Happening Africa

Change in operations in East Africa

Change in operations in East Africa

The cell phone networks in East Africa are changing the way that they look at the countries in this region.  They used to look at each of the markets Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya as separate markets within the East Africa reagion but this is changing with more of a regional approach. One cell phone number can know be used across all three regions. There is also an offer for the same tariff rate for Safaricom, MTN and Vodacom users across East Africa which is a new way of looking at the billing option for East Africa. Also having Vodacom and MTN with  the same offer on the same ad is signs of things changing in East Africa.

GHANA PROMOTIONS

The shopper in Cameroun is confronted with lots of activity in bar at the moment of truth all aimed at getting him to spend his bucks. The market is very competitive especially over the Christmas season when there is more cash around and everyone wants a piece of the action. Lots of the promotions are run by in bar promoters and yes they all tend to be female. The old days of branded t-shirt has changed or is changing to branded promoter uniforms. Some of these are designed just for the promotion and some are generic to the brand.

When the promoters are not in the bar it is up to the bar staff and pos to run the promotion. Therefore there always seems to be a bar staff incentive of some kind as well as branded clothing for the bar staff and waiters.

The prizes differ from one promotion to the next but what is important is that there is a high reward factor. If the shopper does not see that shoppers are winning then they believe that the promotion is a fake and turn off quickly. The redemption rate should differ at launch to the middle of the promotion. If you are in a position to seed win rates at specific times then this can also be done. Nothing better than to run a promotion in a bar and have lots of winners. At all time you have to be honest if the shopper or bar staff or bar owner believes that the promotion is rigged then the word gets onto the street very quickly and your promotion can be ruined.

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South African Roads

South Africa at the tip of Africa has a large road network across the country. People have always believed that the road network is better than most countries in Africa. Things often happen in other parts of Africa that do not happen in South Africa. I say think again things that happen in South Africa happen all over Africa. Just look at the amount of traffic on a freeway in Johannesburg at midday. I would say that it is starting to look like roads in Ghana or the bridge out of town in Cameroun and if I had taken the picture during rush hour maybe even it could have looked like the bridge from the main land to VI in Lagos except for the yellow taxi and lack of bikes.

The other picture is of a Architects 3d plan on the back of a bakkie. Who would transport something like this on the back of a open bakkie after all the hours of work that have gone into a piece of work like this let alone the cost. I say again only in Africa do you see things like this and South Africa is very much part of Africa.

Wrangler in Ghana

Ghana now has a shop that sells Wrangler products or rather there is now a Wrangler shop in Ghana. Part of the advertising campaign is supported with billboards that advertise the shop and the brand. Yes you are right the shop is in Oxford Street. I am sure that there are lots of imports from the East as well as traditional outfits that are competing for the same fashion buck.

Power in Ghana

After the rainy season in Ghana the water levels are down due to lack of rain. Most of Ghana's power comes from Hydro power. It is estimated that with the power sharing that is taking place at present as much as 20% of the population is without power at any time. With the dryer months to come power could be even  more of a problem.

The media owners of TV / Radio and Outdoor / Light billboards could see revenues drop or be renegotiated.

What is new is battery outlets and more gas outlets on the street. Everything always has a positive in Africa a loss for one person is not a loss for everyone.

If people start viewing TV or listening to radio using battery power then they will become very selective in their viewing patterns. Football will always be top of the list with DSTV using billboards to promote their sports channels.

 

SA building wraps

Building wraps in South Africa have become a very large source of revenue for outdoor companies in a very short period of time. It is almost as if the laws for building wraps are different for wraps and  billboards. Cape Town has always been timid with outdoor is not using the same rules for wraps. The sites are not limited to Alcohol brands althouth most of the pictures are of Alcohol brands. The building  wraps change on a regular basis. Production cost for a large wrap could be anywhere from $7 000 - $10 000 and that is without the application cost. They seem to be changed about every 3 months. I am not sure if this is a new source of spend or if the spend is coming from Radio/TV or print. It would be nice to know were the money is coming from.

Billboards in Cameroun

Billboards in Cameroun are a medium that is very heavily traded. From the cell phone companies/ cars/ beverages/ churches /and even food all use this medium. You can tell what is going on in the country from a drive around town and just looking at the outdoor advertising. At present Guinness Stout is running a  promotion as well as Tubour (which is a lager). There is also a new stout that has been launched into the market and Orange and MTN  are having a royal scrap for the consumers buck.

There are billboards for accomadation which are new as well as hotels that have just been built. Accomodation is full and America Air are flying to Cameroun which is new. All in all by looking at the billboards around town you can see that there is a war on for the consumers bucks.

For the first time there is a billboard that is advertising internet at home. Yes that is right Africa will overcome their broadband issues and will all will be connected very soon

The Changing Face of Lagos

The whole international airport in Lagos has recently been refitted with new green ceiling boards that are the same colour as the Virgin Nigeria green so yes, the whole airport seems to be owned by Virgin Nigeria. What has also come with the new facelift is that the whole terminal is air-conditioned. This is really a comfort that any traveler enjoys, be it the hassle of leaving or the heat of arriving.

The arrivals and departure walkways are shared and it is here that MTN have taken the majority if not all the billboards (but the Virgin Nigeria green still comes through)!

A new offer from MTN both in Nigeria and Cameroon is "Talk free after midnight."

It would be interesting to see just how many are using this service and as yet it is not available in South Africa.