Cheryl Hunter (shelflife at marklives.com)’s weekly pick of all things new — product, packaging, design, insight, food, décor and more!
- Massmart’s first free lending library with GASS, Mr Ekse, Jacana and Jonathan Ball
- Twinsaver supports Women’s Month and CANSA
- Dinner even easier with UCook’s new categories
Betting on books
Massmart has launched its first Urban Bookshelf, a literacy project developed to increase access to books in under-served communities in the form of a free lending library, at Phefeni Recreation Centre in Orland, Soweto.
Through a curated process, Massmart commissioned GASS Architecture Studio to design the unique book-sharing station, and renowned graffiti artist Rasik Green, aka Mr Ekse, was tasked with enriching the design.
Says Alexander Haw, Massmart sustainability executive, “This is the first of many artist-designed free miniature libraries. We have earmarked other locations around Johannesburg and will be collaborating with various artists and architects to create different interpretations of the bookshelf, hoping to promote reading and improve literacy.”
Made of powder-coated steel, the book-sharing station is 2.8m high and consists of durable steel boxes that ensure the books are protected from all the elements. The structure is tailored to both children and adults, with children’s literature at the bottom for easy access. The structure includes built-in benches so people may sit while browsing. Storing up to 500 books, the genres cover African fiction; general fiction; non-fiction; current affairs and politics; law and business; self-help and motivation; young adults and children’s books. There are no library cards or fees and the community may borrow and return books at their leisure.
To provide and replenish the structure with a diverse range of reading material, Massmart has partnered with publishers Jacana and Jonathan Ball.
massmart.co.za • Instagram
gass.co.za • Facebook
jacana.co.za • Facebook • Instagram • Twitter
jonathanball.co.za • Facebook • Twitter
#CelebrateWomen
Household brand, Twinsaver, has launched a special edition twin-ply pack in honour of South African women, ahead of Women’s month this August, with a portion of funds going to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA).
Says Chevonne Wilkins, Twinsaver marketing director, “New Twinsaver Twin Ply special edition, Floral Fresh, has a lightly scented pink core, designed to gently release a fresh fragrance. The brand represents the confidence shown by 18 inspiring women.”
The Twinsaver special edition pack, conceptualised in-house by the marketing team, is intended to inspire change and be a symbol of awareness; the women featured on the pack are cancer survivors and were specifically selected for their diverse backgrounds, experiences and distinctive stories, proving that cancer may affect anyone.
For every special edition pack sold, Twinsaver will donate R2 to CANSA and these funds will go towards supporting women with breast cancer.
Available in all major retailers from today.
Easy-peasy dinner
South Africa’s growing dinner kit delivery service, UCook from Sarah Graham, has analysed the demographics of its customer base over the last three years to identify how and what people want to eat, resulting in two new categories introduced this month — Health Nut and Easy Peasy — a first as they are based on direct feedback from users.
Unlike traditional categories which commonly form part of the international dinner-kit circuit, UCook’s new categories are not centred on specific diets. The business has, instead, opted to create categories oriented around a specific set of benefits, aligning the offering more closely with its customer’s lifestyles.
Health Nut dishes consist of a weekly menu that includes recipes with a focus on ethical sourcing, clean carbohydrates, high-protein sources, and superfood trends. UCook has also ensured that gluten, dairy, and sugar-free offerings are available where possible. Easy Peasy is all about simple, yet satisfying, home-style classics containing organic, unrefined, seasonal ingredients with most of the prep-work removed — think cubed veg, diced onion and a selection of pre-made sauces.
September 2017 will see a further highly requested category for families added.
ucook.co.za • Facebook • Twitter
Shelf Life is MarkLives.com’s weekly column covering all things new. Notify us of yours at shelflife at marklives dot com. Want to sponsor Shelf Life? Contact us here.
Cheryl Hunter (@cherylhunter) has written for the South African media, marketing and advertising industries for more than 15 years. A former editor of M&M in Independent Newspapers and contributor to Bizcommunity, AdFocus, AdReview and the Ad Annual, she has also produced for various television networks and currently consults on communication strategy and media liaison.
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