Retail South Africa weekly newsletter - 9 Jul 2012

Social side of banking

"Social lending" has become the new buzzword in banking, with RainFin being the new kid on this particular block. Not sure what social lending is? Sean Emery breaks it down for us.

In regular banking news, small farmers are being offered mentorships; and analysts expect good results from FirstRand.

Still feeling a bit clueless about the Consumer Protection Act? Adams & Adams partner, Danie Strachan gives us the low-down on the new returns policies.

In other news... Abey Mokgwatsane calls for ethical and entrepreneurial leadership for SA; the CGCSA wants a centralized database for food recalls; and SA Maritime Safety Authority's CEO says that state regulation is the biggest inhibitor to SA's shipping industry. Tiger Brands is finalizing its purchase of a majority share in Nigeria's Dangote Flour Mills; Nederburg gets a new look; and TNS reveals the reason for Shoprite's dominance in the grocery market.

And lastly, it's nearly time to celebrate SA's most inspirational and dedicated women as the finalists of the Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year awards have been announced. Congratulations and good luck!

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.net

Rainbow, Astral hit by lost pricing power

[Stafford Thomas] Strong brands and a growing market are key factors for a successful company. Poultry industry players Astral and Rainbow offer both but have long lacked another attribute that could make them great investments: pricing power. Read more >>

Private labels investing in quality, growth

[Michael van Wyk] Consumers seeking to save some money in tough economic times are fuelling the current growth in private label brands, forcing retailers to rethink how they promote their in-house and own-name brands. The conundrum is: do they increase the number of products they offer or only the perceived quality and value of the existing product line-up? Read more >>

June new vehicles sales rise 15.6%: Naamsa

New vehicle sales in SA rose by 15.6% year-on-year (y/y) in June to 51‚891 units compared with a 20.7% y/y rise in May to 50‚229 units‚ the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) said on Tuesday, 3 July 2012. Read more >>

Analysts expect good results from FirstRand

[Sure Kamhunga] A surge in unsecured lending and strong vehicles sales is expected to power FirstRand's full-year earnings when the CEO of SA's second-largest listed bank‚ Sizwe Nxasana‚ reports its full-year results next month. Read more >>

New social lender on South African scene

A new social lending platform has launched under the trading name RainFin. Its secure online platform is a smarter and more efficient form of financial intermediation that links people who need to borrow money with people who have money to lend. Read more >>

Tiger Brands buys stake in Nigerian flour business

[Roy Downing] Tiger Brands (TBS)‚ SA's largest food producer‚ has reached an agreement in principle with Dangote‚ the West African manufacturing group‚ to purchase 63.35% of the Nigerian flour and pasta maker Dangote Flour Mills (DFM). Read more >>

Wear your heart on your sleeve

Cape Town-based Brand ID has worked with 46664 (South Africa) to create a debut range of merchandise for supporters of Nelson Mandela International Day 2012. The range pays tribute to the spirit of Mandela's 2008 rallying call in London for "new hands to be found to lift the burden." Read more >>

National finalists for 2012 Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year

Yesterday, 4 July 2012, the 2012 Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Award announced the three finalists in each of the five categories of Socio-Economic Business Developers, Good Neighbours Against Crime, Educators, Youth Movers and Health Care-Givers. Read more >>

New online store sparked by student owner's needs

Cablekiosk.co.za, a new online store which launched this week, was conceived when Rhodes University student, Andrew Lynch was looking for a replacement iPod charging cable. "I looked online and in stores and received such poor service and ridiculous prices - I felt like I was being ripped off." He searched abroad for alternatives. "I convinced a company in China to manufacture a small batch of cables and ship them to me, for a lower price than a single cable in South Africa! I kept one cable and put the rest on BidorBuy.co.za. Within two weeks I had sold all my stock." Read more >>

Call for centralized database on food recalls

Ronél Burger, head of the Food Safety Initiative at the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa has called for a centralized database that food wholesalers, retailers, suppliers and manufacturers should use when recalling any type of food available to South African consumers. Read more >>

SA chemical industry reshaping to become leaner, more price competitive

[Saijil Singh] South Africa's chemical industry is the largest of its kind in Africa. One of its strength is that local companies develop and market higher-value chemicals, giving them a competitive edge. It has an unusually large chemical industry and is of substantial economic significance. In 2011, the industry contributed 5% to GDP and 25% to total manufacturing sales. Read more >>

Direct approach to shopper marketing

[David Furlonger] Shopper marketing agencies are a "bloody nuisance" in the eyes of traditional advertising agencies because they siphon off budgets that could otherwise be spent on high-cost creative work, says Craig Melling-Williams, head of the Buchanan marketing group in SA. Read more >>

State regulation biggest inhibitor to SA shipping

[Paul Vecchiatto] State regulation is the biggest inhibitor to growing the SA maritime shipping industry and its development had been neglected in the future planning of the economy‚ says Commander Tsietsi Mokhele‚ CEO of the SA Maritime Safety Authority. Read more >>

European women drive most engagement: Online retail, community websites

LONDON, UK: comScore, Inc, a leader in measuring the digital world, today released an overview of internet usage in Europe, showing that 395.7 million Europeans went online in May 2012 for an average of 27.6 hours each. Read more >>

WFA to offer marketing procurement benchmark service

LONDON, UK: The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) is to offer both members and non-members the chance to benchmark their marketing procurement services against some of the world's biggest and most sophisticated advertisers. Read more >>

Company news

Exhibitions & Events

Retailers and suppliers invited to the debut Retail Indaba - Cadek Media

Retail Indaba is making its debut on 19 and 20 July at the CTICC and aims to bring together retailers, suppliers and industry associations for high-level learning, networking and team building. Read more >>

FMCG

Join Jacobs and play this Mandela Day - Kraft Foods South Africa

In anticipation of Nelson Mandela International Day 2012, Jacobs Krönung premium coffee will be paying tribute to our nation's icon on Saturday, 14 July, at Constitution Hill in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Read more >>

Packaging

Infini helps retailers hit sustainability targets without compromising on quality - Nampak

Nampak Plastics UK is helping retailers to reach their sustainability targets with its latest brainchild, the Infini bottle. This innovative, ultra-lightweight plastic milk bottle is 15% lighter than the standard bottle design and contains up to 15% recycled materials yet it still exceeds current performance specifications. Read more >>

Retail marketing

Building successful brands through tight business integration - Fore Good

[Leron Varsha] A brand is built through a consistent, relevant and credible message. As the economic outlook continues to be uncertain, now more than ever successful brands must focus on tightly integrating each stage within their brand's business cycle. Read more >>

Infiniti fit to rumble the Germans

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Its called Infiniti and it's one of the most powerful weapons yet to go in action in the local premium car war between Germany and The Rest - and this time round Japan is more than just a yapping ankle-biter... The Infiniti is one of the classiest brands the Land of the Rising Sun has come up with in its efforts to gain some of the high ground dominated locally by Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Read more >>

Cape Town flight will depart from Munich in the future

Seasonal Lufthansa connection to the South African city moves from Frankfurt to Munich. Lufthansa passengers will for the first time be able to reach the South African coastal city of Cape Town non-stop from Munich when the upcoming 2012/2013 winter flight schedule goes into effect. Read more >>

Have chef will travel

[Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] Brian Berkman recently had a Q&A with Jonathan Duiker, executive sous chef at Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli and Naladhu Maldives in the Maldives' South Male Atoll, to find out - among other things - what prompted Jonathan to make the move from Melrose Arch to The Maldives. Read more >>

Laughs from the past in Defending The Caveman

[Eugene Yiga] Have you ever wondered why men don't ask for directions? What about why women need so much cupboard space? Many of us have, which probably explains why Defending The Caveman has been such a phenomenal success. From its start in San Francisco over 20 years ago, this "date comedy" has now been seen by over 8 million people in 45 countries around the world (and still holds the record for the longest running solo play in Broadway history). Fortunately for those who missed it before, it's back for another South African season so more of us can see it too. Read more >>

Creative directions and evolutions with The Grrrl

[Ruth Cooper] Inka Kendzia, best known for her VJ-ing skills; behind the decks and in front of the audio-influenced video montage amazingness that she creates under the moniker The Grrrl, tells us how it all began, the concept behind recent video for Mr Sakitumi (her husband and musical soulmate) and how "ideas can lead to cultural evolution". Read more >>

Bona fide indie pop

[Johann M. Smith] Any band can be judged by its genre, but it doesn't always reflect its ideas. Duo, male-and-female-fronted Asleep In Transit's debut eponymous EP is bona fide indie pop from Durban, which stands proudly alongside the likes of Holiday Murray, Thomas Krane, et al. But, unlike bands of that ilk, they appear to spend less time wondering what would make them sound cupcake hipster and more pondering life and lyrics. Read more >>

Portrait photography Vega School of Brand Leadership, Pretoria - Pretoria, 9 July
Auditions for SABC drama WAKA - Johannesburg, 10 July
Principles of strategic thinking Vega School of Brand Leadership - Cape Town, 10 July
iKapa Dance Theatre presents: Inhale/Exhale iKapa Dance Theatre - East London, 11 July
Enjoy a braai with weber Hirschs - Johannesburg, 14 July
Sipho Hotstix Mabuse Acoustic Tales on the lawn Triple M Entertainment - Johannesburg, 15 July
Adult ballet class for amateur dancers Dance Hub - Centurion, 18 July
MBA discussion session with Dutch Business School Business School Netherlands - Cape Town, 18 July
Retail Indaba CADEK Media - Cape Town, 19 July
Long term weight control - the unbiased truth Xtraordinarywomen - Cape Town, 20 July

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Infini helps retailers hit sustainability targets without compromising on quality - Nampak

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Building successful brands through tight business integration - Fore Good

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