Black Friday isn’t the only time township shoppers hunt for a deal. What do promotions really add?

The answer will be explored in a live webinar on 18 November, drawing on the grocery findings of the 2026 Township Customer Experience (CX) Report. The panel brings together brand leadership, research and firsthand experience in informal retail to examine how brands stay relevant as household budgets and shopping choices change.

“Brands assume promotions win the shopper. The 2026 Township CX Report says otherwise: trust influences brand choice for 42% of township shoppers, ahead of promotions at 39%. Black Friday is a useful moment, but brands that teach households to buy only on deal risk giving away an advantage they already have. We’ll be asking our panel what a seasonal promotion should add beyond a lower price,” says Mongezi Mtati, Senior Brand Strategist at Rogerwilco.

Mtati will moderate the discussion, joined by:

• Suzan Losaba, founder and managing director, Field and Insights Africa
  
• Luigi Ferrini, chief customer officer, Tiger Brands
  
• Bongani Mabuza, founder and CEO, African Accent Brands, spaza owner and distributor

The session will unpack:

• What makes a combo worth buying? 78% of shoppers buy supermarket combos in a typical month.
  
• What does Black Friday offer beyond ordinary specials? And how accessible are seasonal savings to households with limited cash for larger purchases?
  
• What earns the next purchase? How do brands keep trust and preference when shoppers move between stores in search of better prices, promotions and proximity?
  
• How does value reach the spaza? What role do distribution, stock availability, pack sizes and digital communication play in delivering the advertised promise?
  
• How do brands show loyalty to communities? What practical contribution gives people a reason to keep choosing a brand?

The webinar will help brand owners and marketing managers turn the search for savings into useful household value and lasting relevance.

Event details

Date: 18 November 2026
Time: 10am SAST
Where: LinkedIn livestream
Register: https://www.linkedin.com/events/wheneveryshopisasearchforsaving7523386521261862912/
Editor’s note: The full 2026 Township Customer Experience Report is available at townshipcx.co.za.