1. Management and Teamwork Experience

2. Financial Skills

3. Multitasking Abilities

4. Extraneous Knowledge

5. Math Competency

6. Tenacity

7. Discretion and Good Judgment

8. Common Sense, Perception and Intuition

9. Creativity

And while these are logical and sensible attributes surely there are more skills to be added?

Negotiation skills

Let’s face it, the ability to negotiate is the bread and butter of PR. A great negotiator sees opportunities for all. As the quintessential middleman, PR professionals get results for our clients but for the media as well.

The go-between wears out a thousand sandals.

Japanese Proverb

Research abilities

If you are the one supplying the facts through a pitch, press release, media brief, presentation or even a simple tweet, it is imperative that your info is well researched and accurate. If the press see you as an unreliable news source your PR career is over.

The ability to think independently

In our little corner of the world many SA PR firms often handle press releases written by lead agencies based overseas. Most of the time news is news, but don’t spam the press with news that has absolutely no value- like a new product app that will only be available in USA. This brings us to the next point:

World Wide awareness

No man is an island and this applies to everything and everyone. Being aware of the world around you on a national and international scale helps you not only source great ideas for your clients but also puts you in touch with the news around you. E.g. if you know budget speeches are happening this week, then you will know where the media’s primary focus will be.

To be continued…

“Being able to develop new and successful shopping centres in existing suburban areas is becoming more difficult,” points out Souris. “Similarly, growth in the rural market, while still prevalent, will soon begin to slow down as that market too becomes saturated.”

According to Heidi Franck, Managing Director of property asset management and quantity surveying company, Intigra, town planners are intent on putting a halt to further urban sprawl and are instead encouraging a more efficient use of existing buildings. “This is particularly relevant in light of the fact that transport costs will continue to soar and that convenience will become even more highly rated by consumers.”

The solution, to this, is to convert existing buildings into mixed use developments. “Obviously this does require an upfront investment in refurbishing a building but depending on where the building is situated and the type of tenant mix you aim for, a mixed use centre can be a worthwhile investment” comments Souris.

Mixed use developments vary in nature and larger projects situated in thriving commercial nodes are generally successful. Office parks in Woodmead include commercial, retail and medical facilities, which allows tenants easy access to these offerings. Another example of successful offices is the Nelson Mandela Square which showcases the accomplishment of a mixed use centre, as they have a wider selection of retail space and a secure residential portfolio. Montecasino offers a variety of uses in one structure such as entertainment, retail, hospitality and offices.

In order to be profitable and successful, mixed use developments must be aesthetically pleasing and well maintained; sufficient and secure parking needs to be considered and most importantly, the tenant mix must be correct. The type of residential tenants the centre attracts will have a direct impact on the type of retail tenants who choose to set up shop in the centre. “The correct tenant mix is vital in order to create a sense of energy and space,” reveals Franck. “Mixed use developments tend to attract cosmopolitan people who buy into a particular lifestyle where safety, security and convenience are highly rated.”

Considering the massive housing shortfall in South Africa there is little doubt that mixed use developments will become increasingly popular in South Africa in years to come.

Ends

About Periscopic

Periscopic is a leading South African property management company specializing in retail center management for emerging and mixed use retail markets. Periscopic successfully manages properties ranging from iconic centers such as Montecasino to second economy centers around the country. Periscopic has the know-how and resources to enhance and achieve maximum value for the property owner’s investment.

As any food expert will advise, the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is to enjoy all the foods you love in moderation. It’s important not to set unrealistic goals and expectations, which will only lead to feelings of deprivation. Therefore, do not see any foods as being “off –limits” altogether; rather view them as items that should be enjoyed as occasional treats and try, where possible, to substitute unhealthy ingredients in recipes for healthier options.

An ‘all or nothing’ approach will simply cause you to crave the foods you have banned from your diet. Instead, balance a healthy diet with the combination of carbohydrates, protein, fats, fibre, vitamins and minerals.

When making changes to your diet, smaller, more manageable steps are more likely to become sustainable in the long term. For example, look for recipes that contain more fresh ingredients and think of food in terms of freshness, variety and colour; as opposed to merely looking at the calorie content.

Experts warn against making major changes to your diet overnight. Make changes that are more likely to become healthy habits, such as cooking with olive oil as opposed to butter or altering recipes by using products that have been designed to reduce kilojoules intake. Canderel Yellow is an example of a bake stable sweetener that can be used as an alternative to sugar. The product contains Sucralose, which is derived from sugar yet contains fewer kilojoules and is produced in a granular form suitable for cooking and baking at high temperatures.

Ultimately a healthy diet is about eating smart by using healthy cooking methods and ingredients. Most importantly, it’s about the understanding that the basis of healthy habits is moderation rather than deprivation.

Ends

About the Fore Good Group

Fore Good is a leading brand builder and distributor in the FMCG sector offering suppliers comprehensive solutions – from importation right through to merchandising and marketing. With over 4,500 employees servicing the entire South African landscape, Fore Good offers procurement, logistics, storage, distribution, sales, merchandising, commercial development, key accounts, information gathering, branding and shopper marketing for some of South Africa’s and the world’s leading brands. Brands include A1 Sauces, Ambrosia, Batchelors, Bioplus, Braun, Canderel, Clearblue, Duracell, Equal, Fixodent, Kodak, Kraft Mayonnaises, Kraft BBQ Sauces, Miracle Whip, Old Spice, Planters Peanuts, Pringles, Sharwood’s, Tampax, The Snack Factory & Tang.

Importantly, bodies of research spanning 20 years have confirmed that sucralose is safe for use as a general sweetener for adults and children of all ages, including pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Because of its low calorie content, Canderel Yellow is ideal for use as part of a calorie controlled diet and can also be used safely by diabetics.

Sucralose is a substance derived from sugar. In its finished form it is 600 times sweeter than table sugar, therefore very little is needed to sweeten foods. In addition, due to its heat stable properties, sucralose can be used in cooking and baking as well as other processes such as canning.

The safety of sucralose has been documented in the form of a stringent safety evaluation programme, whereby more than 100 studies have been conducted over a 20 year period. Studies have been conducted to monitor the effects or involvement of sucralose in the following areas: cancer, genetic effects, reproduction and fertility, birth defects, immunology, central nervous system and metabolism. No concerns have been identified in any of these areas. Sucralose can also safely used by diabetics.

Canderel Yellow containing sucralose is available in tablet, stick and granular format as an addition to the brand’s highly successful non-nutritive sweetener range.

Ends

About the Fore Good Group

Fore Good is a leading brand builder and distributor in the FMCG sector offering suppliers comprehensive solutions – from importation right through to merchandising and marketing. With over 4,500 employees servicing the entire South African landscape, Fore Good offers procurement, logistics, storage, distribution, sales, merchandising, commercial development, key accounts, information gathering, branding and shopper marketing for some of South Africa’s and the world’s leading brands. Brands include A1 Sauces, Ambrosia, Batchelors, Bioplus, Braun, Canderel, Clearblue, Duracell, Equal, Fixodent, Kodak, Kraft Mayonnaises, Kraft BBQ Sauces, Miracle Whip, Old Spice, Planters Peanuts, Pringles, Sharwood’s, Tampax, Snack Factory & Tang.

Commercial and industrial property in South Africa is largely held in JSE listed funds, with a small component of the sector held in private hands. “Improvon is one of the private owners,” says Lewington. The company owns a blue chip portfolio of industrial properties in some of the country’s most desirable industrial nodes.

Location is very important when it comes to return on investment over time. A node must have good access and visibility. “Moreover, one needs to think of where the node is headed in the future,” Lewington advises. “Is it likely to undergo any major change due to legislative or demographic shifts? Is there any reason that the node may degrade over time? Research into such questions is vital to ensure that the investment will be realised over time, and that the node is desirable not only at the present time, but going forward,” he continues.

Investment in South Africa’s property sector is largely dependent on the economic cycle, as this directs where people invest their money. While the majority of investment into JSE listed properties is in the retail and commercial property space, the economic climate makes industrial property the most attractive option. “The current economy has caused a decline in investment into retail and commercial property. Industrial property is good choice in such a climate because it promises steady growth over time – without factories and warehouses the country’s economy would certainly collapse,” reports Lewington.

In addition, investment into industrial property offers a number of other benefits. Industrial property is less complicated and more cost effective to develop. Moreover, whereas retail and commercial property owners are faced with multiple tenants to deal with, industrial property owners generally work with only one tenant per building – reducing the risk associated with the investment. “Of course, with the lower risk is a slightly lower reward, as is the case with any investment,” Lewington admits, adding that in the current climate, the reduction in risk is well worth it.

Yet how does an organisation such as Improvon attract tenants to the market? “Most importantly, tenants will be attracted by the offering,” states Lewington. “Most tenants are seeking a turnkey solution that will minimise the capital they have to outlay. To this end, they are looking to the developer or landlord to provide solutions around infrastructure, storage, data cabling and green issues. Tenants want to move in and start working immediately, putting capital into their actual business rather than the building they’re renting.”

It also goes back to location. “Of course, the right location with easy access makes a building attractive to potential clients,” Lewington concludes.

Ends

Improvon is a leading industrial and commercial property investment company that specialises in creating tailor-made building solutions suited to the specific needs of businesses looking for industrial and warehousing space. With a successful development portfolio of over 500 000 square metres in prime business locations across South Africa, Improvon’s dedicated in-house team successfully  manage all renting, leasing, maintenance and tenant liaison to ensure top service delivery for their blue-chip clients. www.improvon.co.za

“We are investing in the newest digital photo center from Kodak to ensure our customers enjoy an exceptional photo creation experience. Kodak has been a tremendous partner, delivering high-quality solutions and premium products in front of and behind the counter, which integrate seamlessly with our existing fleet,” said Christoph Werner, Managing Director, DM Deutschland. “By continuing to partner with Kodak, DM maintains its leadership position as the number one instant kiosk print retailer in Western Europe by offering innovative photo retail solutions and superior customer service.”

“This partnership reassures the South African market that KODAK still has a strong presence and continues to thrive in Europe, which boosts the confidence of local retailers as KODAK is still a leading brand in the printing industry,” said Anthony Doyle, Sales Director, Optus Brands, South Africa. “It shows that Kodak has continued to innovate to deliver a unique in-store experience and a full suite of photo services, so consumers can easily create meaningful, high quality photo products to share life’s moments.”

DM was one of the first European retailers to use KODAK Picture Kiosks, and in 2008, installed one of the first KODAK Adaptive Picture Exchange (APEX) dry lab systems. By year-end, DM will have 150 APEX dry lab systems installed in their stores. The APEX system helps retailers improve productivity and lower operating costs.

Ends

About the Fore Good Group

Fore Good is a leading brand builder and distributor in the FMCG sector offering suppliers comprehensive solutions – from importation right through to merchandising and marketing. With over 4,000 employees servicing the entire South African landscape, Fore Good offers procurement, logistics, storage, distribution, sales, merchandising, commercial development, key accounts, information gathering, branding and shopper marketing for some of South Africa’s and the world’s leading brands. Brands include A1 Sauces, Ambrosia, Batchelors, Bioplus, Canderel, Divine Essentials, Equal, Hama, Kodak, Kraft Mayonnaises, Kraft BBQ Sauces, Moulinex, Miracle Whip, Planters Peanuts, Pringles, Rowenta, Samsung, Sharwoods &  Snack Factory.

Take the newest social media buzz-Pinterest. On Pinterest users can “pin” images and videos on a virtual pinboard for others to see. This is a sharing of ideas and expression of creativity at its best.

The obvious question here is the implication on copyright-is this ‘”pinning” a violation of copyright laws?

The long and short answer to this is yes-reproducing someone else’s work without their permission is a violation of copyright since the copyright owner has a number of rights as provided for in the Copyright Act, No.98 of 1978 (“the Act”).

The Act provides for a number of exceptions to the general rule, one of which is that personal or private use of a photograph is not a copyright infringement. This however does not apply to videos.

Pinterest’s Terms of Service state that users may only publish content that they have rights to publish or where the content they are publishing is subject to a copyright exception as mentioned above.  Furthermore, the indemnity clause provides that users indemnify Pinterest for any damages that Pinterest may suffer as a result of a user’s “access to or use of the Services or Pinterest Content”; “User Content”, or “breach of any of these Terms”.

Pinterest users beware of your right to copyright as something so innocent as sharing ideas and pictures may well result in massive liability claims by those who will go to the ends of the earth to protect their content.

As most know, Public Relations is a trade that is constantly thriving, though changing media and communicating opportunities which should always have you on your toes. As a newbie in this industry, one needs drive and a natural curiosity to keep up to date with the constant adjustments and transformations within the traditional and social media spaces all the while keeping abreast of client’s needs.

I have found some great pointers for PR newbies from PRdaily. I also added a few of my own thoughts and experiences which can hopefully help you too, here they are:

• Interpret and understand all forms of media (newspapers, blogs, magazines etc.)

People take it for granted that in order to keep in touch with the world around us, we need to be reading and paying attention to the media EVERY DAY. Without the media PR would not be able to survive and vice versa.

Adding to this point I have found that the more magazine, newspapers, blogs and online features you read, the more capable you become in your job. It gives you confidence and a greater understanding on what the media, and more importantly your target markets are looking for.

• Learning is the Key to success as a newbie

The golden key for a newbie in the PR industry, and with any other industry, is to keep your mind active and keep your feet on the ground. Take the initiative to listen, speak and do as much as you can even if it is not part of the job. Personally I have found that the most important thing is listening to your peers and colleagues, as this is where you can really take advantage of someone else’s experience.

• Be a part of the group

Become a team player, help out where you can. “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.”  Babe Ruth.

In my experience so far team players win, get more help and have the backing of their peers. While those that aren’t team players seem to slowly but surely distance themselves from the group, leaving them alone and isolated.

• Be curious and tough

With a character trait such as curiosity one will become naturally more aware and can this can help develop your creativity. Being tough in this industry is crucial to survive, as this is a business that will eat up anyone who isn’t able to stand on their own two feet.

Your boss will also love the fact that you are curious, as it shows passion and a need to learn and grow. Being tough allows you to fight through the bad times, and there will be a few, and come out stronger for it.

• Communication

Any form of communication on the web has become a necessity. Become familiar with different social networking sights and those that less informal people, such as bloggers, who have an impact on what others see, hear, think and do.

As a result PR is about relationship building and maintaining those relationships throughout ones career. PR is not a job but rather a career that one needs to invest in as it will consequently lead to your own success.

Besides the above, and this might seem obvious but is often overlooked, I have found that the correct use of grammar and spelling is essential in PR. This does not only apply to clients and the media, but internally too. It is the basis of our jobs and doing your utmost at all times, whether writing a simple email to a colleague or a press release shows people that you take your job seriously.

To all those entering the PR industry, good luck and enjoy. It’s tough and can be stressful but is hugely rewarding. Keep an open mind, eagerly learn, be positive and go the extra mile and you will show your worth in gold.

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How are we to get more paying clients without marketing ourselves? It is not impossible, but growth will be slow and could even become stagnant. Therefore PR agencies should put their best practice into practice. At Livewired we have allocated an Account Manager and Publicist to specifically work on the business. They treat it like any other client, with strategy, content calendars and regular status meetings.

Activities include digital and traditional PR, with blog posts, new business, thought leadership and profiling being on top of the list. However SEO is also vital and as a new client once said to us “I Googled PR companies and you came up on top of the list, which means you must want my business”, which we did and secured.

The PR reports need to look like any other clients, showing all activities, clippings and the return on investment. A monthly retainer has been allocated, and though smaller than most clients, it allocates the hours that need to be spent.

Doing the above ensures consistent communication and relevance, showing that you can do for yourself what you preach to others. After all, even AD Agencies do PR!

The correct mix of tenants that appeals to the surrounding community is essential. This is borne out of evidence that while many centres continue to battle in the wake of the recession positive results still can be achieved.”

According to Souris centres should consider the demographics in the catchment areas they serve. The family lifecycle is a key factor when it comes to deciding your tenant mix and entertainment offerings. If the surrounding community is made up of older people whose children have long since moved on to establish their own households, the centre is not required to cater to young shoppers who love spending time in trendy shops.

Other factors such as the newness of the centre must also be considered. Shopping centres that were once largely ignored by consumers have had a new lease on life following refurbishments. Often this gives them a chance to reposition, appealing to a different segment of the market.
Souris says, “Something else to bear in mind is how the centre fits into the lifestyle of customers. Many shoppers today prefer to stock up on necessities as they need them rather than do one large monthly shop. This is particularly true of neighbourhood centres.

“This means that people shop more, but spend less. Shopping patterns will inform retailers and centre managers on both the type of goods purchased and how to effectively display them. It is critical that the centres’ retailers are always stocked with basic essentials and items that are in high demand. Often, people go shopping solely to purchase such products, so maintaining a good store will ensure repeat visits. On the other hand, if shoppers are disappointed one time too many, they will make their purchases elsewhere.”

Souris observes that a number of new centres are opening in areas that appear to be already saturated with mall options. There’s no question that such centres will take market share from each other – so, again, the answer lies in securing a tenant mix that speaks directly to the community shopping needs that the centre serves.

Ends

About Periscopic
Periscopic is a leading South African property management company specialising in retail centre management for emerging and mixed use retail markets. Periscopic successfully manages properties ranging from iconic centres such as Montecasino to second economy centres around the country. Periscopic has the know-how and resources to enhance and achieve maximum value for the property owner’s investment.