The DUKE Group has partnered with Instant Grass founder, Greg Potterton to launch NUDE - Africa’s first dedicated ethnographic, market research agency. 

NUDE will focus exclusively on ethnographic research that, unlike traditional Q & A research, allows the client to step into the lives of actual people and watch how they live, how they make choices and how products and services actually fit into their daily routine, lifestyle and culture. This human-centric approach gets to the root of why people do what they do, versus what they say they do. 

Utilising the latest video and mobile content creation platforms, NUDE will ensure that projects are implemented quickly and efficiently with the aim of eliminating the lengthy timing and budgetary constraints associated with traditional research.  

Says Potterton, “The industry seems to be infatuated with collecting more and more data, however we seem to have forgotten that consumers are people and are by nature irrational and unpredictable. We hope to take clients beyond the data points and into the lives of real people. We want to shape, not measure opinions.”  

With the global perspective gained from launching Instant Grass in both the North American and Asia Pacific markets, Potterton realised that a South African partner was needed to truly unlock the potential of the Sub Saharan African markets.  Having worked with DUKE C.E.O Wayne Naidoo for more than two decades, understanding his approach to business and having seen the continued success of the DUKE Group, the synergies between the two businesses were obvious. 

Adds Naidoo, “Instant Grass has worked with a number of multinational brands across 22 different countries and, whilst they have always excelled at consumer-driven strategic solutions, we believe the partnership with DUKE will allow them to supplement these with strong creative solutions. Equally, this will further enrich the Group with a powerful consumer collaboration tool in our arsenal.” 

Potterton ends, “We both believe in the power of collaboration and believe that NUDE cements our shared mission of doing great business, with great people and in a great way.” For more information visit www.nudeinsight.com 

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About the DUKE Group: The DUKE Group is a full-service communications company comprising six independent, award-winning agencies: DUKE, Positive Dialogue, Mark1, CHAMP, Duchess and NUDE. The group was formed in 2019 and is a 100% Black-owned, Level-1 B-BBEE contributor. With a staff complement of over 100, the DUKE Group prides itself on employing seasoned industry professionals to provide our clients with tailor-made communications solutions that see positive outcomes and powerful results. Clients include amongst others Wonga, RisCura, Citadel, Pioneer Foods, Bevco, Webafrica and Satrix. CEO Wayne Naidoo is the current Chairman of the Association for Communications and Advertising (ACA). DUKE was voted AdFocus 2020 winner for Medium Agency of the year and MarkLives runner-up for "One to watch" in SA. For more information, please visit www.duke.co.za 

The Beverage Company (Bevco), South Africa’s leading independent manufacturer and distributor of carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, mixers and still beverages, has appointed the DUKE Group as it’s strategic partner across all brands. Following a successful three-year relationship between DUKE Advertising and Bevco’s Jive and Pepsi brands, the soft drink company has committed the full brand portfolio into the Group’s care.

The partnership will encompass DUKE Advertising, DUKE’s media strategy company FAME and their enthographic market research business, NUDE.  Commenting on the agency’s appointment, DUKE Managing Director, Aileen Sauerman says, “We have absolutely loved working with Jive and Pepsi over the past three years and are looking forward to adding value across the brand portfolio with the intention of creating positive volume growth.”

Bevco C.E.O. Pieter Spies adds, “Following on from the excellent relationship we’ve had with DUKE and the impressive growth of the brands in their care, it made sense to entrust the full brand portfolio into their charge. We believe they will be a valuable strategic partner to the business.”

JOHANNESBURG – WEDNESDAY, 09 JANUARY 2018: Decode is proud to announce that it has been appointed as the digital communications partner for Ditsong Museums of South Africa. We are tasked with the responsibility of developing the digital and content strategies, producing creative for visual storytelling, conceptualising campaigns, managing social media platforms and all other digital platforms including the website and intranet. Decode’s key focus will be brand building, generating awareness and increasing engagement particularly in the year Ditsong Museums is celebrating its 20thanniversary.  

Established in 1999, Ditsong Museums – is an amalgamation of eight museums – seven in Tshwane and one in Johannesburg. Ditsong Museums’ mission is to transform and enhance its sites as vehicles for nation building and social cohesion through active conservation, innovative research and relevant public programmes for the benefit of present and future generations. Ditsong Museums have diverse collections including fauna and flora, palaeontology, military history, cultural history, geology, anthropology and archaeology. 

Our Managing Director Lorato Tshenkeng comments; “We’re so pleased to be selected as the digital communications partner for Ditsong Museums of South Africa. Working with meaningful brands always brings out the best of our talented professionals. There is a great deal of opportunity to work creatively with the brand and we are looking forward to building it and raising awareness of their extensive offering.” 

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About DecodeDecode is a 100% black-owned communications and public relations agency. Founded by Lorato Tshenkeng – the Mail and Guardian Top 200 recognised communication strategist, Decode is based in Johannesburg with a broader South African reach and proven African experience. We exist to help our clients talk with the people who are important to their business. We believe that Communications and PR’s only objective should be to have a positive impact on business objectives and financials. With this approach – we deliver results that are aligned with client’s business goals to support their growth and success.

CONTACTS
Office Tel: 011 037 6929
Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Working across three brands under its Food Service Division on a B2B campaign and with the fresh and frozen Country Rangefor a B2C campaign, Boomtownis delighted to announce it is working with Sovereign Foods.  

Cater Chicken, Chef’s Choiceand Chicken ‘Tizersfall under the Sovereign Foods Food Services division and a brand awareness campaign has been created by Boomtown to drive sales within the broader food services market. Using print and digital advertising and a highly targeted direct mail campaign, the creative highlights product quality and convenience. The consumer campaign for Country Range (fresh and frozen produce), includes in-store trialing, point of sale, radio promotion and competitions in selected stores within the Eastern Cape.

The consumer campaign will span a nine-month period, and will encourage trial and brand engagement,” remarks Glen Meier, Boomtown strategic director. “And we will be using a popular radio personality to share recipe inspirations using Country Range chicken.

“We remain deeply committed to developing quality products and meals for the nation,” remarked Gerald Walter, Sovereign Foods director of marketing and sales. “An unrelenting passion for what we do, a culture of disruption and innovation and an ongoing investment in world-class farming, processing assets and our people are unique advantages that shape our growth and trajectory towards being a leader in South Africa in terms of sales volume and product quality.”

PayApp has launched DigiBanQ, the first digital-only, digital currency bank, built on cutting edge mobile-first web technology, integrating seamlessly into the customer's digital lives, both customers and merchants can register online or on a mobile device in 90 seconds flat without downloading anything.

PayApp DigibanQ offers everyday banking options via current and savings/deposits accounts, with the ability to be able to pay digitally direct from any internet enabled device, furthermore, customers will be able to make payments to anyone, anywhere, anytime simply by using a mobile number either on the web-app or via USSD.

With PayApp DigiBanQ there is no minimum balance requirement, no maintenance fees, and 0% transaction fees. A customer/Merchants account number is their mobile phone number, this is also used for customer authentication together with strict digital core infrastructure security, making the platform extremely secure.

Brian Dalton, a founder of PayApp DigiBanQ, said: “The launch of DigiBank marks an important step in the evolution of the global digital currency market. DigiBanQ’s currency “Nuggets” has been developed to be highly stable in stark contrast to the volatility of both fiat and all other digital currencies. The differentiation is that Nuggets is designed as a transactional currency and not as a speculative currency.

Contact details:

Brian Dalton, CEO
tel 012 994 4713
mobile 0840867895
email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
webiste www.payapp.co.za

Cape Town, South Africa 4Elements Media (now 4EM), a full service PR & Media Agency for both established, emerging companies and high-profiled individuals, announced today that it has secured the financial and strategic backing from Venture Capital Company Kristan Group. This partnership shall solidify 4EM’s position as a leading PR company and continue its expansion into the media industry in South Africa. 

“After nearly six years in business, it was time for a strategic collaboration that can take 4EM to the next level,” said Lorinda Voges, CEO and Founder of 4Elements Media. “Our new services allow more room to excel at our passion; delighting and elevating our clients by solving their unique PR & media challenges. In addition, through this partnership, we have welcomed a number of new clients and created jobs for a number South Africa’s PR and Communications experts”, continued Voges.

Kristan Group, who is headed up by media veteran and investor Kasper Kristoffersen, will be assisting with strategic and financial support and direct the expansion into new business areas. 4EM will benefit from the full backing and 20 years of media connections from the Kristan Group of media companies. This strategic partnership will cater to the evolving needs of South African clients, by expanding services to include a bespoke solution to fit the right media mix according to the strategy required. 

4EM is a national public relations and events company speclialising in (but not limited to); public relations, social media & digital marketing, celebrity/influencer relations & management, event management & creation, reputation & crisis management, content production and business to business communication.

Some of 4EM past & current client list includes Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Stuttafords, Clarins, Mugler, Convoy, Jimmy Nevis, Shashi Naidoo, Francois Hougaard, Boity Thulo, 7de Laan and many more. 

For more information on 4Elementsmedia, visit www.4Elementsmedia.com

For interviews with Lorinda Voges, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

##THE END 

Issued by 4EM
Michelle Cole
PR Intern
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Global leader and innovator in mobile device security and Enterprise Mobile Management (EMM) technology, AirWatch® by VMware is returning to the 6th IT Leaders Africa Summit as a Silver Sponsor.  

A diversified senior executive with global CRM technology applications and services experience, MD Ian Evans, has been successful in helping companies achieve their forecast goals by structuring sales and operation processes. 

  “Enterprises including Merck KGaA, a leading pharmaceutical, chemical and life science company, have launched private app stores for two reasons, to maintain control of compliance and security risks by providing only corporate sanctioned apps for employee use and to increase productivity by allowing employees to choose the apps they need, thereby reducing IT costs.”  

Ian will explore Merck’s mobility story during their workshop at the IT Leaders Africa Summit and share best practices on implementing an engaging internal enterprise app program, which will soon be a necessity to enabling a productive mobile workforce.  

AirWatch® executives, including Ian, will be available throughout the two day summit to interact with, and offer help to attending CIOs.   Q&A sessions during this workshop will give attendees the opportunity to discuss their challenges and opportunities in the workplace.

Airwatch will also showcase their solutions at the innovation display area with experts on hand to discuss and exchange ideas with attendees.  

Join us to hear the experts at the 6th edition of IT Leaders Africa Summit on the 18-19 March 2015 at the Maslow hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg.  

Contact Marcia van Jaarsveld on 021 180 4700 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.  

A new online art and craft marketplace launched in January 2015, allowing South Africans to sell their art and handmade goods online. The Craft Shoppe is a virtual craft market, offering sellers their own store within the main webstore, and the opportunity to sell their work to both South African and international online markets.

The website is free to join, and members can list as many items as they wish. Sellers can log in to their own private dashboard to list and track products. They can offer discounts and coupons, apply shipping fees per product or offer free shipping for certain orders. The website tracks all orders and sales, and credits members' accounts with the proceeds of their sales less 15%. The Craft Shoppe has provided a step-by-step Seller Guide to help new sellers get started and make the most of all of the features that the website offers. Further, their Support Forum gives members a direct link for answers to questions.

The website was created by Erica Keegan of Johannesburg, South Africa, who, like many South Africans, was inspired by successful US based craft webstore, Etsy, but frustrated by the limitations of having to use Paypal as payment processor. The Craft Shoppe offers a South African alternative to Etsy. Members list their items in Rands, and get paid out Rands directly into their South African bank accounts. All the seller has to do is ship their work in good time and good order.

The Craft Shoppe can be viewed at www.thecraftshoppe.co.za, with all enquiries being directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Written by Erica Keegan, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +27818365416

SOUTH AFRICA – Jan, 2015 – After much anticipation LiveBids Auctions has been launched in South Africa. LiveBids offers a unique online buying and selling platform that incorporates different aspects of various social media.

This means that a choice of interests, following friend’s, search hundreds of products while buying items for a fraction of the cost and selling them to make real profits.

LiveBids aims to help buyers and sellers fully connect in trade with seamless transactions. It is an online marketplace that is simple, interactive and social. It allows users to experience a real-time marketplace, buy products lower than the market value and socially follow buyers and sellers.

Two formats are used, namely online auctions and pay-per-bid. The first of these is the traditional online auction model, where items are sold to the highest bidder. The second is a pay-per-bid model, where would-be buyers purchase credits to bid on items. These credits go to the seller, which is how it is possible to purchase big-ticket items for nominal amounts.

The founders of LiveBids, Rory Vollmer and Paul Hoft, explain that “the idea was to create an online marketplace that was simple, interactive and social, helping buyers and sellers connect and trade. The marketplace is completely people driven”.

Visit www.livebids.co.za to empower yourself by becoming an online buyer and seller today!

For further information regarding LiveBids Auctions, or to schedule an interview, please contact: 

Contact Rory Vollmer,

Co-Founder and Head of Marketing

Phone: +27 (0) 21 300 8446
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.livebids.co.za

The 5 star Kurland Hotel, located near the striking beach resorts of Plettenberg Bay on the breathtaking Garden Route has introduced its new look spa, created by the Sanctuary Signature Spas Group, a leading expert in creating, managing and marketing 5-star Spas at award-winning hotels, lodges and wine estates across Africa.

The new look Spa includes a private steam room, sauna room, two therapy rooms, relaxation area, gym and a refreshing plunge pool and guests are also welcome to have their treatments in the privacy of their suite or at one of the many stunning locations throughout the Estate. The Kurland Spa now offers !QMS and Moya health and beauty products as well as the renowned Morgan Taylor Lacquer for manicures and pedicures.

Alison Rightford, CEO, states “With the summer season upon us, it was the perfect time to present the spa to in-house guests and local residents in the Plettenberg area. The treatments we now offer at Kurland are the finest available in the health and wellness industry.” Kurland Hotel

Owner, Peter Behr, “It is a pleasure to be working alongside the renowned, Alison Rightford and Sanctuary Signature Spas and the new look spa now offers our guests yet another 5-star offering.”