A new report* from independent market analyst Datamonitor identifies sustainable packaging as a growing consumer issue, revealing that, although sustainable packaging is not yet a primary motivator of purchases, it is becoming a consumer expectation. 16 Jul 2009
WASHINGTON, USA: Video rental firm Blockbuster, which has been struggling to keep up with rival Netflix, announced a deal with Samsung on Tuesday that will allow users to rent movies streamed over the Web. 15 Jul 2009
Seeking to supplement the dramatic falloff in demand from the world's retail and wholesale giants in the wake of the global recession, more manufacturers than ever before are turning to international e-commerce to find and attract new buyers. 15 Jul 2009
SABMiller is to build a US$125 million brewery and sparkling soft drinks plant in Angola. 15 Jul 2009
Viagra is the most widely stolen item in stores across the world. This is according to the Loss Prevention Unit from the Retail Industry Leaders Association in the US first published in 2007 and confirmed by studies from Cranfield University in the UK. 15 Jul 2009
HELSINKI: Finnish inflation dropped for the first time in five years in June as prices fell by 0.1% on a 12-month basis, official figures showed on Tuesday, 14 July 2009. 15 Jul 2009
South African retail investors remain largely invested in cash-biased portfolios but are slowly beginning to regain confidence in equities in light of the recent improvement in stock markets and falling returns from cash-biased investments. 15 Jul 2009
Despite the record majority of respondents to the Bureau for Economic Research's retail trade survey reporting lower sales volumes, confidence in both the retail and wholesale sectors remained under pressure with wholesale confidence increasing from 31 to 36 index points and retail confidence dropping from 52 to 47 index points. 15 Jul 2009
Proving that you can be just about anything you wish to be, businesswoman, award-winning television presenter and former Miss South Africa Jo-Ann Strauss joins the world's most beautiful women in her role as the face of the new Lux Body Wash range. The new range launched in June. 15 Jul 2009
A group consisting of major banks and processors is likely to be created in October 2009 in order to support the establishment of the European debit card payment scheme, posing a threat to MasterCard and Visa. It is becoming evident that industry players, which are already questioning the duopoly of international schemes as the correct solution to SEPA, should act to ensure that developments happen on their terms. How viable this will be is unclear, however, given the amount of investment required. 15 Jul 2009
Distressed Super Group has sold its insurance business, Emerald Insurance Company, to short term insurer Santam. 14 Jul 2009
As a mother, a woman, and editor of a magazine for 10 million women and moms like me (and not like me), I find it hard not to be amused by the constant hand-wringing in the media and advertising worlds about how best to talk to "moms" - because more often than not, they end up talking at us. At times, we feel reduced to a tidy pile of demographics and household statistics that effectively erase all the unique distinction we women are each so proud to possess. 14 Jul 2009
The R1.77 billion first phase of Sandton City shopping centre's repositioning is gathering momentum, as demolition has wrapped up and bulk earthworks gets underway at what some claim to be South Africa's premier retail destination. 14 Jul 2009
The Southern African International Trade Exhibition (Saitex), one of the largest multi-sectoral trade event of its kind on the African continent, will run alongside the annual food industry event Africa's Big Seven at Gallagher Convention Centre from 19 - 21 July 2009. A free business matchmaking programme will be on offer, providing ample opportunity to cement trade relations. 13 Jul 2009
Motorists can now pay by credit card for their fuel at 600 Engen 1-Stop and Quickshop service stations across the country, the South African petrol and diesel retailer announced. This follows a law amendment that allows dealers to accept credit cards, partly to accommodate the massive influx of international visitors expected in 2010. 13 Jul 2009
South Africans are paying up to 30% too much for some essential foods - because of greed, dominance and waste at major companies. 13 Jul 2009
ZURICH: The world's biggest watchmaker Swatch Group is expecting sales to improve in the second half of this year after a difficult start to the year, group's CEO Nick Hayek said in remarks published on Sunday, 12 July 2009. 13 Jul 2009
A task team appointed to help save Seardel's textile division, the Frame Group, is negotiating with an Asian foreign investor to buy some or all of the assets earmarked for closure in order to keep them operational in SA. 13 Jul 2009
The number of consumers with bad debts has increased, the National Credit Regulator (NCR) said on Sunday, 12 July 2009. 13 Jul 2009
Most UK consumers are well aware of the economic downturn and are feeling the impact on their daily lives, but are not making wholesale changes to their consumption patterns in the grocery arena. UK shoppers are not abandoning consumerist lifestyles and retail sales in the UK continue to show a slight increase. Nevertheless, there are a number of downturn-induced attitudinal and behavioural adjustments that need to be acknowledged and acted upon. 13 Jul 2009
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