Shop! SA founder and managing director Di Wilson says that Shop! exists to further excellence in the shopper environment industry.

"Our goals, as Shop! SA, are to upskill participants in this arena, facilitate networking and collaboration and recognise outstanding achievements. This awards ceremony, our first, celebrates creativity, innovation and excellence in-store, online and throughout the shopper path to purchase," Wilson says. 

Sponsored by Barrows, H&A Online and Point, the ceremony was held at Johannesburg in Modderfontein and attended by 120 industry stalwarts, says Shop1 SA. 

Jenna Bestbier, head of sustainability at Barrows Global, spoke to the issue of sustainability and how using an integrated data drive approach to design low-carbon solutions will move the industry towards a future of net zero emissions yet still support the creation of net profit. 

Integer \ Hotspot, represented by lead strategist Sonia Correia, talked about the value of maximising the impact of shopper marketing and unpacked the importance of collaboration in creating shopper marketing excellence.

Around the world, the Shop! OSMA Awards are the industry's major annual awards that recognise and reward best practice, innovation and excellence in shopper marketing, Shop! SA says. 

Wilson says that 2023's South African entries showcased excellence in retail execution and matched the global standard. All Gold winners will be automatically entered into the Shop! Global Awards.

The 2023 Shop! SA winners are as follows:

Digital & Experiential Campaign — Liquor
  • Gold: SAB WiFi X (Barrows)

Digital & Experiential Campaign — Health & Beauty
  • Gold: Digital Training in Retail Environment (Smart Media)

Digital & Experiential Campaign — Formal Grocery
  • Silver: RCL Chickees (Hyphen Creatives)

Digital Campaign
  • Silver: Voice of Makro (Iconic Collective)
  • Gold: Avon Influencer (Brand Influence)

Grocery Shopper Marketing — Non-food
  • Silver: BIC Major Back to School (Integer \ Hotspot)
  • Gold: Makro Black Friday (Iconic Collective)

Grocery Shopper Marketing — Food
  • Bronze: Doritos Xbox (PepsiCo; Magical)
  • Silver: Jacobs Aroma (Tradeway Promotions)
  • Gold: Doritos PlayStation (Hewitt & Associates)

In-store Display & Point of Sale — Temporary
  • Bronze: FLM Marvel FSU (Xanita)
  • Silver: Douwe Egberts Innovation Design (Hyphen Creatives)

In-store Display & Point of Sale — Permanent
  • Silver: L'Oreal Clicks Beauty (Barrows)
  • Silver: TOPS Occasion Based (Barrows)
  • Gold: LiveKindly Plant-based Hub (Barrows)

In-store Display & Point of Sale — Liquor
  • Silver: Savanna Bespoke Unit (Integer \ Hotspot)
  • Silver: Buffalo Trace (Hewitt & Associates)
  • Gold: Makro Whiskey Experience (VF!)

In-store Display & Point of Sale — Health & Beauty
  • Bronze: Smart Grab and Go (Smart Media)
  • Silver: Smart Q and Shop (Smart Media)
  • Gold: Personal Care aisle Reinvention Gold (Barrows)

"We're absolutely thrilled to announce our winners,' says Wilson. "Individually and collectively, they represent the future of shopper marketing in South Africa."

Wilson notes that the judging panel comprised:
  • Carl Willoughby: multi-award-winning chief creative officer at TBWA Hunt Lascaris, and ranked #1 executive creative director in SA at the 2021 Loeries.
  • Mamapudi Nkgadima: managing director of market research company African Response and former SAMRA board member.
  • Carla Gontier: strategy director at Point Group and contributor to multiple award-winning campaigns in the banking, automotive, FMCG and retail sectors.
  • John Clark: managing director for Haleon in sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 25 years of experience in the FMCG and OTC industries.
  • Andy Sutcliffe: CEO and founder of Fractional CEO who, having founded, scaled and exited two major agencies, runs an agency in East Africa and lectures on creative leadership.
  • Craig Lodge: CEO of Incredible Connection, HifiCorp and Everyshop, with more than 30 years of experience in FMCG, beverages and retail.
  • Phil Day: managing director at POPAI in the United Kingdom and Ireland, who has worked with United Kingdom brands and retailers since 2006, and has reviewed and judged more than 2 500 awards case studies.

"A key judging criterion was the demonstration of insight-led shopper executions that deliver commercial results for brands. Stringent judging standards, combined with our judges' experience, gives us a massive credibility boost as we set out to put shopper marketing on the map," Wilson concludes.

For more information, visit www.shopassociation.africa. You can also follow Shop! SA on Facebook or on Instagram.