Marketing is Facing the Literal Deadline by Nick Sarnadas @MadexExpo #Madex2017

Hi Guys,

There has been a cartoon doing the rounds for many years of two dinosaurs perched on a rock watching Noah’s ark floating away in the distance carrying a gamut of animals and a speech bubble stating an expletive, referring to the realisation that these massive creatures have indeed missed the deadline.

This example is still very apt in today’s environment, where every business aspect is embracing digitalisation, and those who are not, fear being left behind with their prolonged existence at risk.

By the same token, today’s marketeers must speak a different language and communicate this through digital channels in order to reach a new species of customer – the digital native. No longer can marketing make the “old” world their playing field, but they need to venture out and seek greener pastures beyond.

Academic institutions are realising this too, with numerous courses on online marketing and social media being offered. Companies are placing job adverts seeking the right people to drive their online and social media campaigns, and those with digital knowledge are the ones assured of a workplace.

Fact is, digitalisation impacts marketing strategies. It is a means to expand your business and to reach new customers. Digitalisation is changing entire business models and is offering value-added opportunities. You simply cannot miss the boat and risk being left behind.

Promoting and selling products and services over the Internet are critical. It is the New Economy, and the explosion of the Internet and its users attests to this. Businesses are no longer bringing products and services to the market, they are also no longer marketing to customers. The golden key today is collaboration in marketing. It’s about building partnerships and relationships. Working together with your customers.

Media today is being consumed via the Internet. You need to ensure that your business can be found on this platform, just think Google searches. You therefore need to work with your customer to help them find what they seek. This makes your social media strategy as well as your policy paramount to your business.

The consumer has become someone who wants answers now; no matter where or when. They want to play with the information available to them, gain value from it, and, they want it personalised – about them and their circumstances. Above all, they want this whole process to be fast and painless.

You are today talking to an immeasurable customer base located anywhere in the world. We understand that this is tricky. It is not just about having the app and the backbone, it is about entwining the people to this technology.

To assist you in making sense of digitalisation in marketing and to gain greater insight into this journey, we have created Madex, a show presenting the next step in marketing evolution. Please visit www.madex.co.za for more information and to register for your free attendance. We look forward to catching that boat with you.

Expo expert extraordinaire, Nick Sarnadas is the Madex 2017 event director at Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery. With enough coffee, Nick feels that all things are possible – they might be highly unlikely, but they are possible.

Madex 2017 was held on Wednesday, 07 June 2017 and Thursday, 08 June 2017 at the Sandton Convention Centre so if you have missed the same this year, keep your eyes on the website for the next year dates. Check out some of the photos on my instagram.com/araijain

 

Cheers!!!

 

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to blog, share and influence about your products and services on all my Social Media channels #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra !

It’s Time to Get ‘Reel’ with the Madex Cinema Theatre @MadexExpo #Madex2017

Hi Guys,

 

If there’s one thing of which visitors to the Madex 2017 (Africa’s brand spanking new marketing, advertising, design, social media, eventing and all that good stuff) expo can be assured, it’s that this will be an event with a difference!

Case in point, the introduction of a Cinema Theatre, which will feature the best in local advertising campaigns, as well as bringing in industry experts to discuss critical topics. There’s no doubt that video is playing an increasingly important role in the future of content marketing, and where better to experience this than during one of the Cinema Theatre sessions?

Madex 2017, which is co-located with legendary marketing expo, Markex 2017, will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre on 7 and 8 June, and promises to help local marketeers to embrace new school marketing while avoiding traditional marketing errors. The Cinema Theatre seminars play a pivotal educational role from an additional visual perspective, as inspired by local and international advertising campaigns.

“Let’s face it, our attention spans are getting shorter and we live in a world of short immediate gratification mindsets, ” explains Nick Sarnadas, event director at Specialised Events Montgomery. “Video can engage with your audience. It can make them laugh, cry and understand your brand. Essentially, it can make them want to live and be your brand. But, it needs to be done right, and Madex is here to show you how.”

One of the highlights of the Cinema Theatre is the session focusing on the international Cannes Lions Awards, dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of the global advertising and creative industry. The Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival is an annual global festival for those working in advertising and related fields, which incorporates the awarding of the Lions Awards, generally acknowledged to celebrate the best creative work in the world. In South Africa, the Cannes Lions festival’s local representative is Cinemark, the advertising sales company that represents Ster-Kinekor and selected independent cinemas.

Leslie Adams, head of sales for Ster-Kinekor, says, “During the Madex session, we’ll be looking at what works in cinema and television advertising, using last year’s Cannes Lions Ad Reel Showcase winners to illustrate the very best of excellent film and TV advertising from around the world.”

In a real coup for the show, Madex has been selected to give audiences a sneak peak of the winning South African entries of the Cannes Young Lions competition 2017, targeting advertising creatives under the age of 30, announced earlier this month.

Adams clarifies, “The South African winners of the 2017 Cannes Young Lions have only just been announced, and we are thrilled to be able to share this with our Madex audience! The task set was to create a 60-second commercial for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) South Africa, in response to its current campaign on bullying, but more specifically looking at the current social media focus on cyber-bullying. The local winning commercial will also be shown on Ster-Kinekor screens around the country.”

In South Africa, Cinemark is sponsoring the Film category, in partnership with Air France, and the local winners are being flown to France to compete against teams from around the world in a global event.

The Cannes Young Lions Competition reel can be viewed at the Madex Cinema Theatre 2017 on Wednesday 7 June at 12:30 and at 10:30 on Thursday 8 June.

But that’s not all! Another highlight to look out for at the Madex Cinema Theatre comes from the acclaimed independent advertising and marketing website, MarkLives.com, which offers an ongoing investigative view of southern Africa’s changing communications landscape. MarkLives will team up with respected media mogul, Oresti Patricios, CEO of the Ornico Group, to bring Madex visitors a countdown of the 10 best local ads of 2016 and the MarkLives.com Ad of the Year 2016. These sessions take place 10:30 on 7 June and 12:30 on 8 June and are not-to-be-missed!

And even more…. Look out for Kantar Millward Brown’s Best Liked ads of the past three decades seminar, during which the winner of the Best Liked ads of 2016 – in South Africa – from 1984 to 2016 – will be announced. Kantar Millward Brown will present across both days of Madex at 14:30.

So, grab your popcorn and come to the Madex Cinema Theatre. Attendance is free and visitors can register online by visiting www.madex.co.za.

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to blog, share and influence about your products and services on all my Social Media channels #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra !

The Osmans - A @BluBloodSA Force to be Reckoned With #BluBloodWay

Hi Guys, 

A power couple! A born showman and a savvy business woman. These joint forces are personified in the form of married couple, Osman Osman and Shaaista Khan Osman. Combining their expertise, experience and enthusiasm as the two pillars of lifestyle and management brand, Blu Blood, this pair is set to achieve more victories in their company’s various fields.

OSMAN OSMAN
Having had to overcome many hardships and speed bumps growing up, Osman has never been afraid to grab an opportunity when a challenge arises. With a Diploma in International Management Marketing and aspirations to complete his Law Degree, Osman proclaims the business and local surround of his upbringing has been the best university that he could ever attend. Osman believes “learning from others’ mistakes and experiences can ensure your own success”. Osman has worked in both the business and entertainment sectors and one of his entertainment highlights includes being part of the hit local movie, Material.

SHAAISTA KHAN OSMAN
Starting out with a humble upbringing as the youngest of six children, Shaaista’s story is true testament of hard work and dedication. With her strong feminine healing side, she has successfully completed studies in Naturopathy and Naturology. Furthermore, she has dabbled in Law, Psychology and Theology. Shaaista has also successfully completed a Diploma in Project Management and Labour Law from the University of Cape Town. She pioneered Blu Blood in 2008 and has had many achievements of note since then. Shaaista proclaims that it is up to the individual to “seize every opportunity, own each day and sculpt your own brilliance”.

THE DYNAMIC DUO
A sweet story of fate brought Osman and Shaaista together. The couple met at a mutual friend, neither of whom had heard of the other nor ever met before, although having both lived in Laudium (in central Pretoria) for years. Shaaista was hosting a Childline Gala Women’s Day Luncheon on the night of their meeting, and Osman, being his charismatic self, insisted he would assist this worthy cause. This chance experience led to the two becoming fast friends and not to long after, love was in the air. The couple is now happily married and has combined forces to take Shaaista’s business venture, Blu Blood, to new heights.

BLU BLOOD
The Osmans realised that the best way forward would be for Osman to join Shaaista’s Blu Blood venture, instead of them both working on separate business entities. Shared interests and mutual passions made this a decision they haven’t regretted since.

Blu Blood embodies lifestyle and management in the various services they offer. Their mission is to be a worthy competitor in the lifestyle management field in terms of promoting, managing and showcasing events and entertainment. Osman and Shaaista believe in thinking out of the box, to create a tailor-made service for every client they work with. With over 10 years’ combined experience in marketing, communications, hospitality and logistics, Blu Blood aims is to offer a service that is above and beyond every client’s expectations.

BLU BLOOD’S SERVICES
Blu Blood offers a variety of services from unique bespoke packages, to exciting launches of new products and events. They have worked with many large companies including Nedbank Golf Challenge, Telkom Corporate customer form, Chats Cellular,Sun International,Peermont At Blu Blood personalized service is key and paramount to business success.

Blu Blood is known for their professional event management work, which includes events for Bollywood Indian Cinema, as well as music industry promotions throughout South Africa and Africa. Other than that, Blu Blood has successfully completed the custom-made task of creating and facilitating the coordination of the UNICEF Child Friendly Space at the 2010 World Cup FIFA Fan Fest Sites throughout South Africa. Continuing their good work to promote the protection of women and children in South Africa, they were the marketing and sponsorship consultants to The Childline Johannesburg Centre.

Blu Blood has crossed paths and collaborated with many renowned artists, such as Riaad Moosa, Azhar Usman, Preacher Moss, Mo Amier, Russel Peter, Joey Rasdien, Conrad Koch, Marc Lottering, Loyiso Gola & Nik Rabinowitz to name just a few. Their festival and event experience include Hollywood A-lister actor & comedian Orlando Jones’ Stand Up & Laugh with Orlando Jones, US-based and award-winning theatre production, Mystic India, Riaad Moosa’s The Best of Tour and Doctor’s Orders Tour, Joey Rasdien’s Mixed DNA, The Kings and Queens of Comedy and various other tours. On the Bollywood side, Blu Blood has toured with Sonu Nigam, Atif Aslam, RAHAT Fateh Ali Khan, the International debut show of Arijit Singh, Mika Singh and many more. They are the exclusive management team for Riaad Moosa, Tumi Morake and Simmi Areff.

CONCLUSION
The company’s premise is delivering luxury, lifestyle and the best entertainment productions. The Blu Blood family comprises of a very select staff and specialised service providers who work in harmony to ensure each and every event is an exceptional success. Every Blu Blood event is indeed one to be remembered, as Osman and Shaaista maintain a hands-on approach and always aim to be trend setters with every new project. If you are in need of an extravagant event, top class entertainment or the ultimate advertisement package, look no further than Osman and Shaaista’s Blu Blood. Follow them on Twitter: @BluBloodSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/blubloodsa and Website: www.blublood.com

 

Cheers!!!

All inquiries and invites for your brand's launch events, sponsored posts and product reviews are welcome - Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com

Sandton Convention Centre Hosts #GatewayToSpace #Exhibition @SandtonEvents

Hi Guys,

The Gateway to Space: The Exhibition, running at Sandton Convention Centre through June and July, is the biggest exhibition to be hosted in South Africa and is delighting young and older visitors with its amazing selection of 60 space exhibits.

Pickled duck breast,  duck liver parfait, Aniseed fig brioche Tomato tarte tatin and creamy blue cheese basil crème

“Sandton Convention Centre is proud to be the home of long-running exhibitions of this size and calibre in South Africa,” says Debra de Sousa, Operations Manager at Sandton Convention Centre. Last year the venue hosted the Ice Age exhibition, a huge 3 000m2 display of 45 life-sized moving animals and 12 different scenes that document the 27th Ice Age period and ran for seven weeks to 8 August, and in 2014, the massive 3 600m2 Days of the Dinosaur exhibition was held at the Sandton Convention Centre for 31 days. It was a phenomenal success that broke international ticket sales records for the show, and was the first and biggest interactive dinosaur exhibition of its kind in the country – featuring 45 life-sized dinosaurs in 12 scenes, as well as two skeletons and seven dinosaurs in the animatronic interactive area.

Veal cutlet in lattice Jupiter pastry, light basil mousseline, ratatouille,  truffle cauliflower corn basil spum,  pea and truffle sprout salad

The Gateway to Space exhibition, organised by Media24’s Huisgenoot, YOU and Drum magazines, was assembled by the US Space & Rocket Centre, an official NASA Visitor Centre, and shipped in 20 containers from Budapest, Hungary, where it was last on display. It delivers an amazing space experience that includes a look inside the 15m life-size model of the Mir space station, a Sputnik 1 model, a full-size lunar rover model, an Apollo capsule design for future space exploration, a chance to touch the moon, see 55 other exciting space exhibits, such as a glimpse of a scale-model space toilet, and much more.

Chocolate temptation,  chocolate moon, hot moon chocolate lava and gooseberry sugar galaxy

In addition, in South Africa the Gateway to Space also features an exhibit that focuses on the South African space sector and highlights astronomy as well as space science and technology. The Department of Science and Technology, along with organisations such as the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory, Southern African Large Telescope, SA National Space Agency, Square Kilometre Array Project (SKA), Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Denel Spaceteq, is exhibiting a collection of artefacts that depict success stories in this field. According to SA Techie blog, “… if you like space at all, you have to make time to see it.”

Meteor wooded mushroom potage, Asian mushroom and mascarpone ravioli

“We’re delighted to have proved our capacity and capability to host these world-renowned, exciting and educational exhibitions that attract such huge audiences, particularly school children,” says De Sousa. Pre-bookings by schools for Gateway to Space had reached 20 000 children before the exhibition opened.

Burnt orange sorbet and pink peppercorn candyfloss

“We’re equipped to cope with the huge onslaught of eager visitors with tickets for specific staggered time slots for visitors to walk around the exhibition, ensuring smooth flow throughout the exhibition,” she says, adding that Sandton Convention Centre’s very close proximity to the Gautrain, to Sandton City and other leading malls and hotels adds to the appeal for families making a full day or even a night out when visiting the exhibition.

Avocado galaxy, pastrami crusted salmon,  black pepper macarons and beetroot

To book for Gateway to Space: The Exhibition, specific timeslots are allocated for visitors to this exhibition to keep queues to a minimum and tickets are limited. Ticket prices are R180 for a single adult, R120 for a child (aged 18 months to 18 years), and R520 for a family of four package. School packages, which include a free ticket for one adult for every 20 learners, are also available. Email space@megatrav.co.za for more information or to book. All tickets (excluding school packages) are available at Computicket. For more information about this exciting exhibition and travel packages go to gatewaytospace.co.za. For more information on Sandton Convention Centre, log on to www.saconvention.co.za, join the Facebook page on http://www.facebook.com/SandtonConventionCentre or follow on Twitter at @SandtonEvents.

Cheers!!!

All enquiries and invites for your brand's launch events, sponsored posts and product reviews are welcome - Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com