Retail South Africa weekly newsletter - 20 Feb 2012

Thanks for the love

Ah, so Valentine's Day has finally come and gone and whether you're still basking in the glow of your Valentine's affections or binning your wilting flowers, here's hoping you all got a little love last week. Retailers certainly did, if the figures are anything to go by, with the online market winning over more hearts this year. NetFlorist also reported a record number of orders this Valentine's Day.

The retail trade sales for December were also released last week with figures up across the board.

Today, Edcon decided to say "Thank U" to all its loyal shoppers, and is showing its love with the launch of its new loyalty programme.

This week we await Budget reassurances from Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan when he delivers the National Budget speech on Wednesday. A question on the minds of many is whether the Budget will introduce sin tax to fund NHI? We'll just have to wait and see.

Till then, keep up the love!

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: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Premier Foods acquires controlling stake in Swazi bread businesses

Premier Foods has paid R85 million for a controlling stake in two Swaziland based bread and confectionary businesses, Mr Bread and Swaziland United Bakeries, which combined have 75% share of Swaziland's bread market through well-established local brands such as Supreme bread. The group intends to re-introduce Blue Ribbon bread, which is its biggest bread brand in South Africa. Read more >>

Entrepreneur of the year open for entries

The 2012 Sanlam/Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year competition is open for entries. Now in its 24th year, the competition celebrates excellence in entrepreneurship, serving as an inspiration to others to succeed in the world of business. It is open to entrepreneurs from all industries and for businesses of any size, closing for entries on 16 June 2012. Read more >>

Consumer spending still slow: Tiger Brands

Tiger Brands (TBS) says the trading environment continues to be characterised by the slow recovery of consumer spending in the domestic market and rising cost inflation, resulting in an overall market volume decline in the categories in which it operates. Read more >>

Spatz Sperling honoured for his years of wine initiatives

The 1659 Medal of Honour, which was last awarded in 2004, was presented to Spatz Sperling of Delheim Wine Estate for his lifelong pioneering efforts towards innovative marketing initiatives in the wine industry. The medal is a commemoration of the first Cape harvest on 2 February 1659. Read more >>

This year's challenges, opportunities in property

[Marna van der Walt] During 2011, although the gradual recovery of the economy was at a slower pace than anticipated, it had a positive effect on disposable income, which reflected in positive retail growth. However, it is increasingly evident that the massive increases in electricity tariffs coupled with increases in fuel, rates and taxes are beginning to affect marginal tenants' ability to meet monthly financial obligations, which in turn may lead to a rise in insolvencies, liquidations and unemployment. Read more >>

Housing prices show return to normality: Part 1

According to Cees Bruggemans, chief economist FNB, a more normal relationship has been established in housing prices in South Africa. This is after a period of exuberant distortion during the latter years of the recent property boom, during which existing house prices eventually reached levels that matched the average cost of newly built houses. Read more >>

Housing prices show returns to normality: Part 2

In part 1 of this series, Cees Bruggemans, chief economist FNB, explained how housing prices in South Africa are normalising after a period of exuberant distortion during the latter years of the recent property boom, during which existing house prices eventually reached levels that matched the average cost of newly built houses. Today he discusses the main implications, options and cost of serviced land. Read more >>

SAPOA/IPD SA Property Index releases 2011 property performance in March

The Investment Property Databank (IPD) will reveal commercial property performance in 2011 when it presents the results of the SAPOA/IPD SA Property Index at events, sponsored by Eris Property Group, in Johannesburg on 27 March and Cape Town on 28 March 2012. Read more >>

Virtual Valentine sales increase in popularity

According to a survey conducted on News24, by PayU, 77% of respondents stated that they believed online shopping was the way of the future. A further survey, conducted by online shopping site Kalahari.com, revealed that 31% of shoppers said they chose to shop online for Valentine's Day and NetFlorist, an online flower and floral shop, experiences about a 59% profit increase each February. Read more >>

New B2B online portal offers business services

Resource Now is a new online portal designed specifically to complement a company's purchasing procedures, save time and offer value. Consumers will be able to connect with services such as BEE registration, web design, business equipment finance, green energy consultancy, register a South African domain name or create a company. Read more >>

Sustainable marketing, more than 'green'

[Michele van Heerden] The challenge in communicating the concepts of sustainability is that you run the risk of green washing or being too academic and not being understood. When engaging with people who have sustainability close to their hearts, the mention of marketing or advertising is considered 'not acceptable'. Read more >>

Retail trade sales increase across the board

Measured at constant 2008 prices, retail trade sales for the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2011 increased 7.9% when compared with the 2010 Q4, Statistics South Africa announced today, 15 February 2012. This follows an increase of 8.7% year-on-year (y/y) in December 2011 and a month-on-month (m/m) increase of 1.3%. Read more >>

Townships not over shopped, wealthier Gauteng suburbs are

According to an accessibility study of large shopping centres in Gauteng done by AfricaScope, Maponya Mall is the closest to the largest number of people and within the shortest travelling time in Gauteng. 1.2 million people have access to the mall, within approximately five minutes travel time by road using a car or taxi. Read more >>

Top 10 trends to help elevate information technology for digital business

NEW YORK, US: The unique convergence of five emerging technology forces - analytics, mobility, social, cloud and cyber security - provide the opportunity for businesses to accelerate performance in 2012, according to Deloitte's 3rd annual Tech Trends report Elevate IT for Digital Business, released earlier this month. Read more >>

Top retail locations in Germany grow at the expense of economically weak regions

NUREMBURG, GERMANY: Despite continued discussions about the European economic and financial crisis, GfK predicts that retail turnover in Germany will increase by around 1% this year. Growth potential is much stronger in those retail locations which already have significant retail drawing power. This also means that economically weak locations will continue to lose sales to the top locations. Read more >>

Celebrating 50 years of looking forward

LONDON, UK: D&AD is 50. The organisation is announcing a series of events to celebrate this remarkable milestone... Looking back over 50 years of looking forward. South Africa is represented on the juries by Graham Lang (Integrated & Earned Media jury) and Rob McLennan (Radio Advertising jury). Read more >>

Europe's Design Awards: Open for entries

KALLITHEA, GREECE: The European Design Awards is a comprehensive annual awards organisation celebrating the best of graphic design, illustration and digital design in Europe. A joint effort by 15 communication design magazines from across the continent, the ED-Awards aims to be a brilliant way to publicise your work on an international level. Read more >>

Company news

Logistics

IMPERIAL Logistics and GIBS partner to run a Supply Chain and Logistics Programme - IMPERIAL Logistics

The Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and IMPERIAL Logistics recently launched a Supply Chain and Logistics Programme. The partnership provides advanced teaching and research in the fields of logistics, supply chain and transportation management. Read more >>

e-Logics acquires TIDASA, extending value add from system solutions - IMPERIAL Logistics

Application solution and service provider, e-Logics has acquired a majority stake in The Training and Instructional Design Academy of South Africa (TIDASA), a private Further Education and Training (FET) college. Read more >>

Retail services

PriceCheck Product Barcode Scanner now widely available on Android and iPhone - PriceCheck

Further to a soft launch over the festive season, the PriceCheck Product Barcode Scanner is now available on a wider range of app stores. Although barcode scanning as a tool is still a budding technology, it allows the smart shopper to do comparative shopping wherever they choose to engage with products. Read more >>

Training

Communicating effectively is key to an organisation's survival - Quo Vadis Communications

Effective communication has always been key in whatever business one does. It is even more so in today's fast-paced information age, in which new technologies become regularly available and the need to reach more people and tell them about our business in a highly competitive world is paramount. Read more >>

Address skills, labour reforms, corruption - says opposition

Opposition members have welcomed President Jacob Zuma's announcement in his State of the Nation Address that government would spend more on infrastructure development, but urged the President to focus more on developing skills, implementing labour reforms and tackling corruption to ensure that the country overcomes unemployment and poverty. Read more >>

The Punto... Practical, pretty, perky

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Fiat launched its 6th generation Punto in South Africa last week just as the car was also being unwrapped in the UK and Europe - and judging by its looks, features and new engines the latest Punto will continue to be the biggest contributor to local Fiat passenger car sales. Read more >>

A taxing meander - but in a really good way

[Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] About four years ago while visiting Karoo lodge Samara we were encouraged to plant spekboom trees to counteract the carbon emissions we produced in getting there. That was the first time I'd consciously engaged in the impact of my life as a traveller and, rather than feel guilty about it, I was offered a neatly-packaged solution to deal with it. Read more >>

Is that Mabula?

[Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] "Where's Nana?" a Somerset West woman sitting behind us, in our game drive vehicle, at Thula Thula shouts, to our ranger over our shoulders. "Baby Mandla" her daughter chimes in, "is so big now." "Oh my God", the mother, close to tears, shrieks "is that Mabula over there, coming towards us now?" Read more >>

Magnificent Madikwe

[Chris Moerdyk: @chrismoerdyk] There is no greater feeling of contentment than standing stark naked on your own private deck surveying an unbroken vista of pristine Africa, following an early morning skinny dip in your own private plunge pool and an invigorating outside shower. Well this is one place you might think of doing it... Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge. Read more >>

You are not dead yet

[Ruth Cooper] P.H. Fat don't know much for sure, but they do know this: "You are going to die" and if you are reading this you are not dead yet, congratulations. Nothing to do with doomsday prophesies, the EP title "You Are Going to Die", off P.H. Fat's second musical offering ( hitting webs today) is rather an attempt at something truly honest and certain; a fact that we all know for sure. Read more >>

Monday night TheatreSports

[Maike Gevers] Picture a night out at the theatre and chances are you'll conjure up an image of a large hall, dressed-up audience members wearing old-fashioned make-up, the aroma of sneeze-making perfume, a big red curtain hiding elaborate stage props and, of course, the crinkling noise of someone trying to eat chocolate Whispers discreetly . Read more >>

Sincere and significant Material

[Daniel Dercksen] This truthful and outstanding local film is a wonderful example of what Proudly South African filmmaking and storytelling are all about. Sincere in its telling and significant in its delivery, writer-director Craig Freimond and his team give us a passionate and endearing portrait of the Muslim community and life in South Africa. It is not a film about comedy, but uniquely explores the ability of humour as a potent and proficient weapon to break down conventional and conservative barriers and embrace cultural and social differences. Read more >>

Bach and Friends on Vacation in Darling

[Andra le Roux-Kemp] The small town of Darling (about an hour's drive from Cape Town) is not only home to the (in)famous First Lady of South Africa, Evita Bezuidenhout, but is also, according to the organisers of the seventh Darling Music Experience, the favourite holiday destination of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Read more >>

Going Back to the Crossroads at Kirstenbosch

[Michael Britton] You might think it incongruous to sit in the idyllic amphitheatre at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and listen to the blues. After all, blues songs open with lines like, "Been down so long it looks like up to me", and "I had the blues so bad one time, it put my face in a permanent frown". But despite the pain of betrayal and the desolation of love lost expressed in so many blues songs, the music is a celebration of life - and what better place to celebrate life than in that magnificent setting? Read more >>

Corrupted innocence in Chronicle

[Daniel Dercksen] Your mind is guaranteed to explode with this sensational and extraordinary fantasy that combines elements of sci-fi with a unique coming-of-age story and the bond between school friends. It is also a brilliant exploration of how the outsider becomes king and rules his domain with malicious madness. Read more >>

Serious talent at the Red Carpet Fashion Show

[Julie-Anne Pocock] Progressive opinions be damned, it's still fun to dress up and eyeball the who's who. It's not often that I climb into a pair of high heels, and it's even less often that I get to saunter into five-star fashion events. But the Red Carpet Fashion Show last Friday sounded like it was going to be an a lot of fun and who was I to say no to expensive champagne, Italian canapés and goodie bags? Read more >>

My Week With Marilyn

[Daniel Dercksen] A scrupulous and sincere scrutiny of first love and how its significance can change lives and last a lifetime. Fans who are familiar with the films that turned Marilyn Monroe into an iconic legend, and her tragic life story, will applaud this wonderful opportunity of sharing some tender and intimate moments with her. Read more >>

The human rights and social justice season Drama for Life Company Laboratory - Johannesburg, 21 February
Wheat and gluten free baking class gingko - JHB, 23 February
Life Carstenhof Clinic CPD presentation Life Carstenhof Clinic - Midrand, 23 February
Marketing strategy Paton Training - Johannesburg, 27 February
Trusts UCT Law@work: Professional Development Project - Cape Town, 28 February
Sales - tell sell compel Training Shop - Johannesburg, 28 February
First aid level one Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business - Pietermaritzburg, 29 February
UCT GSB budget breakfast with Brian Kantor UCT Graduate School of Business - Cape Town, 29 February
Lean enterprise advanced course BMGI - Johannesburg, 5 March
All about getting the basics Mediaportal t/a ThinkApple - Durban, 5 March

"Social Media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube are changing the way the world does business. I think this is in response to our desire to connect with others. Relationship Marketing is all about connecting with people first as human beings and then as customers later. For a real business relationship to work, both parties must receive value. If only one or neither does, that relationship won't continue for long. (via Saucy Social Media)" - Terry Brock

Thanks for the love

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IMPERIAL Logistics and GIBS partner to run a Supply Chain and Logistics Programme - IMPERIAL Logistics

e-Logics acquires TIDASA, extending value add from system solutions - IMPERIAL Logistics

Retail services

PriceCheck Product Barcode Scanner now widely available on Android and iPhone - PriceCheck

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Communicating effectively is key to an organisation's survival - Quo Vadis Communications

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