Product of the Year - The Nielsen CompanyNielsen is proud to be the Research Partner of the Product of the Year initiative - a consumer product award that rewards innovation and is voted on by consumers. POTY was created to champion innovative products in the FMCG sector and give shoppers the opportunity to interact with the very best new products on the market. Read more >>Retail servicesSend marching ants outside - RentokilHaving ant issues? Rentokil offers some information. Read more >>
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Banish blunders in the bush [Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] General Motors South Africa has launched an extensive new training course for 4x4 lovers called the Isuzu Off-Road Academy. Read more >>Number Three rockets to Number One [Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Only a few months after being launched in South Africa and Germany the new BMW X3 has won the title of "Off-Roader of the Year" in Germany. Read more >>More Motoring news...
Babylonstoren has a really fresh approach [Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] When an hotelier helps create buzz about a competitor's new spot, you can be pretty sure it will be spectacular. Read more >>Reuters in Smart move: Selects Smart Women Travelers, Inc ORLANDO, US: Smart Women Travelers, an online community for travelling women, has been selected for inclusion on Thomson Reuters' website www.Reuters.com as a Top Business Travel Site. Read more >>London faces sharp spike in luxury hotel supply LONDON, UK: According to analysis by PwC, there could be a 27% increase in luxury rooms in London by 2012 with around 2400 rooms in 18 hotels reported under construction or planned in London. Read more >>Etihad, Air New Zealand sign codeshare agreement Etihad Airways is continuing to build its presence in Australasia with the signing of an extensive codeshare agreement with Air New Zealand. Read more >>Like to try a Sea Castle? [Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] Camps Bay is a sexy place and when the wind doesn't blow there are few spots that rival it for access to fabulous beaches, Table Mountain and the hip bar and restaurant scene. Primi Sea Castle, linked to the high-energy Primi restaurant chain, is ideally suited to guests for whom location is paramount. Read more >>More Travel news...
Don't touch me on my creek [Ruth Cooper] We had a fairly rocky start to our UTC adventure; a ticket was left at home and this fact only realised on arrival. Thank god for Blackberries and helpful colleagues willing to head back to the office on a Friday evening! Luckily, this was the only snag in an otherwise lovely fest so, with entrance secured, my party companions and I camped up (also very rocky), hydrated with vodka and ventured forth into one of my all-time fav music festivals: Up the Creek, you beaut. Read more >>The Ogreling - an African adaptation, at the Baxter [Johann Smith] Sit down, sit down. Now shhh. Mama has something to tell you. You're father is an ogre, and so are you. Read more >>More BizLounge news...
Sales Assistant Manager - Cape TownHomeChoice has an opportunity for a sales assistant manager with a marketing or business degree and two years' supervisory experience. Read more >>
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