The ‘FAKE’ epidemic

It’s the world’s fastest growing and most profitable industry and it’s reaching epidemic proportions, estimated to be between 7% and 10% of the world’s total trade. And the counterfeiting industry is growing at just as fast a pace in South Africa. Partner at Adams & Adams Attorneys, Mariette du Plessis, says counterfeiting is a relatively [...]

An excess of passion and creativity at the Loeries

Cape Town became Loerie Town over the weekend of 16 to 18 September as the creative industry descended upon the Mother City for The 33rd Annual Loerie Awards, celebrating the best of South Africa’s communication work and providing delegates the opportunity to let their hair down after a year of hard work. A celebration of [...]

Going mobile and getting it right

It is always extremely amusing and very entertaining when I watch marketing executives and practitioners liberally throw around buzzwords like, ‘360 degree brand engagement’, ‘creating meaningful conversations’ and, my favourite these days, ‘going mobile’. With the exception of the purist early adopters, 60% of the people who use these terms generally don’t have the foggiest [...]

What Digital can do for SPONSORSHIPS

The television medium has, until recently, offered the greatest ROI for Sponsors. Because of the brand’s mass visibility during a rugby game, for example, Sponsors get the equivalent of forty 30-second TVCs shroud across screens to a rivited audience – your brand will be associated with any sports highs. But people don’t source their information from [...]

Delivering a roundhouse kick to fong kong Brand Baddies

Bafana Bafana don’t own the rights to their own name – and neither can Bakers lay claim to the term Marie biscuit, even though they invented the darn thing. Brand piracy is widespread. Well-known names are being hijacked by Johnny-come-latelys eager to make a quick buck, duping the consumer into thinking their products are the real McCoy. During the Journal’s marketing [...]

Brand Africa

rand Africa™, an independent pan-African brand-centric initiative, along with BrandFinance™, the world’s leading independent brand valuation consultancy, got together at the JSE for the launch of the fi rst BrandFinance™ African Nation Brand league as well as the announcement of the fourth BrandFinance™ Global Nation Brands league awards. Thebe Ikalafeng, founder and chairman of the Brand Africa™ initiative, introduced guests [...]

Licensed to kill (COMPETITORS)

James Bond movies aren’t cheap to make. All those exotic locations, outrageous gadgets, physics-defying stunts and, of course, a gazillion explosions – these things add up. And that’s before taking into account how much Daniel Craig would pocket for his starring role as 007 himself; no doubt his fee would make many an accountant wince. [...]

Once lost, rarely recovered

Lose your reputation – you’ve lost it forever. And given the level of interconnectedness in the world today, such loss is communicated worldwide, virtually instantaneously. Perhaps more concerning for those of the wider marketing fraternity tasked with protecting valuable brands and reputations is that the world seems to be polarising organisational reputations more and more. [...]