| 18 Jun 2012 |
| Retail | South Africa |
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Retail, Associations, Banking & Finance, Brand news, Clothing & Textiles, Cold chain, Commercial property, CRM, CSI, Distribution, e-Commerce, Exhibitions & Events, FMCG, Franchising, Green sustainability, Health & Safety, Hospitality, Import/Export, Informal retailing, Instore, Logistics, Manufacturing, Merchandising, Packaging, Refrigeration, Regulatory, Research, Retail marketing, Retail services, Retail trends, Retailers, Security, Shipping & Transport, Shopfitting, Supply chain, Technology, Training, 2012 Design Indaba
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Humble pie and ice teaHaving given far too much credit to the holidays, I had to eat my words last week: retail trade sales climbed a mere 1%, Stats SA reported on Wednesday. At least I wasn't the only one dining on humble pie - Steers learned a big lesson in marketing and PR... On Thursday, wholesale sales were up by 8.1% - but we may see this taper off too, with tough trading likely to continue and retailers scaling down orders. Cash withdrawals for May also slowed post-holidays, but was up year-on-year. In other news... Winemakers - learn how to protect your plonk, but beware trademark rulings; Raymond Ackerman tells us how he would fix the country if he were president; and Clicks had a week of highs and lows, launching its mobile healthcare voucher service and losing its MD. On a quirky note, BOS Ice Tea has set up BEV, a robotic vending machine, in Cape Town's Wembley Square, to allow users to sample its drinks. But this isn't just any standard vending machine and doesn't use coins for activation. No, BEV is activated by tweets. That's right. BEV will dispense a drink at the touch of a hashtag. But before you think you can set the drinks rolling from across the country, good ol' BEV checks your location first. Wonders never cease... Have a great week! 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: FreeDigitalPhotos.netTop stories
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Retailers are bracing themselves for a lacklustre second half of the year as consumers continue to feel pressure. Read more >>
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 [Raymond Ackerman] In the early 1960s, I attended a seminar facilitated by Bernard Trujillo, a marketing genius who was, I believe, one of the 20th century's great pioneers of ethical retailing. Read more >>
[Zeenat Moorad] Growth in retail sales volumes slowed notably during the second quarter of this year‚ with retailers in durable goods‚ semi-durable goods and non-durable goods all reporting lower volume growth rates compared to the first quarter‚ the latest Ernst & Young/Bureau for Economic Research (BER) retail survey revealed on Thursday, 14 June 2012. Read more >>
Growth in SA's retail trade sales at constant (2008) prices for April slowed to a much weaker than expected 1.0% year-on-year (y/y) after a slightly downwardly revised 6.7% [6.8%] growth in March‚ figures released on Wednesday, 13 June 2012, by Statistics SA showed. Read more >>
 With the penetration of mobile phones in South Africa, social shopping is a snap. "Social approval plays a major part in consumer decisions. The dramatic rise in mobile device use in South Africa has created new ways to test social approval. It's impacting how we shop," says Amanda Stops, GM of the SA Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC). Read more >>
Banking & Finance
 The average cash withdrawal values across South Africa for May 2012, was R425.94, a 4.81% year-on-year increase, the highest year-on-year increase in 2012 to dates, as measured by the Spark Cash Index (SCI). There was a month-on-month drop of 2.18%, a decline in consumer spending and trading conditions, following the spike in withdrawal activity during the holiday month of April 2012. Read more >>
[Phakamisa Ndzamela] Financial services company Alexander Forbes plans to expand its service offering to individuals, with a target of growing this business to 40% of its group revenue and profit in two years. Read more >>
Brand news
 [Chris Moerdyk: @chrismoerdyk] It never ceases to amaze me how corporate egos can lead to stupid knee-jerk decisions that end up damaging brands so much more than if they just swallowed their pride and moved on. Read more >>
 Renier Hattingh has joined Boost Juice in South Africa as the new GM. He has 18 years' experience in the food industry and will be looking to grow the brand extensively in South Africa over the next couple of years. Read more >>
At the 2012 Sélections Mondiales des Vins in Quebec, Canada, 13 South African wines brought home gold medals. Among them is the Plaisir de Merle Cabernet Sauvignon 2008. Read more >>
WASHINGTON, USA: Bankrupt photography giant Kodak said it has started moves to auction more than 1,100 patents by filing a motion late on Monday, 11 June 2012, for approval for a blind bidding process. Read more >>
Clothing & Textiles
Commercial property
 Jozini, a small town on the main route to Mozambique in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal and a gateway into Maputaland, will get its first mall in April 2013, when the 18 100sqm Jozini Mall opens. Read more >>
Corporate Social Investment
CRM
 Aegis Media, in conjunction with Bizcommunity.com, will be hosting the sixth Thought Leadership Digibate that will debate and discuss whether or not social media should be the first pillar of a marketing strategy. The event will be held on 29 June 2012 at Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Melrose Arch and will stream live on www.bizradio.co.za from 9.30am to 11am. Read more >>
e-Commerce
To extend its rewards programme's footprint further in the online retail environment, eBucks has announced a new spend partnership with South African online retailer, Takealot.com, which offers over six million products. Read more >>
Exhibitions & Events
FMCG
Hospitality
[Andile Ndlovu] Flame-grilled burger giant Steers, on Wednesday, was pasted by disappointed customers, after its advertised R10 burger special flopped when outlets ran out of stock. Read more >>
 Publishers Contact Media & Communications has launched the first trade magazine for the hospitality industry operating in townships, Spotong. Read more >>
Import/Export
Regulatory
 A decision handed down by the Cape High Court on Wednesday 13 June 2012 that grapes bearing almost the identical registered mark to wine would not cause confusion, sets a precedent and should be of great concern to the wine industry. The Court held that grapes and wine are not "similar goods" in a trademark sense. Read more >>
Research
Wholesale trade sales at constant (2000) prices for April grew by 8.1% year on year (y/y) compared with an unrevised 5.3% y/y growth in March‚ Statistics SA data showed on Thursday, 14 June 2012. Read more >>
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Retail services |  |
[Tamar Kahn] JSE-listed health and beauty products retailer Clicks has teamed up with healthcare purchaser Health Connects to launch cellphone healthcare vouchers that can be redeemed at its pharmacies, the company announced yesterday, 11 June 2012. Read more >>
Retailers
 [Zeenat Moorad] Pick n Pay (PIK) is operating in a time of tightened consumer spending‚ increased competition in the retail sector‚ and increased food inflation and utility costs‚ its chairman Gareth Ackerman said on Friday, 15 June 2012. Read more >>
Clicks Group (CLS) on Wednesday, 13 June 2012, advised that Michael Harvey‚ an executive director of the group and managing director of Clicks‚ has resigned with immediate effect. Read more >>
 Despite growing concerns over Zimbabwe's continuing 51% indigenisation programme that has ruffled the feathers of foreign investors, South African retail giant Pick n Pay is expanding in Zimbabwe, with plans to open a new supermarket in Harare at the end of the month. Read more >>
Security
With the complexity of surveillance demands in modern times, security technology professionals JIST, says that simplicity is still key to sophisticated solutions, especially for the significant challenges facing shopping centre management, as they strive to tackle myriad security issues daily. JIST has won the Mobotix award for Installation of the Year: 2012 for the surveillance solution it provided at Western Cape's Tyger Valley Shopping Centre. Read more >>
Supply chain
Technology
 Until 22 June 2012, Capetonians can watch what is described as the world's first Twitter-activated sampling machine, BEV, issue BOS Ice Tea. The whirling, bleeping, buzzing ice tea-vending robot, made her debut appearance at the 2012 Design Indaba, where she spent her time refreshing and amusing delegates and the public. Read more >>
NEW YORK, US: US magazine giant Time Inc has announced it would offer digital subscriptions for all 20 of its consumer magazine titles for iPad on Apple's Newsstand. Read more >>
 NEW YORK, US: New York Festivals International Radio Program & Promotions Awards, honouring the World's Best Radio Programs, continues its green initiative by offering an e-program for the 2012 Radio Awards on a mobile app for the second year in a row. Read more >>
 NEW YORK, US: One Show Interactive 2013 now is open for quarterly submissions. Q1 entry deadline is 31 July. Read more >>
 RESTON, US: comScore, Inc and Facebook have released the second white paper in The Power of Like series, The Power of Like 2: How Social Marketing Works, including original analysis demonstrating ways in which exposure to earned and paid media on Facebook drives behavioural lifts in purchase behaviour. The analysis leverages data and insights from the comScore Social Essentials and comScore AdEffx products. This release follows the first in the series: The Power of Like: How Brands Reach and Influence Fans Through Social Media Marketing. Read more >>
More International...
 Bizcommunity.com is proud to announce the launch of its own online shopping portal, BizBuy, focusing on two categories, Business products and Lifestyle products. Read more >>
Exhibitions & Events
 Over the past decade, bilateral trade between Thailand and South Africa has demonstrated steady growth. In 2011, combined trade between the countries reached an all time high of USD 3.5 billion - a significant increase over the USD 2.2 billion of 2010. Read more >>Packaging
With South Africa's wine sales having increased by approximately a third in the last calendar year, popping the cork on protection of intellectual property on and inside the wine bottle has become increasingly important. So how do you protect your plonk? Read more >>Retail services
According to Rentokil, the infestation of pests in commercial or industrial buildings can have a detrimental effect on the reputation of a business, whether it's a restaurant, shop or factory. But apart from losing customers, the business may also suffer damage to goods and may even be forced to close its doors for a while. Read more >>
 Government and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) agree on the principles underlying the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) but will continue consultation on the detail of implementation. Read more >>
 Minister in the Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Collins Chabane, says Cabinet has welcomed the recent Supreme Court of Appeal judgment - which decided that the right to mine in South Africa in the sense of the right to prospect and mine for minerals and extract and dispose of them is vested in the State . Read more >>
Cabinet has approved the first annual National Evaluation Plan which identifies the evaluations to be undertaken over the next year. Read more >>
 President Jacob Zuma has appointed the country's first female National Police Commissioner, Mangwashi Victoria Phiyega. Read more >>
 [Nicky Smith] Holders of South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) bonds were "very concerned" about a possible further downgrade to the agency's debt‚ according to Sanral CFO Inge Mulder. Read more >>
More Government news...
 [Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] The Mercedes-Benz M-Class, South Africa's top-selling snooty SUV, has been substantially upgraded so that it looks prettier, feels classier and is now even safer, considerably less thirsty and more fun to drive. Read more >>
 [Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Like many other carmakers Citroen has now also waltzed on to the rapidly growing SUV market enticed by the sweet tunes of the Jewish Harp and confident that its new three-model Aircross range is sexy enough to lure SUV-addicted South Africans away from the brands that dominate this lucrative market segment. Read more >>
 [Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Mazda's trail-blazing new CX-5 has arrived in South Africa just few months after its international debut and it's easy to understand why it has ignited such a world-wide frenzy of debate, praise and enthusiasm, most of it about its pace-setting new Skyactive technology. Read more >>
More Motoring news...
 Recently, three World Leisure Holidays' properties - two established and one new - were recognised for superiority and excellence. Le Touessrok won Best Hotel in Africa/Indian Ocean award: The hotel is a flagship Sun Resorts hotel and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. The resort has been awarded the Ultratravel Best Hotel in Africa/Indian Ocean award by The Daily Telegraph's luxury travel magazine, Ultratravel. This is the third year running that Le Touessrok has received this award. Read more >>
 World Leisure Holidays has announced that its Long Beach Resort is celebrating its first year of fine service and all-round success. Read more >>
 Europe's largest upscale brand Radisson Blu launches a new contest: "Radisson Blu's Top Hotel", an online competition between 200 Blu hotels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa which compete for the customer's votes by promoting their uniqueness. Read more >>
 &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in Namibia aims to offer unrivalled stargazing from its observatory in the NamibRand Nature Reserve, which has just been declared Africa's first International Dark Sky Reserve (IDSR). Read more >>
More Travel news...
 [Eugene Yiga] I didn't know what to expect. Gilbert and Sullivan? I'd heard the names before and I knew they had something to do with music. More than that, I honestly couldn't say. Fortunately for me, Topsy Turvy was here to educate my clueless mind. And judging by what I experienced, I suggest you let it educate you too. Read more >>
 Tickets will be on-sale for the SA leg of Lady Gaga's Born This Way tour starting 9am, 19 June 2012 at Computicket (web sales only). In Johannesburg on 30 November, and in Cape Town on 3 December Lady Gaga will be supported by the newly reformed British rock band The Darkness, and Lady Gaga's long-time performance partner and DJ, Lady Starlight, has been confirmed as a special guest. Read more >>
 For the first time, Grammy-Award winning San Diego band Switchfoot are to tour SA on their Vice Verses tour. They will play on 8 August at The Big Top Arena, Carnival City, Joburg and on 11 August, 2012, at the Grand Arena, GrandWest, Cape Town. Read more >>
 [Daniel Dercksen] There are some shows opening in Cape Town this week that cater for all tastes that you have to see! Read more >>
More BizLounge news...
- Foxy Tonic gains Easionline as a client - more info
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- Caprice and Fish Eagle enterpeneur dinner - Cape Town, 21 June
- Fete de la musique Fete de La Musique - Cape Town, 21 June
- Viva La Symphony concerts at UWC Cape Philharmonic Orchestra - Bellville, 21 June
- Calling all dramatists to turn words into action The Writing Studio - Cape Town, 23 June
- One Night in Paris with Willy Monfret La French Connection - Cape Town, 27 June
- Dream Boy- by Stallone Santino DarNak Media - Grahamstown, 28 June
- Sibongile Khumalo on tour JT Communicaion Solution - Grahamstown, 6 July
- Professional voice over the telephone The International Sales and Voice Academy - Port Elizabeth, 12 July
- French festivities at La Motte La Motte - Cape Town, 14 July
- CPUT music festival Boss Lady Entertainment - Cape Town, 14 July
Click here to customise your events section
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