SHOPPINGshoppingandretail.co.za/Magazines/Shopping.pdf · scammed by a non-Trustmark approved...

November 2019 // Volume 7 No 11&SHOPPING

Southern Africa

Thomas Reisenberger of Legalese on e-commerce and legality

Page B shopping & retail SA // June 2019

www.malnormags.co .za

shopping & retail SA // November 2019 Page 1

One Cart 2,3 One Cart

Ed's note 1

EditorSimon MatthewsCell: 073 385 0216E: [email protected]

PublisherKen NortjeE: [email protected]

Advertising/SalesKen NortjeTel: 011 726 3081 Cell: 078 753 4132E: [email protected] Sales Manager

Sophia NelE: [email protected]

DispatchWillie MolefeCell: 082 551 8326

Subscriptions and CirculationMarius NelTel: 011 726 3081E: [email protected]

ProductionJohan Malherbe

Design and layoutPatrick LetsoelaCell: 076 208 0365E: [email protected] .za

B-BBEE LEVEL 3

PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED BY Malnor (Pty) Limited

10 Judges Avenue, Cresta, Johannesburg Private Bag X20, Auckland Park, 2006

Tel: 011 726 3081E-mail: [email protected]

editor's note

A major focus of this year’s 23rd South African Council of Shopping Centres’ Annual Congress was the

industry’s ability to respond to the constant evolution in its economic and technological arenas.

The need to integrate shopping centres with digital technology to create a great customer experience is verified by research. Consumers say that the physical store remains an important element of both researching and purchasing, though they are increasingly preferring to research online. Yet many still want to go a store to make their final purchase.

With the convergence of offline and online shopping, digital has become the avenue for growth. Stores don’t need to make the sale they need to deliver an experience that supports the brand.

A true customer experience is one which surprises the consumer. Today’s

Gen Y and Gen Z are critical consumers who operate in the currency of “Where I am and who I’m with” - they believe that the value of experience is more important. From online to bricks-and-mortar, the entire concept of what stores are, how consumers shop at them, and even the core economic model for revenue needs to be profoundly reinvented.

This does not mean that physical stores will disappear, as online retailers Amazon and Alibaba are themselves both investing in physical stores. However, the purpose of physical stores will evolve as they increasingly become a media channel, while on the other hand digital marketing has become expensive as it needs to compete for attention with many people.■

Simon Matthews

Retail transforms the shopping experience

Brand focus

Business insight

Mall upgrade

E-commerce

Consumer insight

Technology

November 2019 // Volume 7 No 11

Contents

&SHOPPING

Cover story

Q&A with Thomas Reisenberger of Legalese on e-commerce and legality 4,5

A South African Trustmark 2,3 Picup redefines delivery 14,15 Why should businesses choose between liquidity vs investment? 6,7

Identity is the new gold and criminals know it 8 How does xenophobia affect the retail economy? 23,24

Augmented reality in retail: virtual try before you buy 10,11

La Lucia Mall upgraded and relaunched 12 Morningside Shopping Centre gears up for more green initiatives 13

Proudly Mmmzansi Flavours by Simba® 16Hope springs eternal with Esperanza 17 SA wine pioneer honoured by Delheim’s 80th anniversary 18 Huggies® adds their Extra Care Range 19 Ensure you know your source when purchasing CBD products 20,21 Positive Sports Solutions: Offering more premium brands a big plus 22 Island Tribe launches kids products 23

12

20

http://www.shoppingandretail.co.za

E-commerce

Page 3 shopping & retail SA // November 2019

A South African Trustmark

The Ecommerce Forum South Africa (EFSA) launched a Trustmark (Safe.Shop) in South Africa after six months of testing on the Edcon websites.

Trustmarks (also known as seals or icons) are designed to promote trust by guaranteeing that the e-shop carrying the Trustmark is compliant with the law and that there is a back-up alternative dispute resolution in the event that the consumer and the seller cannot come to an amical solution on a complaint.

In 2017, a survey of SA e-commerce customers found that 18% would feel more secure and buy more online if there was a South African Trustmark. We are responding to that need. EFSA has engaged the services of the law firm, Legalese, to verify all applicants for the Trustmark against the SA Consumer Protection, Electronic Transactions and Protection of Personal Information Acts, and the EFSA Code of Conduct. Once the e-shop website is verified it will carry the Trustmark, with an annual update to ensure no relaxing of the rules.

Trustmarks were introduced in the 1990s in the USA (eg VeriSign) and Europe as e-commerce started to grow. Most European countries have active online Trustmarks. The Safe.Shop mark was introduced specifically to help online selling cross-border in the EU. For SA companies selling into Europe, the Safe.Shop Trustmark will therefore be recognised. Safe.Shop also offers its system to national markets outside Europe.

Alastair Tempest, CEO of EFSA, answers our questions

What are the implications for e-consumers and suppliers of the Trustmark (Safe.Shop) stamp of approval?

The Trustmark provides a comprehensive guarantee that any e-shop which carries the Trustmark is in conformity with the relevant SA laws and regulations related to online selling. What the Ecommerce Forum South Africa (EFSA) has done is to collect all these laws and regulations into a code and clarified a number of points, such as the time a consumer has to return a product (“right of withdrawal”). By choosing Safe.Shop as our Trustmark, EFSA has linked into a well-established European Trustmark

http://www.shoppingandretail.co.za


E-commerce

system. Therefore, as an additional advantage, South African e-shops will also be recognised as trustworthy if they sell into Europe when carrying this Trustmark.

What is the process followed to receive accreditation?

Any e-shop selling goods or services can apply to EFSA. They do not have to be a member of the forum, although EFSA welcomes into membership all companies in e-commerce. Once the application is received, a fee is charged for our lawyers (Legalese), to ensure compliance. Legalese will advise the applicant if there are issues to be addressed to meet compliance. Once that process is completed, the e-shop is awarded the Trustmark which is subject to a renewal process each year. We have tested the Trustmark with Edgars over the last six months with great success.

What recourse do SA consumers have if they been scammed by a non-Trustmark approved e-commerce service provider?

One of the benefits of a Trustmark is that it provides buyers from recognised e-shops with an alternative dispute resolution system. In the case of a consumer buying from an e-shop without the Trustmark, the complainant should take their complaint firstly to

the seller. In most cases, this solves the problem. However, when a case is not solved the consumer only has recourse to take their complaint either to the Consumer Goods Ombuds or to the National Consumer Commission. EFSA has been concerned to learn that official complaints have been increasing each year. Again, this is an issue which the Trustmark can do much to solve.

Anything else you'd like to add?

The EFSA was set up precisely to address the issue of trust in online selling. Unlike a bricks and mortar outlet, the consumer must trust that the product(s) they buy online come to the level of quality that they expect. This is why trust is so essential. Research has shown that consumers welcome a Trustmark and will buy more from a trusted e-shop.

EFSA expects that research from the World Wide Worx, which is ongoing at the moment, will show that for 2019 more than 2% of retail turnover is online in South Africa. Therefore, the time for a solid, well-established and easy to recognise Trustmark has come.■

Alastair Tempest

Cover Story


What are some tips for SA consumers of e-commerce products and services to avoid being scammed?

Always ensure that there is a real company behind the intangible platform you're trading with (ie make some calls, confirm with associations, check the user terms, etc). Having a real person and company behind the website avoids a multiplicity of issues, where customers can actually speak to real people and allay their concerns or bring up their queries.

Online consumers should also review all platforms' terms of service and privacy policies to understand what the company can and cannot do, and what it will and will not be liable for should something go wrong, or when providing you with their services.

Lastly, online consumers should only trade with an entity with some sort of legal presence or recourse in South Africa, because should something go wrong and the platform has no presence in South Africa, enforcing any sort of claim against that online company will be nearly impossible.

What issues regarding illegitimate websites and scammers are you encountering?

Many platforms offer services which are extremely regulated under South African law, but the platform owners do not adhere to same applicable regulations (for example, apps providing financial advice are heavily regulated under various financial regulations acts such as the FAIS and FSR, but many are not registered financial service providers as they should be).

In this context, platforms falsely believe (or intentionally lie) that because of their online format, they are not subject to such laws online (when this is clearly wrong in law). As such, consumers must always look to confirm that their chosen service providing platform is actually adhering to the laws to which it is subject.

We have also seen that some platforms try use obfuscating language to describe their products online, causing customers to receive items which do not match what they ordered (eg the famous UK case of the gentlemen receiving a picture of an Xbox gaming console he paid for, instead of the actual console). This practice is explicitly unlawful under the Consumer Protection Act, and affected consumers can take substantial action should this occur.

Anything else you'd like to add?

E-commerce in South Africa is still burgeoning as people start to trust online platforms (where one cannot "kick the tyres" as it were) and attain the ability to pay electronically (which ability is still in its infancy and is still growing for the vast majority of citizens). Until those two considerations are managed and advanced proactively in South Africa by government, associations or just general consumer trends, e-commerce will stay relatively small in SA.

Thomas ReisenbergerRegulations [email protected] 359 3859(021) 422 0214

Legal solutions for creatives, musicians and entrepreneurs■

Thomas Reisenberger

Eitan Stern (director and founder of Legalese)

Q&A with Thomas Reisenberger of Legalese on e-commerce and legality

E-commerce: Always ensure that there is a real company behind the intangible platform you're trading with

Business i nsight


Liquidity vs investment: what do businesses need to know and how to balance the two?

Business owners often look at turnover as a measure of success, and while turnover is an important metric, cash flow is the most important thing that retailers and business owners should be looking at. In fact, a business' cash flow is directly related to business health and is something that can either cripple a business or allow it to succeed.

So, when analysing liquidity vs investments, there are some key characteristics to look out for. Typically, investments are seen as longer-term instruments, where a retailer or business owner will be putting away surplus cash for a longer period in order to gain a higher yield. However, when higher yield returns are sought after from such investments, there's more likely than not a sense of risk that comes into play. As the saying goes, the higher the expected return, the higher the risk, so businesses owners will need to find the balance between the idea of risk vs reward.

Liquidity on the other hand ensures that there is enough cash or assets that can be converted into cash easily and quickly. This is especially the case when a business has an irregular cash flow cycle and needs some sort of liquidity option to run the business

on a day-to-day basis or for payments and orders that need to be made monthly.

Finding a balance between the two is critical for businesses to allow them the flexibility to move funds when they need to but still be able to reap the rewards of longer-term investments that provide higher returns than cash sitting in a call account.

Surplus cash: how can a business fully utilise it for business growth?

Surplus cash has different definitions. Some business owners will put cash aside for a rainy day or for future growth and this is called surplus cash. Another business owner is saving for tax or a dividend pay-out or for employee bonuses, for example. This is what we would term “savings pockets” or purpose driven pockets of cash, which can also be treated as surplus cash. However, optimising this surplus cash is often a neglected part of the business as the retailer doesn’t see this as additional money – but rather savings.

As such, they opt to put them in low-earning call accounts or business current accounts, allowing for immediate access. However, these accounts yield very little interest. Rather they should be looking at tailored cash product solutions that provide a balance between the benefit of a higher interest rate, but also immediate liquidity in line with the cash flow requirements of the business.

Sean Jackson

Shopping and Retail Southern Africa Q&ASean Jackson, head of Business Cash Solutions at Investec

Why should businesses choose between liquidity vs investment?

E-commerce: Always ensure that there is a real company behind the intangible platform you're trading with

Business Insight


Many South African retailers are falling into the lazy balance sheet cycle or the trap of “saving for a rainy day” and while certainly keeping a level of healthy working capital is critical, especially in a volatile business market, lazy money or money sitting in low-earning call accounts that sacrifice earnings on a decent return means limiting potential growth.

What disadvantages can businesses face either going with liquidity or investment?

Both liquidity and investments have slight disadvantages. Liquidity offers immediate access to funds, and because of its nature, it offers a short investment horizon, but the returns will not be as fruitful as putting the cash into a longer-term investment portfolio.

The problem with a longer-term investment is the possibility of

underlying exposure to volatile market movements and where the capital is not preserved, and exposing the investor to a possible capital loss. As such, it's about finding the balance between guaranteed and preserved capital and having moderate growth or going for longer-term terms but linked to market returns and exposure. The correct option depends largely on the cash-cycles of the business, their unique requirements and their risk portfolio.

Are there any risks in this and how can they be managed?

The biggest risk is capital loss on investments; businesses work hard to make surplus cash and turn a profit. The goal is not to inject cash in platforms or portfolios where that cash will suffer losses due to risk. One way of managing this risk is by putting the cash into tailor-made cash products where the capital is guaranteed and has a predetermined return and interest rate.

Businesses also need to think ahead and find a banking partner that asks the rights questions and is willing to build a relationship

that allows them to truly understand the business, its cash flow cycles and external market influences and then able to structure a portfolio correctly - giving the business flexibility, security, guaranteed returns and most importantly, access to the funds when they are needed most.

How can business owners navigate the current soft market in terms of cash flow?

Business owners need to look at their expenses closely in a soft market and manage their finances appropriately and where possible in a market like this, try to avoid giving lines of credit. In this market, relying on customers/clients for cash can be a dangerous game to play, as should they fail to make a payment on time or fail to make a payment at all for that matter, the business is going to run into cash flow problems.

Where the retailer can, it may be in their best interest to only offer a cash on delivery model to build up cash buffers that generate surplus cash for savings and to avoid lines of credit and situations where cash will be squeezed for a month or two, and the business needs to draw on reserves.

Tips for potential business owners on raising liquidity and equity?

Unfortunately, there are no clear-cut tips for potential business owners as every business operates using their own business model and with it, different needs and requirements. However, for me, one of the biggest things is to have a very sound business plan. Understand what it is you want to achieve, what you are offering and what competitive edge you bring to the market.

If a business knows the value they are adding and is being very clear about their offering, half the battle is already won. The second tip is finding a banking partner that understands your business. Being treated as a business partner and not just a customer, where there is honesty around what will work best and authenticity in every engagement – this allows you to maximise on your entrepreneurial spirit, knowing your financial partner has your best interests at heart.■

shopping & retail SA // November 2019

Consumer insight

Stolen identity is a highly potent tool for fraudsters, as a recent Carte Blanche insert featuring RS Components revealed. A buyer approached us to procure equipment on credit to the tune of R1,5 million. But something didn’t

add up: there was a major discrepancy between the names on the supplied ID document and the photo.

One of the fraudsters were eventually caught in a sting operation, the focus of Carte Blanche’s story. In this case, it was the criminal’s own mistake that got them into trouble, offering an ID document that immediately raised suspicions. But not all criminals are so clumsy with identity. They know it’s very valuable in today’s world.

Identity theft is rising sharply. While we spend considerable time worrying about our privacy online, suspicious of ad campaigns that try to guess our preferences, identity thieves operate on a much more dangerous level. They steal our credentials then use these to commit other crimes.

South Africa hasn’t been spared; quite the opposite. Stories warning about identity theft stretch back several years, but the problem is growing more acute. According to the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service, the use of real identities by

criminals, identities that were stolen from other people, lept 99% between 2018 and 2019. Criminals are using gaps in the law to get away: despite thousands of identity fraud cases being lodged every year, few are

prosecuted because the criminals can’t be easily identified or located.

Fraudsters will use identities from other victims and can forge documents such as proofs of payment. They know identity is the new gold: if you have access to a person’s key credentials, you can do a lot. Con artists and cybercriminals hunt for identities they can steal and then abuse. Instead of stealing your car, they copy your keys and then let themselves into your world.

If we want to create a safer world, we need to start taking identity seriously. We should also be vigilant about those transacting with our companies. Here are a few tips on staying ahead of fraudsters:

• Insist on certified copies of identification.•Vet the information given: ask for the seller’s company

details; check the address and phone number; run the seller’s VAT number through the SARS VAT database (https://secure.sarsefiling.co.za/vatvendorsearch.aspx).

•Verify independently: cold-call the company using its listed number and ask to speak to the person who contacted you. Fraudsters often use legitimate company details, hoping they won’t be checked.

•Do not share bank account details unnecessarily. If you want to ensure maximum safety during a transaction, consider an escrow service that acts as an intermediary between buying and selling parties.

•Use digital statements and accounting platforms to effectively track transactions.

•Maintain reliable records of supply chain agents and companies.

• Establish clear procurement and dispatch frameworks for your employees to operate in with peace of mind.

This last point is very important. Identities are often used to steal from companies, usually by posing as a legitimate buyer or submitting fake invoices. The less control and oversight you have of your procurement and dispatch operations, the more room you create for a con artist to wiggle in. Some may try to steal big, but others could syphon money from your accounts over long periods.■

By Ayanda Kotobe, finance director at RS Components

Identity is the new gold and criminals know it

Ayanda Kotobe

shopping & retail SA // November 2019

Technology

Augmented reality in retail: virtual try before you buy

Augmented reality (AR) helps online shoppers understand what they’re buying—and how precisely items from home improvement goods to cosmetics will work for them

AR isn’t a new concept. In fact, brands like Converse were experimenting with the immersive technology as far back as 2012, allowing sneaker aficionados to “try on” various shoes and see what they would look like

on their feet.

But it wasn’t until about 2016 when AR got the much-needed push into the mainstream, when Niantic launched the AR-enhanced game Pokémon GO for iOS and Android devices. And when marketers saw how engaged and almost obsessed people became with the game (US daily users clocked in at 28,5 million at its peak), the opportunity to leverage AR for marketing became evident.

Fast forward to today, and there’s a slew of brands trying the format out for size. From Lowe’s to Wayfair, Benjamin Moore, and others, AR has turned into a medium for not only allowing people to contextually visualise what an item looks like but also to confirm fit and size. And while the home improvement

industry is at the forefront of using AR for marketing, I see opportunities for many industries. Let’s walk through a few examples.

Footwear. While Converse made early strides in the footwear space with its Sample It app that let consumers visualise shoes on their feet, Nike has really taken this concept to a whole new level, ensuring the shoes a consumer chooses actually fit their feet.

Nike Fit, a scanning app, uses a combination of computer vision, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence and recommendation algorithms to measure the full shape of a user’s feet and know the perfect fit for each Nike shoe style.

The app collects data on 13 points on a person’s foot within a matter of seconds. This foot dimension can be stored in a user’s NikePlus account for future shopping both online and in store.

“Nike Fit is a transformative solution and an industry first—using a digital technology to solve for massive customer friction,” Nike writes in its press release for the launch of the app. “In the short term, Nike Fit will improve the way Nike designs, manufactures, and sells shoes product better tailored to match consumer needs. A more accurate fit can contribute to everything from less shipping and fewer returns to better performance.”

Fashion. During CES in 2018, Gap unveiled its DressingRoom by Gap app, which was created to help customers try on clothing virtually. Shoppers can choose a Gap style they might be interested in purchasing and select one of five body types to visualise what an outfit will look like on them.

“The fashion industry has not traditionally been geared toward helping people understand how clothes will actually fit,” the company writes in its press release. “Gap is committed to winning customer trust by consistently presenting and delivering products that make customers look and feel great, and we are using technology to get there.”

By Peter Sheldon

Technology


Another great example of AR use in fashion happened during New York Fashion Week in 2018. Guests of Moschino and H&M’s fashion show were able to use an AR app to scan outfits on the runway and purchase them on the spot.

Accessories. Jewellery, long showcased behind glass, is another area seeing the benefits of AR. Online jewellery retailer Kollectin is one of the brands leading the charge here. The retailer’s app launched an AR feature earlier this year called “Xperience Mode” to let customers virtually try on jewellery.

Eyeglass maker Warby Parker is also playing in the AR space, allowing people to see what a pair of glasses looks like on their faces before making a purchase.

The app, launched in February this year, is unique in that it doesn’t just have users take a photo of themselves to overlay glasses onto. The glasses are rendered in a live 3D preview of a person’s face, meaning users can turn their heads to see what a pair of glasses looks like from various angles.

Cosmetics. YouTube-watching makeup junkies can now experiment with AR cosmetics while watching their favourite makeup tutorials. The interactive ad format works as follows: You’re watching your favourite makeup blogger apply a foundation. All of a sudden, a virtual try-on option appears on the screen and you can see how you look in the same exact product. MAC Cosmetics was among the first brands to try the new format.

AR is also proving to be useful in the physical retail environment, as a more sanitary option for trying out makeup. Retailer Sephora is among the early adopters, both with its mobile app as well as its in-store standalone mirror that allows users to see how various products look on their faces.

Furniture and home décor. DecorMatters is redefining the interior design and furniture shopping experience. Users can completely transform the rooms in their homes, from the paint on the walls all the way through to furniture and fixtures of their choice. It’s completely changing the way people shop for and buy furniture and home décor.

The difference between DecorMatters and other similar apps is that it allows users to visualise furniture from Amazon, Wayfair, Crate & Barrel, West Elm, IKEA, Ashley, Target, Lamps Plus, Living Spaces and more. And the app’s AR ruler functionality helps users measure the size of their room, giving a more

accurate rendering in terms of how various pieces will look and fit into their spaces.

AR’s bright future

As the technology evolves and gives users more and more accurate renderings of how digital objects look in physical spaces, I expect that more and more brands and industries will hop onto the AR marketing bandwagon. From fashion and accessories to footwear and home décor, and beyond, AR has the potential to transform and completely reimagine customer experiences. These innovations will help companies better connect with consumers and will empower shoppers to make more informed and accurate purchase decisions, ultimately reducing purchase anxiety.

What is perhaps even more exciting for brands and online retailers beyond the conversion opportunity is its ability to curtail the biggest cost downside of e-commerce returns. The promise of AR is that it provides a technological way for consumers to accurately and confidently confirm size and fit, be that the size of a new pair of sneakers, or confirming that a couch will fit in the living room. Lower return rates, especially for heavy or bulky items and custom-made products that cannot be easily resold, will be a panacea for increasing margins and profitability online.■

Mall upgrade La Lucia Mall upgraded and relaunched

La Lucia Mall is leading the way in aesthetically fresh, modern shopping experiences. It recently completed a major upgrade that has modernised and reimagined its entire retail space and, unlike many other 40-plus-year-old

buildings, it now sets the bar for contemporary mall design trends.

Shoppers will enjoy its welcoming new entrances, airy atria, higher shopfronts, classic neutral colour palette, patterned porcelain tile floors, timber ceilings, state-of-the-art bathrooms and low-energy lighting. All this creates a fresh new experience, which is already earning enthusiastic customer appreciation.

“The upgraded La Lucia Mall is crafted to meet the needs of its unique shoppers and community and give them an exceptional retail experience. Besides the elegant new aesthetic, it also has a fresh brand identity and new shopping options,” says La Lucia Mall Centre manager, Vanessa Blevins.

La Lucia Mall’s new Cotton On store reflects the brand’s new global direction with authentic wood, brick and metalwork, creating an urban feel while being modern and youthful.

“We are excited to open our new Cotton On store at La Lucia Mall with all of our brands under the one roof, including Cotton On womenswear and menswear, Rubi, Cotton On Body and Cotton On Kids,” says Candie Myrise Agustoni, Cotton On Africa PR and social media manager. “It includes exciting additions with Cotton On Body’s new Beauty range. We’ll also be introducing men’s footwear to the range with a collection of casual shoes on offer to complete the look.”

WBHO was the main contractor for the upgrade and Bentel Associates International, which designed the original 12 000 m2

La Lucia Mall in 1972, was again the architect for refurbishment of the centre which has grown to 40 000 m2 over the years.

With the mall trading throughout the construction, meticulous planning made the work as seamless and non-intrusive for shoppers, retailers and local stakeholders as possible. Darroll McKeown of M3 Africa Consulting believes this was the hallmark of the revamp. “Working in operating shopping environments, particularly one that has as passionate and as loyal supporters as La Lucia Mall’s, presents unique challenges. The entire team made sure to minimise disruption while still progressing work at a commendable pace and prioritising safety.”

La Lucia Mall refurbishment project professional, Evan Sim, director of RLB Pentad Quantity Surveyors, highlights the innovation behind mall’s reduction in energy consumption and carbon footprint. Old internal and external lights have been replaced with energy efficient LED fittings and motion sensors.

“Every part of the mall is now a great space to experience. Customers will be delighted and La Lucia Mall’s current and future retailers will reap the benefits,” says Sim.■


La Lucia Mall

Mall upgrade

Morningside Shopping Centre gears up for even more green initiatives

Morningside Shopping Centre is going the extra mile for environmental sustainability by introducing even more green initiatives with the aim of helping the surrounding community. From November, efforts to

reduce, reuse and recycle include a brand-new bio-bin which cleverly converts organic wet waste that would otherwise end up a landfill to usable, nutrient-rich compost.

As a long-time supporter of recycling initiatives and caring for the environment, not only will the compost be used for Morningside Shopping Centre’s landscaping and the Morningside urban farm, but all excess compost will be donated to Redhill School, City Parks and any green belts in the vicinity as part of an agreement with local council.

Morningside Shopping Centre manager, Sharon Henry, says the centre is pleased to be part of the positive change towards greater sustainability by reducing waste. “Every effort, no matter how big or small, can make a difference to our environment. The introduction of a new bio-bin, along with our existing recycling initiatives, is another opportunity for us to do the right thing for our environment and for our community.”

In addition to recycling glass bottles, cardboard, plastic and tin, Morningside Shopping Centre proudly hosts Glass Escapes, a company specialising in beautifully crafted glass art. Glass Escapes donates from sales to various charities and most recently contributed R2 500 towards the Spruit Clean Up after a successful three-day exhibition at Morningside Shopping Centre.

Last year the centre donated five of its own chandeliers to Grayston Preparatory School. The chandeliers, shaped into exquisite balls of white flowers, were made from recycled plastic milk bottles by acclaimed South African artist, Heath Nash. Now on display around the school campus, the chandeliers are used to educate learners about recycling and the importance of reusing single-use plastic products whenever possible.

Henry says that the success of previous green projects is inspiration to continue finding new ways of being as environmentally responsible as possible. “We’re thrilled to do what we can for a

brighter future for everyone.” The award-winning Morningside Shopping Centre is a niche, bespoke community centre with a strong convenience element.

The tenant mix, consisting of some 62 shops, have been selected for their unique offering, quality products and personal service. Shoppers at the centre can enjoy an exciting mix of high-end fashion, a wide variety of fine dining, an extensive range of exclusive shops and services which offer designer gifting and jewellery, health and beauty, pharmacy, tailoring / dry-cleaning, photography, medical suites and car wash to mention but a few.■


Picup redefines deliveryE-commerce

Free delivery has been the most powerful drawcard for retailers to attract customers to their online stores and undoubtedly, the most successful online marketing tool ever devised for ecommerce. However, this is changing,

retailers are starting to offer faster deliveries to attract customers to their online store and this poses a different set of cost challenges.

Same-day and on-demand delivery follow a completely different model to the economy solution, and with lower order volumes and the increased manpower required for faster fulfilment, these express options warrant a higher delivery fee.

Picup CEO, Antonio Bruni, says e-commerce makes up only 1% of the overall retail market in South Africa compared to 8,3% in the USA. “While this might be small, we look to our global counterparts to set the trends and test the waters.”

“The time it takes for South Africa to catch up will be determined by the speed we start adopting the mindsets of these global frontrunners — which is fast-paced and innovative, always evolving in order to win customers over by providing a better and more convenient user experience all round,” he explains.

Small to medium retailers in SA have all the resources available to set up an e-commerce solution quickly and seamlessly; there are easy to setup ecommerce websites using prepopulated themes with plugins for inventory management, payment gateways and delivery that make purchasing quick and easy for customers.

One can start selling online within minutes at a minimal fee compared to a few years ago where an upfront development investment was required. Once the platform is set up, the fulfilment and delivery component requires some careful planning.

He points to various delivery options. “E-tailers need strong distribution networks that are quick and efficient, their customers cannot wait for long periods for the delivery of products. They will need to consider which courier is best in which area, ie local or international. This will normally result in juggling accounts with multiple courier partners.”

To determine the cost, one would need to plug in the various courier rates into the ecommerce store, and then it’s up to them whether they’d like to offer any discounts or mark-ups on delivery. Because of low volumes, their rates are likely to be higher than

established e-commerce stores, resulting in a possible barrier to entry.

For the large bricks and mortar retailers, making the move into the e-commerce market requires a lot more consideration on all fronts as scaling becomes more complex than shipping one package from a nearby warehouse to a nearby customer.

“Crucial to delivering a reliable logistics solution is choosing the right transport management software (TMS). Inventory management is the most important part of the delivery chain for large traditional (bricks and mortar) and online retailers. If they get this right, it allows them to offer a variety of delivery options seamlessly,” he stresses.

“However, succeeding here is not easy as a number of decisions need to be made, mainly around warehousing and distribution. When it comes to warehousing, a centralised dark store is the obvious answer for some retailers to take the hassle out of distribution.”

A dark store is a large retail facility that resembles a conventional supermarket or store, but is not open to the public, only housing goods used to fulfil orders placed online.

Bruni says the advantages of a dark store are that one can manage inventory in real-time, it is faster to replenish stock and managing returns is easier with one centralised location. “More importantly, it allows for faster picking and packing timelines due to optimised store layouts.”


E-commerce


European retailers are already making use of goods-to-person pick stations where orders come in and a route is optimised for a mechanised system to send goods to the picker via a conveyor belt. This allows for cost effective same-day, next-day, economy and other delivery options.

The biggest advantage is that from these dark stores or centralised warehouses, smaller hubs can be serviced in strategic locations where order volumes are high. Middle mile vehicles can run daily loads from dark stores to hubs. These then act as an express lane for drivers to collect and deliver parcels, they cover shorter distances between drops that are optimised to ensure efficacies.

Fulfilment from individual stores works when they are small. For small to medium retailers, an outsourced dark store may not be the best option, low order volume and costs are the key factors influencing this decision.

When order volumes are low, they can be picked and packed from stores at the same time while servicing walk-in clients. However, as online orders scale, managing this becomes hugely time consuming. Stock control and returns become challenging along with picking and packing space on the floor, in addition to managing deliveries.

The conclusion to inventory management and making the right decision simply lies in order volumes. Big retailers cannot afford to wait, they need to invest in ecommerce now. They need to ensure stock is available around the clock, ensure all the delivery options

are available at the right price and last but not least, make the customers’ ordering experience flawless from start to finish.

“As the way we shop continues to evolve, so do the touchpoints. Consumers are used to the friendly shop assistant who goes to check in the back for shoe sizes or the cashier who swipes a gift card and checks that one hasn’t purchased two left shoes,” he adds.

With the convenience of shopping online, one is faced with the helpful customer support tweet or the friendly voice on the other side of the phone. The only real human interaction comes into play when goods are delivered. The delivery drivers have therefore become the face of the brand and need to be trained customer service ambassadors.

“Because fast and free isn’t easy, selecting the best combination of service types is the way forward for e-tailers and will clearly give retailers a competitive advantage. Delivery options could include a 3-hour, same day or next day delivery, or specific time slots where customers can choose a date and time when they want their order delivered,” he comments.

Alternatively, they could choose the economy option with delivery between two to five business days. Click-and-collect is another option where the customer can choose the closest collection point where they want their order to be delivered.

As the ecommerce market continues to grow, so will the desire to deliver and receive orders quickly and cheaply. While most people are willing to wait for their orders if it’s free, there is an increasing number that are willing to pay for faster deliveries as the on-demand culture grows globally.

“Customers also need to realise that there is a lot more that goes into picking, packing and delivering their online orders. They need to be loyal to the providers that stick to their promises and provide an online shopping experience that keeps them coming back,” he concludes.■

Proudly Mmmzansi Flavours by Simba®

Brand focus

Following the recent launch of the What’s your Mmmzansi Flavour? campaign, Simba® is proud to announce the first in its series of new South African inspired flavours: Chilli Biltong. Two of South Africa’s

most loved flavours are colliding to create a truly local taste. It’s Simba®’s new Mmmzansi Flavour, which brings together the deliciousness of biltong and chilli.

To bring the flavour into production, Simba® went on a market research drive which revealed just how much South Africans love the flavour of meat and chilli. As South Africans, our food and culture is ingrained in our heritage, bringing us together to celebrate happy moments. “Biltong has been a favourite Mzansi flavour for many decades, so when it came to selecting a new meaty flavour to be part of Simba®’s range, Chilli Biltong was a great choice to celebrate South African heritage with a twist,” says Unathi Mhlatyana, MU GM SSA, at PepsiCo.

Now Simba® is expanding their search for which flavours are South African’s favourites by including, well, everyone! Simba® is calling people from every corner and kitchen of the country to have their say and stand a chance to win R5 million in daily cash prizes to flavour up their summer. All you need to do is purchase any promotional pack of Simba® chips and share your favourite Mmmzansi flavour.

So, don’t delay. Purchase a packet of Chilli Biltong Flavoured Simba® Chips, tell us what you think, and what Mmmzansi flavour you hope will be next. Watch this space for more.

More about Simba®:

Simba® chips are one of South Africa’s favourite snacks because they are everywhere where families are having fun and enjoying themselves! Simba® chips were first launched in 1956 with a sachet of salt in the packet which had to be sprinkled on the chips. Every chip found in our packets roarrrs with flavour and are made from high quality potatoes in South Africa! Every time you open a Simba® Chips packet, great taste, fun, and sharing will follow. Simba® is part of PepsiCo South Africa. For more information visit: http://www.simba.co.za/

Follow Simba: Facebook: @SimbaChips / Twitter: @SimbaChipsSA

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $64 billion in net revenue in 2018, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.■

Follow Pepsico: Facebook: @PepsiCo / Twitter: @PepsiCo / Instagram: @pepsico


Brand focus

Hope springs eternal with Esperanza


Established by Lucy Beard and Leigh Lisk five years ago as a small-batch gin distillery – the first licence of its kind in Cape Town – Hope has grown into a force on the artisanal liquor scene, having mastered the craft of

various spirits and grown its repertoire from gin makers to distillers for a multitude of brands.

Beard, the resident gin and spirit maker, steers a team of stillmen in the production and development of various products, ranging from the in-house Hope label – whose products are distilled in an authentic copper pot still that is fondly known as Mad Mary – to contract distillation.

“Every day, we set out to make the absolute best spirits that we can. We’re constantly experimenting and striving for excellence, mixing up new ideas and honing our recipes in our custom-built distillery. For us, it’s about creating something exceptional; something instilled with integrity and passion; something that will become the perfect accompaniment to people’s special moments,” says Beard.

Along with the diversification in their service offering came a widening of the brand’s own range – from the initial Mediterranean, London and Salt River (now called the African Botanical) gins, the brand has ventured into vodka, and most recently an agave spirit named Esperanza (the Spanish word for hope).

Using the extensive experience they have gained over the years, Hope had the requisite expertise to venture into this new territory. “Because we initially used to produce our own grain spirit from scratch, we gained experience in fermentation techniques. Although we no longer ferment our own grain for our gins, we have the equipment (fermentation tanks) and knowledge of how to ferment and of course distil,” explains Beard.

And Lisk has always been a fan of tequila. “When we found out that agave grew locally, we immediately wanted to make ‘tequila’. Initially, we were able to source processed agave locally and we started experimenting. It took us a long time to get it right – about nine months,” says Beard.

The process is challenging – a long fermentation is followed by careful distillation and then the distillate is rested in stainless steel tanks for 30 days prior to bottling, making it a very small batch product.

The Hope version of tequila-style agave spirit (unless it’s produced in Mexico, you’re not legally allowed to call it “tequila”) differs from most locally made agave spirits in that most others use agave that has been cooked in wood-fired ovens/pits, which produces a smokier end result (more similar to mezcal than tequila).

Designed to be sipped, the Esperanza from Hope is a smooth agave spirit. With a floral nose and butterscotch notes, it has rich caramel and spice on the palate and a soft vanilla finish.

There are various ways to enjoy it – Hope recommends sipping it in a leisurely fashion on its own or adding tonic in a “TnT” with a slice of lime. If you’re after something more celebratory, enjoy it in a cocktail. Below is a recipe for the signature Paloma:

THE PALOMA

• 50ml Hope Esperanza Agave• 20ml fresh lime juice• 40ml fresh grapefruit juice• 20ml sugar syrup• Pinch of rock salt• 70ml soda to serve

Pour the Hope Esperanza, sugar syrup, salt and lime juice into a highball glass filled with ice and stir. Add the grapefruit and soda and stir briefly. Garnish with a wedge of lime or grapefruit.■

SA wine pioneer honoured by Delheim’s 80th anniversary

Brand focus


Exclusive Iconoclast Cape Blend reflects a fearless spirit with big heart

Delheim Estate has released a once-off and super exclusive Cape Blend that celebrates the life of the late Spatz Sperling. Called Iconoclast, this wine from the 2012 vintage is a tribute to the South African wine

pioneer and his fearless challenge of conventional wisdoms. Spatz’s uncle Hans Hoheisen and aunt Del bought Delheim in 1939, so the release of this new wine also coincides with Delheim's 80th anniversary this year.

Iconoclast is a blend of four cultivars although not typical of a Cape Blend, which commonly uses South African Pinotage as the lead variety. Iconoclast is Shiraz-driven, a quirk that would have made Spatz smile not only for being contrary to the mainstream, but also because Shiraz was his favourite. The blend is rounded off with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Pinotage is of course the fourth component.

The wine has a dark ruby colour with an intense core. Its aroma ranges from dark cherries, cassis, blue berries, dry herbs, spice and tobacco to undertones of perfume. There's a firm tannin structure, supported by dark fruit flavours and spice, that makes this wine an exceptional blend. Each cultivar expresses its unique character. Respectful care was taken in its making; its fruit harvested gently by hand.

The Shiraz came from a single vineyard block of 20-year-old bush vines and the grapes loaded in a small fermenter that allowed the winemaking team to punch down the fermenting skins three times per day. Natural yeasts started the fermentation after which a selective yeast strain was inoculated.

Old Pinotage bush vines planted on the foothills of Klapmutskop, known for their exceptional quality, were added too. These passed through small fermenters and were punched down every three hours to extract as much Pinotage character as possible.

The Cabernet Sauvignon came from bush vines on an east-facing slope, which allows for slow ripening and harvest at optimal condition. Fermentation took place in an upright fermenter with regular pump overs and délestage done during this stage.

The Petit Verdot grapes were also destemmed and crushed in an upright fermenter. Temperature was controlled through alcoholic fermentation to allow optimal extraction from the grapes. In many ways, the assembly of the blend is a mirror of the historical milestones that combined and comprise Spatz's legacy.

Spatz arrived at the Cape in 1951 as a 20-year-old from Germany to join his uncle and aunt on their beautiful farm Delheim, a name inspired from the German meaning Del's Home. Over the next 70 years, Spatz grew the farm on the Simonsberg into one of the most enduringly popular and successful wine destinations, creating many firsts in the process.

The retail price of the wine is R1 000 per bottle. Only 2 100 bottles of Iconoclast have been produced by the Stellenbosch stalwart. This wine scored 94/100 points in the 2019 South Africa Special Report by internationally acclaimed wine critic Tim Atkin, British Master of Wine (MW).

For more information or wine orders, visit www.delheim.com or contact Delheim on [email protected] or 021 888 4600. Also find Delheim on Facebook, Twitter @Delheim and Instagram @delheimwines.

Delheim Estate is in the Simonsberg sub-region of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes, on the Knorhoek Road, off the R44.■

Delheim family

Iconoclast

Huggies® adds their Extra Care Range

Brand focus


Huggies® Extra Care Range

Being a parent is one of the most magical experiences. Having a baby, watching them grow, discovering their personality and playing a role in shaping them into the person they will become is impossible to explain, but with it comes a lot of responsibility! You will never come first again, and some days you will certainly wonder whether you are doing things right. Huggies® is dedicated to helping babies thrive with a range of quality products that parents can trust throughout their baby’s nappy journey.

Huggies® is known for providing a range of nappies for every stage of a baby’s life – from the very first moment up until the last time they wear a nappy. To help make the journey of parenthood easier, Huggies®

would like to introduce you to their new Extra Care Range in sizes 0, 1 and 2. This is a premium range and has exciting, special features.

“At Huggies® we understand all the uncertainties associated with becoming a parent and that is why we are continuously reviewing our nappies to offer the best solution for parent and baby”, says Caitlin Meredith, senior brand manager, Huggies® New Baby. “You only get those first moments with your baby once and nothing should interfere with this special time, especially not an uncomfortable nappy.”

The Huggies® Extra Care range offers parents a size 0 disposable nappy (up to 4 kg) with an umbilical cord cut-out to allow for easier cleaning of this delicate area. This nappy has a unique runny poo pocket at the back of the nappy for messy moments and soft pillows that absorb runny poo in seconds to help keep newborn skin clean and protected. It also has fasten-anywhere outer tabs and a stretchy waistband to help provide the perfect fit for baby. Lastly, the wetness indicator shows when it’s time to change your precious newborn baby.

The premium Huggies® Extra Care range further includes size 1 and 2 nappies to support the changing needs of a growing new-born. All the nappies within the New Baby range are made from porous material which allows baby’s skin to breathe. The outer cover of the nappies features characters from Disney’s© Winnie the Pooh.

Compliment nappy changes with the Huggies® Pure wipes which gently lock away the mess, quickly refreshing and cleansing your baby’s delicate newborn skin. These Pure wipes are suitable for newborn delicate skin and babies with sensitive skin.

“Enjoy this incredible journey of firsts with your baby and let Huggies® be the trusted partner that is always there for you throughout your baby’s growth and development”, concludes Meredith.

About Huggies®

Huggies® is known for providing a range of nappies for every stage of a baby’s life. From the very first moment up until the last time they wear a nappy. The range consists of Huggies® Preemies, Huggies® Gold New Baby, Huggies® Gold, Huggies® Pants, Huggies® Dry Comfort, and Huggies® Little Swimmers.

They also offer a range of wipes - Huggies® Pure, Huggies® Natural Care and Huggies® Disney wipes. Huggies® is part of Kimberly-Clark South Africa, a subsidiary of the US-based Kimberly-Clark Corporation which market innovative health and hygiene products that people come into contact with every day.

Find us: www.huggies.co.za ; Facebook – HuggiesSA, Instagram – huggies_sa and Twitter @huggies_sa.■

Brand focus Ensure you know your source when purchasing CBD products

While there is a lot of talk about CBD with it being the new(ish) kid on the block, it is imperative to know your source to ensure you are buying a legal CBD based product.

This is according to Dr Alison Richardson, neurologist and spokesperson for Oil Science, a company that specialises in the supply of premium CBD products, who says that there are several important things to look out for before purchasing, so that you don’t end up with a fraudulent or toxic product.Richardson says that there are five key things you should look out for, when considering trying out a CBD based product. Here is her take on it:

NOT ALL CBD IS CREATED EQUAL

It’s extremely important to be an educated consumer. As CBD products are now legal in our country, there are many retailers who boast high-end tinctures and infusions, but quality does vary.

Oil Science’s hemp is grown in Lesotho, following international cultivation techniques, ensuring quality and consistency in each batch. The hemp is then processed in a GMP (good manufacturing practice) certified facility, so that each batch is produced consistently and full traceability is maintained from raw material to final product.

Products are then sent to an independent laboratory for final testing where a COA (certificate of analysis) is produced. The COA indicates the cannabinoid and potency profile. When considering your CBD brand, a full COA should be available for each product.

CHECK THE LABEL

These days, people won’t buy cereal without knowing what’s in it, and the same should go for CBD. As mentioned above, reputable CBD companies use and publish certificates of analysis (or COAs), that tells you the quality of the CBD source, listing key information such as potency and solvents. All reputable CBD companies use, and publish COA’s to verify the quality of their products. If the COA seems tampered with or there isn’t one, take a huge pass. Without the COA, you may be buying a product that’s toxic or fraudulent. Given the health risks, not to mention that true CBD can be pricey, it’s just not worth taking the chance.

KNOW YOUR HEMP FROM YOUR MARIJUANA

There is a difference, and it’s vital. Although both hemp and marijuana are both cannabis plants, hemp has higher levels of CBD and lower levels of THC (the psychoactive compound that makes you “high”) than a marijuana plant. In South Africa,


Brand focus


only CBD products containing less than 0,001% THC concentration are legally allowed to be sold.

CHECK THE COLOUR OF THE CBD OIL

A surprising large number of people are blissfully unaware that CBD oil comes in varying degrees of strength and quality. Generally speaking, there are two types of CBD oil.

Raw: the type of oil is black/dark green in appearance, because it has been extracted from raw hemp material, and no further purification process has been implemented. You can be sure that this will contain plant matter, varying amounts of THC and chlorophyll.

Filtered: This comes in a lovely light golden/amber colour, and has undergone both decarboxylation and filtering processes, removing parts of the plant that were left over from the initial extraction process. If you want to look at things in a more translatable way, high-grade CBD oil (like the Oil Science brand) is like a fine brandy, in so far as it has been triple distilled for purity.

QUALITY OVER AFFORDABILITY

We all love a bargain, but as a customer concerned about your general health and well-being, it definitely pays to know what you are buying. If you were to go online and do a simple search for “CBD oil”, hundreds of thousands of results would pop up at the click of a button.

Sounds fantastic right? Well, the fact of the matter is that the majority of these products are likely to be cheap, low-quality oils that probably won’t offer much more therapeutic benefits

than the cold pressed olive oil sitting in your kitchen cabinet. By simply knowing your source, you can save yourself loads of money, time and frustration. When in doubt, always consider quality over affordability.

Here are my final thoughts on how to identify high-grade CBD oil: there is an enormous amount of research which shows the efficacy of CBD in the treatment of a wide range of medical conditions. This versatile compound is a potential game changer in the medical field, as it produces no high, but in order to achieve full therapeutic potential, you will need to sort your choice of CBD oil from the host of low-quality products out there.

“The human body is a complex thing. When everything is in balance, we feel like we can achieve anything, but if any of our systems are out of sync, we can experience a number of adverse health effects,” she says. “Natural solutions exist that can help keep your body in balance and improve your health as a result. CBD helps in various ways, by promoting homeostasis in the body.”■

For more information about premium CBD products that are cultivated naturally, contain zero THC, are 100% organic, which are certified and safe visit: www.oilscience.co.za

Positive Sports Solutions: Offering more premium brands a big plusPositive Sports Solutions and TOKEN Cycling SA have merged their operations in a move which will benefit both cyclists and retailers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)


Brand focus

Specialist importers and distributors of international sports-related goods, Positive Sports Solutions, and TOKEN Cycling SA have announced a merger of operations, a move set to benefit cyclists and retailers across SADC. The

Johannesburg-based companies joined forces, meaning they can offer an expanded range of premium brands at even more competitive rates.

Both businesses have been supplying high-quality products – backed by international counterpart brand warranties with local back-up to the SADC market over the past five years. They cater for entry, mid and high-end markets.

The company, which will operate as Positive Sports Solutions (PSS), is moving into a new office and showroom featuring all its brands, onsite mechanics as well as a state-of-the art bike fitment centre. This is open to the public at the Move Motion Centre at 1 Kikuyu Road in Sunninghill.

Through its BioRacer Aero setup software, the fitment centre can analyse the movement, symmetry and stability of riders, enabling them to choose the equipment that is best suited to their characteristics.

All PSS’s products can be purchased from any of its retailers or, according to general manager Warren Foyn, on www.positivesportssolutions.co.za at the recommended retail prices. Online purchases can be checked out with a courier delivery to the supplied address or the option of collecting from the company’s Sunninghill showroom.

PSS is also engaging in regular brand activations at major cycling events, with the first one that happened alongside the Nissan Trailseeker MTB Series event at Cullinan on 9 November. Consumers were able to see what PPS has to offer and the value it can provide over a wide range of products.

The combined range of brands will now consist of HEAD (bicycles), Controltech (bike components), Westfalia (bike racks), Gipiemme (wheels), Luck (shoes), Uvex (helmets), Ryders (eyewear), TOKEN (wheels), Supacaz (accessories), SRT (bike components), Tufo (tyres), and TreeFrog (vacuum bike racks).

More info and online store: www.positivesportssolutions.co.za

PSS’ mission is to create strong, lasting partnerships with top global brands, and in turn, offer the highest quality goods to SADC. To date, we have established relationships with brands from across the globe, including; Spain, the USA, Germany, Czech Republic, and Italy.■

Island Tribe launches kids products

Product focus

Island Tribe launches the Kids Light Lotion SPF 50, and Kids Light Lotion Trigger Spray SPF 50, two great new additions to the popular Kids range of sunscreen protection products. Ideal for everyday outdoor and beach use, both products offer a

light feeling and a high UVA/UVB protection ratio.

The fact that just one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life, is enough reason to acquire quality, high-protection sunscreen for your children. Take care to plan daily activities to ensure that children are well protected. Special care should be taken from 10:00 until 15:00 when ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the sun is at its most intense.

Other sun protection measures include cool, loose-fitting clothes, and broad-brimmed hats. With the summer holidays fast approaching, it’s important to consider additional cover for clear car windows if you’re going away on holiday. While clear auto glass blocks almost all UVB radiation, it only blocks 21% of UVA radiation (which contributes to skin ageing).¹

Sun exposure among children is largely dependent on the discretion of adult care providers. Protecting children from excessive sun exposure and sunburn today is future proofing them against skin cancers in years to come. Be sure to apply a sunscreen bearing the CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa) Seal of Recognition (CSOR), like NEW Island Tribe Kids Light Lotion SPF 50, and NEW Kids Light Lotion Trigger Spray SPF 50, which are non-irritating and dermatologist-tested. Both products are fragrance-free, and offer four-hour water resistance.

Island Tribe products are available at pharmacies nationwide. Visit www.islandtribe.co.za for more information and join the conversations on Facebook and Instagram.

¹Fact Sheet – Being SunSmart with Infants, Toddlers and Children. [cited 2019 Oct 18]. Available from: https://www.cansa.org.za/files/2019/04/Fact-Sheet-Being-SunSmart-With-Infants-Toddlers-Children-April-2019.pdf

ABOUT ISLAND TRIBE SUN PROTECTION

The Island Tribe brand was launched in 1992 with the aim of providing waterproof sun protection to surfers and other water sport enthusiasts. The range consisted of one product only, the Island Tribe Clear Gel, which to this day has proved successful. The brand is now distributed in 25 countries worldwide.

Island Tribe sunscreens are researched and developed by leading sunscreen laboratories in both South Africa and Australia, alongside professionals in the industry, to ensure that the formulas that are developed are world-class. Contact us for sunscreen certification and results and our lab will gladly assist you with technical details and information.

Island Tribe is a clinical and heavily researched sun-protection brand that specialises in sport and lifestyle sunscreens. We are not talking about any regular sunscreen. Island Tribe formulas are designed with a variety of users in mind, such as outdoor enthusiasts, young and old alike. Tame The Sun™ with Island Tribe’s wide variety, from Daily Use sun protection to After Sun.

Island Tribe sunscreens are designed to give the user effective protection against both UVA and UVB rays. We’ve learnt that a water-based sunscreen for water use is not the best way to have a long-lasting water-resistant sunscreen – that’s why we have formulated a non-water-based sunscreen solution that should be applied before and after water sport. Island Tribe is recognised by the CANSA Organisation as a prevention against skin cancer.■


Consumer insight

The recent spate of xenophobic attacks highlights the need to address real disadvantages experienced by local township retailers trying to compete with foreigners and South Africa’s big retail chains. Sithembile Ngobese, CEO

of ZOOI, a leading social enterprise solutions company focusing on the development of the township and village retail economy, weighs in.

Attributing the latest round of attacks on foreigners and foreign-owned businesses to SA’s persistent and growing socio-economic inequality barely scratches the surface of the problem.

There’s no doubt SA faces massive macro-economic challenges, with unemployment climbing to a shocking 29% in the second quarter of this year to about 6,7 million people, and a 0,87 Gini coefficient which is the highest in the world. Tackling these issues is a focus of the 2012 National Development Plan, which president Cyril Ramaphosa is in the process of resurrecting.

But progress is slow, and on a micro-economic level, the challenge is still not being properly articulated or addressed. At this level, the question is what is making foreign-owned businesses targets of hostility in townships and peri-urban areas, and what can be done to prevent it?

SA needs to embrace its foreigners. A joint OECD/ILO paper released in 2018, “How Immigrants Contribute to SA”, found immigrant workers do not displace locals in jobs and they may raise SA’s income per capita by up to 5%, possibly because of their higher educational attainment and productivity. They also add to income tax and VAT.

Playing a prominent role as owners of tuckshops and spazas, foreign nationals have raised awareness of the economic value of these activities, which are an essential early step in creating black industrialists and rural industries.

At the same time, local spaza owners struggle to compete with foreigners for reasons including inadequacies in their business models, procurement of stock, client service and networking. So they lay the blame squarely on foreigners, not on the other factors that put them at a disadvantage.

There is a very powerful argument for supporting township and village businesses, which can be done through provincial government initiatives, such as ensuring hospitals and school nutrition programmes procure from local bakeries and tuckshops.

In earning a living and supplying their communities, local spaza owners ensure that capital continues to circulate locally. On the other hand, income earned by foreigners is remitted to families abroad, while the roll-out of township franchises by SA’s biggest shopping corporates (which in some municipalities is the preferred policy), results in a large portion of profits reverting to JSE-listed entities for distribution to shareholders.

President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the importance of the township and village economies in his State of the Nation Address in June.

“Through spatial interventions like special economic zones, reviving local industrial parks, business centres, digital hubs and township and village enterprises, we will bring economic development to local areas,” he said. “We will also focus on small medium enterprises in our cities, townships and rural areas and create market places where they trade their products.”Sithembile Ngobese

How does xenophobia affect the retail economy?


By Sithembile Ngobese, CEO, ZOOI Consulting


In his February SONA speech, Ramaphosa admitted that one of the constraints on local entrepreneurs was the high degree of concentration, which “has stifled growth and enterprise and has to a large extent kept many young South African entrepreneurs and small enterprises out of the economy or confined them to the margins.”

But South African legislation is not supporting these ideals or creating a steadfast-enough framework in which they can operate. The law currently gives the proviso that foreign nationals must have a valid work visa, are not transferrable when linked to a specific employer, and that employers just act in good faith and not employ illegal foreigners. But nothing governs the ways of working, and conduct – and business practice is often the area requiring the most guidance.

As a consultancy focusing on revitalising the economies of SA’s peri-urban townships and villages, ZOOI has been commissioned by the North West Development Corporation (NWDC) to provide a spectrum of services in communities in four targeted provinces. To date, we have assisted 180 beneficiaries and 6 155 operational businesses and established two hypermarkets in Potchefstroom and Mafikeng

One of our first steps was to survey the views of those living in townships in the North West province towards the competition presented by foreign-owned businesses and the major retail chains. We sampled 1 534 residents in five districts (Tswaing, Mafikeng, Ratlou, Ramotshere and Ditsobotla) to provide a baseline study for our interventions.

Among the findings were that 100% of residents in Mafikeng preferred to buy their groceries from foreign-owned shops because they offered better value for money. In the other districts, the preference was 60 to 80% in favour of foreign-owned stores.

This is despite some reservations expressed about the quality of goods sold in foreign-owned stores.

Asked what locals could do to improve their businesses, the respondents’ suggestions ranged from lowering their prices, working together on a common goal, improving their attitudes towards customer service and extending their opening hours.

Respondents in the Ratlou community emphasised the importance of partnerships and cooperation among local businesses. It is a very important point. Somali businesses operate as a cartel which is led by a group of elders. While SA’s local entrepreneurs rely only on themselves, the Somalian entrepreneurs derive their strength from their social network.

Although the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are making many useful interventions, the perceptions of the respondents in our study were that they were ineffective. Respondents wanted government to deport foreigners, make them pay tax, compel them to employ South Africans, provide start-up funding and refurbishment funding for existing businesses, and offer workshops on various aspects of running a spaza shop successfully.

We believe that black-owned businesses need a value-chain approach to develop their full capability, from primary production to logistics, processing, packaging and market access.

Government intervention is vital, as our experience in North West province shows.

While strong regulation and enforcement is needed to protect foreign-owned tuckshops, strategies are needed to support South African spaza shop owners, monitor their progress and evaluate their success.■

Consumer insights

Free shipping is a powerful drawcard for retailers to attract

online customers

SHOPPINGshoppingandretail.co.za/Magazines/Shopping.pdf · scammed by a non-Trustmark approved...

Documents

Transcript of SHOPPINGshoppingandretail.co.za/Magazines/Shopping.pdf · scammed by a non-Trustmark approved...