What commodity innovations are taking place in trade finance, what is outlook for Africa’s trade corridors, what is South African banks role in an ever-changing trade finance environment? Exploring the state of trade finance, trends in the market and the concerns involved in making the financing of trade possible, the Trade Finance Conference 2014, hosted by Trade Conferences International, will address these issues, and more.

The Trade Finance Conference will take place on 5 & 6 November 2014, at Focus Rooms, Sunninghill, in Johannesburg. The speaker panel includes the likes of:Francois Visagie, Head: Structured Trade and Commodity Finance, ABSA Capital;Richard Harvey, Structured Trade Finance, First Rand Bank;Vanessa Miller, Managing Director, VM Consulting;Yusuf Ali Khan, Trade Head for Africa, CitiBank;Tsepo Tsotetsi, Documentary Trade Product Manager – Africa, Standard Bank;Graham Megaw, Head: International Banking Finance and Operations Support Services, Bidvest Bank;Meluleki Nzimande, Partner in International Trade, Webber Wentzel; amongst others.

Addressing industry developments and trends regarding the challenges associated with entering foreign market trade; innovations in commodity technology, the threat of growing trading companies to banks’ financing, integration across trading platforms, intra-African transactions across multiple regions, and global trading systems and investments, to name a few.

Network with your colleagues in the field dealing with corporate foreign exchange, commodity and export finance, corporate trade and cash, finance and securitization, cross-border negotiations, and Treasury and foreign assets control, to name but a few.

Hurry! The early bird discount rate is still on. Email Jason Joseph, project manager to secure your seat at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Call 011 803 1553 for more information on the conference or speaking opportunities.

With 2014 being the year of Big Data it is essential to stay up to date with all the developments, challenges and laws of big data as well as how to analyse and manage big data. Attending the Big Data Analytics & Management Conference on 30 September is the best way to gain knowledge on all of this. The conference will be held at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Johannesburg.  

Data experts to address the conference:         

Gary Allemann - Master Data Management
Steven Burnstone - Eighty20 Consulting
Salome Coetsee - Ernst & Young Advisory Services
Stuart Cheverton - Hitachi Data Systems
Werner Coetzee - Hitachi Data Systems
Willem Conradie - PBT Group
Ashleigh Van Kerckhoven - KPMG
Dave Ives - Karabina Solutions  

Gert Botes, Conference Organiser at Alpha Omega Events said: “Professionals dealing with data analytics, business intelligence, customer insights, risk management, fraud & security, data management, marketing, customer relations, strategy development & implementation, operations, product innovation & management, risk & compliance, data engineering and ICT services will benefit greatly from attending this conference.”  

Experts will present on 10 big data myths busted – practical suggestions for starting big data analytics, data analytics: building a competitive culture, explosion of data and how to cope, data protection & POPI, using big data for fraud detection and prevention, cloud computing – an effective big data enabler, social media and big data and more…  

Delegates registration are open and seats are limited so book your asap to avoid disappointment.

Registration form can be downloaded on www.aoevents.co.za and emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Registration fee is R2199.00 per delegate and includes full access to conference and free parking, conference material, speaker presentations, coffee/tea and refreshment, 3 course buffet lunch as well as free shuttle from and to OR Tambo.

Group bookings of 3 or more will receive 15% discount on registration fee.

Spur Steak Ranches has introduced a cool new range of digital innovations and applications, designed to appeal to kids, teens and adults. Having recently been awarded  the “Coolest Eat-Out Place” in the Sunday Times Generation Next 2014 Survey, Spur is innovating in order to appeal to the younger market via original digital applications.  

With 3 FREE new exciting Spur apps, a new responsive and interactive website and the Spur Secret Tribe online magazine, SA’s favourite family restaurant remains tops when it comes to fun and relevant entertainment for its younger diners. The mobile game apps are fun and safe for children of all ages and can be downloaded across all platforms (Apple and Android tablets and smartphones) or they can be  played online at www.spurtribe.co.za  

Get creative with Colour Me 3D

Augmented Reality is pushed to its limits with Spur’s Secret Tribe Characters, Buttercup, Soaring Eagle and Buffalo Brave! Colour them in, download the Colour Me 3D app and watch your very own creation come alive on your digital device.

Since 8 July this year, children can visit their local Spur from and buy a Kids’ Burger, cold drink and Spur Tribe plush toy for only R54.90 (while stocks last).  With every meal purchased, children will also receive a free colouring in sheet of either Buffalo Brave, Soaring Eagle or Buttercup. Through the magic of technology, the Colour Me 3D app makes them actually ‘come alive’. They talk, laugh, jump and duck when one interacts with them.

This app encourages creativity and has been designed to develop fine motor skills, and introduce 3D and Augmented Reality technology to children.  Visit www.Spur3D.co.za to start colouring in with 3D now!  

Spur Tribe Dash – Get your game on!

Players have to help the Secret Tribe Team, Buffalo Brave, Soaring Eagle and Buttercup save their animal friends from creepy enemies like the Flapigator, Smog and Ellybugs. The characters’ adventure progresses through various levels to collect precious eggs, honey and tasty bones, which are required to ‘save the day’.  

Spur Tribe Dash can also be played on the Spur Tribe website (www.spurtribe.co.za). Spur has designed the app to develop hand-eye coordination, creativity and problem solving, while providing hours of entertainment.

Players are rewarded by unlocking new characters, levels and totems to enhance their score.  The game consists of three levels, Lush Forest, Desert Oasis and Rocky Canyon. Players can join the scoreboard by signing in with their Family Card or Secret Tribe number and top scorers will win vouchers toward their next meal!

Visit www.Tribedash.co.za for more info  

Spur Tribe Birthday Jam

Children who fancy being a DJ can now surprise their friends on their birthday with their own cool customized birthday music mix using the app, Spur Tribe Birthday Jam. Your favourite Spur Tribe characters will jam along on their guitars and turntables and rock the house with their own mix of pop, rock 'n roll and rap, boasting the voices of top South African artists.  

This app, which encourages musical creativity, also allows kids to add a name, age and several other features to the song before sending it off. With Kids’ Birthdays being an integral part of the Spur bouquet, Spur sends a postcard to every Secret Tribe member on his or her birthday to collect their free birthday meal. All Secret Tribe members also receive a free soda on every visit to the Spur.

Visit www.SpurBirthdayJam.co.za to start mixing your own birthday song.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  

NAME: Ryan Haworth, Digital Manager
TEL: 021-555 5100
E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WEBSITE: http://www.spurtribe.co.za
TWITTER: @SpurRestaurant #SpurKids
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SpurSteakRanches  

Hungry Lion’s Lucky Bucket Campaign Delivers Double Digit Sales Growth For The Brand

Hungry Lion’s new ‘Lucky Bucket’ campaign, has driven hundreds of thousands of feet into its newly refurbished fast food chicken outlets countrywide resulting in an impressive 37% increase in overall brand engagement and double digit sales growth in just four weeks. 

The new Hungry Lion integrated campaign, comprising a new TV and radio commercial, digital, PR and on the ground activations, which promise to ‘give Mzansi more’, have seen the Hungry Lion brand quickly winning with SA and Africa consumers and becoming a fast food favourite.

“We achieved the 37% increase in engagement in the first three weeks of our campaign and the level of redemption on vouchers via digital channels has been way above industry benchmarks,” says Tashalene Reid, Marketing Manager at Hungry Lion, a Shoprite Holdings company. 

She also attributes the increase in sales to Hungry Lion’s new brand image, refurbished outlets, its proudly South African heritage and a great product in the form of bigger portions of great tasting chicken served up in the brand’s visually appealing branded buckets. “Our Pride Bucket has been iconic to our stores for more than 12 years, so it remains at the centre of our new brand campaign,” she adds. 

The campaign is a follow-on from our first engaging TV commercial, which saw the Pride Buckets being flown in by helicopter into the metropolis and promising Mzansi More. 

“We then built on this story by bringing the buckets to life by using an on-the-ground mechanic in the form of 50 Lucky Bucket mascots who have been promoting the R7-million ‘spot a lucky bucket’ competition throughout South Africa in a fun and engaging way. To date, they have been seen climbing Table Mountain, riding on trains, touring the city, surfing and visiting iconic areas all over South Africa.” 

Reid explains that this particular campaign is a first for South Africa in terms of utilising these various touchpoints and in terms of integration, we have seen over 700,000 digital WiCodes already being issued within the first four weeks. 

“It has included pushing social media limits and digital interaction via mobile devices to include WeChat, VoucherCloud and Mxit as a mechanic for our market, providing a perfect platform for live interaction for all of South Africa and enabling both feature and smartphone users the opportunity to participate,” she adds.

According to SocialBaker’s latest social media report, the Hungry Lion brand has seen a 155% increase in engagement on their social channels alone, overtaking Nike Sportswear.

Hungry Lion, which launched in 1997, by the Shoprite Holdings Ltd Group, has seen a rapid growth trajectory by extending its footprint and now has a network of more than 160 stores in Africa and South Africa with operations in eight African countries.

Over the past two years, the brand has undergone major changes to its management, brand, stores and menu in order to achieve its goal of being a first-world Quick Service Restaurant (QSR). “We have had to restrategise, reformulate and rebrand our stores to make this a reality,” says Reid.

“Our goal is to provide all communities in Africa with tasty chicken in a first-world environment at competitive prices, whilst staying true to our 100% homegrown SA offering,” she adds. “The stores now boast a world-class design with ample seating and an inescapable focus on providing great chicken products in order to bring to life our brand vision in very diverse areas in South Africa.” 

Hungry Lion, which serves over a million customers per month across SA and Africa, prides itself on offering ‘MORE’ for every man, woman and child across Mzansi (South Africa and Africa) with the stores and menu being crafted for people who want more and for lovers of king-sized chicken. 

Reid explains; “Our product has undergone a major overhaul resulting in larger portions for bigger value, while remaining true to our brand promise of ‘giving Mzansi more’ and offering consumers more value for money in a fast and friendly environment.”

“Our integrated campaign for the launch of the ‘new’ brand aims to make South Africans aware of our brand promise in a fun, engaging and aspirational way. We needed to reach and impact on a larger scale than ever before,” she adds. “To do this we needed to push the boundaries in order to get more people to experience the new Hungry Lion at multiple touchpoints.”

“It has taken us two years of planning, new brand implementation and roll-out for us to be ready to market the brand and the success over the last month is testiment that South Africans are responding well to the new brand,” she concludes.

Join the conversation on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hungrylion or on Twitter: @HungryLionSA #luckybucket

Solomon’s Haven was founded in 1992, when Maria Solomons and her family opened their hearts and doors to vulnerable children in the area, creating a place of safety and equipping them with the necessary education and skills and to prepare them for their future, and developing them intellectually, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

Maria explains that, in her area, so many women are caught up in a vicious cycle of abuse and neglect that they struggle to look after themselves, let alone their children. “When deciding to leave her abuser, she is usually faced with either living on the streets ór going to a shelter, where she and her children can stay for three to six months… and then? Sometimes they are faced with being thrown out on the streets or going back to the origin of the abuse,” Maria says concerned.

It is with one such incident that Solomon’s Haven was founded. When her late son, Nadeem, was in Grade 5 he started bringing a 7–year old friend home every day. Maria spoke to the boy and he eventually disclosed that his father was very abusive towards him, his siblings (aged 4 and 9) and his mother. Maria eventually invited the boy’s mother for dinner and after a long talk she told Maria that she is faced with a huge problem: her husband is molesting her two daughters!

Maria decided there and then to provide shelter to the women while she took steps against her husband, with Maria’s support. Maria took care of them, reminded of her own background of abuse.

“I did not really have role models, growing up under difficult circumstances, with an abusive father.  We were five to six children sleeping on a bed, without blankets – we had to use carpets and our clothes to keep warm. This gradually formed me to become strong, which helped me to survive and definitely helps me to assist the children of Solomon’s Haven today,” she adds proudly.

Maria is, however, very happy that times have changed and that women are better protected through improved legislation. “When I grew up, men in our community beat some women to a pulp, women felt powerless to take any action and as a result nothing was ever done about it. Now it is a whole new picture. When you lift your hands for a woman (or man!) you will, in most cases, go to jail,” she adds.

“I have a compassion for children, especially those growing up under difficult circumstances, and I am a mother, with a huge heart for children. I do not want to see my children getting hurt… I do not want any child getting hurt, for that matter. Nelson Mandela once said something along the line of: ‘If you have a head and a heart, you see everything differently’ and I feel that is very applicable to me. It does not matter what is ‘wrong’ with the child or what his or her condition or problem is – I just love them.” You can see the kids that arrive here are broken, but I give every child as many hugs and love as possible. The kid realises that you care for them as soon as you give them hugs. It sometimes takes two weeks or more for them to start trusting me, but eventually I do manage to break through their ‘walls’ with love,” Maria says.

Some of the children have grown up with one, but in some instances even two abusive parents. Maria is concerned that in the latter case, the children are left without any caregiver and nobody to protect them. Without a mother a family literally falls apart. Maria adds that in such cases, there usually is no bread in the house and the children have to ask neighbours for a piece of food… or hope somebody will help them.

“Kids like these do not know the security of a family and that is what we are trying to reinstate in their lives.  A family stick together, no matter what happens, like me and my family. We carry each other through difficult times. We want the kids to experience the same and a feeling of home and somebody being there for them after school. Do you know how gratifying it is when they arrive home after school and ask, “Where’s Mommy?’”

“With the help of generous organisations like Spur Foundation, I can be their mommy and provide them with a family. We never eat separately, but together as a family – an aspect that truly resonates with Spur’s focus on the family. In the evenings when we sit in front of the TV, they massage and wash my feet. That is how they give back. They cry when I take my feet back, as it signifies rejection to them.  Pampering me is a thank you from their side,” she says with a smile.

Maria stresses that it is not an easy job – both financially and emotionally. “On the financial side I have to provide food for all of them. Organisations like Spur Foundation contribute regularly and it helps, but it does not cover all our needs. As an example, the 17 kids currently in my care, eat at least ten loaves of bread per day!” she adds.

“On the emotional side I also have to be the strong woman for them. I can only cry or show emotions when I am alone in my room, as I become such a part of these children’s daily struggles. Spur Foundation’s support has shown me that they believe in what I do and that that they believe these children need help. It lessens the burden on me, as I know there is somebody that cares. Spur Foundation recently donated new bed linen to all the children on Mandela Day (18 July) – it was probably the first time in their lives that they slept under new duvet covers! " she adds.

Since its inception between 400 and 500 children have been helped at Solomon’s Haven, with Maria assisting some of them to train as boilermakers, policemen, social workers and more. For this remarkable work Maria was nominated as a finalist in the Cape Times Woman of Worth 2003 Competition and in 2004 she won the award.

“For the next year my big wish would be bigger premises, so that everybody has their own space and can feel special,” she adds. “Feeling special is something they have not experienced a lot in their lives, but the love and support for the children make them look past the fact that there might not be another tomorrow,” Maria concludes.

Spur salutes this great mother of so many of the neglegted and destitude children in her area.

---

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

NAME: Ronel van Dijk, Chairperson of the Spur Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of Spur Corporation Limited
TEL: 021-555 5100
E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WEBSITE: http://www.spurfoundation.co.za
TWITTER: @SpurRestaurant
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SpurSteakRanches  

On 9 August, National Women’s Day, South Africans will be saluting the role of women in our society. In this spirit, Spur Foundation will be saluting Liesel James, founder of Creating Change, one of the primary beneficiaries of the Spur Foundation. 

Creating Change is a non-profit company that strives to empower the youth in under-served communities, to build a sustainable future for themselves and their families. This programme provides education and skills development through indigenous permaculture gardening, healthy cooking and nutrition, product development and more.  

Spur Foundation joined forces with Creating Change to set up the Conscious Lifestyle Programme at the Desmond Tutu HIV Youth Centre in Masiphumulele, Ocean View, between Kommetjie and Noordhoek in Cape Town.

“The Desmond Tutu Centre is aimed at educating youth on health and providing guidance especially around HIV and leadership. It ties in with our Conscious Lifestyle Programme where we teach them about nutrition, the uses of plants, environmental awareness and how to maintain a permaculture garden - an agricultural system or method that seeks to integrate human activity with natural surroundings to create highly efficient self-sustaining ecosystems. We want to inform them about the dangers of chemicals and additives in soil and processed food and, of course, we also want to show them positive and affordable alternatives to it,” Liesel explains.

The Ocean View community is heavily dependent on local industry, seasonal fishing and labour. There is much unemployment and poverty in the area and social problems. Liesel says, as a result, the biggest threats to the children at the Centre and in Ocean View are rape, drugs and gangsterism.

“These children just need to be nurtured, guided and supported, in order to break the negative cycle they may find themselves in – and ironically it resonates extremely well with the Spur Foundation slogan, Nourish, Nurture, Now!” she adds.  

“I have three children of my own, so I understand them and treat all the kids I work with like I am their biological mother. When they do something wrong I have to reprimand them – I often have to intervene when they have anger management, discipline and racial issues. I basically just love them –they are the motivation why I am still here,” Liesel says proudly.

“I have felt like giving up before, due to burnout, but never due to the children, more as a result of a lack of resources or adult ‘gatekeepers’ in the community who were standing in the way of us reaching the children, changing original agreements and making it challenging for me to deliver. Children are here to learn and I am here to teach them,” she says adamantly.

Liesel believes that Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has always been a man of integrity, standing up for humanity, speaking his truth without fear, calling us the Rainbow Nation and believing that, without forgiveness, there is no future.

“He is really the last honourable leader and voice left in South Africa, after the passing of Nelson Mandela. Mandela, again, can be admired for his humility, wisdom and honourable attitude after 27 years in prison. He was our African father,” Liesel adds.

Using these two formidable leaders as an example, Liesel aims to assist all the children on the programme until they finish school. Every year Creating Change offers more skills development than the year before and the programme is evolving into a mentorship and entrepreneurship programme, assisting the children when they leave school.  This will have an effect on the communities around them and the people they come in touch with for the rest of their lives.

Liesel and her team have been working with some of the children for five years and watched them grow and learn. She realised that children need a huge amount of support, especially in these communities where there is a lack of guidance, career counselling and good mentorship. She assisted regularly to provide them with different stimuli, constant education and guidance on how to make healthy choices. The children need to have a safe place to talk about anything.

The Desmond Tutu Centre provides learners with dedicated counsellors, but some of the Ocean View children are still carrying a lot inside them, without much safe assistance.  “I hope that they will remember me as someone who is independent, a finisher, but more importantly as someone who loved them dearly and believed in them,” Liesel concludes.

Spur Foundation has supported Creating Change for the past 6 years and have watched the project grow from strength to strength through the dedicated and passionate work of Liesel James and her team. She truly embodies the spirit of ubuntu and Spur can proudly salute Liesel as one of South Africa’s great servants of her community.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: NAME: Ronel van Dijk, Chairperson of the Spur Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of Spur Corporation Limited
TEL: 021-555 5100
E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TWITTER: @SpurRestaurant
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SpurSteakRanches

Tonya Khoury of Fourways in Johannesburg is a woman with more than 20 years’ experience in media monitoring and client liaison and is widely regarded as one of the foremost experts in the South African and African media monitoring industry.  

As the Managing Director of newly formed media monitoring company, ROi Africa (based in Lynnwood, Pretoria), she is driven by service. “I learnt very quickly in my career that sales equalled superb customer service and I loved making unhappy clients happy. During my employment at a competitor media monitoring concern just over a decade ago, my eyes opened to the opportunity of making money out of ‘cutting up newspapers’!  This passion was unleashed and got stronger every day.  

Career 

Tonya started her monitoring career Newsclip until her entrepreneurial flair took the upper hand and she started Jisani Digitrack, the first black empowered media monitoring company in Africa, in a partnership as Sales and Marketing Director and shareholder. Unfortunately the partnership soured, but Tonya’s passion for innovative media monitoring persisted.  Her experience across various other monitoring companies including DDI taught Tonya that entrepreneurship takes tenacity and an “I never give up” attitude, being a leader in the industry comes from fighting mediocrity and honing in on market need. 

Tonya, who initially wanted to be a lawyer, learnt early that she was never going to fit into a corporate law firm. “I’m an entrepreneur and that is something deeply ingrained in me. Passion and attitude is everything – these are attributes you either have or not – and I believe that it cannot be taught, like skills and knowledge. I have experienced that all these aspects are important, but the former two are crucial and have been essential for my career and life as an entrepreneur,” she explains.   

Being an Entrepreneur 

“It takes balls – big, big balls to be a business owner. It isn't glamorous and it isn't easy - it's much, much harder than clocking in and out and taking your pay cheque at the end of each month. But, if you want to make a difference and believe you can, and if you are dead set on a dream you have no choice but to do it ‘alone’.  If you're lucky you'll meet people along the way that are like minded and they will give you a ‘leg up’. In most instances where money is concerned, they won't. But there is no bigger rush in the world than a solid sense of achievement, knowing you were right and reaping the rewards, which is already happening in ROi’s case!” she adds. 

She believes that, if people have a passion for what they do, they will make a success out of it. “There is no reward greater than fulfilling your passion. Following your passion does, however, come with hard work and risks. I have fallen more times than I care to count, but I never gave up. Business is tough - really tough - but so is life sometimes and if you enjoy what you do, then that’s the bonus. Entrepreneurship is a drug like no other and must be used with caution.” 

Media Monitoring 

Tonya is also a strong believer that the South African media monitoring industry needs a shake-up, as well as a move away from Advertising Value Equivalent (AVE) as measurement tool. “We have to be faster, sexier, more effective and more interactive. Due to this I have decided to forge international partnerships, which allows for access to international ideas at the forefront of media monitoring,” she explains.  

“Media interaction has to be lightning fast.  You have to be quick and, more importantly, consistent. You have to fully understand the media monitoring industry and, with my more than 20 years’ experience, I know that ROi is heading for an amazing future,” Tonya says proudly. She is adamant that media monitoring is not a ‘nice to have’ but an essential tool for each business, especially in crisis situations. She believes it is impossible for an individual to keep track of a story running out of control, as there are simply too many outlets. This job calls for specialists, in the form of media monitors, as negative brand reputation messages require immediate attention across all spheres.  

Being a Woman

“Women are exceptionally hard working and inventive and topped with their multitasking ability, they make formidable impacts on the Media Industry. Being multitaskers, I also find that women are able to focus on more than one thing at once, which is ideal for our industry. “One of my biggest challenges is time, I’m not patient, my industry is not patient,” she remarks.

She does, however, add that her feminine intuition has helped her to identify the very best support team to build the ROi foundation and, most importantly to decide between right and wrong. “”I have always trusted my gut and I’ve learnt to act on its instruction,” Tonya adds.

Lessons

“Another thing that life taught me is that the only person who can pull the carpet from underneath you is yourself. In my younger years I have struggled a little with self-doubt - I used to be extremely good at telling myself all the reasons I would not be able to achieve something – but with age and experience I have learnt to believe the opposite: listening to all the reasons why I will be able to achieve success, like with ROi”.

Tonya also says that she has also learnt that I am unemployable and can’t work for somebody else. “I have to work for myself because I absolutely need operational and sales freedom in my business plan,” she adds.

Tonya says that a good business model is based on:        

• Identifying a market need – a  hungry market is key to making a business successful        
• Fill the gap with solid operational processes and a robust product to ensure that sales are deliverable and have longevity        
• Take action, quickly.        
• Always raise the bar, keep finding relevance        
• Solid legal and financial paperwork and a robust business model makes for a happy set of shareholders.        
• NEVER give up 

“I can add to this that relationships are EVERYTHING and I could not have done anything in my career without solid, long standing relationships with people, clients and suppliers. These relationships helped me through the difficult times,” she says proudly. 

“I am not only an entrepreneur – I am also a South African! I have a love like no other for three things, my mother, my continent, my industry - Africa is my home, I'm privileged to call myself a South African, I'm hugely proud of what my country has achieved. I've been fortunate to travel to parts of the rest of Africa and I want more, I want to take a solution that is much needed into the rest of the continent and possibly other parts of the globe, - that's the dream!” she exclaims.

Ornico Publishes 2nd Africa Annual Growth is the dominant theme in this 2014 edition of the yearly magazine brought out by the brand, media and reputation research company.

Sandton, South Africa – Wednesday, July 9, 2014: “Growth – that’s what it is all about. Whatever way we look at it, Africa’s time in the sun has arrived,” said Oresti Patricios, CEO of brand, media and reputation research firm, Ornico, by way of announcing the company’s second annual on Africa.  

Called “The Africa Annual” the Ornico publication looks at economies in Africa that are growing at rates pegged at about 5.5% for this year according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “Africa has growth rates that are making western economies green with envy,” Patricios said, adding that this new annual explores growth economies on the continent.  

Patricios said that the big challenge for those economies that fared well in Africa would be to implement beneficiation, and to create sustainable economies focused on long-term development.  “While Africa’s growth rates are exciting, what is important to realise is that part of this growth is being driven by ‘raw’ exports of resources, (mainly to China.) The big step of change for this continent, and one that will help create sustainable growth, is to make the move from being a massive source of raw material to becoming a manufacturer, or adding value to the production process through beneficiation,” he said.  

“The focus in Africa shouldn’t be wealth creation or growth for the sake of growth. Rather what is needed is growth that drives education, job creation and the stimulation of industries that seed development,” Patricios said, adding: “In the resources sector, beneficiation would contribute significantly to adding value to this part of the economy. It would bring employment creation, skills development, and would help uplift regions where metals (and the like) are mined. What is needed here is a long-term view. Businesses and government in Africa need to forgo short term profits for long term gains.”  

Ornico’s The Africa Annual 2014 explores Nigeria’s much-delayed rebasing of its GDP in April 2014 and what this means to South Africa, and looks at the truism that ‘Africa is not a country’. “It has become a cliché that brands wanting expanding into the rest of the continent need to beware of trying to transplant their existing, successful strategies to markets here – or even transplanting strategies from one market in Africa to another,” Patricios explains. “Some SA and global brands have learned the hard way that marketing in each new African territory demands a local approach,” he said.   Other themes in Ornico’s The Africa Annual 2014 include the massive push north by South African retail brands; what’s been behind Nollywood’s contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth; the ‘peculiar’ radio habits of Kenyans; and much, much more.  

“Growth is happening in Africa, and what we’ve tried to do is to offer a snapshot of where and how this growth is happening, and insights that brands and marketers need to know about growing in Africa,” Patricios said.  

Ornico’s The Africa Annual 2014 is published in collaboration with MarkLives.com and a free copy of the magazine is available through South Africa’s authoritative, independent marketing site. Alternately the marketing magazine is available free to download at www.ornico.co.za 

Download Ornico’s The Africa Annual 2014

ABOUT ORNICO

Ornico makes sense of the tsunami of brand, advertising and media information flooding the marketplace. By collecting and analysing adverts and brand publicity, Ornico helps put marketing decision makers in the know about the most important strategic decisions they’ll ever make regarding their brands.  

Ornico has the largest and most comprehensive library of TV, radio, outdoor, print and Internet reference material, and offers a tracking service for emerging advertisements or Newcomers™. The company tracks competitive and category advertising spend, and verifies media schedules to ensure the investment that brands make in advertising is fully realised. Editorial services include publicity monitoring, SMS alerts and the analysis or comparison of own and competitive brand images.  

Established in 1984, Ornico has offices in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town as well as Nigeria and Kenya. The largest supplier of advertising visual references in South Africa, Ornico employs a team of over 100 people and has clients that include many of Africa’s top companies.   Ornico – Know how. To grow.  

CONTACTS

Oresti Patricios – CEO   Mobile: 083 326 2250  
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
Francois van Dyk - Operations Manager  
Call: 011 884 5041  
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Ornico Head Office:
Tel: +27 11 884-5041 Fax: +27 11 783-6931  
Twitter: @OrnicoMedia |  Web: www.ornico.co.za 

Johannesburg – After the major success of the previous Loyalty and Rewards Conferences, held in both Johannesburg and Cape Town, this event will tackle new and revamped topics, featuring highly distinguished marketing executives addressing the conference.     

It will be highlighting the most important aspects regarding loyalty programmes such as customer service, customer retention, partnerships, implementation, technology, branding and measuring programmes, the event will bring marketing and other professionals the opportunity to successfully introduce and maintain loyalty programmes.

Speakers include the following loyalty and rewards experts:

* Louis Raubenheimer,  Head: Rewards VAS Support/Enablement,  ABSA Rewards

* Prof Mornay Roberts-Lombard, Deputy HOD & Head of Masters and Doctoral studies, University of Johannesburg

* Jainita Khatri, Director, Prana Business Solutions

* Andries Noeth, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulta Research

* Ros Siddle, Marketing & Loyalty Research Manager, Truth

* Preneshen Munian, Agency Director, TLC Marketing

* Magriet Leaper, Director, Voila Travel

* Paul Lange, Executive Director, WoW Marketing

* Deon Olivier, Executive Director, ValueplusNettwork

* Nick Evans,  Head of Digital & Rewards, Global Choices 

* Jide Kola-Banjo, EasyLoyalty

The conference and open-space exhibition will be held at Focus Rooms, Sunninghill, Johannesburg on 11 and 12 June 2014. To register please contact project manager Sian Wirth, on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 011 703 1553 to find out more about exhibiting and marketing deals.

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