Generation Next announces its first Youth Marketing Conference

South Africa’s youth continue to guide marketers on what is considered to be “cool”, and with an annual spending power of over R98-billion per year, South African brands can?t afford not to take notice.

“After over a decade of insights and results, the decision to incorporate a conference into the awards ceremony was the logical next step. The youth market remains an exciting hunting ground for savvy brands and the conference will guide marketers on how to navigate SA?s fearless and brand-aware youth,” said Trevor Ormerod, GM: Group Sales at Times Media.

In association with headline sponsor Proudly SA, and partner loveLife, the conference will host a wide variety of speakers discussing various effective youth engagement strategies, consumer habits, youth trends and much more.

“Proudly SA is indeed proud to be associated with the inaugural Generation Next Youth Conference. The youth and its purchasing power is an important consumer demographic. Therefore it?s crucial for us, as Proudly SA, to engage in activities which can create increased awareness (especially) around local products and services. We are confident that this Conference will benefit everyone involved in marketing products and services to young consumers – as well as the youth themselves,” said Proudly SA’s CEO, Adv. Leslie Sedibe.

Hosted by Anele Mdoda, the lineup for the Youth Marketing Conference will consist of:

• Jason Levin, MD at HDI Youth Marketeers, who will discuss findings from the Sunday Times Generation Next annual survey;
• Pepsi Pokani, CEO of Bonngoe TV, who will host a discussion with representatives of HDI’s Junior Board of Directors;
• Converse, loveLife and KFC present case studies on their brands successes in the local market;
• DJ Euphonik talks personal branding and the increasingly important emphasis on it; and
• Lazi Mathebula presents the big trends watch and what lies ahead for 2015.