Pat On Brands Announce Executive Judges For The Inaugural Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards.

The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBA), an initiative by Pat on Brands has recruited 10 award-winning leaders in the marketing and communications industry, academia, and entrepreneurship to evaluate and shortlist 482 nominations.

Judging of Nominated Brands

The judges are seasoned professionals and have distinguished careers in marketing and entrepreneurship. When it comes to building and growing brands, the judges are very knowledgeable and have a wealth of experience. To evaluate the entries, they will be using a set scoring criterion across 16 categories. The scoring criteria are guided by Young & Rubicam and David Aaker’s principles, brand equity principles that focus on the general appearance of the brand, originality, creativity, geographic reach, and the consistency in the application of the brand CI.

“As a platform, Pat on Brands has always been known for bringing out captains of industry to engage with young people and YOBA is no different. We are very pleased and enthusiastic about having judges of such high caliber to help us recognize the Top 16 youth-owned brands in South Africa.”, says Pat Mahlangu – Founder & CEO of Pat on Brands.

The jury will be chaired by renowned marketer Sadika Fakir and co-chaired by Lebo Lion.

“It is a massive concern that youth unemployment in South Africa year on year is more than 45% with COVID-19 aggravating the situation, in turn negatively impacting our socio-economic levels substantially. Now more than ever, we need to encourage youth entrepreneurship to inspire a new era of hope for the nation. YOBA is such a platform recognising Youth Owned Brands and entrepreneurship. I am truly honoured to be a part of a movement of this nature as it fuels the industry and the country with inspiration, creativity, and a fresh perspective on leadership. When I look at youth-owned brands, I feel compelled to challenge my own inhibitions and conventions. YOBA will certainly be a catalyst for positive growth in the continent.” says – Sadika Fakir – Integrated Media & Digital Director at Tiger Brands, Chairperson: ARB

Meet The Judges

In no particular order, the list of esteemed judges for the inaugural Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards is as follows:

  • Sadika Fakir (Chairperson of the jury) – Sadika Fakir, Integrated Media & Digital Director at Tiger Brands is a firm believer in integrated and seamless marketing communications that focus on the customer. With an ever-evolving customer base and shifting media landscape, she states that we must consistently reinvent our approach to the market – taking customer shifts and nuances into consideration to drive seamless & integrated communication solutions. She is captivated by the power of the media & digital and believes it suits her disruptive approach to work. After a seven-year stint in similar roles within financial services, Nedbank and FNB respectively, she joined the consumer goods category in her role at Tiger Brands in 2020. Prior to the corporate roles, she notched up ten years at numerous agencies building her integrated strategic media experience totaling more than 17 years within integrated channel strategy and advertising. She has her BCOM Honours in Marketing (Cum Laude) and is a designated Chartered Marketer through the Marketing Association of South Africa. In 2022, Sadika was appointed Chairman of the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB).
  • Lebo Lion (Deputy Head) – Lebo is an award-winning digital marketer, iTunes podcasting pioneer, speaker, author, strategist, & influencer whose viral Twitter threads, digital marketing expertise, and courageous conversations, have led to her being one of the most sought-after speakers and business consultants in South Africa. She has transformed over 1000 South African Start-Ups and SMEs, through her global top 100 iTunes podcast charting platform; The Lebo Lion Show. Known as “THE VOICE OF MARKETING”, Lion delivers mindset shifting & empowering content, that disrupts the African learning landscape.
  • Bulelani Balabala – Dubbed as “the go-to guy for township entrepreneurs” by City Press. Bulelani is the founder and CEO of IAF brands, a township-based Branding & Social Media marketing company. He is the founder of Township Entrepreneurs Alliance (TEA) an initiative aimed at developing entrepreneurs in the township & rural areas, through this platform TEA has directly impacted over 48000+ small businesses in the formal and informal sectors. He serves on public and private sector boards. He is a professional speaker who covers the township economy, branding, entrepreneurship & inspiration. He is featured on multiple media platforms where is gives thought leadership and insights. He has shared platforms with business, industry, and government leaders. He lives by the simple motto #GetThingsDone
  • David ‘Slaying Goliath’ Tshabalala – David Tshabalala has worked with, & independently collaborated with the biggest global brands, not limited to, namely: KFC, Coca Cola, Adobe, Netflix, Converse, Audi, Smirnoff, Reebok, and many more. Despite his notable industry accolades and achievements – he says he’ll never proclaim to know it all. Perhaps these are the tenets of his relative success, the willingness to not only learn from those above him but to absorb lessons from his juniors too. David says he’s a teachable spirit because he’s been trained to stay grounded by his mentors and industry peers. His natural disposition to stay humble has been largely influenced by his environment and the people in it. “My work is a kaleidoscope of color and crafted content, driven by my penchant for consuming pop culture. I embody the ethos of being an independent self-starter; being able to work with major brands directly, while staying true to myself – telling the South African story in a meaningful and engaging way.” – David
  • Dr. Beate Stiehler Mulder – Dr. Beate Stiehler-Mulder is a Senior Lecturer, the Marketing Coordinator at the Department of Marketing Management at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), and the W&R Seta Leadership Chair: Gauteng. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Economics and Management from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. She has 16 years of experience in Marketing Commerce, 9+ years’ experience in Marketing and Retail Lecturing, and Academic management, she is a Certified Digital Marketing Professional (DMI International), the winner of an “Outstanding Paper” 2017 from the Emerald Literati Network Awards, and she was a main Jury Member for the 2020 & 2021 Financial Mail AdFocus Awards. She has built a strong background of work, research, and publications in South African and international journals and conference proceedings, where she has presented broad research on marketing, branding, retail, digital, and consumer subjects. As the current W&R Seta Chair: Gauteng, she aims to provide a platform that develops critical thinkers and problem-solvers in the Retail industry, conduct relevant retail and consumer research, and launch innovative education and work-based learning experiences – all in the spirit of advancing and professionalizing the wholesale and retail industry.
  • Mpho Maseko – Mpho Maseko is a self-motived integrated marketing and communications professional with more than ten years of strategic marketing and campaign development experience working on local and global brands. She’s been working in the financial services sector for five years. Her marketing and communications experience is also in the broadcasting, technology, and digital marketing services sectors. As a self-confessed “Marketing Maverick”, she ensures that marketing and communications align to both long- and short-term business objectives. Mpho honed in her management expertise after graduating with a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Wits Business School. In 2005 she joined the SABC where she held several management positions in marketing & communications. Her responsibilities in these roles extended to the strategic communications management for various SABC brands. Mpho’s commitment to South Africa’s Marketing and Communications industry is also demonstrated in her involvement in various industry bodies. In 2014, she was appointed committee member for the Advertising and Media Association of South Africa (AMASA), on which she still currently serves. From 2017 to 2018 she served as Head of the Brand Council of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). In 2020 she ended her tenure as a Marketing Tourism committee member of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency.
  • Thembi Sehloho – Thembi Sehloho is currently serving as the Marketing Director for Rice and Pasta at Tiger Brands SA, Thembi is a seasoned marketing specialist with a passion for meaningful and impactful brand work. After graduating with a BCom-Accounting degree; she went on to build a formidable career in marketing spanning over 15-years. With the ability to run strategic and capital expansion projects, Thembi has landed accolades which include the following:

· Building the Mama KOO franchise which propelled the brand to be SA’s most loved brand

· Maintaining Tastic’s position as the top brand within staple food

· Winning a Silver PRISM Award for PR Campaign of The Year, and Tastic TVC voted 2020 the best-liked TVC as voted by consumers – Kantar #MyHeritagecampaign.

Thembi is passionate about leadership and mentorship and was recently awarded the 3rd Positive Role Model Award – 9th Annual Gender Mainstreaming Awards. She has solidified herself as a formidable and seasoned marketer in South Africa with vast experience in SA’s leading iconic FMCG brands which include; All Gold, KOO, Bakers, Tastic, and Fatti’s & Moni’s.

  • Neo Ramokutwana – A seasoned performance marketer with over 16 years’ experience in financial services marketing. Ramakutwane is experienced in developing optimised and result focused marketing campaigns with various budgets with a proven ability and specialised knowledge in distribution and intermediary marketing. She has in-depth knowledge of the South African marketing landscape and trends. Neo says she is driven and willing to go above and beyond to deliver results.
  • Dr. Marcia Lebombo – Dr Marcia Lebambo holds a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration from the Tshwane University of Technology, Business School. She is currently working as a Senior Lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology, in the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship. With more than 10 years of experience in Higher Education, Dr. Lebambo published book chapters and articles in accredited journals and presented her work at local and international conferences including Tanzania, Botswana, and Austria. Her research interests are in the areas of entrepreneurship and small business development, entrepreneurship policies, rural tourism, and technological entrepreneurship. Apart from her work as an academic, Dr. Lebambo is a trailblazer in youth community development. In 2012, she founded a non-profit organisation: Marcia Lebambo Foundation which focuses on improving literacy in South African township and rural schools. Her motto is; Do the best you can, where you are, with what you have!
  • Katlego Ditlokwe – Katlego Ditlhokwe is a Researcher, Thought Leader, Marketing Guest Lecture, Strategic Planner and Simply a Storyteller.He describes himself as a true lover of advertising and a learner of the industry. Katlego has a degree in Marketing Communications. He is a certified Digital Marketer and Art Director.Ditlhokwe started his career as a Media Strategist at Joe Public United; changed his career path to practicing Brand Strategy, and he is now a Lead Strategist at Brave Group. Basically, he is a creative that just chose to specialise in Strategic Communication.

Word From Pat Mahlangu

“As a platform, Pat on Brands has always been known for bringing out captains of industry to engage with young people and YOBA is no different. We are very pleased and enthusiastic about having judges of such high caliber to help us recognize the Top 16 youth-owned brands in South Africa.”, says Pat Mahlangu – Founder & CEO of Pat on Brands

The YOBA awards encompass 16 categories which are Accessories, Beverage, Agriculture, Beauty, Apparel, Media, NGO, Homeware, Education, Personality and Influencer, Footwear, Food, Travel and Tourism, and Technology. The inaugural award ceremony is scheduled to take place on the 15th of June in Johannesburg where we will see young creatives who’ve propelled the marketing industry for real change.

Black Crown expands into Gin & Dry Lemon with Marula

Queens and Kings, the moment has come to introduce the latest member to the royal Black Crown family… The NEW 440ml Black Crown Gin & Dry Lemon with Marula. A drink made like you. Bold, authentic, and African. A premium locally crafted Gin & Dry Lemon infused with African Marula fruit – an extension to the existing Black Crown Gin & Tonic. The perfectly mixed and easy to drink Gin & Dry Lemon with Marula is crisp and unapologetically refreshing in more ways than one.

Image: Supplied

The New Flavour

The new Black Crown is available in a 440ml can at all major retailers from end of May. It’s best served cold and gives you the premium sipping experience you’ve come to expect from Black Crown. It boasts 5.0% alcohol content and stands out with its stunning green, black, and gold packaging. Black Crown is here to inspire young Africans to proudly embody a Royal State of Mind. So, to the Kings and Queens of Africa. let every sip of Black Crown remind you to keep doing what others don’t and #OwnYourCrown.

Scan the QR code on your Black Crown pack for some more exciting surprises.

Brand Africa endorses the inaugural Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards

Thebe Ikalafeng

Africa’s most authoritative intergenerational movement aimed at inspiring a brand-led African renaissance, Brand Africa endorses the inaugural Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards – an initiative by Pat on Brands. Established in 2010, Brand Africa’s goal is to drive a brand-led transformation of the continent’s brand, image and wealth.

Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands

The Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands rankings are the most authoritative survey and analysis of brands and underlying businesses in Africa, covering 30 countries that represent all the continent’s five economic regions.

Pat on Brands announced the launch of the inaugural top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards. First of its kind in South Africa, the awards aim to give recognition to proudly South African Brands owned and run by the youth. The youth of South Africa and Africa at large are the key drivers to economic growth and job creation. The creativity and innovation of the youthful population plays a significant role in the continent’s economic transformation.

“Recognizing that 70% of the population in Africa is under 30 and that only 20% of brands Africans admire are made in Africa, these “Pat on Brands Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards” are an important and timely initiative to inspire youth to lead the African renaissance,” Thebe Ikalafeng – Founder and Chairman, Brand Africa.

Brand Africa Endorsement

This endorsement is important for the Top 16 YOBA as it affirms its position to recognize brands that are owned and run by the youth.

“The endorsement by Brand Africa is testament to need to create excitement about made in Africa brands, particularly those that are youth-owned. It is truly an honour that an organisation of such a high stature as of Brand Africa is recognizing our initiative as a driver for the African renaissance. As the youth put it “Real Recognises Real,” Pat Mahlangu – Founder and CEO of Pat On Brands.

Top 16 YOBA will be hosted on 15 June in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Comedians Stuck in a Flying Fish Billboard on William Nicol Drive

Make some Flying Fish Pressed Lemon out of life’s lemons with every What The Flying Fish!? (WTFF) moment as Flying Fish brings you an entertaining source of fun, light-hearted escapism to their fans. Flying Fish has decided to take ownership of these modern landscapes and create a playful, interactive inception experience for their followers.

Stuck in a Flying Fish Ad Campaign

“As a brand, we are now encouraging everyone to take those moments in life where perceptions of our reality make us go: “What The Flying Fish? and embrace them. Moreover, have a laugh at themselves, and then share that memory, because whenever you are faced with something delightfully unexpected, chances are you’re stuck in a Flying Fish ad. Take flight from the mundane and flow with the possibilities. Fans can now join the movement and watch an ad within an ad. The campaign allows them to enter the world of self-aware characters or even create their own reality-bending moments online.

Tumi Stop Nonsons and Mashabela

Two well-loved South African comedians, Tumi Malita “ Stopnonsons” & Mashabela Galane, are making this a reality. You can find them, literally, stuck in a billboard, in-person – yes inside a billboard! at one of the busiest intersections and traffic count areas in Gauteng. Get ready for multiple 12 hour-long live-roasting sessions of passers-by on William Nicol drive on the 9th – 11th May 2022. Keep a lookout on social media for content posted daily about the experience on the brands pages or come on down lets see what unfolds.

“Flying Fish is all about celebrating the unique and the unexpected and giving people a chance to experience things that are far from the ordinary.
That’s why we consistently try and provide South Africans with new and exciting experiences and moments to enjoy. This is the very first time South Africa has seen something like this. We are revamping an ordinary concept and adding our flavour to it.” added Zachary Kingston Marketing Manager for Flying Fish South Africa.

Y launches a thrilling drama series, called Tequila AF, exclusively on the YFM app

South Africa’s largest commercial youth radio station introduces its audience to an audio only drama, speaking to the essence of ‘theatre of the mind’. 
 
Tequila AF, created and directed by Y content producer Lumko Johnson, brings a storyline of murder, and explores themes of friendship, loyalty and mental illness. Says Lumko: “My late great grandmother introduced me to radio through radio dramas she loved and followed. We didn’t have a TV at the time, I must’ve been four or five and we would gather and listen to the Xhosa stories every night before bed. I trust and believe in this story and commend Y for introducing something so cool to its audience.”

Source: Supplied


 “Y is more than a radio offering.  After the success of The Banques and Venom Show, we are confident in our abilities to produce content for all platforms and Tequila AF is our second project, with more following soon,” said Phindi Ziqubu, Y’s content manager.
 
“Our research has shown an undeniable demand amongst younger audiences for this kind of content. Y has been deliberate in ensuring we enter the podcast space with something unique and which is not simply a repurposing of what we produce on-air. Content produced by the station will be available exclusively on the YFM app, before it is released on other platforms,” says Hilton Tarrant, Y’s digital manager.

Image: Sourced

The Drama Series


The drama stars up-and-coming actors Andisiwe Mpinda (as Sibu), Makoto Phumodi (as Pasi), Mmathapelo Bodibe (as Pearl), Tshepo Ramasia (as Thabiso) and Freddy Mabitsela (as Zee). Tequila AF is available from 20 April on the YFM app, with new episodes releasing every Wednesday. Download the app in the App Store or Google Play.
 
Episodes will also be available on Thursdays on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

Black Crown’s Launches its Latest Piece of Art Introducing the new Black Crown 440ml Can

Source: Supplied

Black Crown celebrates World Art Day (15th April 2022) with its latest piece of art, the new 440ml can. The can embodies creativity with its bold African and royal design.
The gold exudes royalty and luxury and is complemented by the black, which carries power and confidence. The unique crown, strategically placed at the centre of the design is at the core of the brand, which aims to proudly embody a royal state of mind. It is a crown that says you don’t hide from the light. You step into it. And it is in that moment when you chose to wear that crown, that dreams stop being dreams.
So, take that crown. Wear it proudly. Know that you deserve it. And own it. Own your crown. Black Crown identifies as an unapologetically Africa brand, which exemplifies African creativity by uplifting local African artists.

Artist Collaborations

Spotlighting African excellence, the brand has collaborated with local artists including young, vibrant and colourful hair artist Themba Mbuyisa (@themba_mbuyisa), photographer David Blaq (@davidblaqrsa) who through his work hopes to contribute toward the emergence of a futuristic narrative of creative Africa – to name a few.

Source: Supplied

World Art Day

On this World Art Day, Black Crown celebrates its latest piece of art. Packaged in a premium 440ml can, this beautiful accessory is made easy to enjoy in more occasions, such as outdoor experiences, picnics in the park, get together with friends, festival and events. A perfect drink that brings versatility to your doorstep. Launched in April 2022, the new Black Crown 440ml can is available nationwide, what are you waiting for? Grab a can of Black Crown, scan the QR code for exciting experiences and remember to tag @blackcrowngnt #OWNYOURCROWN

The Stimorol X Happyville Collab featuring Musa Keys

New Look, Same Flavour: The Stimorol X Happyville Collab. Stimorol collaborated with Jozi streetwear brand Happyville to reveal new packaging design.

Happyville

Mzansi’s coolest gum announced a hype-worthy partnership with Maboneng-based streetwear brand Happyville. #NewLookSameFlavour is the name of this collab.

Happyville’s gifted founder Lebohang Serame is to design a unique range of threads for each of Stimorol’s three ranges. To clarify, the threads will be for the Original flavours, X-Fresh, and the never-ending Infinity experience. Every Stimorol fan will be able to find a look that matches their flow. Happyville’s gifted founder Lebohang Serame had this to say: “I’m excited to create a collection that’s flexible and fluid, to give Stimorol’s new generation of fans a chance to flow through the world as themselves.”

Image: Supplied

Musa Keys

One of SA’s most refreshing Amapianio stars, Musa Keys, is the dapper model for the #NewLookSameFlavour collab. The Vula Mlomo hitmaker will showcase the range on social media. In addition, Brand manager Khanyisa Ntshuntshe says, “We’re thrilled to work with the talented, young creatives involved in this collaboration. From the visionary minds at Happyville to the fantastic Musa Keys and the photographers who will be shooting him, there’s real energy in this team. They all have such a strong and authentic resonance with the Gen Zs that love Stimorol. We’re entirely confident that this collaboration and Stimorol’s approach going forward will be a success.”

Image: Supplied

Moreover, the collab drops tomorrow, so for a chance to take home your very own one-of-a-kind piece, keep an eye on Musa’s IG and Stimorol’s social feeds!

Plettenberg Bay Restaurant Outsmarts Chicken Licken’s Trademark

After a 7 months battle in court, Sol Kitchen (previously East Coast Soul Kitchen) has outsmarted the largest food franchise in the country.

Chicken Licken’s Trademark

Golden Fried Chicken (Pty) Ltd, which owns Chicken Licken, has a number of trademark registrations in the foodstuffs of the word “Soul”. Moreover , the trademarks include Soulslaw, Soul’d out, Soul doctor, Soul man, Soul mates, Soul fire and Soul food. The case goes back to July 2021. Chicken Licken’s attorney, informed the restaurant that by trading as “East Coast Soul Kitchen”, it had infringed the trademarks and demanded that it changes its name.

Sol Kitchen

After receiving a letter the restaurant accused Chicken Licken of malicious conduct and vexatious litigation. The restaurant said they would not desist as requested. The matter ended up in the high court, where the restaurant changed its name to “Sol Kitchen”.

Source: Sol Kitchen Facebook

It announced on its social media page: “On Monday, November 15, 2021, East Coast Soul Kitchen will become Sol Kitchen”. And that was just the kick to the face on Chicken Licken. Judge Patrick Gamble said that due to the name change the battle was effectively over. He also ordered the restaurant to remove remaining references to “East Coast Soul Kitchen” from its webpage and/or Facebook page within the week.

The Final Verdict

In line with the “soul” question, Judge Gamble said the case had many questions including whether the fast food giant’s outlets are known as “Soul Kitchen”? The Judge also questioned the origin of “Soul Food”. Moreover, the question of whether Chicken Licken has plans to expand its business into the preparation and sale of food described as soul food.

How brands use humour to drive sales and expand reach

laughing girl and boy

Involving humour in marketing and advertising is a technique that has been tried and tested by many brands. The reality remains that many people love to laugh, and seeing ads that give us giggles brightens our moods. Advertisements that tap into what makes consumers laugh can create a more meaningful relationship between the brand and its audience. Many brands use a variety of marketing strategies to create unforgettable customer experiences. The use of humour to sell products has been a driving force for many brands. However, some brands fail at this attempt.

Here is a look at some campaigns that have successfully leveraged humour to create a lasting impression.

CHICKEN LICKIN #Soulbites Nuggets of Wisdom

Chicken Licken Nuggets of wisdom ad
Image: The Citizen

Chicken Licken is one of the most famous brands that put a smile on people’s faces . In a recent commercial, Chicken Licken launched an ad campaign featuring a new product – Soul Bite chicken nuggets with the theme ,”Nugget of Wisdom”.

This campaign featured some famous South African characters to bring the campaign to life and add a twist. Some of the characters include the famous artist Lebane ‘Rasta’ Sirenje. In this commercial, the policeman is looking to hire Rasta as a sketch artist. If you are familiar with Rasta’s work, you probably know what the outcomes of his work will be. Rasta is known for his drawings that do not depict his muse.

SAVANNA #Twirrashadeproject

Savannah twitter shade campaign
Image: Eminetra

Savanna Premium Cider is back with another exciting campaign called #Twirrashadeproject. The project turns the countries funniest shade thrown on Twitter into real shade with custom benches and murals to provide shade. It is one of the coolest campaigns given the impact of rising temperatures. Those interested in getting a glimpse of the shade can do so at one of these spots: Melrose Arch and Newtown Junction in Johannesburg. The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

NANDO’S #Scamandla

Nandos AD
Image: The Citizen

Nando’s is one of those brands known for hilarious campaigns that make you roll with laughter. The brand always leverages on the country’s current events and trends. Do you remember the Scamandla ad from 2021?. In that TV commercial, Nando’s was launching a new meal at an affordable price which you might consider a scam.

This advert (like all of them) was expected to prick the balloon of the current status quo. The emphasis on the low price was made with a voiceover saying: “It’s a timely reminder that we can’t afford to fall for anything that will lighten our pockets. But we can get the new Nando’s Prego and Chips for R49. Not a scam, just nje”. This campaign was bold, clever, funny, and addressed current affairs that are affecting the South African economy.

NETFLORIST

Netflorist billboard
Image: Reddit

Netflorist is also another perfect example of using humor in marketing and advertising. The brand is primarily known for its creative play of words that leave a lasting impression on the audience. Their focus is on radio and Out-Of-Home (OOH) campaigns that make those commutes a little bit lighter.

People not only remember things that make them laugh, but they also tend to share them with others. When a brand creates a marketing campaign that makes people laugh, it has a great chance of expanding its reach.

Cotton Fest Is Back This March

Cotton Fest

South Africa’s highly anticipated entertainment and lifestyle event, Cotton Fest is set to take place ion the 22nd of March 2022 in Newtown, Johannesburg. The theme for 2022 is “university and campus”. Cotton On has created their very own university of COTTON FEST campus. The festival will offer a multi-layered university campus experience including a concert, merch, cafeteria, sport area and even lockers for attendees to store their personal belongings. 

Cotton Fest Image
Image: Supplied

What To Expect 

The class of COTTON FEST 2019 return with the sophomores from 2020, together with the freshers of 2022. With the best South African artists expected to perform over 3 stages, this action packed two-day festival returns to The Station in Newtown on the 19th & 20th of March. The event celebrates various lifestyle elements within the ‘culture,’ including fashion and sport. 
 
THE CONCERT: The COTTON stage will feature headline and legacy artists. The Bettr stage will feature the New Wave of young talent. House and Electronic talent will be performing at the Jägermeister stage , alongside some of the biggest names on the Amapiano scene right now.

SPORTS AREA: A half-court will be set up for basketball fans, along with a skating ramp for skating enthusiasts. FASHION: Various merchandise hubs will stock unique pieces, limited branded fashion items and other sought after accessories.

CAFETERIA: Food Court bringing you a huge variety of delectable options and several fully stocked bars positioned around the venue. Furthermore, a photo booth set up will be available for content creation.
 

Rules of Engagement

In line with current government regulation, tickets are limited to 2000 per day. ALL festival attendees will need one of the following to gain access into the venue:

  • Provide a personal fully vaccinated certificate (either printed or online)
  • Provide a negative PCR test, if only vaccinated with one dose, done within 48 hours of the festival (either printed or online)
  • On-site Rapid Antigen Covid Tests for people who have not yet been vaccinated, which is available for R150 at the venue.

Pricing And Where To Buy Tickets

Tickets will be on sale at Webtickets and Pick ‘n Pay outlets nationwide from Monday the 31st of January. For the early birds, tickets will be available for R200. To enter the event for one day will cost R275 and R500 for the 2 days. The merch bundle and day pass packages are going on sale for R600.


This year, the University of Cotton Fest 2022 is proud to be in collaboration with Bettr.app – Africa’s first digital banking app for creators, by creators. Furthermore, the event is supported by lifestyle giant, PUMA and iconic Elixir brand Jägermeister. The festival is powered by the iconic South African youth radio station, YFM.

POB Podcast: Brand diversification, heartfelt and radical campaigns

speech bubbles

Over the past few months, we have seen more and more brands entering new markets and diversifying their product range. Unlike before, brands now have the power to offer more than one product range. Brand diversification is the process where a brand expands its product range into new markets to increase profits.

Amazon is among the brands that have succeeded in product diversification, a global brand that started by selling books online to expanding into other markets like Cloud servicing and autonomous cars etc. Another example is McDonald’s, from Burgers to Mc Cafe. The benefit of scaling for small businesses is that customers have a wide range of products to choose from. Brands with strong equity capital are more likely to survive and receive positive customer support.

The Pat on Brand’s podcast introduced an exciting new feature called “The candid conversation”. In this episode, hosts, Pat Mahlangu and Nompumelelo Stasha had a very insightful conversation about the value of brand diversification. The pair made mention of some of the great campaigns shaping the marketing industry, like the #TweetItIntoExistent and #YoutubeBlackVoices.

Here is a look at some profound brand diversification trends and campaigns.

Brutal Fruit fragrance
Image: Business Insider

Brutal Fruit Fragrance #YouBelong

The South African alcoholic beverage company, Brutal Fruit Spritzer, has expanded into another exciting market. The brand decided to enter the industry of fragrance. Although many people are questioning the connection between alcohol and fragrances, some people are very enthusiastic about trying out the new You Belong fragrance.

Twitter billboard
Image: The Message

#TweetItIntoExistence

Many people make New Year’s resolutions and have many plans. Some people dream of what they will achieve in the New Year and hope to make those dreams come true. With an understanding of the great hopes of many, Twitter launched an exciting Ad campaign that featured historic celebrity tweets that came true.This was one of the most profound campaigns, and inspires many people and motivates them not to give up on their dreams. It encourages people to dream big and chase their dreams. As the saying goes, “What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve”., The campaign on Twitter encourages people to tweet about their dreams and watch them manifest later.

YouTube Black Voices
Image: Opportunity Desk

#Youtubeblackvoice

In 2020 Youtube, the world’s leading video sharing content platform, launched #YoutubeBlackVoices. The campaign was launched to empower and celebrate African creators, artists, and culture. This launch is about embracing the unique African cultures.

Diversification allows for more variety and options for products and services. If done correctly, diversification provides a tremendous boost to brand image and company profitability.

Social Media Trends To Look Out For in 2022

The beginning of a new year ushers in new beginnings for many. Year planners have been purchased and planning has began, iIt is important to have insights to inform your goals. The social media landscape is one of constant change, keeping up with trends is the only way to stay afloat

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased the amount of time that people spend on social media. With more people creating content, it’s not only marketers who need to know social media trends, it has become important to the average joe too. Lets have a look at some forecasted social media trends for 2022.

tik tok logo witth airpods and laptop

TikTok is the place to be

TikTok has taken content creation by storm. The platform went from being ‘an app for kids’ to the next best social media app. According to an article published by Tech Crunch, TikTok is predicted to reach 775.0 Million monthly users in 2022. The increasing number of active users means more eye balls, and that is good for business and advertising. Businesses, marketers and content creators need to keep that in mind when trying to reach more people. Tick ock, the time is ticking… you better get on TikTok.

Drawing of a computer

The use of social media for meaningful customer connections

As the world is getting more and more open to the use of social media by businesses and brands, things begin to shift. We are used to brands using social media as just another form of advertising, and that’s set to change. Stricter privacy rules mean that it will be harder to get information on customer behavior. This means that the best way to connect and get to know the customer is by creating meaningful connections via social media. This year, marketers will be using social media to get to know the customer better.

Phone on a selfie stick

Video content is king

Video content keeps people glued to their screens for longer, its the best way to grab your audience’s attention. According to Pop Up Smart, video content is predicted to take up 82.5% of all web traffic. This comes as no surprise, we have seen a high introduction of video features on most platforms. Its time to hit those record buttons in order for your content to reach more eyeballs.

Phone open on photo galary

Influencers continue to influence

The rise and rise of influencer marketing continues. We have seen a lot of brands going the influencer route and this year will be no different. The reason for this growth is that influencer marketing costs less than running paid ad campaigns. Working with influencers also allows brands to work with more people, reach more consumers and thus getting a higher return on investment. I guess we can safely say that influencers are not just a trend, but a type of marketing that is here to stay.

People of different races holding hands
Image: Jaluch

Inclusivity remains important

In the age of social media, consumers have become more and more vocal about social issues. Over the past few years, we have seen a stronger pull towards brands that care about customers and general social issues. Inclusivity will continue to be an important factor for customers. This will push brands to stay on the pulse and represent the communities in which they operate.

By standing next to tv with a carton character that looks like him
Image: Pop Sugar

Just a few weeks ago, there was an image of a young boy who was so excited to see a cartoon character that looked like him. It is with such small impactful particles that we change the world, and ensure inclusivity by age, gender, race and sexual orientation. We can all agree that social media has the power to make a change.

In the age of digital, it is important for people and brands to keep up with social media trends. Anyone who wants to grow on social media, for personal or business reasons needs to understand that its all about adapting. The social media streets are a place to adapt, and keep up with the times, or die.

TikTok As A Driving Force In The Music Industry

tik tok logo witth airpods and laptop

Trends, challenges, hacks, advice and dance moves have emerged to a record high on Tik Tok. The platform reached 1 billion active users in 2021 and continues to grow. Similarly, the music world benefits to grow too. Music is the driving force behind the content created by most people on the platform.

Dance Challenges

Creating captivating content on Tik Tok has been mostly through the music on the videos. As many as 430 songs have passed 1 billion video views as TikTok sounds globally, over 175 songs that were trending on TikTok charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Numerous songs have had dance challenges on Tik Tok, including Meg Stallion’s song ‘Savage’ featuring Beyonce with more than 18.3M videos made. Meanwhile, in South Africa Nkao Tempela by Ch’cco, Mellow & Sleezy, has taken the country by storm. . The hit song, Nkao Tempela was mentioned over 19K times between the 1st of September to the 15th of December 2021.

killer kau dancing
Source: Zkhiphani

Amapiano Domination

From the takeover in 2018, the genre Amapiano has take social media and streaming platforms by storm. The genre has popularised beyond South Africa and reached global dominance. The Amapiano hashtag was the most popular music hashtag in South Africa. Siyathandana by Cassper Nyovest was the of the most popular songs in South Africa. It Ain’t Me by DJ Abux which also had a dance challenge that spread across the world trended on TikTok.

Recent Trends

There has been a few things happening in the country since the year started. However, it is without a doubt that South Africans enjoy entertainment and are always showing their creative side. With challenges changing, Nkao Tempela was last year’s popular dance but a new kid has hit the block. There is a new challenge that has everyone talking and moving, which is #UmlandoChallenge. The challenge has taken social media by storm and the song hasn’t been released yet. Since the release of the challenge, the original video has reached 1.2 million views on Twitter alone. Popular illustrator Slaying Goliath has created an illustration of the dance move.

man dancing
Source: Slaying Goliath

The music scene is boosted by social media presence. It also propels the creative space to great heights. It is amazing to see young people take their creativity to different levels with the use of the digital space. We can’t wait to see other emerging trends throughout the year.

Top 10 Interesting Brand Collaborations in 2021 South Africa

Cassper Nyovest x Drip

A brand collaboration is a strategic partnership between a brand and another party. Furthermore, brand collaboration can be with another brand which is known as a co-branded campaign. Over the years we have seen celebrities, artists and influencers collaborate. These are the Top 10 Brand Collaborations from the year 2021 in South Africa in no particular order.

Tshepo Jeans x Castle Milk Stout

Tshepo Jeans and Castle Milk Stout

The Last Stories of Culture collaboration that saw Tshepo Jeans launch a new collection which pays homage to the diverse culture and eclectic styles of African people. The collection has his signature denim, trucker jackets, dungarees and T-shirts. This is one collaboration that works well as the base of both brands is storytelling. Castle Milk Stout has been a beacon of telling African stories and Tshepo Jeans has been vocal about his brand being about storytelling with even the meaning of his crown logo.

Drip x BMW Midrand

A never seen before collaboration, Drip Footwear built a new store inside a BMW dealership in Midrand. The partnership showed that innovation is important and is going to be a trend to look out for in the coming year.

Karabo Poppy x Nescafe Ricoffy

Karabo and Nescafe Ricoffy

Heritage month is a very important month in South Africa. Illustrator, Karabo Poppy designed the limited edition Ricoffy tin. In the same month, Ricoffy was celebrating 50 years of ‘South Africannes’. Furthermore, the brand collaborated with Gert Johan Coetzee for a limited edition bucket hat.

Flying Fish x Uber Eats

Flying Fish and Uber

Featured on our weekly segment, Brand of the Week, Flying Fish teamed up with Uber Eats to promote responsible drinking. The focus of the campaign was to reduce harmful consumption of alcohol which is a big problem in South Africa. It also had multiple layers of collaboration, ‘The Flying Dish’ kitchen teamed up with local chefs – Chef Neo Nontso and Chef Alex Torrao to create meals to have before you drink. The menu had burgers, wings and fries to name a few.

Drip x Cassper Nyovest

The Legacy Deal - Cassper Nyovest and Lekau Seshoene

If there is one brand collaboration in 2021 that generated a lot of talk in South Africa it has to be this on. Local brand Drip teamed up with award winning rapper, Cassper Nyovest for a multimillion Rand deal called ‘The Legacy Deal’. The R100 million deal saw Cassper release a new line of sneakers with Drip Footwear called ‘Root of Fame’. The shoe retails for R990.

Coca-Cola x Mr Price

Just in time for summer this year, Coca-Cola collaborated with Mr Price to sell their merch. Coca-Cola is an iconic brand and so is Mr Price. This brand collaboaration makes sense for 2021 summer. The summer range had different items available in selected stores across the country. The items are a definite must have for the summer.

Porsche South African x Nelson Makamo

A moving masterpiece: artist Nelson Makamo and his one-off Porsche 911 Carrera - Porsche Newsroom

Nelson Makamo, always dreamed of owning a Porsche 911, a dream that has just been realised with the delivery of his Jet Black Metallic 911 Carrera Coupé – but the story doesn’t stop there… he hand-painted a number of his 911’s components and panels before returning them to the team at Porsche Centre Johannesburg for a final layer of lacquer and fitting. The artist dubbed ‘My Life in Motion’. This is one of the most interesting brand collaborations of 2021 and it was well documented on Porsche South Africa Instagram page.

Dr Esther Mahlangu x Air Jordan

Dr Esther Mahlangu custom designed an Air Jordan

Showcased in Dubai, Dr Esther Mahlangu custom designed an Air Jordan for close to R7.5 million. However, the shoe wasn’t up for sale. The hand-painted shoe with Ndebele prints was taken on a world tour to pay for scholarships at the Ayashisa Amateki Academy.

Neimil x H&M

H&M x Neimil

Multidisciplinary brand founded in 2018 was asked by retailer H&M to create an exclusive home décor collection to be sold in selected H&M Home stores. The retailer launched a project to support and promote small business and further promote the South African design industry. In addition, all the proceeds of the collaboration went straight to Neimil with H&M not getting any profit from it. The Neimil collection had cushion covers, placemats and bathroom mats. The material for the products were sourced and produced locally.

Makhadzi x Kicks Sportwear

Makhadzi x Kicks Sportwear

Award winning artist Makhadzi signed the biggest deal announced this year. To clarify, this deal was worth more than the Drip ‘Legacy Deal’ at R120 million. The KOKOVHA range has different items including apparel and sneakers. Makhadzi said that her collection was inspired by her roots and Venda culture.

There are a lot of collaborations that happened this year and a lot stood out. It is interesting to see the direction of brand collaborations and who brands choose to align themselves with. There has been a trend with influencers or celebrities partnering with alcohol brands this year which leave the question on what’s coming in 2022.

Kickstart your creative hustle with KFC

Slaying Goliath

3 LUCKY DESIGNERS GET TO COLLABORATE WITH KFC ON LIMITED-EDITION STREET GEAR & A CHANCE TO WIN R30 000 AND MORE.

The American famous chicken brand, KFC is celebrating its  50th anniversary this festive, in South Africa. The brand which is loved by many for its generosity and the spirit of giving and serving has again become a beacon of hope for young South Africans.

KFC StreetWise Crew

In celebrating this milestone, the treasured brand is on the hunt for a trio of young designers, performers, and artists with both the drive and skills to showcase their creative side.

According to KFC’s Senior Marketing Manager, Hloni Mohope, the initiative aims to inspire fans who are hungry for success and want to take up space in the creative industry.

“At KFC we are proud that over the past 50 years, we have become a part of South African culture, and thus our fans’ passions have inspired ours,” says Mohope. “Through our Streetwise Culture Crew platform, collaborations and creative challenges, we aim to fuel our fans’ hunger for culture creation in the same way our Original Recipe chicken feeds their desire for finger lickin’ good chicken.”

KFC  × Slaying Goliath 

The trio will Kickstart the festive season by taking part in KFC’s streetwise culture crew, in collaboration with local designer and talented illustrator,  David Tshabalala, aka Slaying Goliath, to design the limited-edition range of gear that will go on sale nationally in November this year. 

Tshabalala partnered with the brand to bring his vision of street culture to life by adding illustrations to each bucket representing an iconic city in South Africa. He asserts that being part of this campaign will give young and upcoming artists an opportunity to showcase their creative talent.

How to enter?

To be a part of this great initiative do the following:

  • Create your own design that is inspired by Mzansi Street Culture incorporating KFC Streetwise (designs can be a hand drawn sketch, a print, pattern, graphic, illustration, digital design). Designs should express what Street Culture in SA means to you.
  • Post or share the creative design in any format on any social media platform (Twitter, Tik Tok, Instagram or Facebook)
  • Tag @KFCSA on Twitter, Tik Tok or Facebook and @KFCSouthAfrica on Instagram and use #StreetwsieCultureCrew to tag your entry
  • Content posted must not use music or content that has rights owned by another third party without paying for the rights to use the assets.

Spokenpriestess collaborates with Foschini for a big purpose.

Spokenpriestess sheremix

For this week’s Brand of the Week, we look at Spokenpriestess and her collaboration with one of South Africa’s leading fashion retailers, Foschini. Spokenpriestess has an exclusive T-shirt coming from the release of her first music video for ‘Rotation Shemix’.

No stranger to Pat on Brands

Spokenpriestess is not new on the Pat on Brands platform. She was part of our Pat on Brands Dialogues in June for Youth Month in the Expressive Visionaries panel (watch here). An AfroBeats DJ, copywriter, and lover of all things African, that’s how best to describe her. She has a deep-rooted journey in the entertainment industry spanning over 10 years.

She has worked in music, radio (UJFM), PR as a writer for Silkour Online and Hype Magazine, artist management, events planner and artist liaison for artists in Hip-Hop like Ginger Trill, Kid Tini, and many more. 

Purpose driven


The T-shirt is designed by a Johannesburg-based illustrator, Zee Feels. The illustration features women who are in Spokenpriestess’ song which include, Moozlie, Tamarsha, Lioness, Crystal Asige, and Phlow. 

The main goal for this T-shirt is to empower women. All the profit (R50 from each T-shirt) made from the R50 from each T-shirt sold will go to the Frida Hartley Shelter for Destitute Women and Children based in Yoeville, Johannesburg. The shelter takes in homeless women and their children who have endured neglect, abuse, trauma and homelessness. They shelter individuals who have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet; young homeless mothers looking to kick-start their lives. 


The Rotation Shemix T-shirt is currently available in Foschini and Donna stores nationwide and online for R199.

OneSpark contributes R200 000 to help families and businesses affected by the unrest

OneSpark Insurance

OneSpark initially contributed R100 000 to help those effected by the recent unrest. Together with other committed and proud South African companies, this contribution has now increased to over R200 000 to help families and businesses that have been severely affected rise out of this unrest and come out stronger.

OneSpark Insurance raise R200 000

About OneSpark

OneSpark is the new age, globally backed start-up on the block that’s completely re-inventing and disrupting the global insurance industry. OneSpark’s founders, Greg Smith & Josh Kaplan have always been purpose-driven, passionate South African entrepreneurs. The pair have lived their lives under the single-minded pursuit of trying to uplift people and society at large. That’s why they became actuaries, designed dozens of award-winning insurance products, helped create one of Africa’s largest Social Impact Bonds and finally, started OneSpark, a company that is doing everything it can to help create a better future for us all.

Thandi’s Story

Thandi Johnson, a leader, an entrepreneur, a community hero owns one of these businesses. Thandi started her small business in 2009 to brighten the community of Soweto by selling decorations for birthday parties and weddings, among many other things. It took Thandi twelve years of blood, sweat, and tears to build her business from the ground up. But it took only one day to destroy it all.

“We’re in this together, and South Africa’s Ubuntu spirit shines bright.

Our hearts were broken when we heard her story. Entrepreneurs like her are the lifeblood of our economy. It’s time we get her back on her feet and let her shine. That’s why we’ve pledged R25,000 to help her rise,” says Greg Smith.

If you know of any small businesses or individuals that have been destroyed or damaged that need a helping hand, please reach out to OneSpark at info@onespark.co.za so they can help or connect you with people who can. There ae still so many livelihoods that we can bring change to.

A huge Pat on OneSpark for the good work.

Fashion is what you make it – NOTIVESALE #BrandofTheWeek

Notivsale clothing

Fashion has evolved over the years. Trends come and go, and new designers emerge with every new style that hits the market. Fashion has always been a way to express yourself and ranges from accessories, clothing, footwear etc.


This week we got to speak to Lehlohonolo Inama, founder of NOTIVSALE (pronounced Not for Sale). Lehlohonolo started his brand because he was driven by not finding anything that suited his style and always seeing people doing the same thing with clothes.

Lehlogonolo Inama
Lehlohonolo Inama (Founder NOTIVESALE)

What is NOT IV SALE about?

​NOTIVSALE is a brand that has never introduced change for its own sake. Instead, it has chosen to refine constantly the design of garments. Each development is analysed carefully to ensure that it adds to the luxurious pleasure to be discovered when handling the garment. NOTIVSALE focuses on silhouettes through & through, with more detail and finer finishing. NOTIVSALE is about progressing with infinite care by making certain that the garments give exceptional wear.

Why the name NOT IV SALE?

We actually struggled coming up with a name at first. However, NOTIVSALE popped out when we made our first product and we were like ‘This is not for sale anywhere.’, that’s how the name came about.

  • NOTIVESALE2

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion to me is not popular, it is what you can create or recreate and make popular. Streetwear is mostly what I relate to and what my brand produces.

​Where and how can people buy your products?

To purchase, you can visit the website www.clearcart.za or visit the NOTIVSALE page on Instagram. Courier to customers around Johannesburg is free, the product is delivered within a day. If the product is not available, the waiting period is 3-5 working days. To customers outside JHB the delivery fee is R100, and door delivery takes 2-3 days.

What are your goals for NOTIVSALE?

My short-term goal is to have a store in my hometown and collaborate with every brand from the East Rand. My long-term goal is to have more than 5 stores around South Africa.

POB Presents The Dialogues 2021 Youth Edition in Partnership with Unlocked.Me by Nedbank

POB Dialogues

In conjunction with the Pat on Brands Top 16 Brands by the Youth, Pat on Brands will engage in a panel discussion under the Pat on Brands Dialogues, which will be held on the last day of youth month. This year we are partnering with Nedbank to make this insightful conversation possible.

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