Marketing and public relations professional, Lesley Geyer has been appointed as the new Marketing Manager at Algoa FM. Lesley worked for the station between 2014 and 2018, and was the senior marketing executive before moving on to explore different pastures. “I’m optimistic about the media and entertainment space. The continuous growth of content creation; new technologies; trends and engaging listeners, makes for an exciting future to market the station” says Geyer. “My focus, in line with the repositioning of Algoa FM as a media house based on a very strong radio foundation, will be on creating engaging content and campaigns; enhancing brand awareness through influencer marketing with our on-air team and re-aligning the brand through partnerships to better connect with our audience. “Algoa FM is currently in a season of innovation with a new building; a refreshed line-up and a new website; it’s a good time to be back to add an energetic viewpoint with this excellent team” she says. “We are delighted to welcome Lesley back into the fold,” says Algoa FM managing director Alfie Jay. “The valuable experience she has gained in the International hospitality industry will bring a fresh perspective to our business. “She is a consummate professional, enthusiastic about her work and extremely motivated to lead an ever-evolving and powerful marketing team to new heights at Algoa FM,” says Jay. Lesley safely commences her responsibilities from the comfort of her own home on the 1st of April 2020. Video: New Marketing Manager for Algoa FM More Info on New Marketing Manager for Algoa FM here: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Siyathetha Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiyathethaCommunications/ CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
The Show Must go ONline CWDi introduces an innovative virtual events solution
As businesses and event organisers have had to cancel events amidst what is currently happening globally, CWDi has quickly adapted to the challenge, and to ensure valuable connections are still possible, the team has launched a virtual events solution! Award-winning brand agency, CWDi, have always made a habit of looking ahead. Samantha Gabriel, Group Experiences Director of CWDi says “Technology has become such an essential tool to our everyday lives that it is hard to imagine life before it. Events have been using technology to enhance the experience but now is the time to make it the cornerstone of the experience. The key is to master the engagement of audiences and to still retain the humanness of it all. Content is king, beautifully designed presentations are essential and the chat functionality and facilitation will be the what take the experience from good to great. “A virtual event is a multi-session online event allowing people to interact in a virtual environment - allowing connection of audiences from next door to across the globe. The solution being offered means corporate conferences can still go ahead, activations can be moved online, launches and more can go on. “We are thinking ahead and believe that virtual events will become an essential part of corporate marketing strategies as they not only offer flexibility and convenience but also highly interactive.” CWDi’s virtual events offering includes but is not limited to: Pre-event • Online RSVP system and management. • Design and distribution of: • Save the date. • Invitations. • Reminders. • Aide Memoire. • Virtual conference packs. Extras • Pre-event campaigns. • Presentation design. • Conference collateral packs. • Design and building of event App. Live event • Online registration. • Livestream to a custom webpage platform. • Agenda, speaker profiles. • Polls, Q & A and chat functions. Extras • CPD point certificate issuing. • Hugh quality production: • …
Smile 90.4FM Nomimated For Three Radio Awards
March - Now in its 10th year, The Radio Awards continues to recognise outstanding achievements in the radio industry, and sets a benchmark for all radio stations and professionals to strive towards. Smile 90.4FM, Cape Town's best mix of the 80’s, 90’s and now, has been nominated for three prestigious Radio Awards. Nominations include: • Multi-Channel/Promotion category for the Smile 2 Million Rand Campaign • Promotions Stunt for Smile in Action (Reach for a Dream) • The Afternoon Drive Show for Smile Drive. “We are delighted with our nominations as it once again showcases our commitment to positivity and hope by creating great radio” – said Smile 90.4FM Managing Director, Lois O’Brien NOMINATION 1: PROMOTIONS STUNT/EVENT This category recognises excellence in promotions and related activities that are designed to strengthen a radio station`s own brand, and to entrench it more deeply with its audience. Smile in Action aims to change the lives of those around us through small acts of kindness. Each campaign aims to create a long lasting effect on all individuals and charities involved. The Smile-in-Action initiative focused on Reach for a Dream, a Foundation that has brought hope, joy and healing to South African children and their families, by offering children a magical moment to regain their childhood that is being lost to life-threating illnesses. Smile-in-Action raised over R300 000 in support of Reach for a Dream’s 2019 Camp Sunshine – these funds enabled 95 children to attend the camp as well as Family Focus Camps NOMINATION TWO: MULTI CHANNEL PROMOTION AWARD The Multi-Channel Promotion Award highlights radio’s ability to integrate new technologies to enhance the relationship between the station and its listeners. The launch of the R2M campaign saw the Mother City’s fastest growing radio station, Smile 90.4FM, making history as the first radio broadcaster on the African continent to offer one listener the chance to win 2 million rand. …
The Rise of Coronavirus, Influencer Marketing, and Business Continuity
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – While it’s not completely business as usual in light of the Coronavirus, R-Squared’s operations aren’t affected, and measures for business continuity have been taken in order to not disturb existing campaigns and projects, ensuring the highest levels of quality. Influencer Marketing, and communication through community leaders can be extremely powerful in times of crisis, so here are some critical precautions to ensure people and brand safety and the powerful dissemination of your messaging: • At this time of crisis influencers will be extremely efficient in assisting to shift your digital efforts to building awareness • This will drive online sales from the comfort of your audiences’ sofa, all the while your audience is staying self-confined. • Work with influencers to share your brand’s message that you care for your audience, and these are the ways your audience can now have access to your services or products while staying safe. Finance, insurance, and other service industries are able to work remotely, yet hand in hand with influencers, in sharing important tips on staying safe and efficiently looking after your finances during times of economic and health uncertainty. During this time of crisis, if managed with significant expertise, content from influencers will be increasingly impactful. They are people speaking to people; it’s not a corporate message. People are concerned and need an emotional connection with someone they trust and follow, right now. Make it you. If you are already a client of R-Squared, your Account Manager will be in touch to evaluate the needs to review the current or future campaigns. If you are considering working with R-Squared but are not a client yet, please communicate with stephane@r2digital.co.za or via WhatsApp at +27 (0)60 698 7204 to assess your brief and timeline against current capacity before sending your brief. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
Mundus Vini Awards Kleine Zalze ‘Best Producer: South Africa’
With the 2020 harvest in full swing, the winemaking team at Kleine Zalze wine estate received very welcome news and recognition for their painstaking efforts. Mundus Vini ¬ one of the foremost wine competitions in Germany and with broad global recognition ¬ has selected Kleine Zalze as 'Best Producer: South Africa’. The announcement was made following the Stellenbosch estate¹s excellent performance at the event¹s 26th installment and its annual Spring Tasting. The accolades included no less than six gold medals. These comprised four Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection wines, the Chenin Blanc 2019, Chardonnay 2019, Sauvignon Blanc 2019 and Shiraz 2017. Gold also went to two Family Reserve wines, the Shiraz 2016 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2016. To top it all, the premier award of Best of Show South Africa Red went to the 2016 Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz and of course then the big announcement of Best Producer: South Africa. Based in Germany, Mundus Vini sees 11 000 wines submitted every year from across the globe for assessment by its international panel, which comprises oenologists, sommeliers, specialty retailers, journalists and scientists. Every year the results are revealed ahead of ProWein, the world¹s leading trade fair for wines and spirits that annually takes place in Düsseldorf. The event draws some 6 900 exhibitors from 64 countries. This year, sadly the event was cancelled at the last minute due to spread of the Corona virus. The winery¹s achievement at Mundus Vini follows just months after it was singled out as Best New World Producer in the UK. Singled out at the multinational Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA), Kleine Zalze pulled off this coup for the second consecutive year and third time after claiming the title in 2015 as well. No other entrant has achieved this before. As part of this journey, Kleine Zalze made the key appointment last month of strategy specialist and wine industry expert Carina Gous to its team. Carina is a former global brand …
The KZN South Coast set to host the 2020 Christian Women in Business Conference
As a leading tourism event destination, the KZN South Coast has been selected as the host venue for the third annual Christian Women in Business Conference, organised by the Christian Women in Business Network. This dedicated business platform, which is open to all interested parties, welcomes some 200 female leaders to the San Lameer Hotel Resort & Spa on Saturday, 14 March. “Ugu South Coast Tourism is excited to announce the region has been selected to host the upcoming Christian Women in Business Conference which attracts some of the country’s most influential businesswomen,” said CEO of Ugu South Coast Tourism, Phelisa Mangcu. “The conference acknowledges both the region’s business tourism and religious tourism market, also represented by our flagship uVukile Gospel Festival taking place on 12 April.” Phelisa said that alongside the engaging, female-empowering platform presented by Christian Women in Business Conference, the KZN South Coast is afforded the opportunity to showcase its incredible tourism offerings - from hospitality and retail to leisure and sports – all to a national audience. Quality speaker programme announced The conference consists of a full day of meaningful, knowledge-sharing sessions that work to encourage personal and professional success among South African businesswomen. This includes a dynamic speaker line-up, with the 2020 edition welcoming (among others): - Danielle Strickland A Canadian author, pastor and justice activist, Danielle’s passion for empowering people and transforming neighbourhoods has seen her spending years leading churches, as well as establishing training schools and justice departments across the globe. For the past 22 years, she has been an officer in The Salvation Army, she’s also an ambassador for Stop the Traffik, as well as the co-founder of Infinitum, Brave Global, Amplify Peace and the Women Speakers Collective. Danielle has authored five books, the most recent of which is ‘The Ultimate …
Six fashionistas jointly launch ‘The Fifth’ clothing shop!
The local textile and clothing industry reached greater heights on March 5th following the successful opening of ‘The Fifth’, a retail store located in Glenwood Village featuring garments from six of Durban’s top award-winning female fashion designers. This bold move is earmarked to create sustainable financial generation for these designers and the City as well as contribute to Durban’s vision of becoming Africa’s fashion capital. Three of the six powerhouse women partners of ‘The Fifth’ are beneficiaries of the Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) development programme which traces its roots back eight years when it emerged from the Durban Business Fair and became a standalone event six years ago. The DFF programme enhances the skills of local fashion designers and broadens industry related knowledge through research. The six designers include Zama Kwenzi Nkomo from fashion brand house Indoni Fashion House, Mandi Zuma from Inkosazane, Nokwanda Wanda Ngcobo from 8th Wanda, Zama Gumede from Zaviar, Silomo Ntombela from Silomo and Sibu Msimang from fashion house Sibu Msimang. Joining the celebrations of ‘The Fifth’ opening was the Municipality’s Fashion Manager, Sindi Shangase who congratulated the designers for taking Durban’s fashion to the next level. “I have no doubt that this clothing shop will be a success as it features women who are hard workers and committed to what they do as well as being innovators of note.” She said despite them not being in the fashion industry for very long, their determination to win has stood them in good stead with many of their work being showcased around the world. Shangase also noted that Kwenzi Nkomo was named 2019 DFF Best Ladies Wear Collection while Durban Designer of the Year 2019 went to Zama Gumede, both receiving cash prizes to advance their fashion labels. Shangase said some of the designers have directly and indirectly benefitted from the Municipality’s developmental opportunities including trading their ranges …
Mastercard puts the spotlight on inclusion and diversity ahead of the Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit
6 March 2020, Johannesburg, South Africa: Women comprise more than 50% of the population in Africa and drive 70% of spend. Yet, women’s influence and contributions are not being fully leveraged for society’s collective advantage, because too much of the world we live in today was not designed with women involved or with women in mind. This was the theme of Mastercard’s ‘Together We Lead: Women by Design’ event in Durban last night, which brought together celebrated women leaders across industries to address the challenges women face as consumers, entrepreneurs, athletes, workers and innovators to unlock the potential of Africa’s female economy. Ebehijie Momoh, Mastercard’s Area Business Head for West Africa facilitated a panel discussion which included Chanel Alberts, Head Coach at Pirates Women’s Rugby Club, Wendy Mahoney, KZN President of the 30% Club, S’onqoba Vuba, Entrepreneur and Managing Director of Perpetu8, and Mpume Langa, Divisional Finance Director - Africa for Unilever. Panelists shared insights on the strategies needed to support women’s advancement and inclusion in the corporate and sporting sectors. They also explored how women can better harness their capabilities as innovators and entrepreneurs to create products and services that better serve women. Beatrice Cornacchia, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Mastercard Middle East and Africa, said: "Women are the key decision makers in households; they are opening businesses at a faster rate than men in several countries, and they invest more than 90% of their incomes back into their families and communities. Yet inequality and exclusion hold them back in many aspects of their everyday lives.” In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, the loss in global wealth from gender inequality is estimated at $2.5 trillion. More than 37% of women do not have bank accounts, and more than half of women SME owners lack access to finance and face an estimated $42 billion financing …
Big wins for Africa’s most influential women at the 2020 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Gala Dinner
Following a day’s engagement with the continent’s most dynamic women, it was time for the illustrious awards’ ceremony which honoured women for breaking ground in a number of key categories at the 2020 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Gala Dinner held at Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC Complex in Durban on Friday, 6 March 2020. The glamorous event was held directly after the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit which was hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal government and presented by Mastercard. “I’d like to extend congratulations to all the 2020 award winners for truly embodying this year’s summit theme, ‘The Ceiling Crashers 2.0: Power with Purpose’,” said Renuka Methil, Managing Editor of FORBES WOMAN AFRICA. “It was the perfect end to a day of enlightening of panel discussions and ‘In the Spotlight’ talks that showcased the strides being made by women everywhere. We hope these well-deserved awards serve to highlight the impact being made by these women and provide inspiration for our future leaders.” Rakesh Wahi, founder the ABN Group, welcomed this year’s attendants to the glamorous awards’ ceremony. The opening address was given by KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube; followed by the keynote address by KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala. Following these engaging talks, the 2020 winners were announced. 2020 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Gala Dinner results: Forbes Woman Africa Technology and Innovation Award - Winner: Dr Aisha Pandor, Co-founder of SweepSouth, South Africa Forbes Woman Africa Gen Y Award - Winner: Nthabiseng Mosia, Founder of Easy Solar, Sierra Leone Forbes Woman Africa Entertainer Award - Winner: DJ Zinhle, South Africa Forbes Woman Africa Entrepreneur Award - Winner: Olajumoke Adenowo, Founder of Ad Consulting, Nigeria Forbes Woman Africa Male Gender Advocate Award - Winner: Bafana Khumalo, Co-founder of Sonke Gender Justice, South Africa Forbes Woman Africa Social Impact Award - Winner: Charmaine …
Global Public Relations Network Celebrates 25 Years Of Growth
3 March, 2020 – The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has enabled digital integration and the opportunistic birth of collaborative networks across the globe. A leading public relations network, the International Public Relations Network (IPRN), is one of these and has just reached their highest membership mark since their launch 25 years ago; with members spanning 40 countries. “This brings the number of IPRN members to 51,” says Luis González, CEO of IPRN. “This represents more than 80 markets with offices in 97 cities at the start of 2020. The combined fee of IPRN members exceeds $500 million and staffs of 7,000.” Says the South African member, Managing Director of MANGO-OMC (Pty) LTD, Nicole Capper: “Public Relations is one the most exciting communication sectors to be in; with content, messaging, reputation management and digital analytics putting our skills to play in more and more extensive ways. Having access to players in the global market and their best practice models and ideas has been a gamechanger for us. The collaborative mindset has also resulted in shared international work, as agency members cover just about every sector you can imagine. It has also enabled us to test technology that allows for global collaboration and reporting in real-time – experiencing one of the many benefits of digitally integrated communication roll-outs.” Founded in 1995, the IPRN is now one of the world’s largest networks of independent owner lead public relations firms. In the last six months, seven new member agencies have joined. These include: Catalyst (India), PR Concept (Estonia), True Relazioni Pubbliche (Italy), The House PR (Romania), ProComm (Austria), Extrovert (Greece), Luna (Belgium), Houston (UK), Textual in Brazil and Mekky Media in the USA. “Agencies assist each other in multiple ways, providing local knowledge and global reach for all clients looking for selective market PR programs. This often translates into additional business for …