Mythos Launches Bespoke #Restaurant: #Nostimo Waterfall Estate #Johannesburg

Hi Guys,

Family-run eatery Mythos launches its brand new bespoke restaurant in Waterfall Estate, combining its popular contemporary Greek cuisine with a family-friendly focus, making it the ideal venue for a quick weekday bite or a leisurely Sunday lunch with the whole family.

Nostimo, meaning “tasty” in Greek, has something for everyone - a strong family focus with features that include a pottery studio, nature-themed kids play area complete with an organic playground. In addition to its exclusive Mediterranean recipes, Nostimo will be serving freshly baked artisanal bread, piping hot pizza fresh from their new wood burning oven and a variety of luxury, homemade ice creams.

The contemporary, barn-style structure overlooks the latest Keith Kirsten venture, the Waterfall Wilds Nursery. Quality is paramount, evidenced in the development of the children’s area. While visiting the restaurant, children can be entertained on the organic playground facility, which has been designed to solely incorporate natural materials.

“In conceiving Nostimo, we’ve taken the best of Mythos and added additional elements to create a unique dining experience in an exceptional contemporary setting. Design-wise it speaks to the sophisticated diner but is equally welcoming for families or a romantic interlude,” says George Kutra, owner of Mythos. “Uppermost for us is to ensure that the Greek passion for life, beauty and food, which is so central to our culture, is strongly reflected in the Mythos brand, and we know that customers will experience all this and more at Nostimo.”

You can find Nostimo at Waterfall Wilds on the corner of Maxwell Drive and Country Estate Drive. For more information call 011 517 2349. 

Cheers!!!

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

#BeoVision14 Picture Perfect HD TV @BangOlufsenSA #LikeNoOneElse #Craftsmanship

Hi Guys,

Televisions do not come more beautiful than this. The delicately crafted oak wood lamellas on the front create a warm organic contrast to the dark cool glass panel and the square aluminium frame that encloses all sounds and visions with clean precision. The new 4K Ultra HD TV honours the iconic design tradition and craftsmanship of Bang and Olufsen. BeoVision 14 presents a timeless elegance that matches its supreme sound, perfect picture and advanced connectivity options.

Anti-reflection glass and optimized images
BeoVison 14 comes with a 40- or 55-inch LED-based LCD screen with anti-reflection front glass, which dampens disturbing reflections with more than 98%. Furthermore, the TV includes sophisticated technologies to ensure optimum image and sound, whether you are watching films, listening to music or playing games.

Powerful sound and delicate craftsmanship
The construction of the ultra-thin oak wood lamellas that cover the three-way custom build speaker of BeoVision 14 requires extraordinary precision work that stretches the limits of the material and only the finest flawless oak will do. The warm wooden ambience of the speaker cover draws upon acoustic learnings from the iconic BeoLab 18 loudspeaker that displays similar oak lamellas.

Easy access to your most loved content
BeoVision 14 is powered by the Android TVÔ platform, which provides fast, and easy access to an endless amount of web based content and exciting apps for entertainment, news and gaming.

The integrated Google Cast technology enables streaming of movies, photos and music straight from the mobile phone or tablet at the touch of a single button. BeoVision 14 also handles new formats such as HEVC, which allows streaming of 4K content directly from online sources.

One-touch BeoLink Multiroom
BeoVision 14 will of course integrate seamlessly with all the other BeoLink Multiroom products from Bang and Olufsen.

Simultaneously with the launch of BeoVision 14 Bang and Olufsen introduces a new version of the iconic BeoRemote One. The new BeoRemote One Bluetooth presents a button layout that includes four MyButtons that allows to take a snapshot of a setting and then revert to the exact same at the touch of just one button.

Enjoy BeoVision 14 – any way you want it
The new iconic TV from Bang and Olufsen offers total freedom in terms of placement options. Choose a motorised floor stand for intelligent adjustability using only the remote control, hang the TV on the wall like a work of art – left or right hinged, or place it casually leaned back on a fixed easel stand.As an alternative to oak lamellas, cloth fronts are available in multiple colours to customise the appearance of BeoVision 14 to your interior décor.

BeoVision 14 will be available in Bang and Olufsen stores from end September at the below recommended retail prices – excluding a motorised stand, easel or wall bracket.

BeoVision 14, 40” w/oak Lamella and Easel stand: R 145 000, 00
BeoVision 14, 55” w/oak Lamella and Easel stand: R 199 900, 00 

Cheers!!!

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

South Africa’s oldest #eCommerce Site Is 18 years Young @Cybercellar #Wine

Hi Guys,

Cybercellar.com, the oldest eCommerce company in South Africa, is officially of legal drinking age as it celebrates its 18th birthday. Founded in 1998 by Fiona Phillips, the company has established itself as the spirited leader in online alcohol sales in the country. By developing close connections with the wine industry, and surrounding themselves with wine experts, the company has taken dominance of the online wine retail industry by offering a unique experience to the customer and by bringing happy hour right to their door.

Cybercellar.com started making its presence felt in South Africa around the same time that the internet started gaining momentum. David Muller, current MD, bought the business over in 2012 along with Silvertree Investment Holdings and began building up the company from its base. He has always claimed that “You don’t choose the wine industry, the wine industry chooses you,” and he took this belief straight into the core of the business.

David’s vision was to move the company past the usual tradition that included purchasing a case of wine online and having it delivered to the address listed. His vision forced him to ask himself the essential question “How would I buy wine online?” and his answers led him to rerouting the strategy of the company. He insisted that customers were more interested in having their alcohol needs fulfilled instantaneously and moved to create a situation where customer could:

• Buy mixed cases instead of 6 bottles of the same wine
• Have a quicker and more efficient delivery time
• Receive better prices and get great deals on wines
• Have a generally better experience with the company and feel personally looked after

It was for this reason that Cybercellar.com introduced the non-wine products to the site. It began with craft beer and whiskeys in February 2015, opened up to accessories in July 2015 and eventually started including all non-wine alcohols and mixers by November of the same year. Suddenly the customer could order their full alcohol list online and have it delivered straight to their door. Whether it be for the rugby game happening over the weekend, a dinner party, or the monthly shop; customers were now spending more time on the site, picking and choosing from the great deals offered to them on their favourite beers, wines, spirits and accessories .

Gavin Forsyth, Chief Marketing Officer of Cybercellar, has had a strong background in the eCommerce industry and has built his career around ensuring the online customer keeps coming back for more. No longer is online shopping merely just a luxury, it is now becoming a part of daily life. He states that “A key challenge for eCommerce sites is not only competing for wallet share with other eCommerce sites, but the traditional brick & mortar store too”.

According to Gavin the success of Cybercellar lies in the effortlessness of buying online and having your product delivered. This, together with the fact that the site offers great deals, monthly specials and unique wines that one cannot easily find in your local shop. The site also features great investment wines and absolute ‘must haves’ like the Meerlust Rubicon and Vin De Constance from Klein Constantia, which is a simple click away and within a few days, you can be the proud new owner of these legendary wines. For more information on Cybercellar.com, follow them on twitter and facebook.

 

Cheers!!!

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

@HuaweiZA Outperforms The #Smartphone Industry #Financial Results #HY2016

Hi Guys,

Huawei Consumer Business Group announced its 2016 half year financial results: Sales revenue in the first half of 2016 increased by 41% year-on-year to USD $11.6 billion. Smartphone shipments stood at 60.56 million, a year-on-year increase of 25%. According to IDC, global smartphone shipments in the first half of 2016 increased by just 3.1%, indicating that Huawei’s growth has significantly outperformed the market.

Huawei Consumer Business Group Chief Executive Officer Richard Yu said, “We saw particularly fast growth in traditionally high-end smartphone markets such as Europe and emerging markets including North Africa, Central Asia and Latin America.”

“We have continued to maintain healthy growth within the highly competitive smartphone market, which is testament to Huawei’s long-term commitment to innovation, anticipation of consumer trend and dual strategy of focusing on both domestic and international markets. Looking to the future, we will continue to work with our industry partners to offer consumers excellent levels of service and develop innovative new products that combine technology, quality and style.”

Optimized revenue structure sees overseas growth surpassing domestic growth
In the first half of 2016, Huawei Consumer Business Group further optimized its revenue structure, resulting in overseas markets seeing 1.6x faster growth growth than that of in mainland China. According to GFK, by the end of May 2016, Huawei’s share of the global smartphone market reached 11.4%[1]. Among the USD $500-$600 smartphone range, Huawei’s share share increased by 10%[2].

Particularly strong results were recorded in European smartphone markets as well as significant breakthroughs in the high-end market. According to GFK, Huawei’s smartphone market share has reached over 15% in some European countries. In the traditionally high-end market, such as UK, Germany and France, Huawei has achieved breakthrough in high-end market as well.

In key countries from North Africa and South Pacific, Huawei saw significant market share growth. In Egypt, Huawei’s smartphone market share has reached over 20%. While in South Africa, Hauwei has grown by 38% when compared to the same period last year (January to May 2016) according to GFK.

“Following European trends our growth has largely been in the G, P and M series in the $200 -$700 price band. We will continue to innovate at the high end and capture premium users says Charlene Munilall, GM of Huawei Consumer Business Group South Africa.

Strong sales growth was also achieved in emerging markets in Latin America and Central Asia where in some countries, Huawei’s year-on-year smartphone sales have doubled.

In China, Huawei continued to cement itself as the industry leader with a smartphone market share of 18.6% according to GFK report in June.

Huawei is focusing on meaningful innovation
Having consistently demonstrated significant sales growth, Huawei Consumer Business Group continues to show a deep commitment to innovation in research and development from its R and D centers around the world, alongside repeated breakthroughs with its products, channels and brands.

Huawei’s flagship products, such as the P9, Mate 8, Honor V8 and MateBook, have been well-received by consumers worldwide. Sales volume of the Mate 8 increased by 65% when compared with sales of the Mate 7 during the same period in 2015. Furthermore, 4.5 million P9 and P9 Plus devices have also been sold, of which the number of devices sold internationally increased by 120% when compared with sales of the P8 during the same period in 2015. MateBook, Huawei’s first 2-in-1 notebook product, has been made available in many countries worldwide and it is expected to be available in the Middle East Africa by the third quarter of 2016.

Huawei Consumer Business Group continues to uphold its strategic commitments worldwide. As of May 2016, there were 35,000 retail stores around the world offering Huawei products, an increase of 116% on the same period last year. And according to GFK, Huawei global shops coverage has reached about 150 thousand globally.

Additionally, Huawei is continuing to emphasize the importance of their customer service offering. With 394 service centers located around the world and 21 across the MEA region including the newly opened Kuwait, Qatar and flagship UAE centers, customers are ensured quality, direct and transparent communication with Huawei.

The brand has endeavored to continue investing marketing resources in sports, lifestyle, fashion and entertainment, amongst other categories, which helps to bring the brand to life and connect with consumers across the globe, increasing awareness and recognition of Huawei worldwide. Huawei also continues to work with many market-leading partners including Leica, Swarovski, Harman Kardon, Audi, Google, Microsoft and Intel, amongst others, to offer consumers advanced industry innovation.

In 2016, Huawei was once again named in the BrandZTM Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands. Huawei’s value of US$18,652 billion saw the brand leap from 70th position in 2015 to 50th in 2016.

Huawei is well-positioned to continue its presence in the smartphone, wearable, smart home and cloud markets, becoming itself into an end-to-end solutions and platform service provider, and offering consumers a more convenient and intelligent way to connect their lives.
[1] Source: GFK, May
[2] Source: GFK, June

Cheers!!!

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

@SamsungSA Unveils New #GalaxyNote7 Intelligent #Smartphone that Thinks Big

Hi Guys,


Samsung Electronics South Africa continues to drive the smartphone market with the Galaxy Note7 by building on the company’s category-defining leadership with innovative features that set a new standard for large-screen devices. The Note7 is the gateway to a Galaxy of possibilities with the most advanced security features and S Pen capabilities.

“The Galaxy Note7 combines productivity and entertainment, with strong security features. The device strikes a balance between work and play, enabling people to achieve more than what they thought possible on a smartphone. Powering a robust ecosystem, it is the ideal device for those who want to achieve more in life,” says Craige Fleischer, Director of Integrated Mobility at Samsung Electronics South Africa.

With refined craftsmanship, premium materials and a unique, symmetrical edge design, the Galaxy Note7 features:

• Top-of-the-line security that combines Samsung Knox with biometric authentication including a new iris scanning feature;
• A water resistant body and S Pen (IP68)*; and
• Immersive entertainment features with HDR video streaming capabilities.

Advanced Security: Now in the Blink of an Eye
Samsung understands the importance of keeping content on users’ phones protected. Coupled with Samsung Knox, an industry-leading security platform, the Galaxy Note7 provides heightened security and privacy, with highly advanced biometric authentication, including fingerprint scanner and iris scanning technology. The Galaxy Note7 offers more authentication options that can be used interchangeably depending on how people use their phones, no matter where they are or what they are doing.

The Galaxy Note7 instils a new level of user confidence with Secure Folder, a separated folder that adds an extra layer of authentication to keep private and personal information safe.

Galaxy Note7 S Pen: Quickly and Easily Bring Ideas to Life
The enhanced 7th generation S Pen is more than just a writing tool – it is the gateway to getting more done efficiently and accurately. Users can bring ideas to life the moment inspiration strikes without unlocking the screen by using Screen off memo and simply pinning the memo to the Always On Display. The S Pen gives users the ability to easily create and share. Access the best of the S Pen’s creative abilities with Samsung Notes, a new unified app allowing users to make handwritten notes, draw, or edit memos from one location.

The new S Pen writes with ease and precision. The smaller 0.7mm tip and improved pressure sensitivity provides a real pen-like feeling. With the peace of mind that IP68 water resistant provides, the Galaxy Note7 S Pen lets users write down their thoughts without interruption, even when the screen gets wet.

Best-in-Class Entertainment
The Galaxy Note7 features a gorgeous, curved 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED screen delivering a bold and immersive picture on a smartphone. It is ready to stream HDR video, enabling a cinema-like environment including brighter colours and a deeper black, which ensure users get the full perspective that the filmmaker intended. In addition, the Galaxy Note7 features Game Pack, available through Google Play, including top game titles, an easier redemption process and new user benefits.

Creating Connected Experiences
For people who live to create, tell stories and transport people to entirely new worlds, the Galaxy Note7 can be used with the new high-resolution (3840x1920) Gear 360 camera, to capture, edit and share 360-degree images and videos on the go. These memories can then be shared with friends via platforms including YouTube 360 and Facebook and can be relived with the ultra-immersive Gear VR. By pairing the Galaxy Note7 with the new Gear VR powered by Oculus, users can explore premium virtual reality almost anywhere. Galaxy Note7’s incredible Super AMOLED screen and powerful processor for ultra-immersive viewing.

“With the Galaxy Note7, Samsung continues to defy boundaries of engineering to perfect the user experience through innovative design and technology. We are extremely excited about bringing the Iris scanner security technology to the mass consumer market through the Note7. This is an example of Samsung pushing the frontier of what’s possible. The Galaxy Note7 is more than just a smartphone; it’s a connection point to Samsung’s ecosystem of devices, software and services,” concludes Fleischer.

The Galaxy Note7 will be available locally from September.

Cheers!!!

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