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[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.

For youth market mobile access to information and communication is the answer

Mobility no longer simply refers to motion, it has also come to describe the untethered use of technology on devices like smart phones, both of which seems to have come together in a perfect storm to enable the revolutions currently sweeping the Middle East and North Africa. Setting these revolutions in motion, is the youth, who organise and spread their message using social networks primarily accessed through mobile devices. These platforms are not only changing how young consumers engage with politics but also with commerce and one another.

Brandt Botes plots a new design course

Designer and illustrator Brandt Botes has set up his own design studio called Studio Botes in Cape Town. The agency will specialise in corporate identity work, packaging design and illustration. Brandt is one of South Africa’s best known graphic designers and was until recently design group head at The Jupiter Drawing Room (Cape Town).

Am I Collective spot for Minute Maid China

Cape Town based animation and illustration hot shop Am I Collective is exporting South Africa’s design talent globally. They recently directed this spot for Minute Maid China.

A Postcard A Day From Gauteng

LoveJozi’s first app, in association with Gauteng Tourism, will be available later on in 2011.

Dave Duarte joins Ogilvy promising the “geekification of the ad industry”

Ogilvy Cape Town is making a tangible move towards integrating digital skills companywide and across traditional agency silos as ad spend continues its shift online. The agency has rolled out a comprehensive educational initiative with lecturer and digital strategist Dave Duarte, who joins the company to lead its Ogilvy Digital Marketing Academy (ODMA).

Cops say ‘Fokofpolisiekar’

The Gauteng Flying Squad recently purchased 100 Audi S3 Sportbacks. Ogilvy Jhb designed this viral ad called ‘Fokofpolisiekar.’ It means, quite literally, ‘fuck off police car.’

Ogilvy JHB
Creative director: Mike Martin
Art director: Mike Martin
Copywriter: Charles Pantland

Mike Abel puts his money where his mouth is

by Herman Manson. Mike Abel could have been your dentist. So how did he land up in adland with his name up next to those of the legendary Maurice and Charles Saatchi?

Quirk soon a R100 million revenue company

The team at emarketing agency Quirk is so busy two years after moving into their offices they haven’t had time to finish off interiors properly. So busy in fact they have grown from 60 to 150 people in the past twelve months and will probably just fall short of doubling their R50 million in 2010 revenue over the next financial year.

Developing markets grabbing bigger share of global ad expenditure

New research by ZenithOptimedia shows that developing markets, including South Africa, are quickly expanding their share of global ad revenue and remain key drivers of global ad revenue growth. In its Advertising Expenditure Forecast report, updated on a quarterly basis, ZenithOptimedia says developing markets will increase their share of global ad expenditure from 30.9% in 2010 to 35.1% in 2013.