Keke Collection announces the launch of its first ever fragranced product range. Created for the boutique hotel and spa market, corporate market as well as the eccentric, discerning global traveller who demands an everyday 5-star experience. The collection is inspired by luxury, grandeur and spirited scents.
Having travelled and done business with the premium hospitality and high-end luxury markets in over 42 coun- tries across the globe, Keke Matlou is the founder of the brand. “My clients are seasoned life enthusiasts, who work hard and enjoy money-can’t-buy experiences. They appreciate the power of their personal brand essence and demand high quality, innovative and uniquely tailored brands to complement their distinguished style.”
The fragrances are unisex, and the range offers hand and body lotions to adorn your body, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners for revitalising bath times, with diffusers and candles to enrich your personal space. Distributed to exclusive hotels and spas, the products also make for great unique gifts and can be purchased online at witest.co.za/keke from 1 June 2019. Select Tammy Taylor stores will stock Keke Collection from July 2019. International delivery options outside of South Africa will be coming soon. Product prices are available on request.
“Launching Keke Collection is purpose fulfilling for me. It is a natural extension of what I do. I am honoured that a portion of the proceeds will go to Mighty Girls SA, a non-profit organisation dedicated to nurturing the African girl child to open her up to a better world –one of opportunity. This is a product with heart, in- tentionally made and used by a mindful person and responsible businesses who account for their spend in a meaningful way.”
The Africa Print Expo, the largest commercial digital print expo in Africa will take place between Wednesday 12th to Friday 14th September at the Gallagher Convention Centre and will showcase the industry of print. Exhibitors will include that of suppliers, manufacturers of commercial and digital printers, as well as finishing equipment, software, media and consumables.
The Africa Print Expo, together with FESPA Africa, Sign Africa and Africa LED will be housed in halls 1, 2 and 3 and will be open from 9am – 5pm daily from Wednesday, 12th September through to Friday, 14th September.
According to Steve Thobela, CEO of Printing SA, the official mouthpiece of South Africa’s print and packaging industry, “This is the perfect vehicle to create excitement whilst imparting knowledge within our industry through the use of the key platforms to drive awareness about the sustainability and growth of the industry. Printing SA looks forward to being part of this initiative for the third year running, and excited to be showcasing a multitude of activities aimed at ensuring the relevance of the print and packaging industry in years to come,” he said.
The main activity highlighting the benefit of this relationship is the third annual Printing SA Africa Print Conference. The theme of the conference, which takes place in Gallagher 3 on Friday, 14th September, is “Where Print Takes Off”. Topics have been carefully selected to address current economic and industry trends, and provides insights into how attendees can diversify their businesses for continued growth and sustainability,” explains Thobela.
Delegates will be offered the opportunity to ‘connect’ with the likes of Printing SA and FESPA’s executives as well as conference guest speakers, during a networking lunch.
The Printing SA Africa Conference will take place on Friday, September 14th and will cover the following topics of discussion. Starting with a discussion pertaining to Waste Management from Shabeer Jhetam Executive Director of Packaging SA; FESPA Print Census results by Sean Holt Executive Director FESPA; Demystifying the Fp&M Seta Workplace skills planning and discretionary grant application processes by P.K. Naicker General Manager Research, Planning and reporting at FP&M SETA and lastly Laura Minter Director at Digitalview will discuss how to print The Expected – colour management.
Attendance at the Printing SA Africa Print Conference allows access to FESPA Africa and the Africa Print Expo where the latest technological solutions in printing, screen printing, signage, textile printing and garment design are on show.
The cost of the half day conference is R500 excluding VAT. SAIP members qualify for a 25% discount and will earn points. Printing SA members qualify for a 10% discount. Should you hold both memberships a 25% discount will apply. Registration is now open and seats are limited.
As part of the Jamboree week of print, Printing SA will once again be hosting the ever popular annual gala dinner on the evening of Wednesday, 12th September, which is themed 1920s New York, an era where fashion and style entered the modern era. It’s the decade in which women first abandoned the more restricting fashions of past years and began to wear more comfortable clothes (such as short skirts or trousers). Men also abandoned highly formal daily attire and even began to wear athletic clothing for the first time. The suits men wear today are still based, for the most part, on those worn in the late 1920s. 1920s was also the era of the big jazz bands so be sure not to miss a night of solidarity, laughter and fun; an evening where you get to let your hair down and enjoy the company of colleagues, partners and suppliers within the South African printing and packaging industry.
We’re expecting tickets to be snapped up fairly quickly, so best to get yours today to avoid disappointment. Cost per ticket is R590 excluding VAT or book a table of ten at R5 310. For further information, contact Printing SA on +27 (0)11 287 1160 or email: events@printingsa.org
She coyly accepts the accolades for success in the glamorous industry of broadcasting and TV, but Keke Matlou is under no illusion that she has arrived.
In a world where many still seek their path, Matlou was resolute in the path she wished to pursue.
“I was intrigued that people could get paid for organizing parties and this planted a seed to study Events Management.”
Matlou discovered that it was more than just party planning but rather an engaging discipline with many off shoots to explore.
“I embraced this opportunity and worked hard,” she says
The daring young woman was only 15 years of age when she convinced her mother to allow her to pursue her studies in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Twenty one years later, Matlou has transcended from being a young woman to a budding celebrity in the entertainment industry where her voice features on commercials, television episodes and company training videos, filling conference arenas at award ceremonies such as the FNB Enablis launch-pad business awards and SARS 2016 Award Ceremony.
In addition to singing catchy jingles on both radio and television, Keke earned a spot on HOT919FM as a News Broadcaster.
Her clientele include corporates, radio stations, parastatals and individuals.
How does she juggle it all?
“It is key to know who the client is and have an understanding of their expectations. No matter how bad things get, I make an effort to positively represent the client. Remember in this industry, you are as good as your last job, so every job must be flawless and perfect. Everything I do I do intentionally hence I love what I do. It is by choice,” she says
It was however Kek’s work at In Any Event public relations and event management (pty) Ltd, compay as the Event Management and International incentives department head that attracted yet another exciting opportunity.
Her travels on behalf of clients and experience delivering on mandates of corporate led to a production company noticing her and asking her to document her travels.
This was the beginning of Keke Presents; a travel show that follows Keke as she explores life’s pleasures including fine dining, exotic activities, beautiful spots and diverse cultures for a show that airs on BET.
The upwardly mobile young Motswana is currently a member of the PCO Alliance Network – an industry governing body of event specialists in South Africa as well as a member of SITE (Society for Incentive Travel Excellence) – A global team of over 2000 industry professionals/members in over 90 countries worldwide.
“One must never stop learning more of their chosen field whilst enjoying the pecks that come with it. I believe in growth,” she says with a big hearty laugh.
Keke’s tips on living one’s dream
Live intently
Be sure of what you desire and seek it
Work towards your dreams, every step counts
Develop yourself – through school, mentorship & coaching, learning from positive influences of those already on the journey you yearn for.
Never be who you are not, cultivate you and master you.
Have fun doing what you have chosen.
Nurture important relationships; family, friends, networks. Know when it is time for what and put in the work accordingly.
Remember fear is crippling, get over it and do what needs to be done.
Keep a diary/reminder of what you wish to attain, that way you can check in and see if you are on course.
Celebrate milestones – no matter how small, give yourself a pat on the back for putting yourself out there.
Radio personality Keke Matlou gets to go on exquisite travels around Africa and all over the world. The radio personality will be spoiling us with all the details about her travels in Africa and abroad, and she’s letting us in on how her journey to travel began.
“I have a mother that would travel all over the world for work and she used to come back with exciting tales of her travels. Those stories along with gorgeous pictures gave birth to the incredible wanderlust I now identify with.
The travel bug bit me and I told myself that once I started working, that’s all I would do; Travel the world…and eventually out travel my mom.
It’s been over a 10 year journey so far that’s taken me to multiple countries all around Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and North America.
I absolutely love visiting all the spots that locals frequent, as well as the food – that’s what I really look forward to when I travel!
My bucket list has me on a mission is to tick off each and every destination on there. I’m not doing too badly so far…but Bora Bora and Cuba are still outstanding.
When it comes to the best South African province to visit, I’m conflicted between Mpumalanga and the Western Cape. Both have different offerings, but are equally beautiful. Mpumalanga is lush and has amazing game and resorts, whilst the Western Cape has amazing scenery and cuisine.
The most wonderful African country to visit in my opinion is Tanzania, specifically the island of Zanzibar. You don’t have to travel all the way to the Caribbean islands to experience the beauty of crystal clear waters and white beaches. It’s right here in Africa!
Travelling in summer will always be at the top of my list because there are so many more activities to be enjoyed. I enjoy the outdoors.
My son, who is the love of my life, is my favourite travel companion. We recently went on the loveliest trip to Mauritius together.
Travel is definitely a passion and the BEST thing that spoke to me at an earlier age…and I hope it is something that never leaves me.”
Look out for Keke’s monthly travel show right here on our website.
PCOs and exhibition planners share how they design a show, what planning techniques work best, and what pitfalls to avoid. Kim Crowie reports.
Designing an event has innumerable detailed elements to keep tabs on, and a mountain of expectation to manage, from visitors and clients. to exhibitors and suppliers. It is the job of a professional conference organiser or an exhibition or event planner to hold all of this together and ensure the client’s vision for their event is realised in all its glory.
1. Choose people you trust – One of the most important principles of event design, says Conference and Event Specialist Zelda Coetzee-Burger, is trust.
“Choose your event or design team carefully. They should be people you fully trust.” She uses the recent Stellenbosch Business Tourism Indaba as an example, explaining how, once she had signed off on the event’s look and feel, she felt confident in her event designers’ ability to understand and capture the vision. “Then, if the client decides they want to swap something last minute, it’s not a train smash because I know that overall I trust they will know the look and feel. You have to work with a team you feel completely comfortable with,” she adds.
2. Data is King
“Data intelligence is key. Always start here,” says Carol Weaving, Chairperson of AAXO and MD of Reed Exhibitions Africa. Surveys can help gauge delegates’ overall experiences, which in turn assists in conceptualising the event and making informed decisions. “How do you know what makes your customers happy? Ask them! Whether you are considering a new show or concept or whether it has been running for years, customer surveys and market research will help you drill down into your customer needs and help you deliver on their objectives.”
3. Event Design before budget
According to Zelda, it’s important to understand the event design and concept properly before putting a price tag on it. She suggests mind mapping with the client, then going into creative concept, followed by look and feel, then budget, then process design. This becomes difficult when a client has a fixed budget to work with, but doesn’t understand the cost or logistics involved in their vision. “Do not go to budget before you know what your event design looks like,” she stresses, “Your budget can be totally different based on a certain design. Don’t just work alone and see what you can come up with. Your client can also direct you in whether it’s low budget, medium budget or over the top.”
4. Fluidity is key
“You have to be totally fluid,” says Zelda, “and I think the difficult thing is when you are not flexible in nature. You have to know that this industry is fluid, and you need to make the client understand this.” She explains that although this flexibility is imperative until the event is signed off by the client and production starts, one still needs to be available to deal with any issues that arise throughout the process. According to Nick Sarnadas, Event Director at Specialised Exhibitions, “Be meticulous in your planning but flexible enough to know when to be a rock and when to be the river… and be aspirational in your approach. You will never know everything there is to know; your attitude will reflect your reality.”
5. Honesty & Integrity
According the Keke Matlou of In Any Event, it’s important to be open and honest with your client at all times. “Be honest about what your capabilities are,” she says, “Don’t take on something you absolutely know nothing about. It never ends well and the stress just isn’t worth it!” She adds that her company creates a working document with everything in it, from checklists and contact details, to itineraries and responsibilities. “All parties working on the event have a copy of the document so that we all speak the same language.”
6. Know your client’s vision
Both Zelda and Keke agree that it’s of utmost importance to clearly understand the client’s vision for their event. “When you sit with the client for the first time and you find they don’t know what they want, you go straight to mind maps. If they know what they want, we make sure everyone’s on the same page, because if someone says to me, ‘I want my event to have a classical look and feel,’ what is classical for one person is not classical for another,” Zelda says. “One can’t begin to execute any event for a client until the necessary research has been done on past events, their policies, and the direction they want to take,” adds Keke. “Don’t deviate from what’s been asked because you may have other ideas you believe might be better, but are completely left field.”
7. Know your market
“Visitor experience, I’d say is the most important principle followed by patron’s experience,” says Nick. Carol agrees, adding that competition is tough when there are hundreds of exhibitions that take place annually. “Ask yourself: ‘What will set this show apart?’ If you can’t answer that, go back to the drawing board. Keep growing your knowledge and understanding of the industry you are organising an exhibition in.” Nick adds: “I still learn something new every day, you need to be open to listening and learning. The day you stop learning, is the day you stop growing. Learn from everyone around you as often as you can. The only easy day was yesterday.”
8. Never work on assumptions:
“The biggest tip I could give young people is if your client asks for autumn colours, don’t assume you know what that is,” laughs Zelda. “People often work on assumptions and that’s where you go wrong. Compare your visuals to the client’s to ensure it’s exactly what the client wants.”
9. Have a contingency Plan
All the best PCOs and exhibition planners have stellar contingency plans in place. According to Zelda, it’s something she includes in her initial budget with the client in the event that last-minute plans need to be made. “Ultimately, it’s money that makes the world go round and if it’s not being covered by the client, you as the planner will have to carry the cost.” Nick Sarnadas agrees. “Have a laid out path that guides the overall strategy and touchpoints. Remember that you will never be able to plan for every single eventuality; you need to flexible enough to roll with the punches and be able to strategise.”
10. Add Value
Adding value to an event is an important part of the conceptual design, especially in terms of attendee engagement. Carol believes there is a trickle-down effect for this: “If you satisfy the needs of the visitor (whether public or trade) they will attend, which in turn satisfies the needs of the exhibitor which means they will exhibit, which in turns make it a success for the organiser.” Keke adds that showing the client extra love doesn’t hurt either. “Always include a value-add for the client, show them they aren’t just a cheque; that you are looking at establishing a long-term relationship that is mutually beneficial.”