Loeries 2014: Unilever leads the shift from the African opportunity to the African challenge

[Jessica Tennant] Unilever believes that creativity is the key to making sustainable living commonplace - its vision not only for itself as a company, but SA and the African continent as a whole...

Loeries 2014: All business Vlismas at the DStv Seminar of Creativity

[Beverley Klein] John Vlismas, comedian and businessman was a surprise speaker at the DStv Seminar of Creativity on 19 September, held in the beautiful City Hall in Cape Town...

Loeries 2014: Facebook's Rob Newlan shares vision of an open, connected world

[Jessica Tennant] Rob Newlan, Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa: Facebook Creative Shop presented a thought-provoking talk at the DStv Seminar of Creativity 2014 on an open and connected world and what this would mean for the creative industry...

Loeries 2014: Less efficiency, more magic - PJ Pereira

[Sindy Peters] "Think like a marketer, behave like an entertainer, and move like a tech start-up." This is the current modus operandi for CEO and co-founder of Pereira and O'Dell, PJ Pereira...

Does your BrandTeam play like Brazil...or Germany? (Part 3)

[Colin Morris] Finally, I reveal the last four parallel team-roles between the winners in Brazil and those winning in brand boardrooms; and why the copywriter is Messi, and the Creative Director has to be my number 9...

The 'hired help' brand building hoax

[Ruth Golembo] The old adage of content is king rings true now more than ever, given the information overload faced by today's consumer...

Million Dollar Arm is a winner

[Daniel Dercksen] The differences that separate are conquered by compassion and faith in Million Dollar Arm. In this new charmer from Disney, a film that the whole family can enjoy, the true story of one of the most unlikely friendships between a hard-headed and entrepreneurial American sports agent and two naïve young men from India is guaranteed to be a hit.

I LAaik it local

[Danette Breitenbach] Pizza Hut will follow a fast paced growth and penetration strategy in South Africa and on the continent. This was according to GM of Pizza Hut Africa, Randall Blackford at the brand relaunch in South Africa this week...

Through the glass - outlook for beer packaging in SA

[Gareth Pearson] Internationally, brewers are increasingly turning to aluminium cans for packaging, despite the purists crying 'sacrilege', as they swear their brew belongs in bottles.

Does your BrandTeam play like Brazil...or Germany? (Part 2)

[Colin Morris] Today I begin revealing the 11 parallel team-roles between the winners in Brazil and those winning in brand boardrooms; and why the copywriter (no 10) has to be Messi, my PR exec (no 1) is Neuer, and my (no 3) is the media planner...

The 'three Hs' that will always fix a bad customer experience

[Julian Diaz] We all make mistakes. It's what makes us human. It's how we learn. And as businesses, we implement technology and automate processes to try to minimise the likelihood of...

Climate change: the South African scenario

[Sindy Peters] On Tuesday, 23 September, more than 120 world leaders will meet in New York to announce how they each intend to tackle climate change.

Why I'm #TeamOxfordComma

[Leigh Crymble] "Who gives a f*&% about an Oxford comma?" asks indie pop band Vampire Weekend in their hit song, "Oxford Comma". Quite a few people, it seems. This was evident a few years back when news broke that the University of...

Tea by the sea

[Jessica Tennant] Seated in the Palm Court, I was reminded of my Zululand days, drinking tea on the veranda of our farmhouse; from the familiar wicker chairs with floral cushions to the Colonial-style rattan-weave slow-turning fans. The chandeliers - purchased from The Savoy in London, excuse me - were a reminder, too, that I was actually having afternoon tea at The Oyster Box.

Is there a formula to making content go viral?

[James Timpson] "It's gone viral" is a phrase that we tend to see constantly and in today's media-run world. While marketers are constantly trying to uncover the secret to success, the truth of the matter is, you can't manufacture authenticity...

PR and the online measurement debate

[Nicole Capper] At the end of every month, we prepare ourselves for the question "what is our online publicity Rand Return On Investment?."

Music is the food of love in Begin Again

[Daniel Dercksen] The soul-stirring romantic comedy Begin Again shows what happens when lost souls meet and make beautiful music together.

Does your BrandTeam play like Brazil...or Germany? (Part 1)

[Colin Morris] As world soccer seasons get under way, I reveal 11 parallel team-roles between the winners in Brazil and those winning in brand boardrooms; and why the copywriter (no 10) has to be Messi...

The Loerie Awards: One long stick fight

[Lwandile Fikeni] For me, creativity has always been terrifying. The first time I came across something remotely creative was at my grand parents' home in the rural village of Nzungiseni in Mount Ayliff, Eastern Cape. I was four years old...