Retail South Africa weekly newsletter - 14 Jan 2013

Let's get trendy

Unless you're one of those lucky few still lolling about on an extended vacation (or at school on the coast), we're back to work in earnest. And you know what that means at Bizcommunity? It's trend time! Today Darren Woolley puts forward some choices and decisions marketers should be making in 2013. We also have e-commerce forecast for 2013 as well as Sue Disler wondering who said magazines are dead?

In other news this past week, there was a fire at Astrapak's East Rand facilities - investigations are underway. Manufacturing in November has shown improvement, business confidence has rebounded and ATM withdrawals were on the rise in December. And finally Greg Johnson explains the importance of after-sales service in IT.

Have a great week!

Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail

PS. Responses to this column welcomed in our online ed's column archive. Send all your retail news to retailnews@bizcommunity.com, exclusive opinion pieces to contributors-retail@bizcommunity.com and international news to internationalnews@bizcommunity.com; also take a look at our guide "How to contribute to Bizcommunity, from op-ed pieces to news". Don't forget to follow @Biz_Retail on Twitter and join us on Facebook!

[2013 trends] Who said magazines are dead?

[Sue Disler] What an interesting dilemma it was for me moving into publishing almost three years ago. The glossy was HERO and digital was a very, very bad word indeed. But I was excited that, for first time, I could really get to grips with CONTENT. In advertising that's the missing, quintessential link. In order to understand where I am headed here, let me contextualise my thinking by way of illustrating a historical, time-stamped journey of sorts. Read more >>

[2013 trends] Time of choices, decisions for strategic marketing management

[Darren Woolley] Last year was certainly an economic roller-coaster ride. In 2013, marketers will need to look through the uncertainty and make some longer-term plans, as well as choices and decisions, on how they will steer their brands forward. So here are some of the decisions and choices to be made in 2013, in no particular order... Read more >>

December boost in ATM withdrawals show consumer confidence

The average cash withdrawal values across South Africa for December 2012, was R485.07, a 5.99% year-on-year increase from R457.67, as measured by the Spark Cash Index (SCI). In addition, the month-on-month growth of 9.57% is the second highest month-on-month growth ever recorded, indicating that consumer spending was more robust at the end of 2012 compared with the previous year. Read more >>

Protégé appointed as winemaker at Hartenberg

Hartenberg Wine Estate has permanently appointed Tammy Jeftha, previously one of the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégés. This is the first time that a member of the Guild has appointed a protégé as a permanent member of the team. Read more >>

Listed property returns likely to fall in 2013

[Nick Hedley] The South African listed property sector is unlikely to maintain recent annual returns of more than 30% this year‚ as the office market remains subdued and the possibility of significant interest rate cuts is low‚ according to industry representatives. Read more >>

Importance of after-sales service in IT

[Greg Johnson] In the IT industry, the importance of after-sales service cannot be overstated. In any company in the world IT failure, computer's crashing or something as simple as a keyboard malfunctioning can cause hours if not days, weeks or months of delays. If the correct after-sales service is offered, issues can be sorted out quickly, ensuring that little to no time is lost by the client. Time is money, downtime costs money. Read more >>

Phoenix extends in Africa

The expansion of Phoenix Distribution into Africa has opened new doors not just for the specialist distributor and its vendors but also for the resellers it has partnered with across the continent. The company's approach is based on partnership, identifying long-term local partners who have a meaningful stake in the businesses they grow and are focused on the quality of the product. Read more >>

Product recalls - crisis management workshop by international expert

A product recall is a type of crisis that offers unique ethical, logistical, legal, communication and management decision-making challenges. Done wrong, they have the potential to destroy a company's reputation and damage brand value. Deon Binneman, an international reputation management consultant will deliver a workshop on this vital subject on 29 January 2013 at the Apollo Hotel in Randburg, Johannesburg. Read more >>

Mobile, e-marketing conference in Johannesburg

Trade Conferences International will hold a mobile and e-marketing conference at the Indaba Hotel, Fourways on 27-28 February 2013. The event will explore the most relevant developments in the m-commerce and e-commerce environment and identify the major factors driving and hampering innovation. Read more >>

Global clothing retailers eye Africa's fashionistas

Fashionistas rejoiced and local clothing retailers stepped up their plans to maximise supply chain efficiencies as global fashion brands such as Zara and Topshop expanded in South Africa last year. Read more >>

SA November manufacturing production up 3.4%

Manufacturing production increased by 3.4% year on year (y/y) in November after an upwardly revised 2.7% (2.5%) year-on-year rise in October‚ data released by Statistics SA on Thursday, 10 January 2013, showed. Read more >>

Modest growth for manufacturers this year

[Ntsakisi Maswanganyi] Manufacturing the economy's second-biggest sector, should perform much better this year but is unlikely to contribute meaningfully to employment, given the difficulties that still plague it, says Stewart Jennings, chairman of the Manufacturing Circle, an industry body. Read more >>

Why you should get proactive about privacy protection

[Steve Ferguson] The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI), due to become law early this year, introduces legal protection in SA for the first time against the serious risks and harm arising from the unauthorised collection and abuse of personal information. Read more >>

Could plain tobacco packaging come to South Africa?

[Rachel Sikwane] There is speculation that the rule of plain tobacco packaging could come to South Africa, following Australia's government decision to implement a law that requires tobacco companies to sell their products in plain packages. Read more >>

Maize price increases could cause unrest

A new study by the New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI) pins South Africa's violence to starvation wages, as maize prices soar. This follows research conducted following the Marikana massacre. Read more >>

Analysts not really impressed with Massmart sales

[Zeenat Moorad] A sales update from Massmart Holdings‚ whose portfolio includes the Game‚ Dion Wired and Builders Warehouse chains failed to impress analysts on Thursday‚ with the group saying sales for the 26 weeks to December 23 increased to R36.1bn‚ representing growth of 14.6% over the prior period. Read more >>

Excellence in visual thinking, Taschen releases D&AD50

LONDON, UK: Taschen and D&AD are launching a new book that gives a special insight into the last 50 years of design and advertising, and offers a rich visual history of the society the creative industry helped to shape. Read more >>

Take advantage of these hot marketing trends in 2013

[Subhash Chandra] NOIDA (UP), INDIA: Unlike the traditional forms of marketing such as advertising, wherein almost everything has been said and done, search marketing is still dynamically growing and best practices are invented day in and day out. Every year, search engine marketers get filled with anticipation wondering what would emerge as the "next big thing" in search marketing. Read more >>

2013 at a glance: Five crucial consumer trends business leaders should know

[*David Mattin and Saint-Francis Tohlang] LONDON, UK / JOHANNESBURG, SA: Turbulent times were predicted on the back end of 2012. The ANC Mangaung conference precipitated very little stormy seas other than an anti-climactic conclusion. The Mayan apocalypse materialised into nothing but an ordinary day. In fact with so many forecasts for change and a chasm of chaos, one may tend to be a bit sceptical with further predictions of change. Read more >>

The Media magazine kicks off Jan with a bang

The Media magazine kicks off its January 2013 offering with a hard-hitting investigative slant into black market magazine trading which has led to arrests. Contributors include Raymond Louw, Jacques du Preez, Paula Slier, Harry Herber, Okyerebea Ampofo-Anti and Howard Thomas. Read more >>

We need to get South Africa working

We need to urgently shift our focus from the notion of jobs; and shift it to the concept of work... "The unemployment rate in South Africa is a crisis and should be declared a state of emergency," says Ronald Bownes, founding director of DreamWorker - a non-profit organisation. The recent Census places unemployment at 29.8% while some believe the expanded definition to be closer to 40%, writes *Chiara Baumann. Read more >>

No pay unless table grapes are harvested

[Paul Vecchiatto] Western Cape provincial agricultural minister Gerrit van Rensburg has expressed concern the renewed agricultural strike will damage the economically important table grape crop that is ripe for harvesting. Read more >>

No room for government to cut taxes

[Helmo Preuss] Slowing domestic growth‚ a shortfall in the collection of individual and company taxes and strike action in key economic sectors will prevent government introducing tax cuts to provide some economic stimulus and could leave the South African Revenue Service (SARS) having to adapt their tax collection focus in 2013‚ Nazrien Kader‚ Deloitte's national taxation service line leader said on Wednesday (9 January). Read more >>

Not 'business as usual' says SAA's Kona

[Nicky Smith] South African Airways (SAA) acting CEO Vuyisile Kona is preparing plans to increase revenue and improve efficiency in a bid to boost the performance of the ailing state-owned carrier. Read more >>

Lagarde says global uncertainty limits Africa growth

[Ntsakisi Maswanganyi] Continued global uncertainty‚ coupled with internal factors such as drought and associated food shortages‚ threaten Africa's economic growth prospects‚ warns International Monetary Fund's (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde. Read more >>

Lower tax collection may hurt companies

[Amanda Visser] The warning bells for tax collections had already rung in October when Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced collections for the 2012-13 tax year were expected to be R5bn less than budgeted. Read more >>

SL 500 is a scorching good looker

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] We all love two-seat convertible cars with supercar performance, even though they tend to be noisy, impractical and uncomfortable - but not so Merc's latest sexy SL 500 scorcher. Read more >>

New vehicle sales beat forecast in 2012

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] New vehicle sales increased to 623,914 units last year which is a growth of 9.2% over 2012 and 2% more than expected by automobile industry body NAAMSA. The 2012 total does not include 7,794 units sold by Great Wall Motors. Read more >>

New double cab joins Land Cruiser range

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Toyota's Africa-conquering Land Cruiser 70 has undergone a number of cosmetic changes and mechanical improvements and for the first time it is now also available as a double cab. Read more >>

Luxury villas Caribbean - live life king-size

[will smith] If you are planning a vacation to relax, enjoy pleasant weather and see the beautiful serene locations with your family or a group, then renting a luxury Caribbean villa can prove to be an excellent choice. A villa will not only provide you a new travelling experience, but also make your stay easy and comfortable. Read more >>

Sales Staff - Inside Stores - Johannesburg

Sales and Technical computer technicians required all around South Africa, Matrix Warehouse is expanding in 2013 and requires 27 new staff. From sales to Managers to Technicians. Apply today. Read more >>

Mind Fit For Business Makes You Think - Johannesburg, 18 January
Old Mutual Summer Sunset Concert Kirstenbosch - Cape Town, 20 January
Flawless Consulting - Contracting Symphonia - Cape Town, 21 January
Performance Leap Makes You Think - Johannesburg, 25 January
Bridal Expo 2013 Oakfield Farm - Johannesburg, 26 January
Assessor training Academy Training Group - Kempton Park, 29 January
ICT Media Cocktail Party EOH - Johannesburg, 31 January
Organisational Communications Quo Vadis Communications - Johannesburg, 5 February
Leadership training for managers Dale Carnegie - Johannesbrug, 7 February
Sign Africa Roadshow Practical Publishing - Port Elizabeth, 13 February

Let's get trendy

Top stories

Nestle could be next target for Zim government [Tawanda Karombo]

Hotel operators expecting higher occupancy rates [Nick Hedley]

Astrapak investigating fire at its factory [Mark Allix]

The art of window dressing [Gabrielle Venter]

Road accidents 'injure' SA's GDP [Linda Ensor and Edward West]

Motshekga sets pace for new school year [Gabi Khumalo]

New penalty regime welcomed as 'more predictable' [Amanda Visser]

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