Author: Mark

After serving on the ABF (Advertising Benevolent Fund) executive board for three years, SPARK Media’s Olav Westphal has been named President of the fund by fellow EXCO members.

Olav takes over the reins from John Bowles who served as Acting President and President of the ABF for over nine years. The fund exists to offer short term assistance to members of the advertising and media industry who have fallen on hard times.

With the exception of a few paid officials which include a treasurer and two social workers, all serve in an entirely voluntary capacity. While the fund is based in Johannesburg, regional branches administer local aspects of the ABF’s work in Durban. The organisation is in the process of re-establishing a presence in Cape Town.

“We are currently recruiting fresh talent onto the EXCO and are reviving several fund raising and networking opportunities that will take place throughout the year,” says Olav. “The first event, a lawn bowls based fundraiser, has already taken place and we’re looking forward to hosting media agencies, creative agencies and marketers at future events.

We encourage media and creative agencies to get involved and support an organisation that looks after our own community. It could be any one of us in need one day.”

For more information on fundraisers contact ow@sparkmedia.co.za

Keep up to date with ABF news on Facebook, Twitter or www.abfsa.org.za

In a watershed move for the business, Brett Tucker, Chairman of Relativ Media Large Format, has announced the outright purchase of Graffiti Media. MD Richard Wilkinson and his team have already joined the Relativ Media Large Format team, to become renamed Relativ Impact, at their new offices in Sandton.

“Relativ Media has experienced a fantastic growth spurt over the last few years and with the addition of the Graffiti Media solution, our advertisers are spoilt for choice with high impact sites and media platforms across South Africa. Richard Wilkinson will take over the MD position of Relativ Impact,” says Brett.

Richard adds: “The purchase of Graffiti by Relativ Media Large Format was a natural progression for us. Being able to utilise a strong national sales team and Relativ’s existing infrastructure is a massive bonus. Added to that, and under the guidance of Andrew Cooper as National Sales Director, we have a winning combination to really ramp up our business offering.”

Wilkinson has more than twenty years in the media industry, beginning in radio and running his own media consultancy before establishing Impact Media with Graffiti Designs in 2005. “The opportunity arose for Relative Media to acquire Graffiti Media in May 2018, one which made complete business sense,” says Richard. “As a combined entity my focus will be to develop the Relative Impact brand into one of the largest and most innovative out of home media companies in South Africa.”

The Relativ Impact company currently has digital properties including airports, 180 out of home sites and eight digital sites countrywide. Coupled to this, several new and innovative platforms are planned for the near future. “This acquisition has significantly strengthened our sales force and amped up our overall leadership team, each holding their own areas of expertise in the industry. We’re confident that we have a bright future ahead,” says Brett.

For more information contact Richard Wilkinson on richard@relativgroup.co.za

Caxton Magazine’s rooi rose, the number one Afrikaans monthly magazine in the country, has secured a royal scoop second to none.Her Serene Highness Princess Charlène of Monaco is gracing the June 2018 cover of rooi rose magazine. The Princess’s sister-in-law, Chantell Wittstock, contacted the magazine’s deputy editor, Hannelie Diedericks, in the beginning of the year to inform the publication that the normally camera-shy Princess would shortly visit South Africa and would love to be on the cover of rooi rose magazine. The rooi rose team jumped at the opportunity and set the wheels in motion to organise a cover shoot fit for a princess.

“It was an unforgettable experience and a great honour for us,” says rooi rose editor Martie Pansegrouw. “Princess Charlène arrived with a full security team as well as her attorney present on the shoot but she was absolutely divine and down to earth. This special feature takes up eight pages in the June issue, understandably we’ve allocated more space than usual to this specific piece.

We were thrilled that Princess Charlène’s family specifically requested to be featured in our publication – her Serene Highness felt that the Afrikaans market is incredibly strong in South Africa and more aligned to her,” says Martie.

rooi rose boasts a circulation of just under 70 000 and a monthly readership of 596 000. The magazine has a 78% female readership with a racial split of 39% white, 31% black and 30% coloured/Indian – the majority (58%) of who are in the LSM 7-10 income bracket.

“The first task of the shoot was to ensure that rooi rose’s dream team was available to deliver the flawless cover photographs that rooi rose is known for,” adds Pansegrouw. “Photographer Leana Clunies-Ross who has been photographing rooi rose covers for over 10 years and is our number one choice for her exquisite lighting and intrinsic ability to make the most nervous cover model feel beautiful and at ease in front of the camera.”

Stylist Riaan Hulley, make-up artist Adelle Jung and hairstylist-to-the-stars, Saadique Ryklief, were immediately secured to ensure that every detail would be taken care of for the perfect results.

An understated, chic black and white colour palette was deliberately chosen to complement the Princess’s natural beauty and elegance.  Local and international designers such as Gert-Johan Coetzee, Anel Botha, Stefania Morland, Jacques Lagrange, Erre Fashion, Kat van Duinen, Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, Suzaan Heyns, Pichulik, Max Mara, Chopard, Cartier and Bulgari were thrilled to supply their finery for this occasion. Beautiful furniture from Weylandts provided the backdrop for some of the photographs. The exquisite dresses of Erre Fashion particularly caught the Princess’s eye and even went home with a few of their pieces after the shoot. Subsequently the Princess has invited the Erre design duo consisting of Natasha Jaume and Carina Louw to Monaco later in the year.The bright and airy Light Station Studio in Bryanston was the perfect venue for the shoot. Large enough to host a princess’s entourage (including strapping bodyguards and the blue-light brigade courtesy of the SAPS), a TV-crew from Bravo! on kykNET, and an excited rooi rose team – all ready to start shooting!  The Princess was a natural in front of the camera. Her Serene Highness’ athletic grace, glowing skin and expressive blue eyes made every shot a masterpiece.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the end result and can’t wait to see the issue on shelves,” says Martie. “We’re confident that our advertisers and readers alike will enjoy the issue almost as much as we enjoyed putting it together.”

Don’t miss the June 2018 rooi rose (on sale from 14 May – 10 June) to read our exclusive, candid interview with the Princess and feast your eyes on gorgeous photographs of the rarely photographed royal. Also featured in the issue are articles delving into dating after 50, a topical look at an unsolved murder and how to be a good boss.

Visit www.rooirose.za for a behind-the-scenes look and don’t miss *Bravo! (on kykNET channel 144 on DSTV) to see what went down on the day of the shoot. *This Bravo! episode airs on Sunday 13 May at 19:30 on kykNET channel 144 on DSTV with repeats on the following Monday at 10:00 and 22:30, Tuesday at 00:30, Wednesday at 12:00, Thursday at 16:00 and Friday at 15:00.Captions for photographs:The team: From behind, left to right: Hannelie Diedericks (deputy editor), Adelle Jung (make-up), Melissa-Jade Myburgh (assistant), Saadique Ryklief (hair), Michelle Nortje (assistant), Tracey Lange (Bravo!), Leana Clunies-Ross (photographer), Elsa Kruger (journalist), Riaan Hulley (stylist), Her Serene Highness Princess Charlène of Monaco, Martie Pansegrouw (editor).

Erre fashion: From left to right: Carina Louw (Erre), Her Serene Highness Princess Charlène of Monaco, Natasha Jaume (Erre).For more information contact Martie Pansegrouw (Editor)

Caxton Magazines DNA

Storytelling is our business. Content is our currency. Caxton Magazines is a division of Caxton CTP Printers & Publishers and houses 12 brands in print and digital formats, primarily aimed at the women’s lifestyle segment across life stages, lifestyles and income groups. These brands are: Vrouekeur; Woman & Home; Bona; Living & Loving; People; Food & Home Entertaining; Your Family; Garden & Home; Farmer’s Weekly; Essentials; Rooi Rose and SA Country Life. Visit www.caxtonmags.co.za

With a wide portfolio of growing media properties, Nfinity, under the leadership of Ken Varejes and his team, has acquired the license to operate Webfluential South Africa in an exciting move for the Group. As international leaders in the influencer marketing category, Webfluential helps thousands of brands of all sizes connect and craft stories with influencers that have significant social media influence, share them with these audiences and build their brands through online engagement.Ken says that Nfinity has always been a space for entrepreneurs to grow and better their businesses and Webfluential South Africa is a perfect addition into the mix of media solutions. “We’re extremely excited about incorporating Webfluential South Africa into the Nfinity stable and we know that together with our current array of media solutions, our existing and future clients have a full 360 degree media powerhouse at their disposal. This is a historic event for both our businesses and we can’t wait to amplify our client’s brands even more.”A dedicated Webfluential South Africa team will be based at Nfinity’s offices in Sandton under the guidance of Pieter Groenewald, who has become one of the most recognized experts in the field of influencer marketing. Murray Legg, the co-founder of Webfluential says: “Nfinity has a strong and credible track record in the media industry, fantastic sales and management team and all the resources and expertise to take our business into the next phase of our journey – we’re excited!”

Nfinity’s existing brand advocacy and micro influencer business theSALT will continue to work as a separate business unit with advertisers, offering micro influencing and brand advocate solutions for clients to maximise brand growth. “The offering of these two businesses is so different and in my mind will complement each other,” concludes Ken.

Nfinity DNA

Headed by entrepreneur Ken Varejes as CEO, Nfinity is the latest innovation hub to land in the media, marketing and eventing fields. Nfinity is poised as a space for entrepreneurs to grow and better their businesses under the guidance of Ken and his growing management team, each a specialist in their own field. Nfinity currently has established shareholding and presence in the following companies: AdColony, theSALT, Whisky Live, Whizzky App, Orange Block, MediaPop, theIntern-Ship, Brand a Tuk Tuk and Nfinity Digital.

Caxton Magazines has announced the appointment of Gugulethu Mhlungu in the position of Deputy Editor of Bona magazine. Self-confessed ‘wanna be’ Marvel Avenger and current Nightalk host on Radio 702 Monday to Thursday, Gugulethu is ready to add a new adventure to her mantle of skills.

 “My media career began at the age of 17 when the radio bug bit in Grahamstown at Rhodes University’s campus radio. Shortly after that the print bug bit and I’ve been privileged to have had experience as a former lifestyle editor and writer at a Sunday newspaper. Now, I’m excited to join the Caxton Magazines stable and to be working on a strong South African heritage brand with an incredibly loyal reader base,” says Gugu.

Gugu’s former bi-weekly newspaper column won her the 2015 Columnist of the Year at the 2015 Media 24 Legends Awards. She is also a 2015 National Arts Festival/Business Art SA silver award winning feature journalist. Her interest in young black South African women and magazines led her to apply for the deputy editor position at Bona – a magazine she’s had the utmost respect for, for many years.

Bona, South Africa’s only publication available in four languages: English, isiZulu, seSotho and isiXhosa, provides its audience with the inspiration, advice and confidence they need to be better at everything they encounter.

Caxton Magazine’s General Manager Anton Botes adds that Gugu is already adding tremendous value to the team. “We love Gugulethu’s enthusiasm for her new challenge and her unique perspective on the magazine industry. We look forward to seeing her career flourish at Caxton Magazines and are thrilled to have her on board.”

Gugu has completed her Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Journalism, Media Studies and Anthropology) from Rhodes University, and has also completed an honours-level post grad in media management, also at Rhodes University. She has plans to complete her Masters, and is currently completing her first book on the myth of the rainbow nation.

Caxton Magazines DNA

Storytelling is our business. Content is our currency. Caxton Magazines is a division of Caxton CTP Printers & Publishers and houses 12 brands in print and digital formats, primarily aimed at the women’s lifestyle segment across life stages, lifestyles and income groups. These brands are: Vrouekeur; Woman & Home; Bona; Living & Loving; People; Food & Home Entertaining; Your Family; Garden & Home; Farmer’s Weekly; Essentials; Rooi Rose and SA Country Life. Visit www.caxtonmags.co.za

All4Women, one of South Africa’s most popular online women’s magazines, is excited to launch their three new specially-tailored, results-driven client packages for 2018.

All4Women prides itself on the uniquely curated content created by editors who are well in tune with their audience, covering topics from food and home to parenting and relationships. As of March 2018, the site attracts over 480 000 unique users monthly (Effective Measure), has amassed over 160 000 Facebook followers and their 20 newsletters hit the inboxes of over 500 000 subscribers per month with an open rate of 75%.

This means that All4Women can confidently provide a brand safe, well-read environment for clients looking to increase their brand awareness and exposure while engaging directly with a targeted female audience.

Inspired by the different shoes that women choose based on their budget and needs, All4Women has created packages that do the same for brands, aptly named The Sneaker, The Sandal and the Stilletto. These high-value, customisable packages give clients the option to select a solution that not only best suits their marketing objectives but also offers up to a 20% discount, dependant on package chosen.

The Sneaker is the cost-effective, entry-level package that is well suited for building brand awareness with an article created and published on the All4Women site, two newsletter mentions, one large format wallpaper, run of site banners and a Facebook post. The Sandal is a middle of the range package that builds brand engagement with an article created and published on the All4Women site, three newsletter mentions, two wallpapers, banners, a section takeover and a Facebook and Twitter post.

The Stilletto is the “Louboutin of packages” for brands who want to step things up with extensive brand reach. It gives brands maximum exposure with an article created and published on the All4Women site, four newsletter mentions, three wallpapers, run of site banners, a section takeover and a Facebook and Twitter post.

The benefit of utilising these packages is that you get the best selection of high performance ad units on the All4Women site, strategically combined to help your brand reach their marketing objectives, placed within a contextually relevant environment in front of an 80% female audience (Effective Measure, March 2018).

Furthermore, additional ‘sparkles’ can be added to the campaign to further magnify results, with optional extras such as polls, widgets, home page takeovers and social media posts.

To find out more about how All4Women’s packages can give your brand a step up, contact SPARK Media: call +27 10 492 8391 or email info@sparkmedia.co.za.