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Retail

Learning to stay afloat

This week we have some expert advice to assist those in South Africa's competitive retail space with keeping their heads above water.

Val Nichas and George Bourdos from VBN Consultants discuss how value-added services and in-store staff that display a genuine interest in their customers can yield meaningful consumer experiences and ultimately repeat business.

On the franchising front, a number of international brands have expressed interest in the South Africa market, which will inevitably cut into local brand share. Abigail Makhubele from Absa Business Banking shares the ingredients that she believes can give local brands the edge.

According to a new report by Cushman & Wakefield, there has been rapid global growth in consumer spending on eating out, and the tie-in between shopping and eating is stronger than ever. A compelling food and beverage offering is therefore now more critical to the success of any retail scheme.

The retail sector is one of the toughest to operate in, but can be especially difficult for a small business. Kobus Engelbrecht, spokesperson for the 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year, urges SMEs to adopt a creative approach to business and operations to ensure both survival and success.

Lastly, don't forget to keep your eye on our #CSIMonth special section, chock-full of industry leaders sharing how corporate social responsibility forms part of their overall business strategy.

Lauren Hartzenberg
Retail Editor: Bizcommunity.com



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BizWeekly top stories
Competitive retail environment demands staff that care
Competitive retail environment demands staff that care
The challenge of improving employees' customer service expertise, as well as performance ability, is an ongoing quest for the retail industry... read
Hisense SA bumps up local product offering
Hisense SA bumps up local product offering

Lauren Hartzenberg

Hisense South Africa revealed an array of new products at an event held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre last week... Read

Pick n Pay CEO Richard Brasher. Image credit: Business Day
No bonuses for Pick n Pay executives

Ann Crotty

Pick n Pay's remuneration committee may have set the scene for a tougher approach to executive rewards in the besieged retail sector with its decision not to pay a short-term bonus... Read

Chat Find app offers freelancers, businesses a mobile shopfront
Chat Find app offers freelancers, businesses a mobile shopfront

Mobile commerce app, Chat Find, offers businesses and freelancers a mobile shopfront and the ability to process payment and invoice their customers directly... Read

SME retailers must adapt to survive
SME retailers must adapt to survive

The retail sector is one of the toughest to operate in, especially for a small business, as South Africans' discretionary spend narrows and consumers feel the pinch... Read

Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon is 'wine futures' worthy
Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon is 'wine futures' worthy

Lauren Hartzenberg

En primeur or 'wine futures', is a method of purchasing sought-after wines early while the wine is still in the barrel... Read

Consumer spending to drive compelling F&B offerings
Consumer spending to drive compelling F&B offerings

With spending on eating out expected to continue growing over the next 10 years, a compelling F&B offer is now critical to the success of any retail scheme... Read


CSI Month
CSI Month
#CSIMonth: Imbalie Beauty Academy opens doors into the industry
#CSIMonth: Imbalie Beauty Academy opens doors into the industry

Lauren Hartzenberg

South African beauty franchise group Imbalie Beauty has become a key player in South Africa's robust franchising industry... read
#CSIMonth: An opportunity to use commercial enterprises to ensure global food security
#CSIMonth: An opportunity to use commercial enterprises to ensure global food security
We chat to President and CEO of AGT Foods, Murad Al-Katib, the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year 2017, about his win, entrepreneurship and feeding the world... read
#CSIMonth: Mouton Foundation celebrates 10 years of community upliftment in Citrusdal
#CSIMonth: Mouton Foundation celebrates 10 years of community upliftment in Citrusdal

Sindy Peters

CarmiƩn Tea, through its social upliftment arm The Mouton Foundation, has contributed R17m towards community upliftment over the past decade... read
#CSIMonth: How a little can go a long way in helping SA's vulnerable children thrive
#CSIMonth: How a little can go a long way in helping SA's vulnerable children thrive

Sindy Peters

Over the six years since its inception, KFC's Add Hope initiative has managed to raise R387m, partnering with 137 beneficiary organisations to feed over 120,000 children across South Africa... read
Read more
Banking & Finance
Millennial spending and saving habits
Millennial spending and saving habits
Millennials, born between 1980 and the end of 1994, make up the fastest growing segment of the workforce... read

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Commercial Property
Innovation needed in SA shopping centres to drive tenant retention
Innovation needed in SA shopping centres to drive tenant retention
With big box retailers closing down and leaving vacancies in their wake, some shopping centres across South Africa are starting to feel the pinch... read
CSI
SAB Foundation partners HeePD, contributes R2.1m
SAB Foundation partners HeePD, contributes R2.1m
The SAB Foundation has contributed R2,100,000 to Hub Employment Ecosystems for People with Disabilities (HeePD) as part of its partnership... read
CRM
Image supplied.
Customer Experience Management Summit returns to Cape Town
The sixth Customer Experience (CX) Management Summit in Africa, taking place mid-August, will explore current and future state of CX to strengthen the industry within the African continent... read
Design & Manufacturing
Cape Town bag manufacturer offers employees direct shareholding
Cape Town bag manufacturer offers employees direct shareholding
With funding from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), PP Excel officially opened its Cape Town plant this week... read
E-commerce
Assisted shopping platform VoomNow launched in Nigeria
Assisted shopping platform VoomNow launched in Nigeria

Tom Jackson

Nigerian startup VoomNow has launched its assisted shopping platform that enables users to shop and pay for all kinds of international products and services... read
Exhibitions & Events
Exciting new opportunity for sporting brands with launch of Sports Expo @ Rand Show 2018
Exciting new opportunity for sporting brands with launch of Sports Expo @ Rand Show 2018

Issued by Rand Show

The organisers of Rand Show 2018 have announced the launch of the Sports Expo @ Rand Show - a one-of-a-kind event aimed at families, athletes, fitness fanatics and sports lovers... read
Mall of Africa to host Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg 2017
Mall of Africa to host Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg 2017
African Fashion International has announced Mall of Africa as the new official venue for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg... read
Fashion & Decor
A perfect knit: Nivea collaborates with MaXhosa by Laduma
A perfect knit: Nivea collaborates with MaXhosa by Laduma

Issued by Symbiotic Communications

Black and white is the ultimate contrast and the perfect partnership... just like that between global skincare brand Nivea and fashion designer, cultural icon and innovator, Laduma Ngxokolo... read
2017 Mercedes-Benz Joburg Fashion Week designers revealed
2017 Mercedes-Benz Joburg Fashion Week designers revealed
African Fashion International (AFI) - owner and operator of the Mercedes-Benz Joburg Fashion Week has announced the designers showcasing their Spring/Summer collections at the 2017 Joburg Fashion Week... read
Durban-born Holmes Brothers brand goes big in Japan
Durban-born Holmes Brothers brand goes big in Japan
Holmes Brothers, the Afrocentric surfer style menswear brand that originated in Durban, has successfully launched in Japanese retailer The Freak's Store... read
FMCG
Alcohol industry criticises government's 'vague' socioeconomic study
Alcohol industry criticises government's 'vague' socioeconomic study

Linda Ensor

The South African Liquor Brand Owners Association (Salba) has criticised the government's inadequate socioeconomic impact assessment... read
SA Olive trofy
SA olive oil elite have 10 spots to compete for in Absa Olive Oil Awards
Absa, which previously sponsored the Absa Top Five Olive Oil Awards, will extend this honour to 10 exceptional olive oils. The very best gold award recipients of the SA Olive Awards will be chosen as finalists... read
Drinking yoghurt increases in volume, value
Drinking yoghurt increases in volume, value
BMi Research has released its report on the drinking yoghurt category, which continued to grow in volume and value in 2016... read
#FreshOnTheShelf: Spytail rum launches amid category comeback
#FreshOnTheShelf: Spytail rum launches amid category comeback
Internationally, rum has been enjoying a comeback and is believed to be the next hottest category following the recent gin revolution in South Africa... read
Branding Chenin blanc as a South African specialty
Branding Chenin blanc as a South African specialty
According to the managing editor of Wine Enthusiast, South Africa stands the strongest chance of making an impact in the US by linking its wine marketing message with a single varietal... read
The rising cost of food for families in South Africa
The rising cost of food for families in South Africa
The price of food is rising continually. What does it cost to feed a working class family and how does it impact nutrition? read
Vusa Zaya, RĆ©my Martin brand ambassador
Exploring RĆ©my Martin's Eau-de-Vie

Juanita Pienaar

RĆ©my Martin brand ambassador, Vusa Zaya gives us a taste of what it takes to be a brand ambassador in the world of Cognac and what promoting the brand entails... read
Food & bev. services
British chicken franchise roosts in South Africa
British chicken franchise roosts in South Africa
Southern Fried Chicken, a UK brand with some American heritage at the roots of its recipes, recently expanded into the South African market... read
Franchising
Tech and tenacity can give local franchise brands the edge
Tech and tenacity can give local franchise brands the edge

Abigail Makhubele

Modern day businesses in South Africa are dealing with a number of challenges that all contribute to consumers having less money to spend... read
Prominent Paints launches first franchise store
Prominent Paints launches first franchise store
Paint manufacturer Prominent Paints has launched its first franchise store in Midrand as it seeks to expand its distribution footprint... read
Green Sustainability
Go and rot, you old bag
Go and rot, you old bag

Farren Collins

South Africans will soon be able to dispose of their plastic bags along with the rest of their waste without worrying about negative effects on the environment... read
Health & Safety
Poisoning risk from expired food
Poisoning risk from expired food

Devon Koen

A food expert has warned consumers of the dangers of eating expired foods that appear on shop shelves... read
Import/Export
New customs valuation on goods imported under franchise agreements
New customs valuation on goods imported under franchise agreements

Virusha Subban, Lee-Ann Annandale and Busisiwe Vil

Importers in South Africa should be aware of the new customs valuation development affecting goods imported under franchise agreements, as this could affect the price they pay for the goods... read
Gratisography via
New pan-African fruit industry association to strengthen trade between Africa and EU
Afruibana, a pan-African association of fruit producers and exporters from Cameroon, the Ivory Coast and Ghana has officially been launched. The association will take steps to support competitiveness and export fruits to EU countries... read
monicore via
Rwanda's essential oils offer big profits from little land

Stephanie Aglietti

The pioneer of essential oils in Rwanda said he understood over a decade ago "the need to develop high-value crops" in his hilly nation of just 2.6m hectares... read
Packaging
More than just a standard printer
More than just a standard printer

Issued by Pyrotec

Pyrotec's machinery division, Pyrotec PackMark, has launched the new 9405 Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) coder from the trusted global manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, Markem-Imaje... read
Regulatory
Developing countries urged to set international food standards
Developing countries urged to set international food standards
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) have issued a joint statement calling on countries to develop international food standards... read
Retail Marketing
Facebook Messenger's golden opportunities for retailers
Facebook Messenger's golden opportunities for retailers

Megan Hollis

Facebook Messenger offers some exciting options for marketers and it seems Facebook knows it... read
How to connect with low-income shoppers - get real insight and practical tips at this CPT seminar
How to connect with low-income shoppers - get real insight and practical tips at this CPT seminar

Issued by Knowledge Resources

Doing business with the poor is complex. Here is your opportunity to get fresh perspective and real insights on how to reach and connect with SA's mass market and low-income consumers!... read
Retailers
Sean and Carlos Gomes
Wellness Warehouse celebrates a healthy decade
In 2007 brothers Sean and Carlos Gomes established health and wellness retailer Wellness Warehouse in South Africa... read
Choppies struggles to make its mark in tough SA conditions
Choppies struggles to make its mark in tough SA conditions

Colleen Goko

Botswana-based Choppies may be a well-established grocery retail chain in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, but the company has found the going tough in SA... read
Dis-Chem and Clicks remain attractive
Dis-Chem and Clicks remain attractive

Giulietta Talevi

While the general retailers' index has sunk 27% from its April 2015 peak, two shares in the sector appear to be proving the so-called "lipstick theory"... read
Michael Ettersheck via
Shoprite sales edge forward

Ann Crotty

The Shoprite share price slumped almost 2% after the company released a trading update that pointed to a disappointing performance... read
Massmart posts slower sales
Massmart posts slower sales
Prospects for the retail sector remain weak and are unlikely to improve in 2017, as confirmed by Massmart's interim sales update... read
Trading conditions squeeze Woolworths' growth hopes
Trading conditions squeeze Woolworths' growth hopes

Colleen Goko

Investors are lowering their expectations for Woolworths as the outlook for the local retail sector deteriorates... read
Sales
Retail sales up 1.7% y/y in May
Retail sales up 1.7% y/y in May

Sunita Menon

SA's retail sector not only confounded economists who had expected a contraction in May, but growth accelerated from April... read
Direct sales industry displays growth despite depressed economy
Direct sales industry displays growth despite depressed economy
The direct selling industry is one of the few sectors showing growth over the past 18 months... read
Business
Internet becoming synonymous with economic access
Internet becoming synonymous with economic access
According to the Internet Access in South Africa 2017 study produced by World Wide Worx and Dark Fibre Africa (DFA), the internet has become a vital tool for communication and information in South Africa... read
Jobs offered
Information/Reservation Consultant - Mobile - Cape Town
Cape Town Tourism currently seeks to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced information and reservation consultant. Applications close 4 August 2017. Read more >>

New events to diarise
Global Trade Show of Networking and Matchmaking South Africa 2017 - 30 Jul 2017 to 1 Aug 2017, Johannesburg
Global Trade Show of Networking and Matchmaking South Africa 2017 aims to attract at least 300 exhibitors and more than 5,000 visitors from around the globe. Read more >>



Short Course in Customer Service Excellence
Enterprises University of Pretoria - 24 Jul 2017 to 26 Jul 2017, Pretoria


Social media marketing
PRISA - 26 Jul 2017 to 27 Jul 2017, Randburg, Johannesburg


Short Course in Total Quality Management
Enterprises University of Pretoria - 26 Jul 2017 to 28 Jul 2017, Pretoria | 1 Nov 2017 to 3 Nov 2017, R 9100.00


PFMA supply chain management bid adjudication committees course
Enterprises University of Pretoria - 2 Aug 2017 to 4 Aug 2017, Pretoria | 2 Oct 2017 to 4 Oct 2017, Pretoria


Customer relations
Provox Centre for Public Relations & Communication - 24 Aug 2017 to 25 Aug 2017, Johannesburg


Short Course in Hands-on Supply Chain Management
Enterprises University of Pretoria - 4 Sep 2017 to 8 Sep 2017, Pretoria


Course in Customer Experience Management
Enterprises University of Pretoria - 12 Sep 2017 to 15 Sep 2017, Pretoria


Quotes
Jeremy Scott
"With the clothes I design, I think about my friends, how I'd want them to dress, what I'd want them to wear."
Marc Jacobs
"One thing that is exciting about fashion is the surprise element. People don't know what they want. They just know when they see it."
Manolo Blahnik
"About half my designs are controlled fantasy, 15 percent are total madness and the rest are bread-and-butter designs."
Iris Apfel
"Fashion and interior design are one and the same."
Vivienne Westwood
"I just use fashion as an excuse to talk about politics. Because I'm a fashion designer, it gives me a voice, which is really good."

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