| 10 Sep 2012 |
| Retail | South Africa |
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Retail, Associations, Banking & Finance, Brand news, Cold chain, Commercial property, CRM, CSI, Distribution, e-Commerce, Exhibitions & Events, Fashion, Clothing & Textiles, 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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What's the BEEg deal?So Woolworths found itself in stormy social waters again this past week over a claim by blogger Justin Harrison that the company had allegedly posted ads that "were only open to African, Colored and Indian candidates, clearly excluding whites." [sic] Now excuse me for not getting my knickers in a twist and boycotting Woolies, but how is this different to any of the hundreds of companies, every day, that post ads for BEE candidates? Last time I checked, this had more to do with government's Labour Law and BEE ratings than where you buy your milk. If you have such a problem with it, why pull up one company over it? Hey, why not trawl the jobs pages and boycott every company requiring BEE candidates? I know, why not just move to Canada? PS: 2oceansvibe conducted an investigation into Justin Harrison's social networking activities last week, the findings of which raised the question " Is Woolworths Whistleblower SA's Biggest Online Fake?" You decide for yourself. Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail
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[Greg Johnson] The development and growth of SMEs is essential for the alleviation of the current unemployment crisis in South Africa, which is accepted worldwide as a concept. However, knowing that something is the right thing to do and actually doing it are two very different notions, especially in the corporate world. Read more >>
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An investment in Zimbabwe's National Foods by Tiger Brands has helped the Zimbabwean company boost capacity utilisation to 404,000 metric tons in the full year to the end of June. Read more >>
Clover SA has confirmed the acquisition of 100% of the equity in and shareholders' loans against The Real Juice Co Holdings from AVI Limited for R60 million. Read more >>
Distell is expanding its presence in the East with the acquisition of a 60% share in fast-growing privately-owned liquor distribution company, CJ Wines & Spirits, based in Zhongshan in the Pearl Valley Delta of Guangdong Province. Read more >>
Brand news
HomeChoice Holdings is to list on the JSE in Q4‚ 2012‚ the company says. It has applied to the JSE for a listing of its ordinary shares on the Main Board under the General Retailers: Broadline Retailers sector. Read more >>
Commercial property
 The 30-year old Greenacres Shopping Centre in Port Elizabeth will get a R420 million investment from its owner, Liberty Property Group. The investment, which includes retail, office and hotel components, will revitalise the centre and introduce exciting new retailers to the Eastern Cape. Read more >>
Corporate Social Investment
Distribution
A partnership between Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC) and Freshmark, Shoprite's fruit and vegetable procurement and distribution arm, has seen a number of Mpumalanga farmers, who have previously sold their produce to the local market, widen their market by selling large quantities directly to Freshmark. Read more >>
e-Commerce
 Venture capitalist, Hasso Plattner Ventures Africa has invested in rubybox, the innovative, try-before-you-buy beauty subscription start-up. As part of the investment, rubybox is acquiring GlamBox SA, its major current competitor in the beauty box market, making it the dominant market player in the online beauty box market in South Africa. Read more >>
Kalahari.com has added seven virtual stores to its product offering with baby; homeware; appliances; luggage; pets; tools and outdoor categories. Read more >>
 Andy Higgins, founder and former MD of bidorbuy.co.za joined Jump Shopping in August 2012 and, together with the company's founder, Jaco Roux, has evolved it into uAfrica.com. Read more >>
Exhibitions & Events
 In a first for the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction, it will be open to online bids on 6 October 2012 in a bid to reach new, untapped world markets through a partnership between the Guild and UK auction giant, ATG. Read more >>
 The 16th annual SA Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) Congress will be held from 19-21 September 2012 at the International Convention Centre in Durban. Delegates hoping to gain a diversity of insight will not be disappointed, as the theme of Connect: The Power of Personal plays out across a variety of retail topics. Read more >>
Fashion, Clothing & Textiles
FMCG
Brewing giant SABMiller has opened a new brewery in Onitsha‚ South Eastern Nigeria - the company's first 'greenfield' brewery to be built in that country. Read more >>
Hospitality
Merchandising
 American research has uncovered that cluttered, jumbled stores sell better than neat, streamlined outlets. An over-cluttered, chaotic store, reminiscent of a bazaar, screams, "bargain" and has been proven to increase product sales within that store. Read more >>
Packaging
Regulatory
 The sport nutrition industry in South Africa is unregulated, unlike medicines, which are controlled by the Medicines Control Council. This leads to products being sold that may contain substance banned by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and incomplete or inaccurate ingredients lists on the label of a sports nutrition product. Read more >>
Research
With its established experience in the retail and wholesale sectors, providing a unique and customised solution to understanding consumer behaviour, BMi has produced a new report as part of its 2012 Food Feedback series - Breakfast Foods in South Africa. Read more >>
 A recently commissioned research by Ads24, Path to Persuasion, has revealed two prominent media mixes in the retail category - the combination of 'Television, Newspapers and the Internet' and the combination of 'Television, Billboards and the Internet'. Read more >>
Recent research into the spending habits of men and women has revealed different traits. According to the survey, by CreditDonkey.com, 16.5% of men's spending is on restaurants while women's is only 7.8% and men's petrol purchase ranks 37% compared with women's 26.6%. Read more >>
Retail marketing
[John Bowles] There is so much choice for shoppers today that most consumers will not travel further than they need to. Even the super malls, like Century City only expect and rely on about a 10km catchment area. With petrol prices, now more than ever, buyers and shoppers are relying on close-to-home convenience and appreciating the true value of the communities in which they live. Read more >>
Retail services
 For SMEs, the complexities of online payments, often makes them reluctant to offer goods or services via the web. To assist such businesses into the e-commerce field, PayU has launched EasyMerchant, a simplified solution that enables companies to accept credit card payments by using the provider's merchant account and processing network. Read more >>
Retailers
[Zeenat Moorad] Fruit and Veg City Holdings on Monday, 10 September 2012, announced that it had acquired a stake in Diamonds Discount Liquors. Read more >>
 Ian Moir, Woolworths CEO says that it is "simply not true" to suggest that Woolworths follows racist recruitment practices - specifically, of not employing white people. The retailer has also disabled its Facebook wall after it became what the company terms "a platform for a well-orchestrated campaign of hate speech". Read more >>
[Zeenat Moorad] Upmarket retailer Woolworths yesterday said the majority of those affected by its decision to change employee contracts had opted to stay with the group, rejecting claims from trade unions that it planned to cut 177 jobs. Read more >>
 [Zeenat Moorad] Upmarket retailer Woolworths last week found itself in a social media storm with calls for boycotts from‚ among others‚ Afrikaans singer Steve Hofmeyr who tweeted "Gonna be hard‚ but goodbye Woolies." Read more >>
Shipping & Transport
Supply chain
Technology
 NEW YORK, US: Twitter is outpacing Facebook in US mobile advertising revenue this year, according to a survey released on Thursday showing a market dominated by Google. Read more >>
 LYON, FRANCE: Euronews and Google team up to launch competition for small and medium-sized enterprises that use the Internet to attract new customers, grow their market share and take their businesses global. Read more >>
 SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: South Korea has drafted a new law aimed at restricting alcohol advertising amid mounting concerns over binge drinking and alcohol-related crimes, a government official said on Thursday. Read more >>
More International...
LONDON, UK / BUCHAREST, ROMANIA / TORONTO, CANADA: Filminute is collaborating for a sixth year with South Africa's Bizcommunity.com. Read more >>
Exhibitions & Events
 Listen out for Thirst's cocktail mixologists every Friday from 14h30 on Mix 93.8 FM and learn how to make Thirst's legendary cocktails in the comfort of your own home. Read more >>Packaging
 Nampak Flexible, a leading manufacturer of flexible plastic packaging solutions, has officially received its OHSAS (Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Services) 18001 accreditation. Read more >>In a fiercely competitive retail world, every element of product packaging counts. Marketers need to understand all influences that attract consumers to invest in their brands. Trends in packaging reflect the demands of consumers that tend to become primary factors in the success of winning brands. Read more >>
 The South African government recently sold defence force weapons worth R2.25 million to Zimbabwe, Beeld newspaper reported today, 10 September. Read more >>
 Developments in the mining sector as well as South Africa's achievements formed part of World Bank Chief Jim Yong Kim's interaction with the South African government. Read more >>
 The Reserve Bank has launched a communication campaign to introduce the new Nelson Mandela bank notes which will come into circulation before the end of the year. Read more >>
 South Africa needs to double the number of incubators it currently has to boost support to small businesses, the Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies said yesterday. He was announcing details on the country hosting the 37th International Small Business Congress (ISBC) in Sandton later this month. Read more >>
More Government news...
 [Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Toyota South Africa's marketing suits have given the cash-strapped lower end of the local car-buying public reason to smile with the introduction of its entry-level Etios which they hope will step into the popular shoes worn out by the charismatic Tazz. Read more >>
 New vehicle sales rose 9.4% last month compared with the same period a year ago‚ according to the latest National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa) data. Read more >>
 [Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] The Chinese continue to strengthen their grip on the South African car market with extremely competitively priced vehicles such as the new C10 compact hatch which has just joined the growing GWM range of vehicles. Read more >>
More Motoring news...
 South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that it will allow locals with valid identity documents the opportunity to spend a day at the national park of their choice free of charge, from today, 10 until Friday, 14 September 2012. Read more >>
 [Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] Contributing Editor Brian Berkman took to the road to experience the breadth of South Africa. Read more >>
 [Annaleigh Vallie and Nick Hedley] SA needs to liberalise its airways if it is to improve its competitiveness ranking in the travel and tourism market, according to a prominent industry executive. Read more >>
More Travel news...
 [Sindy Peters] Being an outdoors lover, I wasn't quite keen on this year's Sowing the Seeds venue in Cape Town. The dark-and-musty Zula Bar in Long Street certainly is a great spot to check out bands, bust a move, and get your drink over weekends; I just don't associate the brand, and the reputation that Sowing the Seeds has built, with just those sentiments. Read more >>
 [Sindy Peters] Can we have Brian Haner strum the South African national anthem at every sporting event from here on? The man is a genius on guitar; his passionate rendition of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika gave me goose bumps and made my heart swell with pride. Haner is the host of this year's Nando's Comedy Festival, currently on its last leg at the Artscape, Cape Town. While Haner stole my heart, David Kau stole the show. Read more >>
More BizLounge news...
 [Sindy Peters] Trenchtown (previously Roots/Cool Runnings), now under the ownership and management of Antonio Manuel, held it's relaunch last weekend, 31 August to 2 September. Having been to the Caribbean-style restaurant only twice before, and briefly, I had no memorable experience of the place. On the Friday night it was packed to the brim, so waiting for drinks/meals to arrive was much like waiting for the second coming. Read more >>
More Food food...
Featured jobs Retail sales of the Pricer electronic labels to local South African retail chains and franchisees. Preferably in IT or technology environment specifically. Read more >> |
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- School at the centre of community info session Symphonia - Cape Town, 10 September
- Flawless consulting 1: contracting Symphonia - Johannesburg, 11 September
- Who is the rising star of SA Fashion? Elle Magazine - Johannesburg, 13 September
- Vega School of Brand Leadership breakfast series Vega School of Brand Leadership - Pretoria, 13 September
- Mall Mania KZN Philharmonic Orchestra - Durban, 15 September
- Sculptor Hannes Loots to exhibit gallery88 - Cape Town, 15 September
- Creative Week Cape Town Cape Town Partnership - Cape Town, 15 September
- Flourish! 2012 Worlds View - Pretoria, 17 September
- Social 2.0: from buzz to business eGain - virtual, 18 September
- Community building workshop Symphonia - Johannesburg, 20 September
Click here to customise your events section
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