Curated snack + merch boxes released with new seasons of our favourite shows.
Stranger Things SA Drop, Ghost Pepper NikNaks, neon stickers, and “The Upside Down” Pepsi.
Emily in Paris SA Drop, French garlic baguette flavour Lays with a limited edition Pepsi Max.
Delivered in under 1 episode once you hit play by Uber Eats/ Mr D.
Remona Taylor - Brand Experience Director
Let’s face it people are done with being marketed at. In 2025, the brands that are winning aren’t just the loudest or the flashiest they’re the ones that feel human. The ones that listen, understand, and connect. We’re officially in the Age of Authenticity, and the playbook has changed.
Consumers Are Craving Connection
In a world overloaded with AI-generated content, auto-replies, and programmatic everything, human connection is now a differentiator. Consumers aren’t just buying products anymore they’re buying into values, stories, and communities. They want to know who’s behind the brand, what the brand stands for, and whether it aligns with their identity. That means brands can’t hide behind perfect polish anymore. Flaws, transparency, and behind-the-scenes stories? They're not weaknesses they're trust builders.
The Rise of Micro-Influence and Community-Led Growth
Massive follower counts don’t carry the same weight they once did. Micro-influencers people with smaller but highly engaged audiences are the new MVPs of marketing. Why? Because they have trust. Their followers listen to them like they would a friend. And community isn’t just a buzzword. Forward-thinking brands are investing in spaces where their audience can connect not just with them, but with each other.
Brands as Storytellers, Not Sellers
People remember stories, not sales pitches. The brands killing it right now are the ones telling real stories about their customers, their origin, their purpose. They’re not shouting “Buy this!” They’re saying, “Here’s how we got here. Here’s who we’re helping. Here’s why we give a damn.”
Storytelling humanizes your brand. And when you combine that with content that educates, inspires, or entertains? You don’t just get engagement you build loyalty.
Embracing Imperfection in the Age of AI
Let’s talk AI. It’s not going anywhere. It’s a powerful tool. But the smartest marketers are using AI to amplify human creativity not replace it. Because when everything starts to sound the same, it’s the real and raw voices that cut through the noise. So yeah, use AI to streamline, test, and scale. But bring it back to the human touch. Keep the heart in your message.
Marketing in 2025 and Beyond
The most exciting part? This shift isn’t about spending more. It’s about thinking differently. It's about empathy, creativity, and long-term thinking.
Don’t chase trends, understand your audience.
Don’t broadcast, start conversations.
Don’t just market, build movements.
Because in the end, people don’t want to feel like data points. They want to feel seen.
And the brands that get that? They’re the ones that won’t just survive 2025 they’ll define it.
Remona Taylor - Brand Experience Director
Let’s be honest being a leader in South Africa is like being in a bumpy taxi ride through Jozi traffic, there are potholes and unexpected stops.
Leadership here isn’t for the faint-hearted. It’s a wild mix of legacy systems, global influences, and uniquely South African challenges, from navigating load shedding like a corporate MacGyver, to managing diversity like you’re assembling the Avengers.
First things first, forget the Hollywood version of Africa where everything is about lions and sunsets. Leadership in South Africa is far more complex (though the sunsets are pretty epic). You’re dealing with a market that’s incredibly diverse in language, culture, and consumer behavior. If you’re leading a team or a business, you need to know your isiZulu from your isiXhosa, and that calling someone “just now” doesn’t mean right now.
And don’t even think about one-size-fits-all strategies. What works in Sandton might flop in Soweto. What your Jhb team thinks is a “crucial deliverable” might be seen by your Dbn branch as “chill vibes, we’ll do it after lunch.”
You’ll never survive this market without a sense of humour. South Africans are world-class at laughing through the madness, and good leaders tap into that. Not because it’s fluffy, but because humour builds culture, breaks tension, and reminds people that we’re all human, even when things feel broken.
So yes, it’s okay to make jokes about Eskom in meetings, as long as you’re also solving problems. The best leaders know when to be serious and when to lighten the mood with a meme or a well-timed “eish.”
If you want to thrive in the South African market, you have to lead with both heart and hustle. Understand the nuances, respect the people, embrace the chaos, and build something that’s not only profitable but also meaningful.
Because in this country, leadership isn’t about wearing a fancy title. It’s about resilience, reinvention, and riding the wild wave with your team, with a smile, a plan, and maybe a backup power bank.