Last week saw customers and retailers readying themselves for the biggest shopping day on the Western calendar, Black Friday. We looked at how the occasion is gaining popularity locally, its impact on e-commerce website traffic, and Stefan Salzer from BCG South Africa shared tips for consumers and retailers in preparation of the day.

In other top news, I chatted to Leaders in Trade Exhibitions member Deidre Harte about her experience organising the ATF Trade Exhibition and co-located China Premium Tex this year. The event, which took place last week, provides local and international players in the apparel, footwear and textile trade with a space to connect, source and form business relationships.

Food retail is managing to stay ahead of the pack when it comes to service delivery and customer satisfaction, according to the results of the recent Ask Afrika Orange Index Awards. The South African market research company shared its list of the food retail industry's leaders and what they're doing to keep up with consumer trends.

In the recent episode of CNN Marketplace Africa, Gareth Ackerman, chairman of Pick n Pay, commented on his experiences with the retailer, the turning point in its growth story, and what's in store for the brand in the future.

And finally, Romy Honneysett shares insights from WhySatisfy's recent retail report, and comments on the approach she believes brands should be taking to build a loyal customer base.

All that and more. Enjoy!

Lauren Hartzenberg
Retail Editor: Bizcommunity.com


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