Page 3 - SMA-third-quarter

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN MARKETING CONFEDERATION The time for our first marketing Summit draws ever closer S I SIT AT MY DESK WRITING it’s unlikely that I would even know how favourite has to be the following: ‘Upon the this column, I can’t believe to use it now! sands of hesitation, bleach the bones of A that we are already well over But back to the intended point of this millions who, whilst they had the chance, half way through 2014. I guess it’s an column: ‘time’. All these years later – with waited … and waiting they died’. age thing … the reality that the years the focus now on digital media, social Before we know it, time will have flown seem to flash by at an ever-faster pace. marketing and supply chain processes – by and it will be October. So let me give Which leads me to think about ‘time’ and has anything really changed? Shouldn’t we you a timely reminder now to please take whether or not we, as marketers, use it still consider that time can, indeed, be a the time to sign up to attend our first AMC both effectively and efficiently. competitive advantage? Marketing Summit and Exhibition. This not- Towards the end of my MBA course, As we know, being first to market with to-be-missed event takes place from 15-18 while we were deciding on topics for our an innovation remains a key objective October at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. research projects, my lecturer in Strategic within a marketer’s launch plan. Product Our keynote speakers are internationally Business suggested that perhaps a and branding life cycles remain useful recognised masters in their fields and will worthwhile theme would be ‘Time as the marketing tools, as does time-based be supported by speakers from all the AMC next source of competitive advantage’, scenario planning. And not forgetting member countries. The exhibition will be (Bill Gates’ book Business at the Speed that the recent focus on logistics and a showcase of interesting products and of Thought was also a business school distribution (especially on this huge services in all marketing arenas. bestseller at the time). continent of ours) is really all about being As this is the last issue before the I must confess that I did my MBA the quickest to reach the ears, eyes and Summit, please take the time to read more many moons ago – before cellphones hands of our chosen target markets. So about the event on pages 34-37. and laptops became commodities – and marketing and business is – and always As for me, I look forward to spending at that time my most treasured and will be – about time and timely actions! time with you at Victoria Falls! hard-working piece of technology was There are many metaphors, clichés and my HP business calculator (… hands proverbs that remind us of how time is our Helen McIntee up if you can remember those). In fact, most important and non-recyclable asset: BA MBA (Wits) CM (SA) IoD (SA) I still have mine, although it has been ‘Time and tide wait for no man’ President: African Marketing Confederation relegated to a cabinet drawer that I (… or woman I guess); ‘Procrastination Director: Institute of Marketing regard as my ‘technology graveyard’ and is the thief of time’, etc. However, my Management (SA) Third quarter 2014 strategicmarketingafrica 1 01_Presidents_letter v2.indd 2 2014/06/26 11:45 AM