Louise Marsland’s (@Louise_Marsland) pick of new product, packaging and design launches.
L’Occitane launches its new fragrance range in SA; KFC adds to breakfast; a new Scotch that doesn’t monkey around; and African Pride and Protea Hotel’s new websites give guests what they want.
Scent of Provence
French cosmetics and skincare house, L’Occitane en Provence, launched a new fragrance collection in Cape Town recently with a ‘fragrance discovery event’ for beauty editors and bloggers at the grand dame herself, the Mount Nelson.
Set in the lush gardens on what was probably the only sunny day in August in the Mother City, a special colour-themed morning tea was served in the sumptuous style of the Nellie. This provided the backdrop to the colour-themed joyful scents which combine ingredients and spices from exotic lands, mellifluously combined by alchemist and L’Occitane private perfumer, Karine Dubreuil.
The new fragrance collection, entitled La Collection de Grasse consists of four fragrances: Jasmin & Bergamote; Magnolia & Mûre; Vanille & Narcisse; and The Vert & Bigarade for both men and women.
The inspiration for the collection came from Grasse, in Provence, France, the world’s perfume capital and home to major perfume houses.
The full product range will be available inside all L’Occitane stores in November.
Monkey Shoulder Scotch launches
This month sees the launch of a new Scotch in South Africa that purports to challenge everything you ever knew about Scotch! Its unusual name already gives a clue to its “free-spirited” nature.
Amongst a glut of adjectives, Monkey Shoulder is described as a “fun-loving triple malt with an easygoing smooth, rich and mellow vanilla deliciousness” and can be drunk neat, on the rocks, mixed or in cocktails.
It’s clearly not going for the connoisseur as it is considered sacrilege to mix your Scotch with anything other than the appropriate tulip-shaped glass to savour it in. The brand’s target is more everyman.
“Monkey Shoulder is an authentic Scotch and therefore we want to break down the barriers and let South Africans discover a new way to enjoy malt whisky without having to worry about all the history and traditions that can be somewhat intimidating,” says Lauren Kuhlmey, marketing manager for Monkey Shoulder SA.
“The time has come to demystify the stuffy world of whisky and introduce Scotch to a new generation of drinkers.”
Well, Cheers and Slainthe Mhath (‘Good health to you’)!
Break-fast
Adding to its breakfast offerings launched last year, KFC has added the AM Snacker. It’s basically a rounder with cheese and a fried egg added.
KFC now has 320 stores serving breakfast and believes there is a market for those who want fast food for breakfast.
As KFC Africa’s chief marketing officer, David Timm, explains: “The a.m. Snacker is the latest addition to our menu that ensures we keep giving our customers what they need – affordable breakfast options they can enjoy that fit into their time-starved day.”
Improving travel online
The African Pride Hotel group and Protea Hotels have launched their new websites to live up to the brand personality and offer the necessary functionality to the user.
As Protea Hospitality group sales, marketing and revenue director, Danny Bryer, explains, the new websites represent a big leap forward for hospitality technology in Africa that will not only make it easier for travellers to thoroughly research destinations, book and share their experiences on such forums as TripAdvisor, but also be an additional interactive sales tool for those in the travel trade.
Bryer says the Prokard Rewards Programme portal on the new website has been streamlined and simplified as well, making it easier for members to see at a glance how many Prokard Rands they have accrued and how they can redeem them on future accommodation and other hotel services.
The new websites start with the question ‘Where would you like to go?’ says Protea Hospitality group head of online distribution, Clinton Arnot, who managed the project.
“We used focus groups and feedback from guests as well during the creative process for the new website, because the online space has to reflect elements they consider to be key attributes. Consumer behaviour is different nowadays in that most people complete much of their travel cycle online, which means hospitality companies need to be in that space as well.”
Social media has been integrated to allow potential travellers to read reviews about any hotel they’re currently researching and even links to write reviews for TripAdvisor.
Check them out: www.proteahotels.com and www.africanpridehotels.com.
– Shelf Life by Louise Marsland is a weekly column on MarkLives. Tweet new product, packaging and design launches to @louise_marsland or email her at louise.marsland at gmail.com.
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Louise Marsland has written about the FMCG, media, marketing and advertising industry for 18 years of her 25 year media career as a former Editor of magazines AdVantage, Marketing Mix and Progressive Retailing; as well as websites Bizcommunity.com and FMCGFiles. She currently edits the weekly Wednesday Media & Marketing Page for The New Age newspaper; and is the co-founder and Publishing Editor of SA’s newly launched industry trendwatching portal, TREND. at www.trendlives.info, in partnership with MarkLives.com.