The A-list is part of a solution for marketers operating in South Africa who are struggling to find black-owned marketing and communication agencies in the industry which is hungry for more diversity.
In response to numerous requests from marketers the IAS recently conducted intensive research and established a database of black-owned and black women-owned agencies and other suppliers in the sector.
Johanna McDowell, the founder and managing director of the IAS, says that the list continues to grow and represents 13 key sectors of the marketing communications industry such as advertising above line, digital, below line/point of sale, promotions, shopper, activations, design and branding, media planning and buying, PR, commercial/video production, events and event management, research and production/printing.
“We also look at the location of the agency, its shareholding structure, current BEE and expected BEE in the new codes, details of the top team, size of the agency, client list and latest credentials,” McDowell says.
“This database is being continuously updated and is available to those marketers who wish to subscribe to this information on a regular basis. As a result of being able to supply this database on a non-exclusive basis, the IAS is able to keep the costs quite low for each participating marketer."
All contact will be channeled via the IAS in the initial stages.
“Inclusion in the sector needs a new and unique way of doing things and by using this list as a stepping stone for progress, the opportunities available for black owned agencies operating in South Africa are limitless as it exposes them to high end domestic and international clients looking to gain a foot hold in the local market,” McDowell says.