New collaboration between African marketing professionals

The marketing profession’s most pressing imperative is to “kick start a new conversation on how best to address a radically changed business environment as the world slowly emerges from the Covid-19 chaos”, says President of the African Marketing Confederation (AMC), Helen R. McIntee. To this end, the Africa-wide organisation is relaunching. Member bodies comprise the Institute of Marketing Management South Africa (IMM), Marketers Association of Zimbabwe, The Zambia Institute of Marketing, The Marketing Society of Kenya, The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG), The National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, the Institute of Marketing and Management, Mauritius, Institute of Marketing in Malawi (IMM) and The Moroccan Association of Marketing and Communications (AMMC). McIntee says, “We are more committed than ever to growing and developing the profession and to ensuring that African marketing specialists have the support needed to survive and thrive today and in a post-COVID new normal. The AMC’s vision of connecting marketers across Africa will provide the best platform to allow us to engage, share and find new solutions.”

Cannabis marketing finds a home in podcast advertising

Marketers across the globe struggle to keep up with the vagaries of marketing and advertising cannabis products. The regulations vary from country to country, and are constantly changing, and most social media platforms are reluctant to allow advertising of cannabis products. But Marketing Brew reports the industry picking up on podcast advertising as it has fewer restrictions. Former Marketing Director at cannabis researchers the Brightfield Group in the US, Connor Skelly, told Marketing Brew: “Podcasting just opens up more nuance. With something like Instagram, it’s overall just antiquated ad policies and terms of service. Same with Google.”

Reviving one of South Africa’s oldest wine brands

It’s been a wine staple in South Africa since 1932, produced every single year without fail despite war, drought and yes, pandemic. When the Royal Family visited in 1947, it was the red wine they were served. It is the only wine in South Africa allowed to use the word ‘Chateau’ on its label due to the fact that South Africa signed the Crayfish Agreement with France that forbade the use of the word on wine labels in 1935 – because it was launched three years prior to the agreement. It is, of course, Chateau Libertas. It was created by a medical doctor, Dr William Charles Winshaw, who believed the smooth, easy-drinking, juicy blend could be part of a healthy adult South African lifestyle. And now it’s coming out in a two-litre box, something else the pandemic has brought about.

Bond is back … and so is cinema advertising

The premiere of the latest Bond movie No Time to Die – Daniel Craig’s fifth and last outing as 007 – made a global splash. And a ton of money too. In the United Kingdom alone, it took over £25 million in the first weekend and $121 million in 54 other countries. Marketing Week reports advertising was sold out two months in advance of its release, with telecoms, motors, food and drink, as well as entertainment and leisure companies booking. These included Sky, Google, Pokerstars, Peroni and Lloyds. The UK’s Digital Cinema Media says 40% of the returning audience to cinemas are 16-34 year olds, but that Bond draws in an older generation too.

TikTok enters ecommerce space with Shopify deal

Users can shop on Instagram through linking products on posts. Now TikTok and Shopify have partnered to offer an ecommerce integration. Shopify’s web store drives merchants to the TikTok app, while offering a video creation tool for brands to create videos optimised for Shopify. “For the creator economy, this integration means that creators will need to be more intentional about the ways that they use their platforms as commercial storefronts while continuing to build a community and identify with the core values of their audiences,” writes Neve Fear-Smith on Talking Influence. “With the knowledge that this new shopping feature is in place, creators may find ways to incorporate the feature into their content planning by creating storefronts that can be used for events, conferences, or paid subscription channels.”

Advertising on TikTok: Three Popular Marketing Gurus to Follow

The phenomenon of TikTok cannot be overlooked. The incorporation of this platform, whose active users exceed one billion in the world, has changed the modus operandi of addressing market audiences especially the young audiences. The short and entertaining focus by TikTok has got brands thinking of new ways to build up themselves through authenticity, creativity, originality and reach. For marketers, one has to understand the current trends and ad tactics of TikTok to keep up with the competition.

Online Customer Relationships: 10 Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Did you know that 37% of customers say they won’t support a business due to a lack of a personalised experienced and poor customer relationship management? As online interactions become more central to the digital customer experience, nurturing strong, respectful relationships is crucial for building loyalty and long-term success. However, the digital realm and digital marketing also brings unique challenges, and even well-meaning professionals often make common mistakes in their approach.

Retail operations: The Woolworths Cupcake controversy

In the retail world, decisions about pricing, product selection, and supplier choices can have far-reaching effects, especially when it comes to popular consumer items. A recent controversy involving Woolworths, a retail chain store in South Africa, highlighted the significance of these retail operations decisions. This time, the focus was on something unexpected: cupcakes. What started as a TikTok video quickly turned into a national debate about rising costs, consumer expectations, and how retail chains respond to customer feedback.

Supply Chain and Logistics: How Does Your Coffee Get to Your Cup?

Have you ever wondered how your coffee reaches your cup? From picking the coffee beans in remote farms to serving freshly brewed coffee on the kitchen table or at a café, a lot has happened to create your cup of coffee. Coffee’s journey across the continents is an entire industry in itself, which can be described as a perfect case of logistics and supply chain bringing the simple product to the people. To appreciate this complexity, one must be able to find their way around the knowledge or the system. These are some of the most valued capabilities which the Professional Certificate in Transport and Logistics course from the IMM Institute seeks to provide.

How Supply Chain Resilience Can Safeguard Your Business in Times of Crisis

Disruptions in the business environment affect all organisations, and businesses need to be prepared to manage challenges that could impact their supply chains. For companies that aim to protect their operations, maintain customer confidence, and secure their market position, building a resilient supply chain strategy is essential. This blog explores supply chain resilience, its importance for businesses, and how to enhance your supply chains. We will also discuss how IMM Institute’s Professional Certificate in Transport and Logistics can provide valuable knowledge for implementing these strategies.

The Psychology of Colour in Marketing: How Colours Influence Consumer Behaviour

Marketing is more than simply adding visual elements to adverts because the selection of colour also has a psychological impact on consumer behaviour, perceptions and even loyalty towards a brand. For marketers and creatives, it is very important to know how to make the most of the use of colour and its psychological effects.