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Voting for service As the country celebrates 20 years of democracy, with Freedom Day held last Sunday, 27 April, the CGCSA's Gwarega Mangozhe took a look at what the consumer goods industry has achieved during this time. Wednesday will mark the last of this week-after-week stretch of public holidays, when people make a mark of their own. Election day can be compared in some ways to a customer service survey - the theory is to vote for the party that provides the best service delivery (although in practice, we all know it's a little more complicated than that). But where retail is concerned, it isn't any more complicated, which is why customer satisfaction surveys are so important. Happy voting! Shan Radcliffe, Group Head - Retail (@Biz_Retail)
Image: © DOC RABE Media - Fotolia.com
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The recently released A.T Kearney African Retail Development Index ranked the top 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for retail expansion and highlighted Rwanda, Nigeria, Namibia, Tanzania and Gabon as Africa's most attractive markets for retailers looking to expand. Read more >> | Gwarega Mangozhe In this, the 20th year of democracy, as South Africa reflects on how much it has transformed politically, socially, environmentally and most pertinently, economically, I would like to focus on the consumer goods industry and the positive impact South Africa's young democracy has had on some of the notable achievements we attribute to a democratic society. Read more >> | Louise Robinson According to statistics, a satisfied consumer will share a good customer service experience with two to three people, while an unhappy customer will tell between eight and ten people, sometimes as many as twenty. Read more >> | BMi Research has released its 2014 annual quantification report on the RTD iced tea market in South Africa, which has seen a volume increase from 2012 to 2013. Read more >> | A litre of petrol will decrease by 15 cents in Gauteng as of Wednesday, 7 May 2014, the Energy Department said on Friday. Read more >> | Sally J'Arlette-Joy Many entrepreneurs tend to forget that having a business plan to drive business processes is the most crucial factor, regardless of the sector type and especially true in franchising. Read more >> | Brendon Williamson Between the traditional web payments and mobile, it seems as if there is a new payment method on the market every week. How do online retailers prioritise integration schedules and decide which payment products suit them best? Read more >> | BMi Research has released its 2014 annual quantification report: on the RTD fruit juice market in South Africa, which indicates that the market volume and value of fruit juice continue to increase year-on-year. Read more >> | David Ross If retailers want to continue to attract consumers to their bricks-and-mortar outlets, they're going to have to start thinking of their outlets as sales rooms, rather than showrooms. Read more >> |
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 | Commenting on the high number of public holidays in April/May 2014 and the call by some to reduce the numbers of holidays, Christo Botes, executive director of Business Partners says, "The impact can be managed given that these days are planned in advance, thereby allowing businesses to plan appropriately and factor in the possible effects of less work days." Read more >>
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 | Since the appointment of Advocate Neville Melville as the Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman in June 2013, the office has received 4821 complaints in first nine months, of which it has closed 71% or 3049 of these cases. Read more >>
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 | Consumers have felt their credit health worsen for the ninth consecutive quarter because they can't keep up with the rising prices of necessities. Read more >>
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 | Denzel Swarts, who is the third generation of his family to work at Simonsig, has been promoted to tasting room manager. Read more >>
|  | Issued by Matrix Matrix, a leader in vehicle tracking and personal safety, has launched a new online platform that will have consumers feeling it was made 'just for me'. Read more >>
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 | Alistair Anderson Investors have continued to pump money into JSE-and London Stock Exchange-listed Capital & Counties (Capco‚) this year‚ as they look to gain exposure to prime London property. Read more >>
|  | Property group Redefine International has made an offer to shareholders to receive a cash or scrip dividend. Read more >>
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 | Style Africa, which launches on 15 May 2014, is a online fashion magazine by Africans, for Africans in the 25-45 year age group. Published every six months, it aims to highlight the pool of talent within Africa - from established designers, to up-and-coming young talents. Read more >>
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 | Liqui-Fruit has introduced the new 200ml fruit juice range, featuring SpongeBob SquarePants, designed by Cape Town-based agency, Calibre Brand Solutions. Read more >>
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 | The lineup of the 2014 World's 50 Best Restaurants has South Africa's Cape Town based restaurant, The Test Kitchen at 48th place and best in Africa. Chef Dale Roberts won the local Eat Out DStv Restaurant Awards Chef of the Year in 2011 and the restaurant clinched the Eat Out DStv Restaurant Awards Restaurant of the Year in 2012 and 2013. Read more >>
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 | New vehicles in South Africa took a hefty knock last month because of difficult conditions in South Africa's economic environment and the high number of public holidays. Read more >>
| David Furlonger | | |
 | The Re-Sealable Platinum Edition Pack from Castle Lite will only be available in Gauteng from 28 April to 30 June 2014 and only sold at Pick n Pays, selected liquor stores and premium bars. It will offer consumers the opportunity to unlock the latest local and international music from the brand's Extra Cold Music platform with the unique code on the pack. Read more >>
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 | Zeenat Moorad Though commentators forecast a difficult South African consumer economy this year‚ retailer Massmart (MSM) said in its annual report on Tuesday that sales rose 11.4% for the 14 weeks to 6 April. Read more >>
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 | As both online and mobile ticket sales grow significantly in South Africa, it is important that consumers be aware of how to safely purchase and transfer their tickets. Read more >>
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|  | WASHINGTON, USA: Too much Netflix and on-demand video content has the US capital's last movie rental store calling it quits. Read more >>
|  | BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: Even as Europe powered up its most ambitious ever cyber-security exercise this month, doubts were being raised over whether the continent's patchwork of online police was right for the job. Read more >>
|  | SAN JOSE, USA: - Apple and Samsung made their final pitches to jurors earlier this week in a big-money smartphone patent trial playing out in the heart of Silicon Valley. Read more >>
|  | SAN FRANCISCO, USA: Online company eBay agreed to pay US$3.75m to settle allegations it colluded with other Silicon Valley technology firms not to "poach" each other's employees, officials said on Thursday, 1 May. Read more >>
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More International
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|  | With only two days to go before South Africans take to the polls, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) says law enforcement agencies have to date arrested 63 people in 84 reported cases that contravene various sections of the Electoral Act. Read more >>
|  | The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has appealed to voters to respect the privacy and secrecy of their vote by refraining from taking pictures in the ballot booth and of their marked ballot papers in this week's election. Read more >>
|  | NEWSWATCH: The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) said on Saturday that the POIB must have a public interest defence clause, reports BD Live. And Sunday Times reports a row after two school buses were rebranded in ANC colours. Read more >>
|  | PRETORIA: The National Treasury has published a paper for public comment outlining proposals for a carbon offset scheme that will enable businesses to lower their carbon tax liability and make investments that will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Read more >>
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More Government news
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|  | Eugene Yiga Since its relaunch in 2006, Beluga has grown into one of South Africa's top restaurants.Even though my friend and I had an early dinner reservation on a public holiday, the cobbled outdoor terrace was packed when we arrived. Read more >>
|  | Henrie Geyser: motoring editor Say Mitsubishi and straight away names such as Pajero and Triton pop up, but in the brand's 20-model local product range there is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered - the Outlander. Read more >>
|  | Brian Berkman I've changed dramatically in the two years since I first stayed at African Pride's Crystal Towers Hotel so on this visit I was looking for ways in which the hotel had also changed. Read more >>
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| Motivate stores to keep visual and fashion as their focus enhancing the
customer experience. Markham always attracts talented people who are fashionable, youthful, energetic, confident, and fun. Read more >>
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| Visit the CTICC, 13 to 14 May, for the African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa Conference and Exhibition Read more >>Power Generationsecolo consulting and training services - 19 May 2014 to 23 May 2014 Sandton |
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| Alvin Toffler "Change is not merely necessary to life - it is life." David Frost "Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally." Laurence J. Peter "If two wrongs don't make a right, try three." |
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