Category: Eventing

Brand Union captures essence of arise in unique visual ID

Sub–Saharan investment and development company, Arise appointed Brand Union late last year to create and launch its new brand into Africa. The African holdings of three cornerstone investors, namely, Norfund, FMO and Rabobank joined forces to create Arise as a locally based and locally focused company.

And in February, the launch took place in Cape Town revealing the new brand identity and positioning strategy in market, which aims to bring to life the ambitions of the business.

With the intention of partnering with sustainable, locally owned Sub-Saharan African

Financial Service Providers, Arise chooses to maintain a minority shareholding in businesses, and through active participation, will reap returns through a long-term investment strategy.

Brand Union strategist, Bruce Gourley shared, “Arise aims to contribute to economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa and the prosperity of its people by increasing financial inclusion and employment, strengthening rural development and alleviating poverty. The business is purpose–driven, performance–driven and collaborative–driven. We summed this up in the brand purpose – Investing in local prosperity.”

Building on this, Alex Robertson agency creative director, and his team explored a visual language that highlighted this local investment philosophy. The creative that emerged uses a universal African symbol related to wealth, i.e. cattle as the brand’s core icon along with the esoteric cues of the rising sun, which lends itself to a new dawn that brings new opportunities, which mirrors the name.

Robertson explained, “The visual symbolism took into consideration the brand personality and embraced values such as ethics, consideration, dynamism and optimism. The iconic African bull head and horns form the central graphic of the icon, creating a feeling of authority and dynamism.”

Gourley added, “Arise boasts differentiating features for its category that reflects its distinctive investment philosophy. This required an equally unique and strategically strong brand introduction to the market.”

The South Africa Brand Summit and Awards attracts local and international thought leaders

The inaugural South Africa Brand Summit & Awards, which seeks to analyse South Africa as a brand and recognise organisations and people who have enhanced the country’s reputation, has secured a growing list of renowned thought-leaders, speakers, and panelists. The list includes the likes of:

  • Professor Jonathan Jansen – Academic, Columnist and Author
  • SikiMgabadeli – ENCA Television and SABC Radio Anchor
  • Crispin Sonn – Executive Director, Gamiro Investment Group
  • Alan Winde – Provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities, Western Cape
  • YaninaDubeykovskaya – Founder and Chairwoman of The World Communication Forum, Davos

At a critical time in South Africa’s history, The South Africa Brand Summit & Awards will provide a unique platform to begin – but certainly not finish – a series of important conversations about the health and future of South Africa’s nation brand. In a first, pioneers from business, politics and civic society will explore the challenges and opportunities presented by looking at:

  • The size of the gulf that exists between South Africa’s brand identity and brand image;
  • How South Africa is currently perceived, what it is associated with and known for, domestically and globally.
  • Our nation’s brand narrative(s), i.e. the messages that are being received out there, domestically and globally, about the country; how these are generated and propagated, and how they inform the narrative of the nation brand image;
  • South Africa’s best-loved brands, across the spectrum domestically and globally, that particularly impact on South Africa’s image.

With the theme “Recapturing the South African narrative”, The South Africa Brand Summit & Awards, will take place on 16th & 17th November 2017 in Cape Town, culminating in a Gala Awards Dinner at which brands that make South Africa shine will be celebrated.

Awards: Members of the public are invited to nominate any natural person, company, organisation or group which they feel represents their ideal South African brand. Entries will be evaluated by a panel of expert judges.

South African brands can be nominated for the following categories:

  • Socio-economic development
  • Policies and practice on rights issues (human rights, labour rights, environmental rights, children’s rights, animal rights, women’s rights, group rights, etc.)
  • Community builders
  • South African brand ambassadorship, locally and abroad
  • Ethical leadership
  • Embraces and promotes diversity
  • Generates positive publicity for RSA
  • Attracts positive interest in RSA
  • Generates positive publicity and global goodwill for RSA
  • Mentors and grows young South Africans

Early bird tickets and award nomination forms are available at sabrandsummit.co.za.

Solly Moeng, Reputation Specialist & Project Convenor has this to say: “We are very excited about the feedback we have received for our inaugural summit. It is our honour to welcome a growing list of exceptional speakers, panellists, moderators and sponsors from all sectors of our society into the fold.

The need for such an initiative has never been more critical. And it has never been more timely. The Summit will initiate and lead critical conversations about our nation’s brand image; the attributes that make us proud, as well as the opportunities that remain to improve on our best efforts to progress in an increasingly global and complex world.

This initiative will also provide an opportunity to reflect on how best to position South Africa as an attractive destination for FDI, discerning tourists, project collaboration in many sought-after fields (academia, sports, etc.); all aimed at promoting sustainable development, as well as regional and global leadership for South Africa.”

Top eventing trends for 2017: Smart tech, fabulous food, controlled costs and a return to nature

Flint & Tinder Events, a boutique events company based in Johannesburg, has partnered with some of its key suppliers to develop a 2017 trends report for the eventing industry. The release of the trends report coincides with the companies’ first anniversary, celebrating the success of inspired product launches and events for their portfolio of blue-chip clients.

“It was imperative for us to develop a trend report for the industry because our clients trust us to create an experience that is memorable for all the right reasons, and keeping a finger on the pulse of current local and international trends gives us the ability to create on-trend productions that meet our clients’ ambitions and objectives,” says Nicole Reitz-Chidrawi, co-founder of Flint & Tinder Events.

Flint & Tinder Events completed the research in partnership with its suppliers, including Unicord, The Production Works, EPH Productions, Chillfunk Sound and Audio & CME Décor.

The key findings across event elements like venue hire, décor, photography, content and theme highlighted four overarching trends: Technology is making inroads into the eventing industry well beyond the bling and lights of the DJ booth, food will always be under focus, event hosts are continually looking for ways to get more value out of their limited budget, and the environment is a bigger influence than before.

Top tech trends

Technology developments promise to offer the most revolutionary elements to the eventing industry during 2017 by simplifying event co-ordination, enriching guests’ experience, and simplifying payment solutions for events where commerce is part of the experience.

Eventing apps for mobile devices are making planning and organisation quicker, easier and more interactive, before, during and after an event. Guests can respond to an invitation via an app, and engage with organisers at every stage of proceedings, getting the information they need and providing instant feedback. The apps are customisable and secure, and use condensed information so are light on data consumption.

iBeacons are low-powered transmitters that identify mobile phones nearby, and send and receive information. These could be used to stimulate the networking part of an event, for example, or to share information with guests without having to print expensive (and wasteful) information pamphlets.

The digital swag bag is on the rise, with guests at an event having digital vouchers for gifts sent to their mobile device, rather than being handed a bag full of goodies – many of which they don’t ever use. A digital swag bag saves time and money, because no packaging or packing is required, and product wastage and negative impacts on the environment are dramatically reduced too.

Exhibitions and concerts often include a retail environment, and offering a closed loop payment system via a payment card, smartphone or wristband makes payments quick and secure, avoiding the risks of shrinkage and theft associated with time-consuming cash payments.

Perhaps one of the most exciting technology trends entering the eventing space is virtual reality, with well-executed VR content able to offer guests an almost-first-hand experience of a product or destination, avoiding the costs or logistics often associated with a real-life encounter.

Food is not so fast

Guests’ food experience can make or break an event, and smart event planners are growing their focus on offering healthy food from sustainable or artisanal sources. Craft beers and meals from food trucks are popular because guests can engage face to face with the person making their meal, learning more about where the food is sourced and how it is prepared, at source.

Food labelling is increasingly on trend and in demand giving guests the nutrition information that they need to manage their calorie intake, make conscious food choices, or avoid food allergies that may not be obvious at face value.

The focus on food ethics is also seeing veganism grow in popularity, and chefs are embracing the challenge to create tasty, exciting dishes that are just as flavourful and exciting as any other on the menu

Keep control of costs

While myriad events take place every day, Flint & Tinder Events research highlighted that budgets are not as abundant as they were, and many businesses are choosing to ‘double up’ on events to save costs. Businesses are seeking to achieve more than one objective from an event, often scheduling an evening awards event to follow a day-time conference for the same guests at the same venue.

Event organisers have more tools at their fingertips to keep control of their costs too – hunting for a venue no longer entails days of driving around to view potential candidates as the various websites such as Amazing Spaces and Venueseeker have made venue-hunting and building budgets into a less time-consuming and expensive task than it used to be.

Back to natural elements

Nature and sustainability are top of mind among event planners and venues, with many of the latter creating spaces in a neutral or natural palette of colours that requires little change (or budget) to customise them for events.

Décor suppliers are increasingly looking to Mother Nature for their inspiration, with combinations of simple white flowers, woven cane décor and floral fabrics contrasted with monochrome elements being particularly popular at present.

Real plants are making a huge comeback in preference over cut flowers, and are beautifully juxtaposed against industrial design and geometry, with raw brick walls, tin roofs and converted steel sheds providing the hard backdrop for softer and more natural elements.

“Every event is a complex collaboration of several specialists, from food and beverage to sound, production, and décor,” says Samantha Ferguson, co-founder of Flint & Tinder Events. “Working with suppliers who keep up with and set trends in the local market means that we can offer our clients access to a support team that really is on top of their game.”

Keeping its finger on the pulse of eventing trends in South Africa and abroad has seen Flint & Tinder Events create memorable events and experiences for a wide range of South African brands and businesses.

About Flint & Tinder

Flint & Tinder is a boutique events company that provides personal attention to each of its clients and suppliers. Founded by Nicole Reitz-Chidrawi and Samantha Ferguson, the team has extensive experience in creating, producing and managing events of all sizes, across South Africa.

For more information visit http://www.flintandtinderevents.co.za/ or contact Nicole on 084 850 4935 or Samantha on 082 906 0853.

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