OP/ED: Keep social media at head office and away from individual stores
Retailers such as Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi are running unified social media strategies out of their head offices. Other retail groups, however, have chosen to recentralise social media. The former is better, according to this guest post.
Tue 09/04/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Leading Appliances' slow move online is a risky business
As Australia enjoyed a public holiday yesterday, Leading Appliances became an "official entity". But with a slow website launch and no official social media presence, the brand may have cause more reputational damage than it realises.
Tue 02/04/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »E&S Trading dominating the hipster space with its Instagram heroics
UnderCurrent is mightily impressed by the hipsters at E&S Trading! Not content to undertake fashionable social media projects like Facebook or Twitter, E&S has been Pinteresting and Instagramming.
Tue 06/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »A catalogue so good it's still Winning
The Winning Group clearly knows how to communicate with the kids through the internet, so UnderCurrent suspects is will be aghast when it sees this artifact of a bygone era on its new acquisition's website.
Tue 28/08/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Polaroid doubles turnover with sales of new hero product
Brands Australia brand manager Dale Eastman has provided some feedback on how sales of the hybrid digital instant cameras are progressing.
Wed 25/07/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Polaroid out and proud with its love of teenage Facebook fans
The reintroduction of the Polaroid brand to Australian consumers, both old and new, is progressing well, according to brand manager Dale Eastman, who today declared his love for the teenage fans of the brand on Facebook.
Tue 24/07/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Asko jumps on the Facebook bandwagon with dishwasher promo
Asko Australia has launched its first ever Facebook competition, to promote the company's new Alfresco Dishwasher, asking fans to choose their favourite form of dining to be in the running to win a range of prizes.
Wed 20/06/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »David Jones focused on Facebook and new webstore as sales slump slightly
David Jones Limited has recorded a slight decline in total sales for the third quarter of the 2012 financial year - down 2.9 per cent year-on-year to just under $400 million. Meanwhile, the company has added 20,000 new Facebook fans.
Thu 31/05/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »#Nikon #knows #social #media
UnderCurrent is impressed to see Nikon has got the hang of this social media thingy. The Japanese camera specialist has launched a new self-help social media program called #NikonInFocus.
Tue 29/05/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »For a few dollars more, you can get less than you paid for at GAME
Now that GAME vouchers are worth 25% of the value they held before the retailer went into administration, the shine has worn off the store's trade-in deals. One customer will be particularly upset about GAME's latest console sale...
Wed 16/05/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Betta sales increase as rebranding of ex-Retravision stores begins
The BSR Group has revealed a slight sales increase for the group's March 2012 financial year, while the integration of ex-Retravision members is coinciding with the rebranding of the network's trading name to Betta Home Living.
Wed 16/05/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Betta puts on a new face(book page)
Following the launch of an e-commerce site last June, Betta Electrical has now truly entered the digital age with the arrival of a new Facebook page.
Tue 10/04/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Trend Micro to bundle DirectPass password manager with retail security products
Trend Micro has announced it will be bundling its new DirectPass password management product in with retail sales of its Titanium Internet Security and Maximum Security products, starting from May 2012.
Thu 05/04/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »The big retailers that have aced Facebook, and how to emulate their success
A new report has tracked the big department stores and general retailers that have found success on Facebook by engaging with consumers. The report also outlines tips for growing the strength of your brand or business.
Wed 22/02/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »From music pirate to Rdio star, with Telcos, Twitter and Target in between
After working at Kazaa, Skype, ICQ and AOL, online product maestro Carter Adamson is now the COO of music streamers Rdio. In a broad interview, he discussed music piracy, partnering with telcos, his local rivals and a retail strategy.
Tue 07/02/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Rdio responds to criticism over social media claim
Music streaming service Rdio has responded to Current.com.au's accusation yesterday of making false claims that it was "Australia's first truly social streaming music service".
Fri 20/01/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Forget classifieds, Appliances Online turns to Facebook to recruit staff
Ever the innovator, Appliances Online, the web sales portal of Winning Appliances, is using Facebook to recruit new staff members. So far, almost 60 social networkers have applied to work at the company since the launch in late November.
Tue 06/12/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Tefal ActiFry competition cashes in on chips
Tefal has launched a competition that asks consumers, "Are you the hottest chip?" By dressing up their own cartoon chip with clothes and accessories, Facebook users can win Tefal appliances.
Mon 21/11/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Morphy Richards signs Ali Day as its new ironing spokes-hunk
Morphy Richards has signed up surf life saving ironman Ali Day. The Kiama lad will help Morphy Richards promote its new ironing and ironing board ranges from now through 2012.
Wed 26/10/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »With sales down, David Jones focusing on multichannel and social media
David Jones Limited has today announced a sombre result for the 2011 Financial Year, with total sales and profit after tax both declining compared to the previous year. Multichannel sales and new marketing streams are 'strategic highlights'.
Wed 21/09/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Aussie businesses know they need to embrace new tech, but many unwilling
Although 86 per cent of businesspeople agree that technological change is important, only 39 per cent of those same businesspeople embrace change. We look at how this mindset is playing out in the retail electronics industry.
Tue 20/09/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Facebook Blanco page ready for foodies and Twits
Blanco has taken up the social media baton so ably carried by Hagemeyer brand-mate JVC, launching new Facebook and Twitter streams.
Tue 06/09/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Panasonic launches 'once in a lifetime' Wallabies competition
Wallabies sponsor and noted Skype fan Panasonic has launched a competition in conjunction with the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The prize is a Skype chat with players and a new home entertainment pack.
Mon 22/08/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »From Facebook to face-to-face: social media converts sales
Just under one quarter of consumers have purchased a product after reading about it on a social media network, according to research published today by RightNow, a specialist customer experience company.
Wed 27/07/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Maxwell International responds to rumours: 'we weren't mass selling at PMA'
Maxwell International, the local distributors of camera accessory brands include Lowepro, Tamron and Lensbaby, has moved swiftly today to silence industry rumours that it was not selling en masse to the public at PMA.
Thu 14/07/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »HD calling and ergonomics make Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo 'the One'
Sony Ericsson has today announced that the Xperia Neo will be available in Australia exclusively through Telstra on 26 July 2011.
Tue 12/07/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Nobody puts Facebook in a corner at HTC Salsa and ChaCha launch
HTC launched their newest Facebook-focused smartphones last night - the decidedly saucy sounding HTC Salsa and HTC ChaCha - targeted specifically at social media-savvy users.
Fri 01/07/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Facebook and Android tablets facing elevated attack risk
Scams focused on Facebook users have tripled over the last year, according to internet security experts AVG. Also on the watch list for the Czech-based security firm are tablets and smartphones.
Mon 02/05/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Facebook and the consumer/brand connection is a revolution: online expert
Three quarters of Australians are "tapping" into other consumers' opinions as seen on social media sites, according to a Nielsen Online report. How this will impact their purchasing decisions depends on how the interaction is managed.
Tue 15/03/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Search rankings reveal Google is for the lazy, Yahoo is for the Yahoos
With Google today revealing the top 10 Australian searches for 2010, a clear difference between the world’s most ubiquitous search engine and its chief rival, Yahoo!7, has emerged.
Thu 09/12/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Will manufacturers steal the online show?
While some scoff at Bernie Brooks' and Gerry Harvey's so-called bluff, new research has revealed 94 per cent of Australians are interested in bypassing retailers altogether to buy direct from manufacturers.
Tue 07/12/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Harvey Norman franchisees have a face, but only this man has a voice
The social medial magnate at Harvey Norman accepts that franchisees are going to be on Facebook and Twitter, but only he has the authority to engage consumers.
Tue 07/12/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Harvey Norman's Tweeter talks comps, complaints and customers
Harvey Norman might not be known for online sales prowess, but its online social media platform is significant. Today we speak to the man managing this strategy. On the agenda: competitions, whinging consumers and 'Hardly Normal'.
Mon 06/12/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »WD launches its flagship media centre: 1TB TV Live Hub
Western Digital yesterday launched its flagship media centre product for the Christmas rush and into 2011. The new WD TV Live Hub is a 1TB unit that claims to have the broadest range of personal content.
Thu 25/11/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Sony and Panasonic vie for affection on social media battlegrounds
There's a new front developing in the ongoing war between grand old stagers Sony and Panasonic: social media. Both suppliers have aggressive strategies in this new space, and both are taking ground off rivals.
Fri 19/11/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Retailers need to be more social
As the online space gains more traction in the industry, retailers should increase their presence in social media networks, according to Lasoo.com.au chief executive, Paul Marshall.
Thu 22/04/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Consumers increase social media interaction with companies
According to Nielson, Australians are using social media sites more than ever. An encouraging statistic for retailers and suppliers is that a growing number of consumers are now interacting with companies and brands via this medium.
Thu 25/03/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Samsung launches B3310 mobile
Samsung has just released the B3310 mobile handset, which is oriented towards younger consumers who are obsessed with SMS and social networking.
Thu 24/12/2009 12:00:00 / Read More »Download movies directly to your Xbox 360
At a media launch in Sydney yesterday, Microsoft announced the imminent release of its new Movies on Demand service. Andrew Jenkins, product manager for Xbox Live discussed how it will deliver movies directly to your TV in a way never been done before.
Thu 12/11/2009 12:00:00 / Read More »Are you harnessing the popularity of social networking?
According to a recent study, more than 70 per cent of internet users in Australia visited a social networking site in June. This poses a real opportunity for retailers and suppliers who are trying to push their business and the services they offer.
Fri 21/08/2009 12:00:00 / Read More »Loving and hating the BlackBerry Torch
The BlackBerry Torch has been my primary mobile phone for three months now and in this time I have developed a strange love/hate relationship with it. Here are the eight factor polarising my emotions.
Thu 01/01/1970 12:00:00 / Read More »
