Ideate » Fun Stuff

Local SA Creative Shop Gets Hard Core With Ed Hardys Energy Drink

Staff Reporter — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:22 +0000

Ed Hardy Energy Drink, synonymous with the tiger logo on their apparel, approached MetropolitanRepublic in December 2011 to create ads for their new energy drink.

When MetropolitanRepublic were commissioned to create a radio advertisement for Ed Hardy energy drink, they merged the ‘Party Hardy’ proposition with a stereotypical “hard oke” to create a character so hard-core he even gets tattooed while recording the radio spot. And that’s just one of many extreme actions the character loves to endure.

The first of the three ads centred on the coming of the New Year. “People have been tuning me that 2012 is gonna be even harder. That means I’ve gotta make my new years jol proper hard. You gotta look 2012 in the eye and let it see that you’ve got tiger blood coursing through your veins.”

The second ad had the character telling listeners: “If you wanna hang with the hard dogs, you can’t sip like a softy.”

In the third ad he tells listeners that he’s just stolen 10 seconds from the next radio ad. “Why? Because I’m hard core.”

“We created a spokesperson who is as edgy as he is entertaining, someone who embodies the party spirit and attitude of the brand, “ says Avital Pinchevsky, Creative Director at MetropolitanRepublic.

“The Ed Hardy brand is edgy and fresh and offers a great opportunity for creatives to be free and creative. We leveraged the end of year party scene and made it resonate with the target audience, keeping the tone relevant and humorous,” says Pete Khoury, Executive Creative Director at MetropolitanRepublic.

Listen to the ads here (click on the link below).

mix Ed Hardy Radio Hardest Spot Ever

Pinchevsky says of the agency: “We are a through the line agency that understands the moods, languages and idiosyncrasies of South Africa and Africa. For us, consumers are people we like to have conversations with by creating successful campaigns. With success, we mean business success. The kind of real, measurable success that grows businesses, creates jobs and delivers profits.”

Ideate is one of South Africa's biggest business blogs, with a team of authors all of whom have had entrepreneurial experience. Ideate is read by entrepreneurs thinking BIG. Follow us on Twitter here. View more articles by Staff Reporter.

Spoofie! SA’s First Afrikaans Spoof Movie

Staff Reporter — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:36:00 +0000

Spoofie! Die Wilde Weste, South Africa’s first full length “Afrikaans Dubbed Spoof Movie”, has officially launched it’s teaser trailer and website. Entrepreneur Remano de Beer made the entire movie himself. From writing and directing to sound and voice overs.

“… Die Zefste Afrikaanse Fliek In Geskiedenis …”

Remano de Beer took a classic John Wayne western and turned it into an Afrikaans comedy. De Beer rearrange the current western scenes, created a few of his own and added Afrikaans voice overs.

Die jaar 1875. Jan Wyn leef soos ‘n katelknapie op sy plaas, vanaf sy vrou Sarie Marias die pad gevat het. Maar sy laat aand gesuipery word kort geknip, toe Sarie skielik opdaag voor sy deur. Hulle warm dogter Sannie is oppad terug van Universiteit af en Sarie wil haar weg vat Kaap toe! Dinge begin hand uit ruk wanneer, die nuwe handlanger wat Jan aangestel het, begin ogies maak vir Sannie, en Jan sy vrou se hart probeer terug wen …

The movie has been described as “Skop, Skiet en D*nner in die Klein Karoo“.

If you’re a fan of Afrikaans comedies then keep an eye out for the DVD in March 2012.

SA Sports Illustrated February Issue Introduces 3 Different Covers

Staff Reporter — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:25:00 +0000

At Ideate we’re huge fans of rugby, and as a result we love SA Sports Illustrated. Over the past few years it has become an annual tradition for Sports Illustrated to devote its February edition almost entirely to Super Rugby, the southern hemisphere’s biggest and best-loved provincial rugby competition.

February 2012 is no different. This issue is dedicated to profiles of all 15 teams, analysis and game plans, statistical information and fixtures, as well as interviews with five leading players from the five South African franchises.

What we like about this issue though, is their cover strategy for 2012. To satisfy South African rugby fans’ passion for their teams, Sports Illustrated’s February issue features three different covers matching the headline cover star to the region in which he plays. The regional distribution sees Bulls captain Pierre Spies front and centre for magazines distributed in Gauteng and the north; Sharks popular prop Beast Mtawarira as the focal figure for magazines headed for KwaZulu-Natal and the coastal regions; and Stormers lock Andries Bekker taking centre stage for readers in the Western, Southern and Northern Cape.

This is a first in Sports Illustrated’s 25-year history. According to editor, Ami Kapilevich “the Super Rugby competition is so huge that we thought it deserved more than just one cover. It’s also a tip of the hat to some of the most special and eagerly anticipated players in the country at the moment – one from each franchise.”

Sports Illustrated’s February issue is on sale now so be sure to get your copy.

Art In Public Spaces Puts Cape Town In The Spotlight For March 2012

Staff Reporter — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:18:26 +0000

The Africa Centre’s, Infecting The City Public Arts Festival, will explode on to the streets and public spaces of Cape Town for the fifth time from the 6th to the 10th March 2012.

Infecting The City is by far the largest and most diverse annual public arts festival in South Africa. This year, celebrated local and international artists will create artworks that unlock the communal spaces in the Cape Town City Centre. The art will encourage audiences to see, hear and smell the extraordinary by taking a fresh look at the Mother City, its citizens, and themselves in radically different ways.

Prepare to see Cape Town in a whole new light!

For more information, visit http://www.infectingthecity.com, like the Festival on Facebook, follow ITC on Twitter (@infectingthecit) or call the Africa Centre on 021 418 3336.

The End Of The Year Is Here: 20 Relaxation Tips From Nature

Staff Reporter — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:59:11 +0000

2012 is drawing to a close. It’s time to take a breather and recharge those batteries. BUT, we know how it is – you entrepreneurs out there just don’t know how to switch off. So, in a year where biomimicry has leapt to the fore, we’re going to take a few relaxation tips from nature…

As our last post of the year, Ideate presents to you a ‘how-to’ gallery to inspire you. Entrepreneurs, this is how you have to roll over the next few weeks. Enjoy!

That’s all folks. See you next year – well rested, we hope

Enjoy Your Holiday!

Fred Roed — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:22:12 +0000

So, another year comes to a close. Ideate is closing up shop until the 9th January when our team of writer / entrepreneurs will come back from a well-deserved rest. After turbulent economic times, 2012 looks set to be a great year, and we’re looking forward with great anticipation.

Thank you to all the business owners, managers, workers, dreamers and, of course, wild-eyed entrepreneurs in our readership. We’ve grown our audience considerably this year, increasing from a meager 7,500 visitors per month to a monumental 15,000 per month. This is all the more exciting considering the niche segment that our subject matter covers. This bodes well for the future, and we’re excited about the entrepreneur spirit in South Africa in general.

Thank you also to our contributors – you guys made the wheels turn. As entrepreneurs yourselves, you have inspired us and kept us informed. This is a what a healthy, growing economy requires.

Lastly, massive gratitude to our sponsors in 2012. From Old Mutual to Exclusive Books; from Virgin Mobile to CapeRealty – we couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you, and we look forward to continued relationships in the New Year.

To all of you – drive safe, rest well and come back with stars in your eyes.

Love from all of us at Ideate, World Wide Creative and Heavy Chef.

Fred Roed (Editor In Chief)

Fred Roed is the marketing guy in the Ideate crew. Fred is the CEO of web marketing company World Wide Creative and the co-founder of online learning portal Heavy Chef. Fred loves writing about people out there doing marketing right. Follow Fred on Twitter here. View more articles by Fred Roed.

Holiday Marketing Tip: Show Gratitude

Gareth Cotten — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:30:24 +0000

Show your gratitude to your customers during the festive season. As much as it’s been a rough year for a number of businesses, the best way to put positive energy out there is be grateful for the customers that have supported you.

Make up a small hamper, and send it on to your best/most regular clients, with a little note thanking them for their business.

Do the same for those clients who did support you before, but have been lacking of late – wish them a great holiday season, and mention how you hope to see them again in the New Year.

If a hamper’s going to put too much strain on your marketing budget, even a hand-written note or card is a great way to keep in touch.

It’s the little gestures like this that help to keep you top-of-mind in your customers’ (or potential customers’) thoughts, and can go a long way to maintaining, and building, your business…

Gareth Cotten is one of the growing breed of SA entrepreneurs with that ‘world-domination’ look in his eyes. Gareth runs the coaching and consulting practice 'Good Advice'. Gareth is also the 'course convener' for the University of Cape Town (Law@Work) Start and Manage a Small Business course and the University of Cape Town Basics of Financial Management course. View more articles by Gareth Cotten.

New Restaurant Booking Site Launched In Cape Town

Staff Reporter — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:18:22 +0000

The launch of ‘Come Dine’, an online restaurant booking website, was announced in Cape Town this week. The site aims to give Capetonians access to +450 restaurants all at a click of a button. The website gives visitors the chance to browse all options available to them, as well as the ability to book a table at some of Cape Town’s hottest spots.

Come Dine is the brainchild of Martin Rose and Greg Whitfield, who’ve been best buddies since they met at boarding school. Martin is just back from a four-year stint in London, where he gained invaluable experience in the online booking segment working as a developer for the leading online booking site, LiveBookings, which processes more than one million bookings a month.

Rose explains: “No more searching for the restaurant’s telephone number; no more struggling to get through to make a booking. Come Dine also gives an indication of the average price of the main course, so it’s great from the budget-conscious too, or when planning a big ‘do’ like the year-end office party.”

“With the holiday season around the corner, you can visit www.comedine.co.za to beat the rush, avoid queues and plan better by booking all eating out feasts online.”

Greg, who has also worked in London as an investment banker, but has now decided to give the life of an entrepreneur a bash. Together they bring an awesome combination of creativity, web savvy and business acumen to their new venture.

“We aim to offer not only convenience, but a fun and quirky vibe,” say the partners. “We’re also looking to deliver a very interactive experience, and will be engaging consumers through online competitions, polls, newsletters and an active social networking presence.”

Come Dine is launching with its Cape Town listings, and listings for Mzanzi’s other hotspots – including Joburg, Pretoria, Durban and PE – will be available within the next few months.

To browse Come Dine and book a spot at your fave restaurant, visit www.comedine.co.za.

Who’s The Best Salesperson In South Africa?

Staff Reporter — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:45:16 +0000

Sales, despite being a key part of an organisation, is often not celebrated for this fact. In order to highlight the hard work done by those in sales positions, Groupon South Africa and 2oceansvibe are hosting the Sales Master 2012 awards. The awards will give young salesmen and women the chance to audition and demonstrate why they are the country’s leading young salesperson.

The winner will receive the title of Sales Master 2012, and R50 000 in cash. Applications to the competition open on the 09 December 2011 and close on 15 January; 20 to 30 lucky finalists will be shortlisted to go in front of the joint CEOs of Groupon, Daniel Guasco and Wayne Gosling and the founder of 2oceansvibe, Seth Rotherham – the judging panel, on 20 January 2012.

Along with the cash prize from Groupon, 2oceansvibe will award the winner with the chance to ‘live the lifestyle of a modern hero’. This will include amenities such as a 16GB iPad 2, courtesy of Digicape, a voucher from Havaianas and five cases of complimentary Corona Beer.

Guasco said the partnership with 2oceansvibe was an obvious choice for Groupon as a partner in the awards, “their brand is built around the concept of ‘living the holiday’; so they make an ideal partner to Groupon, because we consider what we do a passion rather than a chore.

Cream of the SA sales crop

Wayne Gosling added that, “it’s also a great opportunity for us to see the cream of the crop that South Africa has to offer; as a fast-growing company we’re always searching for hot new talent, we want to highlight how important the concept of ‘team’ is to Groupon, in the fun, adventurous way that we are known for.”

Groupon will also reward the top six runner-ups with a signing bonus should they choose to join the team. The competition will be broadcast through 2oceansvibetv, YouTube as well as social media and will offer the public the chance to view the progress of the participants. Gosling commented: “We consider ourselves a company that works with, rather than for people. We take public interest and consideration seriously, so it’s nice to be able to share a process like this, where everyone can join in on the fun”.

Entrants will be given quirky, but rigorous challenges through which to prove their sales skills, the outcome will determine who walks away with the grand prize, and the title of Sales Master 2012.

Anyone who is interested in making a name for themselves, considers themselves an innovator, originator, and is capable of selling ice-cream to Eskimos, is urged to get onto the Grouponjob.co.za website and enter the Sales Master 2012 Awards.

Submissions for entry can be made on www.grouponjobs.co.za, entries close on the 15 January 2012.

Celebrate South Africa: Jeremy Loops

Staff Reporter — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:23:34 +0000

We have some pretty insane skills in South Africa. One such example is the supremely talented Jeremy Loops, musician, songwriter, performer and singer. Loops would be annoying if he weren’t so good. His music seems so effortlessly catchy and uplifting that you can’t help feeling a little jealous of his abilities.

Check out his video for the song “Howling” below, complete with scenes from Rocking The Daisies and saxman Jamie Faull.

To keep up with Jeremy and his awesome music, follow him on Facebook here.