Brand Survival in a Junk Economy

The Brand Council of South Africa has announced its annual conference to take place in November this year, which will centre around the theme, “Brand Survival in a Junk Economy”.

This year saw the downgrade of South Africa’s credit rating to Junk Status, which is already starting to have a dramatic effect on our economy and posing new challenges to business survival. In this new junk economy, hope is not a strategy – especially for businesses in the media and marketing industry.

Your brands can only reap the benefits of success and prosper in the current economic environment if they junk proof their brands. This is precisely what this year’s Brand Commune will unveil. Hosted at The Venue Greenpark, Sandton on 7 November 2017, this year’s morning with the Brand Commune will include hard-hitting insights to help brands navigate their way through the fall of the current economic environment.

The morning will also include three speakers who are experts in their fields as well as one ‘soon to be revealed’ keynote speaker. This will be followed by a panel discussion, facilitated by Gordon Cook. Cook is one of The Most Influential Advertising Practitioners in South Africa, co-editor of the book, Integrated Marketing Communications, co-author of the Healthy Brand Concept, a member of the Brand Museum Council, and co-founder and School Navigator for Vega School of Brand Leadership. Moreover, he is involved on various judging panels, including Business Arts South Africa and the Loeries, all of which qualifies him to lead discussions on surviving in a junk economy.

Speakers to include:

Craig B. Pheiffer – Chief Investment Strategist – Absa Stockbrokers and Portfolio Management. Craig holds several degrees from the University of Witwatersrand and Unisa, including a BSc Computer Science, a BCom – Economics, BCom Hons – Economics, and MCom (cum laude) – Economics. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a member of the Investment Analysts Society of South Africa and the CFA Institute. Notably, his master’s dissertation won the Economic Society of South Africa’s Founders medal for the best dissertation in 2000. Craig is a key individual and representative on the SPM Financial Services Provider licence, as well as an Exco member of Wealth Management and a Director of Fradey Nominees, SPM’s nominee holding company.

Ailsa Wingfield – Head of Thought Leadership – Nielsen Holdings. Ailsa is the Head of Thought Leadership for Nielsen Holdings across its global emerging markets, responsible for helping companies ‘future-proof’ their businesses through strategic foresight, knowledge creation, and thought leadership curatorship. She has also produced and published multiple content features, including the bi-annual Africa Prospects indicator (APi), Navigating the Africa Retail Distribution Labyrinth, Media and Mobile Strategies in Africa, and Tapping into Africa: Turning Opportunity into Possibility.

Robyn Lewis – Strategy Director – Yellowwood Future Architects Robyn boasts an incredible 15 years’ worth of experience as a Marketer in both brand building and brand development, primarily within the FMCG environment. During the course of her vocation, she has worked on many of South Africa’s most loved and well-known brands across Food, Beverages, Snacks, and Personal Care categories, which afforded her invaluable experience across multiple marketing disciplines.

These discussions will include setting the scene for the business and branding community about the reality of doing business and surviving as brands in a junk economy, and sharing insights into how some of the most successful brands have carved out and held onto their success during an ever-weakening economy.

Additionally, delegates will explore whether or not businesses see the function of marketing and communications as critical to surviving in a junk economy, what this means from a budget perspective, if there are other strategic survival tactics, and what the real impact on the current economic state has been and will be on business.

There are also exciting opportunities for partners to get involved through sponsorship opportunities, including naming rights to the event, naming sub-sections, co-branding marketing opportunities, and more. The exposure from the available sponsorship packages will foster valuable relationships and boost crucial awareness.

Conference details:

7 November 2017

8:30 – 13:00

The Venue, Greenpark, Sandton

Cost: Brand Council Memebers R850 , Non-members R950

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.quicket.co.za/events/35422-brand-council-south-africa-junkproof-your-brand/#/