Do you think the DA lost more support than they gained with their recent controversial poster?
Image via Mail & Guardian
I believe they may have. The biggest failing is that their campaign incited the wrong debate. Our country is facing so many social, economic and political challenges that they would have been better served to have focused on presenting a solution or approach to these.
Although I believe it was conceptualised and designed with honourable intentions, it has shown that the DA is out of touch with what South Africans want to hear from their politicians. It seems that the strategic and creative brief was more focused on creating controversy to turn heads and stimulate PR than it was on demonstrating a political stand point or strategy that South Africans can relate to and hold on to.
Adele* kicks off her heels, steps precariously onto the edge of the chair and hoists herself up on the table. Peter* loosens the knot of his tie and slides it over his wine induced ruddy face to tighten it, pirate-style across his forehead.
His whoop-whoops of encouragement can be heard above the 80′s karaoke soundtrack and Adele responds by shaking what her mama gave her.
Debbie’s* PA, Alice* decides to take over the PA system and declare her undying loyalty to Debbie (the bestest boss in the world) even if it means keeping mum about Debbie’s office romance with the guy in accounts.
Thankfully the ‘guy in accounts’ left early, his wife had him on a strict curfew of one meal only this year; no turning the company luncheon into a meal marathon and staying for ‘supper’ too!
For many companies, it has become customary to hand out yearend gifts to clients. These range from pens to BMWs and are hence often the subject of much debate.
So, before you saddle up the gift horse, consider these questions:
Why?
This is a deceptively simple question; the answer to which can be more complex than expected.
Are you handing out gifts because your competition does?
Are you doing it because your clients expect you to?
Is it a gesture of thanks to existing clients?
Is it an opportunity to market your company to potential or new clients?
Who?
Some clients are valued for their spend, some for their loyalty, some for their long-term support, others for their potential spend, loyalty and support.
Who are you handing out gifts to this year?
Will the gifts be customised to the personal profile of the recipient?
Will certain clients ‘qualify’ for ‘better’ gifts than others?
How will you manage the process of multiple recipients in one company?
You’re at a party, the music is pumping, the dance floor is rocking, the guys / gals are looking fine, you’re confident and ready to cross the great divide and engage in intellectual, meaningful dialogue with the hottest, happening crowd in the place; hoping to make lifelong friends and maybe more.
But as you stand plastered to the wall, you see connections being made around you; people requesting, accepting, sharing, engaging and commenting. You also notice that although you can see them, they don’t seem to see you. Why? You’re put together; designed to attract, you’ve got a mindful of useful information to share, you can be funny and you want nothing in return, just an opportunity to introduce yourself.
You tap shoulders, ask people to dance, offer to buy drinks, the come-on lines roll off your tongue; compliments, jokes, invitations…. why don’t they see you, why don’t they hear you?
Social media can make you feel like the desperate loser trying to infiltrate the in-crowd at a party; you feel like a rubber ball hitting a brick wall; each time getting bounced back further than you were before.
Libra has been in operation for more than 30 years – what in your opinion is the value of all these years experience and how do you ensure that you stay current and innovative?
Libra Vision continually invests in new equipment and technology for its production team to work with. This inspires our editors, graphic artists and camera teams to push the boundaries and production values, ensuring that Libra Vision remains competitive.
Does the concept of spring cleaning make you wish for the winter months and their guiltless lazy hours spent in full view of rooms bursting at the seams or are you like I am; unaccustomed to the cluttering instinct of hibernation with cupboards almost as minimally stocked as old Mother Hubbard’s?
Although I am the antithesis of a hoarder and Shakers would be well pleased by my almost religious abhorrence of wasted storage on useless and emotionally burdened knickknacks and what-nots; I accept that we all need the annual housekeeping ritual of spring cleaning to press the refresh button on our lives.
And whilst I know there is nothing fresh about using the onset of spring as a metaphor for anything from a new diet to a new career, I am going to fall knowingly into the cliché trap and use this rather desperate analogy to tell you why your brand needs as much good housekeeping as your home does.
When it comes to putting our money where our mouth is; Power of 9 talks the talk. For the recent animated YouTube videos we created for Quest Staffing Solutions, some of the Power of 9 team became voice over artists for a day.
As Fiona, we asked Monique Boucher to channel her inner TV show host:
In a warm, candlelit venue with themed decor and a feast fit for the Quest lords and ladies; a jester, minstrels and a medieval storyteller made the 14th century era of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table come alive; an era of honour, honesty, valour and loyalty.
Catherine is the founder and managing director of Power of 9.
You are such an inspirational boss. Power of 9 has such a close-knit team. How do you manage such brilliant interpersonal relations?
Thanks. I hate the vertical structure of traditional business; in fact it was one of the reasons I chose to leave the corporate world. When you work with senior, creative and skilled individuals, micromanaging, red tape and boundaries stifle the individual and the company’s growth. It starts with choosing the right people for the culture of your company; skills can be enhanced and trained, but synergy of values is most important.
fax:
+27 21 556 8215