Marketing to South Africans overseas
On a trip to London recently I picked up a 'South African' newspaper (titled 'South African') and noticed various South African online retailers (as well as local UK brands) taking advantage of the captive South African audience... Is this a market we have overlooked? 19 May 2004
Loerie entry fees a joke!
R850.00 to enter a single item of work is a joke. I realise the bigger agencies probably don't notice it, but the smaller ones do. 18 May 2004
Employment for graduates
99% of all adverts for positions in the design industry ask for experience but what about graduates who want a chance? 14 May 2004
Side-stepping the bull
I bought a large bag of Fritos(R) chips last night and this is what the back of the packet said: 13 May 2004
''Special Supplements'' - a honey trap that is killing us softly
Gotta kill the supplements parasite before it kills publishing ...and PR 4 May 2004
All shampoo'd out
Hands up if you're dead tired of hair shampoo adverts! 4 May 2004
Baker's Man / Harry Potter?
The Baker's Man commercial, which is running on TV at the moment, is without a doubt the most unoriginal piece of rubbish on TV at present. 28 Apr 2004
On journos going into PR...
I don't think journalists becoming PR practitioners or even media liaison officers are doing justice to the PR industry or the communications fraternity at large. 25 Apr 2004
The media cashing in on the tragedy of Diana's death
I find it despicable that an American TV station has seen fit to show pictures of Princess Diana dying in the car crash wreckage in Paris, 1997. 21 Apr 2004
Usage of local talent
Well done for VW using the new Arno Carstens soundtrack and for Citroen for using the real thing. Thanks for the local eye candy. It is about time that the local ad industry supported the local music and model talent. 1 Apr 2004
New MTN ''Chicken Messenger'' TV Ad
When I first saw this ad on TV, I thought this was a preview of the sequel of the movie "Speed 2" until MTN's logo appeared at the end. It was only when I had seen it for the third time that I understood fully what it was all about. 25 Mar 2004
Can't wait to see the newest innovation in feminine pads AT DINNER TIME!
Do they really think this inspires females to buy more pads? 25 Mar 2004
Election debate
Oh dear, just when you thought it was PC to ignore or ridicule all printed party propaganda, Patricia de Lille and the Independant Democrats go and produce an ad and poster campaign that is not only beautifully art directed but displays some seriously stylish fonts and relevant graphics as well [although I would have given the lady herself just a tad more retouching]. 24 Mar 2004
New Election Signage Design
Do we really need to look at the bad political print campaigns out on our streets? 22 Mar 2004
And the worst advertising campaign goes to...
There are some damn good adverts out there, hence Awards galore, But some campaigns really miss the mark. 21 Mar 2004
Comparative Advertising - is it okay in election ads?
In a recent radio spot the DA openly tell people not to vote ID, because it's a waste of a vote. Surely election advertising is subject to the same rules and regulations as the rest? Imagine Volkswagen saying don't buy Toyota because it's a waste of money! (or vice versa) 18 Mar 2004
Are the Sasol ads getting worse?
First it was the so called intelligent milk bottle, and now an intelligent plate. Both good ideas certainly, but a plate can't count calories because it would have no idea how the food placed on it was cooked in the first place. Boiled potatoes and fried potatoes will have completely different amounts of calories even if they weigh the same. 18 Mar 2004
Is the exclamation mark the most hated thing in advertising?
Is it possible that because of the sheer amount of ads yelling at them, that people will or have already stopped listening? 16 Mar 2004
Polka radio ad
There has been wide spread debate surrounding the lack of creativity and new ideas within our borders, I don’t for one second doubt the fact that we harbour some of the most creative and innovative individuals who produce work of such high quality and outstanding creativity. However once in a while there comes along an ad campaign that makes me seriously concerned... 15 Mar 2004
The Shame of Fools
Whoever did the “Quad Squad” campaign; you deserve to be in a wheelchair. Who in their right mind takes a project like National Disabled Day and turns it into something resembling a lucky packet competition? 10 Mar 2004
Has 5fm chosen the right target group?
Recent changes in the 5fm radio station has caused major changes in the pattens of demographic groups - is their positioning correct? 7 Mar 2004
Patronising Holcim Ad
A real squirming-with-shame ad in which the sum total of a young man's ambition seems to be laying bricks with Holcim cement. 4 Mar 2004
Sasol Milk Bottles
Highly watchable and entertaining ad but does it sell fictitious milk bottles or does it build the brand? 3 Mar 2004
Does one need a PR company to get press releases published?
If the product is innovative and exciting enough, surely newspapers and magazines will be easily convinced to write about it? 1 Mar 2004
Oscar Blunder...Who's to blame?
So, watching the four-hour long Oscar last night was great. It all ended in a glorious Charlize winning, and also Peter Jackson winning best director, making it a first for a Fantasy Film. 1 Mar 2004
Specialists
Advertising is a creative field yet students are still taught to follow one specialised discipline (copywriting, art directing, etc). Can creative people not be creative across a variety of disciplines? 23 Feb 2004
Tobacco Advertising or Not??
Well, Zuma took it away....a few jobs, and a few smaller agencies have seen the effect on the smaller guy, due to the ejection of Tobacco Advertising revenue. Did you feel it? 19 Feb 2004
The Problem with ''Embedded'' Journalists
"The last time he was a 'committed' Journalist, but now a 'high-flying' Public Relations executive". Are these areas the same? 11 Feb 2004
Judging a mag by its cover (and its ads)
The editor of Fairlady, Ann Donald, says that they will no longer be accepting ads for miracle weight-loss products. 9 Feb 2004
