Takealot announces plans for Black Friday 2020

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Article found on BizCommunity

 

Takealot.com plans to extend its annual Blue Dot Sale from five days to the entire month of November. In the lead up to the Blue Dot Sale, which kicks off at one-minute past midnight on Black Friday, 27 November, the online retailer is offering three extra weeks of Blue Dot Countdown deals.

From the 02 – 26 November, Takealot will release thousands of new deals every week. “These Blue Dot Countdown deals won’t be beaten on Black Friday and stock is limited,” the e-tailer said.

In week one (02 – 08 November) shoppers can expect deals on big stuff, including TVs, large appliances, outdoor, pool and patio, beauty, plus so much more. During week 2 (09 – 15 November), there will be deals on laptops, toys, homeware, furniture, fashion, sports and footwear. Finally, week 3 (16 – 22 November) will see new deals released on camping and outdoor, home improvement and power tools, as well as household essentials.

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For the second year, Takealot.com will also be giving shoppers exclusive early access to some of its Black Friday deals from 23 – 26 November. Over 200 fresh new deals will be released daily exclusively on the Takealot App.

Takealot’s annual Blue Dot Sale is a five-day sale period that starts at one minute past midnight on Black Friday (27 November) with over 5,000 deals released. A range of new deals will be released throughout the weekend as well as on Cyber Monday (1 December) and Takealot Tuesday (2 December) with up to 50% off thousands of items.

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Online shopping safety

“We’ve always aimed to offer a customer-centric online experience that takes the queueing and hassle of in-store shopping out of Black Friday and festive shopping, and this year is no different. The fact that we’re an online retailer is more important than ever as the world adjusts to social distancing protocols. This positions e-commerce as the safest, most convenient way to shop this festive season,” says Julie-Anne Walsh, chief marketing officer at Takealot.com.

“E-commerce has never been as relevant to consumers as it is now. The convenience and safety of shopping online has seen a huge increase in the adoption of e-commerce around the country. We appreciate that this – combined with a month-long focus on the best deals – will fundamentally redefine the retail landscape for shoppers, by giving them a better way to shop,” Walsh concludes.

Pick n Pay Clothing pairs up with Katekani Moreku in second Futurewear collab

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Article found on BizCommunity

Pick n Pay Clothing has paired up with sustainable fashion designer Katekani Moreku in its second Futurewear collaboration. Julia Buchanan kicked off the project in August with the PnP Clothing x Julia range, which sold out in a month.

The PnP Clothing x Katekani range captures his perspective of a united South African heritage. Moreku is no stranger to the spotlight and has shown his unique upcycled designs that push boundaries at various fashion shows. He has now taken his conceptual vision to a broader audience by launching his first commercial range in collaboration with PnP Clothing and Gavin Rajah as part of their new project to support and grow local designers.

Inspired by the culture

All the unique colourful prints in the PnP Clothing x Katekani collection were drawn by Moreku and inspired by the many local cultures he’s encountered growing up. “My childhood involved a lot of moving around with my mother as she was trying to make ends meet and that created opportunities to meet people from different walks of life and the privilege to learn about different cultures within Mzansi,” says Moreku.

The limited-edition range of seven items includes printed t-shirts, a printed shirt, printed swim shorts and denim shorts.

Having completed his diploma in fashion design at the Durban University of Technology, last year, Moreku is excited for his biggest launch into the industry. A creative at heart, Moreku wanted to study something in art or design but settled on fashion after someone suggested it given his dress style, described by Moreku as ‘bold and experimental’.

He says that his creativity is inspired by the beautiful culture of SePulana in the region of Manyeleti where he was largely brought up, and its take on sustainable living.

“The Sepulana culture is one of the African cultures that dabbles in the use of bright and bold colours. The women also combine scraps of fabric and plastic material to create traditional attire as they can’t always afford material for new clothing. When I started studying in 2015, I couldn’t afford to buy materials for my projects so I began collecting old, leftover or discarded scraps of fabric to create collections of colour prints and hats. I used plastic maize meal packaging for my first collection.”

This bore his desire to practice sustainable fashion by upcycling different types of waste material, and during his studies, he racked up accolades showcasing his ‘out-of-the-box thinking’. He showcased a collection at the 2017 Vodacom Durban July alongside nine established designers after winning their student competition. In the same year he was placed in the top 10 finalists at SA Fashion Week, and last year he was awarded the student award at the inaugural 2019 Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards.

Moreku explains that he hadn’t ventured into business before this collaboration with PnP Clothing and Rajah. “I only designed garments on request. This project has been about contemplation, collaboration and how I can take my brand forward commercially. I’m used to doing everything on my own, but with this project, I got to learn how a team of people get to work together to bring a collection to life. And being around Gavin is always a new learning experience on how to be a creative entrepreneur.”

Helping emerging designers

The process of preparing for this collab – which has been a year in the making – helps young upcoming designers understand the business intricacies of bridging the gap between being a talented creative and building a commercial fashion brand, says Rajah, who scouted and then mentored Moreku.

In an effort to open more opportunities for young creatives, Pick n Pay Clothing – in association with Atelier Gavin Rajah – has formalised this mentorship programme and launched the Futurewear project. This is a dedicated platform that seeks to provide emerging local creatives with the opportunity to launch their business with an exclusive collection in collaboration with PnP Clothing. The 2020-2021 submissions recently closed and the next designer will be announced in December.

Moreku was in the first cohort of designers to be part of the Futurewear initiative, explains Rajah. “It’s been interesting to assist talent to re-imagine clothing for the future. Mentorship has evolved to include looking at global trends in economics, consumer behaviour and the need to develop products that provide local businesses with economic benefit. Mentoring these designers has involved teaching designers to become digitally adept and to factor consumer behaviour and sentiment into design – key factors for the future of design,” says Rajah.

“The collaboration concept has been very popular overseas and we are thrilled that local customers are as excited about it. Through this project, we can play a role in launching very talented designers to a much broader commercial audience, and give our customers access to local aspirational yet accessible and affordable clothing,” says Hazel Pillay, general manager for Pick n Pay Clothing.

The Pick n Pay Clothing x Katekani range is available in 48 selected PnP Clothing stores while stocks last. The range will also be available online at www.picknpayclothing.co.za.

The power of networking and relationship-building

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Article by Rachel Eleza on BizCommunity

Networking and meaningful, long term relationships are extremely beneficial to a business of any type and size. Successful entrepreneurs nurture professional relationships with their staff, clients, suppliers, and other entrepreneurs. You might have innovative products, a huge advertising budget, and competitive pricing, but without good relationships, there is a high risk of business failure.

This is how networking and relationships can benefit your business.

  1. Build loyalty

    By taking the time to know your customers, paying attention to their needs, and matching those needs with the right products or services, you can build a strong relationship with them. Offering unparalleled service will facilitate repeat business, allowing you to build a loyal customer base.

    Establishing meaningful connections with your customers transforms your business from “just an ordinary company” into a reliable and trustworthy brand.

  2. Shared knowledge

    Networking offers a perfect opportunity for the exchange of ideas and knowledge. By expressing your viewpoints or requesting for feedback, you can easily expand your knowledge and look at issues from a different perspective. It’s also possible that within your network there will be people who have already solved the problems you’re currently facing.

    This offers you a chance to learn and gain knowledge that can help you devise long-lasting solutions for your problems. If you’re looking for opportunities to network and build connections with other business-minded individuals, consider working from a professional coworking space.

  3. Better opportunities

    Businesses can access so many lucrative opportunities through networking and positive relationships. These rewarding opportunities range from client leads, partnerships, joint ventures, assets sales, to speaking and writing. Ensure you perform your due diligence before jumping into any opportunity(s). Go for those that are in line with your business goals/vision.

  4. Generate high-quality leads

    Your network can turn out to be one of your most reliable lead generators. If you build valuable connections with the right individuals, then your network will attach huge value to your business. They’ll recommend your business to any person that may be requiring your products or services.

    In fact, 90% of entrepreneurs say they generate new business by networking and distributing business cards. The leads that come from your connections tend to be not only of high-quality but also pre-qualified for you. An effective referral network can play an instrumental role in generating top-notch leads that’ll see your business grow exponentially.

  5. Enhancing confidence

    Consistently networking and striving to engage with strangers will help grow your confidence. Being confident is one of the skills you should have as a business owner, as the growth of your company depends on your ability to talk to the right people and build long-lasting relationships.

    So if you want to grow your confidence, you should regularly participate in social and business networking events. Pushing yourself to interact with others in your industry and getting accepted into their network can be a huge confidence booster.

  6. Gaining visibility

    Gaining visibility is another upside of actively networking and building connections. By participating in business and social events regularly, people will start to know you. You can take advantage of these events to position yourself as an informed, reliable, and helpful person by providing valuable information or advice to people who require it. This strategy will help you build a reputation for not just yourself but also your business.

  7. Build a motivated and productive team

    While it’s vital to nurture meaningful connections outside your company, it’s also important to build healthy and professional relationships within your business. A good working relationship with your workforce together with a favourable environment for collaboration can help you enhance morale, work satisfaction, and overall business productivity. It’ll also allow you to attract and retain talents. If you’re operating in the U.S. or some of your employees are based there, encourage them to find a good coworking space to avoid the disruptions that come with working from their homes.

Regularly networking and building positive connections can position your business for rapid growth. It can help you gain visibility, generate leads that you can convert into loyal customers, and gain access to a multitude of better business opportunities. It can also help you grow your confidence, work through complex industry challenges, and build a top-notch team.