Gen Z Lab is made up of 73 employees from the 10 regions, who are all in their 20s. They are willing ‘Samsung fans’ who love their company and its products and are full of passion to create content on social media.

The 73 members plan to collect ideas within the group to find a more familiar name to Gen-Zers to replace the name Gen Z Lab. Playing a proactive role, they will plan and create marketing activities.

Gen Z Lab members share their feelings and expectations about their future activities

All members of Gen Z Lab have completed a training course, which was held online over the month of October. This workshop provided them with the information they must know for their future activities. Starting with understanding the brand insights of Samsung Electronics, the course includes various lectures from Kantar, a global market research institute, Facebook, and Stanford University. They also have the opportunity to learn about content creation and visual storytelling from successful YouTubers.

After completing the one-month training, these Gen Zers will listen to what their peer group wants by exploring various marketing activities. It will lead them to create and implement new marketing ideas for better products and services. The members are also expected to produce content focused on specific interests and the lifestyle of Gen Z in each region, as well as organise popup events and collaborate and partner with Gen Z’s favourite brands and artists.

Along with the individual Gen Z Lab in each region, the Gen Z Lab under the umbrella of the Global Marketing Centre will be in charge of global projects. Its additional role is to share the latest trends with executives to help their understanding of Gen Z and provide insights that can support the business decision making process. To accelerate these activities, an advisory group will be organised and will collaborate with the consultative group in the business division and mentor groups.

 “Gen Z Lab is a newly created organisation to connect with Gen Z across the regions including South Africa. We expect Gen Z Lab members to become true storytellers who can represent Gen Z customers in their own disruptive and creative ways,” said Dudu Mokholo, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Africa. Gen Z Lab has taken the first step in sharing a common goal across the globe. We root for creative and exciting marketing activities from Gen Z Lab members.”

Cambridge Mokanyane, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung South Africa, says, “As the official electronics partner to the Springboks, Samsung South Africa has enthusiastically joined in the pride and passion of the country. The power of sport to unite a nation is once again firmly in the spotlight and we are proud to be a part of this great moment in our country’s sporting history”

Watching the Springboks’ quest become a reality, has enthralled and excited the whole nation, and we are proud to celebrate them becoming the World Champions once more.

Samsung – the power behind the Boks.

“Samsung consistently strives to make people’s lives better by ensuring our products are created with the utmost care and with the end user always in mind. We are proud to be associated with such a prestigious award and humbled that our customers have voted us No. 1,” says Justin Hume, Marketing Director of Samsung Electronics South Africa.

The Best Buy Award considers price-quality ratio as vital in consumer purchase decisions. The importance of which is explained as, “today, consumers across the world look for the highest value for the price of products and services. Final purchase decisions are often made based on an assessment of features and benefits in relation to actual cost. Consumers are also more aware that the actual quality of a purchase is not guaranteed, even if the brand-name is popular or the price is higher than that of comparable products or services.”

The “Best Buy Award” refers to the research, medal and certificate that represent what buyers are most often attracted to. Price-quality ratio identifies an item in a market segment with the best price along with the best quality. Consumers are also more aware that the research and certificate allows them to recognise products and services with the best price and with the highest quality for that monetary value.

“The Best Buy Award medal is a clear indicator that products and services meet strict quality standards while being reasonably priced, which is why Samsung’s range of air conditioners were voted the best,” concludes Hume.

Since 2010, the Lux Awards has been recognised as one of the most prestigious honours for lighting component manufacturers and customers who have significantly improved the global lighting environment, reduced energy consumption, or achieved major technological advances of importance to users worldwide.

Samsung’s PMD features two-channel driving, allowing luminaires to tune colour temperature (CCT) and dim light output. For example, in order to control a luminaire with warm white and cool white modules, previously a separate driver was needed for each colour temperature as well as a controller to connect the two drivers to a single dimmer. However, with Samsung’s award-winning PMD, a luminaire only needs to be wired to the PMD to fine-tune the CCT and control dimming in an exacting manner. This dual role adds to the simplicity and convenience of everyday lighting environments in an extensive number of applications ranging from commercial to architectural lighting.

The PMD also supports Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) and 0-10V output ports, as well as the universal input voltage range for easy adoption throughout the global lighting market. Its programming software allows lighting system managers to easily adjust operating value settings, such as CCT, current and dimming levels, to create the most optimised lighting environments.

Samsung’s PMD has become a key element in a growing number of smart lighting systems as it can be quickly linked to a wide range of control modules and sensors using a 24V auxiliary power supply, eliminating the need for an additional power source. Moreover, it can be adjusted in 1mA increments, enabling more efficient inventory management for luminaire manufacturers.

“The new and exciting Galaxy J Pro series consists of the Galaxy J5 Pro and Galaxy J7 Pro models and is poised to enable Gen Z’ers to enjoy a smarter life with a phone that has premium Samsung Galaxy range features, a stylish body design and enhanced camera technology at an affordable price,” says Rui Brits SeniorManager of Product Marketing, Samsung South Africa.

Those Gen Z’ers old enough to enter the workplace are already jacked into the connected era of the internet, memes and social media. They are an always-on generation and demand quick access to the information they need. Which is why the J7 Pro’s Always-On Display, which enables consumers to check information at a glance without waking up the screen, is the perfect feature for these users.

Not only is this device practical, but it is also beautiful and comfortable to hold. The J Pro series models introduce a sleek design with a body made of metal and 2.5D glass. The curved back accentuates its fluid lines and provides a perfect grip for watching movies or playing games. It comes in a range of colours to suit everyone’s style.

But what would any smartphone be without the ever-evolving camera? The Galaxy J5 and J7 Pro series helps consumers take clear, bright photos. With its bright (rear: F1.7; front: F1.9), high-resolution, 13 MP cameras, it’s especially perfect for taking selfies in low light conditions. The Selfie Flash complements the front LED flash by turning the entire screen into a second flash to brighten your face, while a great selfie with friends can be taken by show of palm – without touching the shutter button.

“Samsung wanted to bring our customers a new and exciting smartphone that meets their lifestyles, tastes and budgets. We are confident that the Galaxy J Series Pro (2017) will appeal to existing and new customers seeking a beautifully designed, powerful smartphone from a premium brand, all at an affordable price point,” Brits said.

Black Friday in the US sees shoppers line up for hours before shop doors open, usually starting trade earlier than normal and extending shopping hours. These days, Black Friday specials extend over the entire weekend.

Samsung joins the excitement and invites shoppers to register at http://www.samsung.com/za/offer/black-friday-samsungstores-2017/ to be the first to be informed of what the Black Friday specials will be. From Friday, the 24^th of November 2017 all the way through to Sunday, the 26^th of November 2017, shoppers will have access to incredible specials.

“We specifically created this campaign in response to an overwhelming demand for our premium products. We are building on best global practices and with this implementation we are taking a distinct cue from the Black Friday promotion in the US,” said Justin Hume, Samsung Marketing Director.

Hume explained that consumers could expect to see massive discounts on premium products – specifically QLED televisions – in Samsung brand stores and other retailers. Other incredible deals include a first time ever offer of a Samsung 55” Curved UHD TV under R10 000 (model UA55MU7351) and a Galaxy J5 Pro for R3699, at a saving of R1000.

Sources

* The word Black Friday is believed to refer to the fact that businesses record their losses in red ink and their gains in black.

This year, South African women celebrate the 61^st anniversary of the Women’s March to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, protesting pass laws. Although great strides have been made since then, women are still largely excluded from certain sectors, despite being the country’s economic driving force. Millions of women across the country’s townships are left destitute, often with no way of caring for their families.

According to *StatsSA, the unemployment rate in South Africa is currently at 27.7%, and according to the 2017 Grant Thornton Women in Business report, only 28% of senior management positions in South Africa are filled by women. This figure has gone up by only 2 percentage points in the past 15 years, an indicator of the slow integration process. However, Samsung’s Women Technical Programme is working to balance the scales quicker.

Richard Chetty, Director of Services at Samsung South Africa, explains that women have been excluded from the electronics field for far too long, “Women have an eye for detail and deliver quality work, which makes them ideal for this sector. To address the gender disparity in the industry and to add to the pool of talented technical specialists required to service and support the growing consumer electronics and mobile phone markets, we welcome women into Samsung’s technical programme.”

This programme has seen the first intake of 16 young women graduate from the programme and they are now all employed at Samsung Service Centres in Gauteng. The second intake of women are due to complete their training in September, providing them the opportunity to receive skills and become self-sufficient.

The women included in Samsung’s Women Technical Programme are between the ages of 18 and 25, are from the townships around Ekurhuleni and have already completed a college qualification. If they have not secured employment, they are then accepted in this programme. They complete a six-month in-depth technical training course, followed by a month of in-service training. Once, after gaining the technical knowledge they need, students are exposed to the public and are taught the ins and outs of client service. Students return to Samsung’s Women Technical Programme to round out their training. Service Centres can offer the fully trained students permanent employment, providing them with the first stepping stone to a career in the electronics sector.

“Samsung is ensuring that women are taking up more space in the electronics field and of that, we are proud,” concludes Chetty.

*Source: http://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=9960

If you have a great business idea but don’t know how to take it further, Samsung’s Mixed Talents campaign is running a new competition aimed at young and aspiring entrepreneurs – officially opening to the public on 13 June 2016 and closing on 3 July 2016.
 
Following on from its previous competition earlier this year, which saw three winners each receiving R 50000 in start-up capital, as well as support from a training and mentorship programme, this competition is going to see ten finalists pitching their ideas to a panel of business experts in much the same manner as the popular ‘Dragons’ Den’ television programme.
 
This is according to Dr Michelle Potgieter, Director of Corporate Marketing and Communications at Samsung South Africa, who adds, “Earlier this year, Samsung Launching People, in partnership with METIME, unveiled the Ideas Bank – a way to turn your entrepreneurial ideas into a reality, and help address the issue of youth unemployment in South Africa. Samsung created this technological platform for young local entrepreneurs, offering them an opportunity to voice their ideas and link them to expert partners for guidance.”
 
“Now once again, we invite young entrepreneurs to visit the Mixed Talents Ideas Bank, hosted by METIME, to find out how to take their ideas further and stand the chance of winning an amazing prize that has both monetary and mentorship components.”
 
Potgieter goes on to explain that the prizes offered for the latest local Mixed Talents competition will include another Trade Safe grant giveaway to three promising young entrepreneurs, who will each receive R 50000 to help launch their business dream. “In addition, winners will be given access to over R 300000 worth of invaluable business support tools from our partners, such as serviced office space for each organisation through Work Central and world-class coaching through Winning edge.”
 
Potgieter continues, “To enter the competition, new users are invited to visit the Ideas Bank web application and submit their entrepreneurial ideas or aspirations. New users will need to build a professional profile to source the relevant support or information to take their idea or business to the market. Existing users should make sure that they polish and update their profile on the Ideas Bank, also completing new fields that have been added.”
 
With the ideas loaded, a team of business experts will scrutinise them and select ten finalists. Potgieter says, “The shortlist of finalists will be announced on 13 July and invited to present at a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style grand finale, taking place on 22 July.”
 
During this event – which borrows its theme from the popular television programme in which budding entrepreneurs are able to share their ideas with a team of business experts who are prepared to reward the best idea – a panel of Samsung Mixed Talents experts and partners will choose the three winners.
 
“One of the distinguishing characteristics of the competition is that promising entrepreneurs are able to get real guidance and support by simply presenting an idea. In contrast, most business incubators stipulate that the entrepreneur needs to have actually established their business. We are extremely excited at the opportunity to offer another three entrepreneurs the chance to turn their idea into a business reality,” concludes Potgieter.
 
For more information on the campaign visit: www.launchingpeople.co.za and follow #MixedTalents