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After unavoidable postponements owing to COVID-19 regulations, the brand-new production and major world tour of Queen and Ben Elton’s multi award-winning rock musical We Will Rock You featuring an all-South African cast, crew and band began in Manila, The Philippines in October 2022. After touring Asia this hit musical opened in South Africa at Montecasino’s Teatro in March 2023.The four-week Cape Town season recently opened at the Artscape Theatre Centre runs to Sunday, 04 June 2023.Bjorn Salsone, host of Brunch with Bjorn connected with 3 of the cast to find out more about the production and what its like working internationally and what drives these 3 South Africans to do what they do.The musical is produced by SA promoter, Showtime Management in conjunction with Selladoor Worldwide, Carlos Candal, Gavin Kalin Productions and Limelight Productions. Showtime Management previously staged We Will Rock You in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban in 2005 and 2006 to rave reviews and standing ovations.The highly talented We Will Rock You cast is a combination of established, well-known performers and fresh new talent, making their musical theatre debut. Nicolette Fernandes (The Producers, Spring Awakening, URINETOWN! Sister Act) plays the leading role of the ‘sarcastic, cynical’ Scaramouche alongside Stuart Brown (How To Date Like A F@#&%! Grownup – A Musical Comedy (Workshop Version), Defending The Gay Man) as Galileo, the dreamer who hears strange words in his head. Stage and screen actress, singer and dancer Londiwe Dhlomo plays the villain Killer Queen who rules Planet Mall with an iron fist, assisted by her second in command, Khashoggi, played by award-winning film, television and stage actor Craig Urbani (Chicago The Musical, Rocky Horror, Legacy, Blitzpatrolli). Tiaan Rautenbach (Jesus Christ Superstar, Binnelanders, Aspoestertjie) plays the role of Buddy who tries to figure out the "exact date the music died". International and local musical theatre performer as well as television and feature film actor, Richard Gau (Calling Us Home, Evita, PRIME - Netflix Original) plays Brit, alongside Danelle Cronje (Doringrosie: Die Slapende Skone, Seussical, Barely Legal Showtunes) in the role of Oz.Telling the story of a group of bohemians in a dystopian future, We Will Rock You is directed and choreographed by Olivier Award nominee Nick Winston (Annie, Loserville, Waiting for Godot) working with Associate Director and Choreographer, Ryan-Lee Seager and assistant Choreographer. Stuart Morley is the Music Consultant and Mark Crossland is the Musical Supervisor.Book now at www.showtime.co.za or at Ticketmaster https://bit.ly/RockYouSA2023. Ticketmaster is the ONLY official exclusive ticketing agent and tickets should not be purchased from any other supplier/outlets. Discounted group bookings on groups of 15+ tickets available, sales@showtime.co.za #rocktheworld #RockYouSA ENDS**SHOW INFORMATION WE WILL ROCK YOU 2023ARTSCAPE OPERA HOUSE, Cape Town: Friday, May to Sunday, 04 JuneSHOW TIMES:Weekdays: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 8pmWeekends: Saturdays 3pm, 8pm; Sundays 2pm, 6pm.TICKET PRICES including VATMidweek (Wednesday ,Thursdays and Sundays 18h00): R200, R250, R320, R400 / Weekend (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 14h00): R250, R320, R420, R500SPECIAL DISCOUNT OFFERS - TERRIFIC TUESDAYS Only valid for Tuesday performances: R100, R150, R250, R350. Not valid with any other discount offerGROUP BOOKINGS -* 20% Discount on groups of 15 and more – Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 6pm performances only valid for the top two prices. Contact Jill Somers office hours only, 9 am to 5pm on 079 218 1658, sales@showtime.co.za
In recent years, the gaming industry has seen exponential growth and has become a major player in the world of entertainment. The trend is expected to continue i, with the increasing demand for gaming and gamification in various industries. From education to healthcare, more and more companies are incorporating gaming elements to enhance their products and services. This has led to new branding opportunities for companies looking to tap into the gaming world and reach a wider audience. Additionally, the growth of the gaming industry has also created new career opportunities for professionals with expertise in gaming, branding, and related fields.Join In this conversation, with Khalid Khalphey, Commercial Manger, dentsu Amplifi and professional gamer, gamification expert and founder of the African e-Sports Federation, Ryan Macquet, we explore the intersection of gaming, branding, career and industry opportunities.Follow the dentsu wisdom series here
The thumbs-up emoji is now considered passive-aggressive by millennials. Yip, I can actually see your eyes rolling, but before you get all huffy, take a listen to this conversation and gain a deeper understanding of the WHY.
Ingrid von Stein is joined by Dion Chang, Flux Trends to find out what is trending in the business sector (and socially) with regards to use the use of emojis during the work day and what and how the younger generation truly feels about it.
If psychologists say that it takes just 21 days to embed a new habit or behaviour, then 24 months of lockdown, and working from home, is going to entrench new learnings and behaviours that are irreversible. Couple this with the fact that the pandemic unleashed the tragic loss of life and/or loss of income, and the result is a deep introspection of what we really want out of life. In essence we’ve all, unwittingly, been faced with an existential crisis.
This has manifested in more immediate trends like: Semigration, Revenge Travel, the Great Resignation and the Anti-work Movement.
But these are just the tip of an iceberg - A workforce revolution has been unleashed and if your company’s current concern is still focused on “adapting to a hybrid workforce”, then you will be blindsided by this revolution. The change we have embarked on cannot be underestimated.
The “future of work” has been brought forward and is colliding with companies struggling to meet the velocity of change that took place during the pandemic.
What leadership prioritised in 2019 now looks very different, post pandemic.
This trend briefing exposes the blind spots that many companies have, including: * Underestimating the ripple effect of this Life Audit and how it has changed the priorities of a workforce. * Reengineering rewards & benefits to create a post pandemic company culture. * Switching from a location centric mindset to a human centric mindset. * The danger of a “two speed organisation” and nurturing a sense of belonging. * The very different skill sets managers now have to master. * Lessons we can learn from the new Gen Z workforce.
This trend briefing is specifically designed for all business leaders (CEOs to COOs), senior managers, administrators and all HR practitioners who have had to adapt to a post-pandemic world of work. Presented by Dion Chang
– Trends as Business Strategy –
If you are interested in booking this virtual trend briefing for your management team or clients please contact Bethea Clayton on connected@fluxtrends.co.za or +27764539405
Companies are increasingly under pressure to take a stand on social, political and moral issues. Corporate Political Responsibility (CPR) refers to the expectation that companies speak out and take action on political matters. Employees are the largest segment calling out for this. According to a Financial Times Moral Money survey of readers, 70% of employees, 46% of consumers and 33% of investors are exerting pressure on companies to get involved. The most recent example is the rush by multinationals to exit Russia. Disney’s stance on the “Don’t say gay” legislation is another.
Why is it important? Companies risk a backlash if they are not vocal on important societal matters. But it can go either way on polarising issues such as abortion in the US, even threatening the stability of a business. “Unless corporations become more transparent and accountable, and therefore more sustainable in the way in which they exercise their political power, their licence to operate may be at risk,” says the Good Lobby, an organisation that encourages activists to participate in influencing decision-making processes. This is not something that companies can afford to ignore. The Eurasia Group says that it ranks “corporates losing the culture wars” among its top 10 risks for 2022.
What can businesses do about it? Businesses now need to not just articulate but also take action on the issues they choose to support. The decision on which issues to take a stand on is a difficult one. IBM uses five questions to help guide it: is the issue directly linked to the business? Does the company have a history of engaging in it? What are the stakeholders (employees, clients and shareholders) saying? What are competitors doing? Could the company make a meaningful difference by engaging? Signing petitions, issuing press releases, divestment, making charitable donations and engaging customers and employees on advocacy campaigns are examples of how companies can lend their support. Monies can also be spent on lobbying and funding politicians although this should be carefully considered. Some companies have opted to steer clear of this option.
‘I know that what I’ve learned in the past two years will help me for the rest of my life. My hope is that you will see yourself reflected in my own journey, and . . . consider who you will become in this new world of ours. Who we all might become.’
If you’re suffering from a crisis of meaning, you’re not alone. In this powerful new book, future strategist John Sanei shares how he found ways to cope with the uncertainty that has been all around us in the past two years. Lockdown meant his career came to a screeching halt, he was living with his parents and then had to battle loneliness until he reached the point of reassessing who he was and what he wanted from life.
Infused with empathy and personal anecdote, Who Do We Become? explores our individual responsibility to evolve into more decent, dynamic version of ourselves, our businesses and humanity as a whole, especially in times of crisis. Travel with John as he maps out our strange, new world and lays down a path to reframe our thinking, to recognise our discomfort, to survive and thrive. “I CAN FOCUS ON WHAT I HAVE, INSTEAD OF WHAT I DO NOT HAVE, OR WHAT I HAVE LOST, SIMPLY BECAUSE NOTHING COMES FROM CONSTANTLY GOING OVER WHAT IS LACKING” John Sanei
The world is facing a reskilling emergency. More than 1 billion jobs, almost one-third of all jobs worldwide, are likely to be transformed by technology in the next decade. By this year, the World Economic Forum estimates 133 million new jobs in major economies will be created to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Do as many micro-courses and skills development courses as you can. Today the micro-credentials is formulating the New Collar Jobs. Dion Chang, founder of Flux Trends chats to Ingrid von Stein, host of the Business Trends show on www.ebizradio.com and delve into the skill revolution and what and how you can constantly up-skill yourself.
Many companies and businesses have one perception about their employer brand and yet the employees have a different view. How do you actually know what you employer branding is and how can you use data to auto-correct your path, hire the right talent and say the right thing to attract the talent?
Joining Ingrid von Stein, host of Biz Insights on www.ebizradio.com - Africa's leading business online station is Pabi Mogosetsi, Country Manager SA, Universum , Paul Byrne – Head of Insights at Saongroup Africa consisting of Pnet/CareerJunction and Martyna Scibiorek – Founder & CEO of Science Bridge.
Some of the issues that are covered in this discussion are: * Understanding what employer branding is * What are some trends in employer branding * Struggle in SA around skills and talent * How do we use human capital to understand your employer brand * Brain drain trends 2021 vs 2022
To connect directly with any of the panel - just click on their name and start chatting.
Centuries ago we bartered and here we are in 2022 and the bartering economy is booming again and we shift from personal to business bartering.
Ingrid von Stein connects with Dion Chang, Flux Trends and we find out more about this growing trend in our world today.
Some interesting bartering sites - https://www.irta.com/ / https://bnponfb.org/ / https://www.sabarternetwork.com/
Do you also have that feeling that you are circling around and around? Well its known today as a holding pattern.
We connect with Dion Chang our resident TRENDS expert and founder of Flux Trends. We find out more about this holding pattern trend and a new appearing one, called Soft Fascination - this is when you start to become completely fascinated with simple things - like just taking a walk.
- Soft fascination: when your attention is held by a less active or stimulating activity; such activities generally provide the opportunity to reflect and introspect
We invite you all to join us virtually on 23rd June at 16h00 (4 pm- your last meeting of the day) to connect with Dion Chang, Flux Trends, as he shares his research into the post pandemic tribes that have emerged across the globe and what influence they will have on business into 2022. CLICK HERE
Everything changed. Irrevocably.
Psychologists say that it takes us just 21 days to adapt to or embrace a new habit. If that’s the case, then a year of lockdown has cemented new behavioural patterns in almost all of us.
In the midst of the global lockdown, the Financial Times observed that “many companies have little choice but to begin some revamping of their business models: the pandemic has made sure that either their customers are no longer where they were or have no need of what they are selling”.
That sentence alone should send a shiver down any retailer’s spine.
As we cautiously emerge into a post-pandemic world (at Flux we call it The Great Staggering), business owners will have to reassess, reframe and reimagine their business models.
To assist that process, Flux Trends is launching a new edition of our popular “Tribes” series that looks at new tribes that were spawned during the pandemic, with special attention given to post-pandemic youth tribes.
The “Class of 2020” is a broad description of a youth demographic whose lives were altered and derailed by the pandemic. These could be young people who were transitioning from secondary to tertiary education, or undergraduates who were meant to finish their studies and embark on a working career. Either way, the opportunities lost, the absence of crucial social interactions and the devastating economic impact on these young lives will leave a deep impression during these formative years, which will shape their outlook and future mindset.
But it’s not just about youth tribes. Our post-pandemic Tribes edition will also assist retailers and business owners understand the fundamental shift in consumer behaviour which will directly influence their businesses.
In this Special Edition some of the new tribes you will meet include:
- Life Interrupted: a new wave of young adults forced to “boomerang” (living back with their parents)
- The Hustlers: young entrepreneurs who delve into new areas of business like virtual fashion design, eco product development and “white label” e-commerce.
- K.O.L.s (Key Opinion Leaders) or Activist Influencers who champion causes like climate change and clean energy rather than promote retail brands.
- Pet parents: the global spike in pet adoption during lockdown adds exponential growth to the already booming pet industry, which will have a ripple effect for the next decade.
- The Patriots – citizens fed up with a lack of service delivery who take over municipal roles.
- The Isolationists: post-lockdown tribe members who embrace solitude rather than confront “re-entry anxiety”.
Who should attend?
- Any business owner who has felt the seismic shift of the pandemic impact their business model and feels an urgent need to keep up with the velocity of change.
- Any B2C business leader who needs to understand the altered consumer mindset and the importance of defining these tribes, in order to engage with them, meaningfully.
- Anyone who is busy formulating a new business or marketing strategy catering to a niche audience.
- Anyone who works in brand management, retail marketing, media and the service industries.
Presented by Dion Chang
Aren’t you curious to find out about our post-pandemic tribes?
Would you have regular sessions with a AI Robot therapist? Globally this is the new wave of seeking out emotional help via AI robots and interactive AI bots.
Our resident Trends forecaster, Dion Chang of Flux Trends chats about the new reality for many of us - LANGUISHING and then we move onto this global move to Robot Therapists (WOEBOTS) nd why people are finding so much benfenit with them.
Connect directly with Dion Chang - LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dion-chang-a8b5379/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dionchang/?hl=en /Twitter - https://twitter.com/dionchang / FaceBook - https://www.facebook.com/fluxtends
The world is topsy turvy and huge brands are now entering into the metavarse (a virtual-reality space in which users can interact with a computer-generated environment and other users) and everything is virtual.......including your clothing.
Dion Chang our Trends interpreter on ebizradio.com shares a whole new world and economy with us - from virtual items of clothing, art and real estate and takes us through what is happening, how its happening and allows us to know that we are still in the real world, but we are interacting and doing business in a virtual world. Sounds like fiction doesn't it, but it real (or is it).
ttps://www.fluxtrends.com/
Dion is back for new Podcasts in 2021, for this recording, we discuss
The State We’re In is the annual Flux Trends overview of where the world is and where it’s going, using the acronym T.R.E.N.D.S. which represents six key trend pillars that are shaping how we will live, work and connect in the coming year.
Flux delves into the undercurrents between the pillars to provide an executive summary of global disruptions and winds of change that are shaping our world.
It’s quite possible that 2020 will in future be referred to as “the year we don’t talk about”. Not only did it feel endless but the monotony of staring into a screen – for work, entertainment, retail therapy and human connection – will ensure we won’t remember much of it.
Wiped from our memories are the many issues that had reached a tipping point in 2019: geopolitical posturing, widespread civil unrest, social justice issues and sustainability. These issues have either brewed quietly to become more toxic or have been laid bare by the pandemic. Either way, they emerge in 2021 as game changers or deal breakers.
A year of introspection while in self-isolation has provided us with the opportunity to rethink and reassess. 2019 is not a state of being that we would want to return to.
In the words of author Milan Kundera, “We go through the present blindfolded… Only later, when the blindfold is removed and we examine the past, do we realise what we’ve been through and understand what it means”.
TECHNOLOGY: The 5 -year acceleration
The global pandemic has fast-tracked systems and technologies which were ready and available and forced businesses that were hesitant or reluctant, to take the plunge – like digitising their business to accommodate remote working or embracing e-commerce.
It’s as if we’ve accelerated five years forward in one year and matching the velocity of change has become the survive-or-thrive factor. Ingenious, leapfrogging innovation happens when people are panicked, worried, or when the consequences of not acting quickly are disastrous.
That was 2020 in a nutshell.
Robotics (or automation) are suddenly more common and less of a sci-fi concept. There are now even robotic dolphins that will ensure ethical water parks.
Driverless car technology and the prospect of urban air mobility have shortened timelines. In China a new expressway, which opens in June 2021, has several lanes dedicated to autonomous cars. It was also built by robots.
Urban air mobility systems are being tested by various countries. “Flying taxi services” will appear in Spain in 2022, in Japan in 2023 and in South Korea by 2025.
It can be said of tech trends, “objects in the mirror are closer than they appear“.
The bellwether: Orlando, USA has been given the go-ahead to build the first “vertiport” to accommodate commercial “flying taxis” by 2025.
RETAIL & MARKETING: Closing the “Green Gap”
Psychologists say it takes 21 days to form a new habit which means that for many, online grocery shopping is now a default. Sustainability issues are also becoming entrenched in consumers’ minds.
The Financial Times wrote during lockdown, “Many companies have little choice but to begin some revamping of their business models: the pandemic has made sure that either their customers are no longer where they were or have no need of what they are selling”.
The madness and unsustainability of the fast fashion cycle has been exposed which resulted in many companies exploring circular economies as a new business model. Global supply chains solely reliant on China have been reassessed and there is hope that in many countries local SMEs will benefit from this re-routing.
“Micro-fulfilment centres”, to appease the impatience of on-demand customers, is the new buzzword in commercial property, as are electric or manual bicycles for delivery. “Sustainability” is no longer just a consumer issue and becomes the responsibility of retailers and manufacturers as every link of the supply chain is scrutinised.
The bellwether: H&M has installed a circular economy machine in a store in Stockholm and invites customers to bring a garment they want to discard, watch it get broken down and then rewoven into a new item.
ECONOMY: Regionalism and Humanising Business
The economic war between America and China that started in 2019 gave rise to murmurs of deglobalisation, regionalism and the spectre of “tech nationalism”. In 2021 a gradual retreat from global economic integration will be felt.
Regionalism is becoming more entrenched with the Asia Pacific Trade Deal (the world’s largest regional free-trade agreement) and there is talk of a Silicon Quadrilateral between Seoul, Beijing, Singapore, and New Delhi as an Asian tech hub.
The pandemic spawned a contactless economy and all business owners should ask themselves how this affects them as it not only a challenge for consumer-centred businesses but also for corporates who now need to integrate remote working into their operating systems.
The WFH ripple effect will be game changing as familial considerations are prioritised and the call for “humanising business” grows louder. As Wired magazine observes, the reorganisation of businesses “may well be as much a change in ethos, in values and approach, as it is a shift to online retailing, trade and business”.
Now more than ever, business models focused solely on shareholder primacy and pursuing the bottom line above all, are fast becoming outdated.
The bellwether: Unexpected health problems affecting COVID-19 “long haulers” is starting to impede their ability to work. Public health officials and medical researchers are pushing for the condition to be officially recognised as a syndrome, as the long-term impact on economies could be devastating.
NATURAL WORLD: Zoonotics and Fossil Fuel Pariahs
The planet seemed to be venting its fury on the human race in 2020 with runaway bushfires, locust plagues, floods, landslides and a global pandemic.
The realisation that Zoonosis is becoming increasingly problematic for the human race is sinking in, especially after millions of mink were culled in Denmark as a precautionary measure after the coronavirus mutated. New global hotspots for the next pandemic are already being mapped and predicted.
Like technology, sustainability issues have been fast tracked. A Lancet report is urging that climate change be recognised as a public health risk, while 14 countries signed an agreement to pursue a “sustainable ocean economy”.
Interestingly, investment firms are now feeling the heat of climate change as more clients question the funding of polluting businesses, specifically fossil fuel companies. In South Africa, Standard Bank unveiled a new fossil fuel funding policy, while in the UK a PR collaborative is pushing other PR firms to ditch fossil fuel clients. The Guardian became the first global publishing house to refuse any advertising from companies that extract fossil fuels, while old diesel cars are being banned in various countries.
The bellwether: An Australian man successfully sued a superfund for failing to manage the risks of climate change in his investment portfolio.
DIPLOMACY: Vaccine Nationalism and Security Alliances.
The talk of “vaccine diplomacy” which surfaced during the lockdown, quickly disintegrated into “vaccine nationalism” as the first certified vaccines started to be administered.
Mirroring the rise of “tech nationalism”, vaccine nationalism is set to increase already tense geopolitical dynamics around the globe. As with the formation of regional trade alliances, so too are political security clusters forming.
The “Quad Alliance” is a rebranded security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan and the USA, ostensibly to monitor and combat China’s foreign influence. The “Five Eyes intelligence partnership” (comprising the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK) has evolved beyond intelligence cooperation to weigh in on geopolitical issues, like Beijing’s handling of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 global vaccine alliance, known as COVAX, has grown to a network of 184 countries to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments and vaccines, especially for low- and middle-income economies.
The bellwether: Immunity passports, used to allow entry to a country or establishment, are being debated. The document would require vaccine certification or proof of recovery from the disease. The reality of increased discrimination and the marginalisation of the poor in favour of the privileged, will become a human rights issue.
SOCIO-CULTURAL: Existential Crises and Life in the Metaverse
Humanity experienced an existential crisis of sorts while in lockdown. The realisation that work and the place of work, are not necessarily synonymous triggered a deeply introspective lifestyle audit. But the blurring of boundaries between our physical lives and our – now entrenched – virtual lives complicates things further.
In the corporate world, the call to humanise businesses has manifested in a strange way, the emergence of “corporate clergy” – or spiritual business consultant – tasked with bringing spiritual depth to callous corporates.
This intervention is timeous. The impact of the pandemic on mental wellbeing was brutal, and the forced migration into the metaverse unexpectedly resulted in digital assistants and chatbots becoming preferred entities people turned to for advice. A survey found that 80% of respondents are happy having a robot as a therapist.
Musician Lil Nas X blurred entertainment boundaries by moving his performances into the virtual gaming world of Roblox. His avatar performed four shows over two days and garnered 33 million views.
Students at Curro schools in South Africa moved into the metaverse when playing physical sports was prohibited during lockdown. They turned to esports and created the “Curro Clash Minecraft Esport League”.
The gaming world has also emerged as a lucrative parallel universe. Not only can you buy a virtual $9 500 digital dress for your avatar but you can also hire interior designers to remodel your digital penthouse.
Forget e-commerce, v-commerce is the new frontier.
The bellwether: Warner Bros. announced it will stream all 17 of its films planned for 2021 on HBO Max, as well as in theatres, simultaneously.
Visit: https://www.fluxtrends.com/trend-release-the-state-were-in-6-trend-pillars-for-2021/ for more info.
With Vaccines now being distributed globally and South Africa releasing its own details on inoculation this weekend, Covid and its massive impact on all aspects of life will continue to dominate the global headlines for the foreseeable future.
In such a environment, Dion is back to examine how trends will take shape in 2021 as well as providing some retrospective thoughts on 2020. It seems many countries as well as non-state entities such as corporations or hedge funds are pivoting fully to embrace "Green'' Tech, especially due to the economic reset of the last year as well as worrying climate data being accrued globally.
At the same time many eyes are looking West, as a new US President is sworn in, policy makers in both the political and economic world are waiting to see how the new Joe Biden Administration will respond to the various issues of our day, including covid-19, the economic malaise we are all in currently as well as relations with Iran, Russia and China.
Enjoy this first podcast of a hopefully better 2021 for all of us.
Vicinity Media drives support for local businesses this festive season
Following a tough trading year, support for local business is more crucial than ever. With the festive season in full swing, many consumers have already begun engaging in local online searches for gift ideas, holiday options, festive decor buys, food deals and more, but how can local businesses gain the most benefit from sales?
South African location-based Ad technology leader Vicinity Media has created a 'Near Me' microapp to assist in locating nearby products and services easily during this busy festive season. The app is integrated with an existing mobile site or app, serving as a mini local search engine. Showing confidence in the benefits of the Near Me microapp, prominent television news broadcaster eNCA has recently been added to Vicinity Media's growing list of Near Me publishers along with The Careers Portal, Slikouronlife, Jobs Portal, Maroela Media, Lockdown Bozza and The Skills Portal among others.
The Near Me microapp's integrated local search functionality on existing publisher sites or apps means that users never have to exit publisher platforms to access a dedicated "near me" search engine. Functionality also includes clickable shortcuts, each representing a product/service category such as 'restaurant', 'coffee shop' or 'fashion' or 'Zomato trending restaurants' for example, using globally recognisable icons. In addition to seamless search the microapp also offers localised weather down to suburb level.
When a site or app features Near Me, users are asked to share their location, allowing the tool to display category icons, each with the accurate, real time distance reference to the closest service provider. With a simple click on a Near Me icon, opted in users can see a short list of local store listings, each displaying a real time distance reference highlighting how close the store is. A click on a listing takes users to a landing page where they have further engagement options like navigate to store, call the store, share on social, and more.
"The Near Me microapp allows users to stay on a publisher's site or app and find a local product or service and their local weather, without ever opening a new browser tab to access a search engine," explains Neil Clarence from Vicinity Media. "And crucially the microapp will allow businesses within a certain geographic area to the user to highlight the exact service or products that person is looking for. There's no need to type in an area to bring up local search results, it happens automatically."
This new offering is hugely beneficial to brands, publishers and advertisers, allowing brands to tap into intent-based search where purchases are more likely and allows publishers to gain access to accurate first party location data for a unique understanding of users and facilitates the support of South African commerce by default.
For advertisers, the microapp allows brands to benefit from better audience targeting on publisher platforms featuring Near Me, meaning targeted users also benefit from relevant messaging.
To list a local business on Near Me or if you're a publisher wanting to integrate with Near Me, contact Vicinity Media at www.vicinity-media.comhttp://www.vicinity-media.com for details.
Contact Details: Neil Clarence Vicinity Media neil@vicinity-media.comneil@vicinity-media.com Tel: (011) 021 8346/7/8 www.vicinity-media.com
“OK, boomer” is a humorous or ironic catchphrase, often used to call out or dismiss out-of-touch or closed-minded opinions associated with the baby boomer generation.
The catchphrase is frequently used by Gen Zs who blame the baby boomers for the mess the world is in now. There is some truth in this, in terms of generational ideology. But, at Flux we always see the world differently.
While we focus on the future, what’s new and what’s disruptive, we are also always on the lookout for blind spots. The “boomer economy” is one such blind spot.
While South Africa is a country with a large youth demographic, Stats SA announced this year that life expectancy for South Africans was on the rise (62.5 years for males and 68.5 years for females) and noted that these figures have been steadily climbing over the past decade.
In a world obsessed with youth, disposability and transience we’re noticing a counter trend. It’s under the pop culture radar but that doesn’t mean it’s insignificant.
In fact, it is a huge blind spot for brands and businesses.
And yet advertisers & marketers and many businesses themselves, overlook this demographic. So much so that most people over the age of 50 feel that the advertising industry only cares about young people. The disconnect between consumer spending power and advertising focus is clear – yet it is entrenched.
According to the Havas Group, a multinational advertising company, only 5% of advertising in the US is aimed at people over 50. It’s likely this is also true in South Africa.
It is a “golden” opportunity that’s being missed.
This trend briefing will unpack the following insights:
- The Amortalists (aka those who want to live for longer): thegeneration by numbers and why differentiating physical age from numerical age should matter.
- Never retire: the impact and opportunities for businesses as well as the rise of the older entrepreneur aka the “senior start-ups”
- The Big Spenders: what this demographic spends money on and how to market to them.
- The Silver Surfers: not only the new technologies designed for this market but also the new products and services aimed specifically at this generation.
- Bridging the generational divide: innovative programmes to pair young and old for mutual benefit.
- Future outlook: by 2030 the oldest millennials will be turning 50…
The pandemic and the turbulence of 2020 has forced many businesses to reframe and reinvent their business models. This is an opportunity to reconsider the boomer economy.
For more info: https://www.fluxtrends.com/virtual-open-session-boomer-economy-marketing-to-the-amortalists/
The COO of Sun International, Brett Hoppe joins us to highlight in depth his and hist staff covid experiences. Whilst we had him, eBizRadio also discussed the African hotel Industry and how source markets are adapting to new local and international regulations regarding covid 19.
Brett adds: ''We are happy to hear that Africa is open for travel again because that will help us with immediate inbound demand. The UK and the USA are our two biggest source markets however, so without them we have to remain cautious about international tourism. Germany and China are key partners for us but it will take a while for both of these markets to bounce back to pre-lockdown levels.''
Enjoy the recording.
Dion is back for as new edition of #eBizInsights. Today we profile the impact of the Covid Pandemic on the property and commercial office industries.....
These sectors have been hammered by the current recession coupled with people adapting/ being forced to work from home and it will take many years for them to recover. At the same time, many companies from SME's to corporations have halted or abandoned plans on office expansion as well wait to see what 2021 and 2022 hold. This uncertainty will further hamper growth in these sectors.
With such a doom and gloom outlook, innovation is stepping in to fill these empty offices, from flexible work spaces to even farming, we profile these example and more. Enjoy!
Dion from FluxTrends is back for a new edition of #eBizTrends with Nick.
For this recording, we highlight how the collective individual experiences of people have led to numerous protest movements since the socio-economic and medical fallout of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
From the American elections, to right here at home (think cigarettes and alcohol), all of these have a COVID factor as well as a human one, which we explore.
Enjoy!
This is our last recording in our series with Atvance Intellect on the world of Data...
Enlin Neveling joins the podcast team at eBizRadio to share how all the previous episodes are driving business innovation and also mechanization, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
These trends were already on the horizon of business's large and small as well as governments and other non state actors, but have since become more pressing due to current issues.
It's a brave, scary new world and any insights on how it's going to function are very welcome! Enjoy.
In our previous recording we brought up the topic of actionable intelligence and how it goes to the core of Data as a business concept in todays's market...
For this recording, Marchant Laauwen of the Analytics Division of Atvance Intellect joins us to go more in depth on the distillation process of turning data into something that can be used. We also discuss some of the pitfalls that companies undertaking data initiatives fall prey too, take a listen and enjoy.
A new guest for our Podcast series with Atvance Intellect, today we are joined by Sean Raubenheimer, the GM of the Analytics Divison of Atvance intellect...
For this recording, we approach the topic of how Data is turned into something that a company can act upon to achieve desired results. It is this distillation process that sets data companies apart.... We profile how in general as well for Atvance the data is transformed, we also highlight how this process of distillation has changed over time to incorporate so many more data inputs that previously used as we embrace the age of Data.
A fascinating discussion, enjoy.
Dion joins us for this most relevant topic of conversation, that of Gen Z......
The world's first full digital natives, if companies are struggling adapting to Millenial cultural trends, they are going to have more issues with the Gen Z'ers.
Dion illuminates on his love of the youth and how their collective ideas can and will affect our future, enjoy the chat.
Nick is recording at home at the moment, at the end of the recording are his dogs barking, we could have edited it out, but it actually add's to the conversation.