by Colwyn Elder (@colwynelder) In addition to the water we consume as food, there is also the water we wear on our bodies. To produce a cotton t-shirt takes almost 3 000l, while a pair of jeans takes more than 7 600 litres. Which brings me back to World Water Day. One of the few brands which used World Water Day as a platform to connect with customers was Levi Strauss.
Author archives: Simone Puterman
Homegrown: Market-stall philosophy and the values-driven brand
by Lynne Gordon (@lynne_gordon) Artisan markets and food stalls seem to be flavour of the day in Jozi. Here, and increasingly in the world of big brands, values are the new differentiator that attract attention, create trial, and build tribes of advocates.
Ad Feature: Brand Obama strikes a pose and EWN goes rapping!
by MarkLives (@marklives) In the latest Ad Feature, branding expert Andy Rice is joined by EWN news anchor Jacob Moshokoa and EWN online editor Sheldon Morias to award one Superhero, one Hero and one Zero on the Wall of Fame or Shame.
#SouthAfricanTVratings: 13–19 April 2015 (week 16)
by MarkLives (@marklives) See which were the most popular shows on South African TV for the week of 13–19 April 2015! We reveal the best-watched shows of the week before, where they ran and how many South Africans tuned in to watch.
MagLove: An all-South African roundup
MediaSlut (@MediaSlut)’s choice of the best South African magazine covers this week: Cosmopolitan South Africa, ELLE South Africa, Getaway, British Airways High Life, Men’s Health South Africa and Sports Monthly.
Tech Law: Has Facebook found the balance between targeted ads and privacy?
by Paul Jacobson (@pauljacobson) While the selection effect remains a challenge, Facebook’s announcements at its f8 Developer Conference recently point to a very interesting solution for the potential privacy problem: a vast database of anonymised data segmented into useful demographics.
Shelf Life: The return of Panasonic to South Africa
Louise Marsland (shelflifeatmarklivesdotcom)’s weekly pick of recent product, packaging, design and food launches: Panasonic reinvests in South Africa, Durex is sensitive to consumers’ needs and tartan continues its comeback.
Motive: How brands can help us win back the internet
by Dan Herman (@elhermo) What can we, as brands and marketers, do to navigate the minefield that the online environment has become? How do we turn back the tide of brutality and negativity, and drive digital back towards the ideal it was intended to be? How do we stay relevant and be heard without contributing to the turmoil?
Ad of the Week: Ballantine’s ‘gets it’
by Oresti Patricios (@orestaki) Ballantine’s Scotch Whisky is a brand that has used an imaginative, cross-market, brand-building campaign to create an image that is fresh, new and in tune with the modern generation. The slogan is “Stay True,” and this refers initially to the idea that Ballantine’s respects its roots.
#SouthAfricanTVratings: 6 April–12 April 2015 (week 15)
by MarkLives (@marklives) See which were the most popular shows on South African TV for the week of 6 April–12 April 2015! Using data supplied by the new Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRCSA), this #SouthAfricanTVratings column is a weekly roundup of SA’s TV audience viewership.