The perils of the online discounting culture for your brands and business

I’m fascinated by the growth and proliferation of the on-line couponeers and discounters like Groupon, Catch of the Day and the like. “Everyone loves a deal” this we know, but what does it mean to brands, margin, customer trust and sustaining pricing models? Asks M&C Saatchi Abel boss Mike Abel.

Nikki Cockcroft leaves Primedia Online for Woolies

Nikki Cockcroft, long serving CEO of Primedia Online, where she oversaw leading South African portal iafrica.com, digital agency Prezence and trafficking solutions provider 365 Digital, has announced her resignation, effective 30 June 2011. She joins retail giant Woolworths as head of online and will take up her new position at the beginning of July.

[Netprophet 2011] African ecommerce market has a long way to go

A billion Africans and 50 million bank accounts. In South Africa, credit cards are used by only 16.5% of the population (2008). No African country comes close to 1% of total retail spend spent online – the magic figure which constitutes the tipping point for digital retail growth (in SA, ecommerce has a 0.4% share of the retail market, while in countries such as Egypt and Nigeria, the figure stands at 0.01%). No wonder, then, that the ecommerce market in Africa hasn’t bloomed.

Looking at these numbers, many international ecommerce plays have shifted investment in the African market 5-10 years down the line. But where others fear to tread Oliver Rippel, CEO ecommerce Africa & Middle East at MIH, sees opportunity and first-mover advantage.

Groupon South Africa promises you a good deal

In January 2011, they were two guys working hard to keep their group media buying site Twangoo running with a handful of freelance sales staff. Less than three months later, they have 40 staffers, a new office in Loop Street, Cape Town, and possibly the hottest thing since Facebook as their backers. That’s because Groupon acquired Twangoo in January 2011 and tasked its co-founders, Wayne Gosling and Dan Guasco, with establishing the Groupon brand in South Africa.

Musica launches “So You Wanna Be A Rock Star” lifestyle range

As music retailers face increasing pressure to find alternative revenue streams beyond the sales of CDs and DVDs, the opportunities have to lie in lifestyle products believes local retailer Musica. Its new “So You Wanna Be A Rock Star” range was conceptualised, illustrated and designed by The Jupiter Drawing Room Cape Town.

A (counter) counterfeit campaign

With times as tough as they are and counterfeiting spiralling out of control, below-the-line specialist agency, Mick&Nick spotted an opportunity to tap into an urban truth and drive a powerful value message from Look&Listen.

Empty DVD covers were handed out to motorists at intersections notorious for their pirate DVD activity.

Creative Director: Nick Liatos

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