Inferior language used in ads
Listening to radio commercials one frequently comes across spots being done by people who don't speak the language. 6 Oct 2005
What is it with some agencies that require people that are all rounders?
It is a bit like going to your general practitioner (Doc) to get a spine fusion done or your eyes fixed, that is what the specialists are there for. The design agency should work the same way, because when you employ general people you get general work but if you employ a specialist you get exceptional work. 29 Sep 2005
Poor service
There is never enough said on poor service in SA. Poor service extends right across the board. We need to keep the pressure up as consumers. 28 Sep 2005
Sponsorship in need of a paradigm shift
As a sponsorship practitioner it is both sad and unfortunate to see that major corporates are still biased and committed to investing most of their sponsorship budgets into sports. 27 Sep 2005
Potential design candidates appalling
I have been tasked to find a replacement for my position of Medium level Graphic Designer, and can't believe the poor quality of candidates out there. 26 Sep 2005
Difficulty getting sponsorship
I am in one of SA's fastest growing bands and we're looking for a financial partner. We've been to most of the big brands that usually get on board, but it seems that the wrong people are in charge of sponsorships and marketing these days. 15 Sep 2005
Unscrupulous small print publishers
I've recently observed that some small to medium sized publishers in this country have a unique practice. 7 Sep 2005
Outsurance ad misleading
At first glance an Outsurance ad that appeared on the front page of The Star on 29 August and on the inside back cover of the August issue of Car Magazine looked like a great offer. 31 Aug 2005
Media messages must be sensitive to the realities of life
The new Joko Tea ad is ill-conceived, condescending and trivialises the lifestyle of the working class. 22 Aug 2005
Spam or legitimate marketing?
I would love views and opinions on what constitutes spam and what is legitimate email marketing? 18 Aug 2005
Nonsense or rubbish?
Do we care what words really mean nowadays or has English lost its nuances as part of the dumbing down? 14 Aug 2005
Reebok advertisement: ''I am what I am''
It is with great dismay that I watched the Reebok "I am what I am" advertisement on television a couple of evenings ago. What does the rapper 50 cents being shot have to do with the sportswear label? More concerning however, is what message is being sent to our youth who looks up to the rapper and listens to his music? 9 Aug 2005
Cadbury vs. Beacon chocolate packaging design
I am sure that most people are aware of the 'newish' foil packaging of Cabury and Beacon chocolate slabs. 8 Aug 2005
Sponsorship, name dropping and product placements/mentions
I'm interested how these are set up and if agencies that provide these services, charge by once off fees or contracts... 2 Aug 2005
Poor support for Regional Call Centre Awards
If the country's President has singled out higher economic growth as a strategic priority and the contact centre industry has been identified as key to achieving this, then why is interest in recent industry events lacking? 1 Aug 2005
PR companies must be more selective in what they send out
Far too often these days PR companies are clogging up inboxes with unwanted, large size pictures. 31 Jul 2005
Dodgy international ads
There's a lot of really crappy international spots on tv these days. Why can't agencies sell original work instead of dodgy international ads? 18 Jul 2005
New BP ad - beyond ordinary advertising
Wow! This ad has completely blown the lid off traditional petrol company advertising. I got shivers up my spine while watching it. Love it. 18 Jul 2005
Change in advertising in South Africa
What is it exactly that has changed in South African advertising and what are the main causes for these changes? 7 Jul 2005
Durban designers: Least preferred?
Somebody please enlighten me as to what makes designers from anywhere else in SA better than those from Durbs? 5 Jul 2005
How does a celebrity's smile affect his personal brand?
Having done a bibliographical research about the importance of the smile in leadership, I was surprised to how it had a "defining" impact on followership, and significantly impacted the bottom-line results. Now, I am extending my research to personal branding. 3 Jul 2005
What happened to social responsibility?
Newspapers and magazines seem not to have any social responsibility anymore, especialy viewed in the light of children. 29 Jun 2005
The industry image of Government Communicators
Are Government Communicators branded for life as sub-standard and destined to rot in bureaucracy? 28 Jun 2005
Why is experience discarded?
Despite the home coming revolution, we senior experienced creatives are no longer considered for employment. 26 Jun 2005
Getting a script onto film
How does one go about getting their script produced? 23 Jun 2005
Media hub JHB?
Is there a business park or significant building in Joburg focusing on the marketing and media industry? We're a small/medium company looking for premises in an environment that is rich with networking opportunities. 20 Jun 2005
What is up with those Good Hope Ads?
The ad is made up of a variety of scenes with fit, sexy(?) women performing various suggestive activities to a ludicrous soundtrack on a fishing boat. 14 Jun 2005
''If it's too loud, you're too old!''
Do I have a dual sense of hearing, or does the volume automatically go up when a TV programme switches to Ad-Mode? 12 Jun 2005
Who's paying for media mistakes?
If just 0.5% of all media orders are fouled up for whatever reason (a conservative estimate), clients are paying through their noses for the inefficiencies of their agencies and the media owners. 8 Jun 2005
Loerie CRM froth
Scanning the categories for the new, improved and sunblocked Loeries, we notice that CRM has been dropped from the entry list. What remains are those cobweb encrusted Direct Mail ads and junk mailings over which the judges will no doubt mainfully remain awake while assessing which Outsurance offer out-pulled another. Shame on them. 1 Jun 2005
