On Shelf
On Shelf

#OnShelf: Branding during Covid is about reassurance and support

by Louise Burgers. From chocolate to sanitiser to weddings – brands step up to bring relief to consumers and some lockdown levity to lighten the load in these uncertain times.

by Louise Burgers. From chocolate to sanitiser to weddings – brands step up to bring relief to consumers and some lockdown levity to lighten the load in these uncertain times.

Hello, all you chocolate lovers

Lindt has injected some much-needed fun during lockdown by launching a new range aimed especially at South Africans. The Lindt Hello chocolate slabs pay homage to the splendour of South Africa with locally designed packaging capturing our beautiful cities. As the Lindt PR says: “From Jozi to Cape Town and Pretoria to Durbz, we’re honouring the colours, people and sights of the rainbow nation with our brand-new packaging.  Each flavour features different South Africa-inspired graphics of city skylines, events, landmarks and site-seeing attractions which are easily recognisable to citizens of the country and tourists. The packaging was designed locally and captures the beauty of each city perfectly.”

Each of the four flavours in the 100g range are dedicated to a different city in the country: Cookies and Cream for Jozi, with the CBD cityscape and iconic Hillbrow tower; Strawberry Cheesecake for Pretoria, featuring the Union Buildings and Voortrekker Monument; Caramel Brownie for Cape Town, with Table Mountain of course and the Cape Town Stadium; and Crunchy Nougat for Durbz, featuring the Moses Mabhida Stadium and the beach promenade. For each limited edition South African Hello slab purchased, R1 will be donated to hospitals within the city depicted on the packaging to say thank you for their efforts to care for South Africans, in a #SupportYourCity campaign.

Strategise and sanitise
Geza Sanitiser Station.

That seems to be all we are doing in this dystopian Covid world: sanitising and restrategising business plans. One South African entrepreneur can help with the sanitising part. The Geza Sanitiser Station has been launched by entrepreneur Khethi Ngwenya, who is the co-founder of Geza. Ngwenya is also the managing director of SchoolMedia. ‘Geza ’ means ‘wash’ in isiZulu; and the hand sanitiser station is an elegant, slim option which transcends the buckets and tables and bottle systems we see outside so many shops and malls right now. The 960 mm sanitizer stand holds four litres of liquid and is operated by a foot pump, which is made of high-quality material that enables it to withstand wear and tear. “Geza is different to other sanitisers on the market, in that the liquid is dispensed directly into the unit, so there is no need for nozzles and spray bottles, of which there is currently a shortage countrywide. The unit is free-standing, enabling flexibility and placement. It uses sanitisers or liquid soap of any brand and is perfect for corporates, schools, retail stores and public transport stations. It is also engineered and manufactured by South Africans, for South Africans,” said Ngwenya. The GEZA santiser station is available from: @yourstoreglobal on Instagram.

Blooming marvellous
Bloom Gin competition.

Bloom Gin has glided down the aisle to the rescue of couples who had to postpone their weddings because of lockdown, by launching a competition to win gin and wedding favours for their big day when things are back to normal. The gin brand is offering one couple the opportunity to win complimentary Bloom Ready-to-Drink serves to share with their guests as wedding favours when their re-scheduled big day finally arrives. In addition, Bloom Gin will also provide its London Dry Gin brand to add to cocktails for toasts. To qualify for the competition, couples need to register on: www.bloomgin.co.za/bloomwedding. As the brand says: “Ultimately, while it’s heart breaking to have to postpone or cancel your wedding, Bloom Gin and our partners Pink Book and Bride & Co want couples to remember that when the big day finally does come, it’s sure to be perfect in every way.”

 

 

Louise Burgers (previously Marsland) is the Publisher and Editor and Co-Founder of RetailingAfrica.com. She has spent over 20 years writing about the FMCG retailing, marketing, media and advertising industry in South Africa and on the African continent. She has specialised in local and Africa consumer trends and is a passionate Afro-optimist who believes it is Africa’s time to rise again and that the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) will be a global gamechanger in the next decade.

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