Pyrotec

Talking about the Consumer Conversation Model

lazelle — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:49:42 +0000

There is no denying the fact that the Industrial Revolution changed the way the world does business and similarly, the so-called ‘Information Revolution’ is also bringing about drastic change. The Information Revolution is based on the premise that the current age will be defined by the ability of individuals to transfer information freely and to have instant access to information that would have been challenging to find previously. The concept carries the ramifications of a shift from the traditional industry that the industrial revolution initiated, to an economy based on the transference of information.

In the Information Age, we are talking more than ever before.
In terms of retail, this revolution has far-reaching consequences and subsequently brands owners are confused as to where to direct the main focus of their marketing efforts. “In order to connect and relate to our audience today, we need to know where to start the conversation,” says Stephen Beattie, Marketing Manager of Pyrotec, a leading privately-owned South African company specialising in innovative and top quality product identification solutions.

With the explosion of new media, including mobile and social media, there is more conversation than ever before. However, this is not without its limitations. “Yes, we are talking,” agrees Beattie, “But are we talking at the right place, at the right time? The problem arises when brand owners cannot connect with customers at the most important point of all- the point of sale. As a result of the supply chain, the distance between the two is large. The sole focus of all marketing efforts is to develop a relationship with the target audience by closing this gap and ultimately driving sales, and if we fail to engage at the point of sale we have not succeeded in our primary goal.”

Start the conversation
This is where we need to look at the consumer conversation model and how we are talking to customers at the actual point of consumption. “All of our social media and marketing efforts are redundant if we cannot connect with the customer at this critical point. In order to do so, we need to evaluate our on-pack efforts,” says Beattie. “On-pack is the catalyst in starting a conversation with the consumer and provides an opportunity for ongoing engagement. This is ultimately what cements the relationship,” explains Beattie.
Beattie maintains that it is vital that we connect with the customer at the point of purchase or consumption through clever on-pack campaigns. “On-pack campaigns fuel engagement with the brand by enhancing the overall journey for the customer. A promotion or competition is a good opportunity to kick-start a conversation with the customer,” explains Beattie. “Customers can SMS their details to a pre-determined number in order to enter a competition. The customer is able to quickly gain entry via their mobile phones, which acts as an incentive to engage with the brand.”

Connect and engage
“Once you have opened the conversation, engage the consumer through value-added on-pack drivers such as discounts, competitions and coupons. This acts as an incentive for the customer to keep talking.” Devices such as Pyrotec’s Fix-a-Form™ leaflet labels are a practical way to relay these incentives, as they provide vast amounts of space for additional information, without compromising the aesthetic of packaging.
Brand owners can continue the conversation through a new campaign based on the information already collected from these drivers, or through initiatives such as Quick Response Codes (QR codes), which are a good opportunity to offer a value-added service to the customer. By downloading a QR code reader to their smart phones, customers can scan a product’s QR code and link to a mobi-site page that contains useful information, such as a recipe or helpful hints.

Collect, analyse…
Through this engagement, brand owners can build a database and thereby analyse the purchasing patterns of their various audiences. Due to new legislation, brand owners will need to compile their own databases and cannot simply purchase them. “This actually provides more value long-term as it allows for the easier investigation into consumer buying habits.”
In effect, brand owners can build on to an existing relationship, or begin a new conversation through other marketing initiatives. “Brand owners must make a point of always including a ‘call to action’ in their on-pack devices, such as requesting contact details as a requirement for competition entry or coupon redemption. A solid database provides ample opportunity to engage with customers and measure the results,” confirms Beattie.
By collecting this data, brand owners are given the ammunition to ultimately refine their conversations in accordance with the preferences and purchasing patterns of their various audiences. “Brand owners can identify what their customers want and tailor their offers accordingly.”
They can enrich the existing data collected by starting another conversation through a new campaign. By constantly engaging with the consumer and refining the information collected from these conversations, brand owners are able to immense offer value to their target audience. “They can then go back to the customer and continue the conversation through a new campaign,” says Beattie.

…and keep talking
This brings us back to the beginning of the cycle. “Through this conversation model, on-pack campaigns can seamlessly integrate with new media to continue to strengthen the relationship and create a multi-dimensional marketing strategy,” says Beattie.
Pyrotec’s MobileInteractive product demonstrates this theory in action. MobileInteractive is a time-saving, one-stop service that allows for easy integration across on-pack campaigns. This unique solution offers brand owners the tool with which to engage their customers through their mobile phones and social media, thereby enriching an existing on-pack campaign by adding a further dimension and exponentially increasing outreach.
A word of advice to brand owners? “Keep talking to your customers, especially through on-pack campaigns, as it is the only direct link between you and them at the point of purchase.”

From Informational through to Experiential: The Evolution of Packaging

lazelle — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:26:08 +0000

“Over the last few years we have seen packaging gradually develop from primarily an informational tool, into the experiential instrument it has become in today’s retail landscape. Packaging has evolved from a purely functional device intended to convey essential information and protect the product, to a key role-player in the purchasing decision-making process.”
So says Timothy Beattie, General Manger of Pyrotec PackMedia, a leading privately-owned South African company specialising in innovative and top quality product identification solutions.
According to him, customers are not easily swayed by the often inflated claims on the label of a product. “They do not come to a conclusion about the contents therein by simply studying the information on the label, but rather respond to the look and feel of the product’s packaging. The label is important, but the information it contains need to be streamlined, simplified, and most importantly add value to the customer experience.”
With recent studies revealing that, on average, product selections are made within seven seconds, and that 70% of all purchasing decisions are made in-store, brand managers would be ill-advised to ignore the role that packaging plays in the communication and marketing strategy. Packaging needs to be eye-catching, cut through the clutter and provide visual clues to the quality, safety and value that the brand offers.
The importance of packaging design as a vehicle for communication and creating brand awareness is vital to a company’s bottom line. Unlike multimedia advertising, packaging engages the majority of its audience and drives the way a consumer experiences a product. Visual package elements, including colour, design, on-pack devices and interactive effects play a massive role in the purchasing process. For customers who are rushed and have little time or inclination for involvement, these factors will act as a complete representation of the product.
The Importance of On-Pack Devices
One should also not disregard the importance of on-pack devices, reminds Beattie. “On-pack remains an important component in the successful marketing of a product by providing a valuable opportunity to communicate with the customer. On-pack devices should reinforce an irrefutable brand perception and add to the customer experience. “
On-pack campaigns fuel engagement with the brand by enhancing the overall journey for the customer. Key on-pack drivers such as discounts, competitions, coupons, value-add info such as recipes, usage instructions, cross promotions and useful tips all act as incentives and effectively initiate a conversation with the buyer. Devices such as Pyrotec’s Fix-a-Form™ leaflet labels are a practical way to relay these incentives, as they provide vast amounts of space for additional information, without compromising the aesthetic of packaging.
“Customers are asking, ‘What does this Brand X offer me that Brand Y doesn’t?’. The competition is fierce and brand owners that do not actively engage a customer through on-pack campaigns and clever packaging will find themselves losing out to a competitor that does” Beattie warns.

Integration with New Media
In the 21st century, on-pack campaigns need to seamlessly integrate with all forms of media to speak to audiences through multiple mediums. With the emergence of social media, brands find themselves torn between two worlds and need to constantly evolve on all levels in order to remain relevant.
Says Beattie: “With the recent advances in technology, mobile and social media have risen to the top of the marketing mix, and brand owners need to take advantage of these wide-reaching platforms if they wish to further engage their target audience.”
Pyrotec’s MobileInteractive product demonstrates this theory in action. MobileInteractive is a timesaving, one-stop service that allows for easy integration across on- pack campaigns. This unique solution offers brand owners the tool with which to engage their customers through their mobile phones and social media, thereby enriching an existing on-pack campaign by adding a further dimension and exponentially increasing outreach.
“We have seen packaging develop from a purely informational tool, to one that identifies, and ultimately as a means to positively contribute towards the customer journey. It is essential that we effectively and cleverly utilise the various channels available to us in the field of on-pack, if we wish to build a lasting relationship with our customer. It has been proven that packaging plays a key role; now it is up to us to maximise that opportunity” concludes Beattie.

Pyrotec launches all-in-one on-pack promo solutions product

lazelle — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:20:57 +0000

In today’s retail environment, the competition is fiercer than ever and brand owners need to be actively seeking out new marketing mediums if they wish to see an increase in sales.
So says Stephen Beattie, marketing director of Pyrotec, a family-owned South African provider of innovative promotional and product identification solutions. He insists that brand owners need to be looking at creative ways of promoting their products if they want to increase their bottom line. “Clever in-store merchandising, whilst essential, is not always enough to effectively promote a new product or give an existing brand a boost. With the recent advances in technology giving mobile and social media marketing centre stage, it would be foolish to not take advantage of these wide-reaching platforms as a means to further engage your target audience.”
Mobile marketing, in particular, has experienced massive growth over the last five years and statistics show that text messaging is at an all time high, with the majority of users preferring it to voice calls. Mobile marketing revenues are expected to increase to over $24 billion worldwide in 2013, galvanized by flat-rate data plans and advertising-supported mobile search and gaming content services, according to a forecast by market analysis firm ABI Research.
To meet the increase in demand for interactive marketing solutions, Pyrotec PackMedia, a division of Pyrotec, has released its MobileInteractive suite of mobile media options. MobileInteractive aims to provide a timesaving, cost-effective one-stop service that allows for seamless integration across on- pack campaigns.
This unique solution enriches on¬-pack promotions by adding another dimension to your campaign, thereby increasing outreach and consumer engagement. Upon discussing the campaign objectives and requirements with one of Pyrotec’s expert consultants, MobileInteractive effectively starts a conversation with the intended audience on their cellular phones via SMS, MMS and QR code by adding value to their shopping experience. There are numerous ways that this is achieved- for example, by offering discount vouchers, special deals, social media engagement, competitions, product demos and reviews.
MobileInteractive measures the success of each campaign by providing clients with comprehensive feedback on an ongoing basis. If the campaign incorporated an SMS competition, for instance, it can assist by logging all the competition entries, notifying the winner, distributing the prize on your behalf and providing a full report on the success of the initiative by analysing the data captured. This constant influx of data allows the campaign to be adapted in real time, if necessary, ensuring each campaign is as effective as possible.
Another option is the creation of a company or campaign mobi site- a web domain optimised for cell phones. MobileInteractive is capable of developing multiple landing packages with punchy, attention-grabbing content that can be updated as often as required.
MobileInteractive can notify consumers about special offers and promotions via bulk SMS and MMS campaigns, as a means of keeping your current audience informed and potentially attracting new customers. It can add value to an on-pack promotion by setting up and implementing a complementary QR code campaign and can even provide customers with an easy-to-follow link to download a QR reader.
For brand owners wishing to take advantage of the enormous reach of the mobile platform, MobileInteractive offers the following benefits:
Brand Building – relationships with your customers are formed through direct engagement and connectivity, through a medium that they are comfortable with engaging
Optimal Interactivity – position your brand at the forefront of mobile media and social media marketing, and keep it at the top of your customers’ minds
Measureable Return on Investment – comprehensive feedback and analysis of promotional success provides essential business intelligence
Intellectual Property through Databases – gather dynamic customer information that traditional on-pack promotions cannot yield alone
“We have seen that consumers are consistently drawn to brands that engage them across multiple channels. Mobile marketing, combined with an effective on-pack campaign, is an affordable and direct method of communicating with your target audience. Pyrotec Packmedia’s MobileInteractive product offers a comprehensive one-stop service that can be tailored to fit your exact requirements”, Beattie concludes.

Pyro Inspirations Awards Winners Announced at The Mount Nelson

lazelle — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:36:00 +0000

Cape Town, 11^th November 2011: After a year of adjudication of superior on-pack activity and with 25 finalists contending for top honours, Pyrotec announced the winners of its annual Pyro Inspiration Awards at the Mount Nelson Hotel on the 9^th of November. Designed to shine the spotlight on superior on-pack activity and to establish on-pack as a standalone media category, the awards were engineered by Pyrotec PackMedia, which offers novel on-pack promotion and communication vehicles. This year’s awards showcased exciting new innovations in on-pack, and the finalists were judged on originality, impact and clever use of space.

Promotional Category: The Winner is…

Sibaya Fix-a-Form™ Leaflet Label was awarded first place for its functional and clever label, with Bonny Cruse of Ogilvy accepting the coveted Gold Pyro Inspiration award on behalf of the Sibaya Casino. Dylon Levi Dreyer from Ogilvy accepted first prize on behalf of the agency.

…And the runner up is

Scooping up second place was Assistant Brand Manager Willoe Coetzer from Pioneer Foods, for the Safari Dry Tree Fruit Fix-a-Form™ Leaflet Label.

The Winner: Informational Category

Pomegranate’s bold and eye-catching Fix-a-Form™ Leaflet Label was awarded the first and only prize in the Informational Category, with Yvette Konstadopoulos, Marketing Manager of In Our Green House, accepting the award.

Additional Winners …

Two of the event guests emerged as winners in a demonstration of the effectiveness of Pyrotec’s MobileInteractive solution, a campaign which seamlessly integrates new media marketing with on-pack. Guests were invited to sms their name to enter a lucky draw. After a light-hearted race by all present to text the answer, the winners were announced after the main course was served, with Nicoletta Mattioli from Parmalat taking home an iPod Nano and Ebith Jurgens from Distell walking away with inspirational guest speaker Sean Wisedale’s book about his expedition to climb Mount Everest.

The judges at the ceremony included media, marketing, branding and FMCG experts.

Markem-Imaje 7031HD laser coder picks up the pace

lazelle — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:44:44 +0000

September 2011: In today’s fast-paced production environment, we constantly seek out solutions that allow us to save on hours while still retaining the highest levels of quality. Markem-Imaje’s latest 7031HD CO₂ laser coder does precisely that: it delivers permanent variable data product coding at an output rate of up to 800 products in the time it takes you to tie your shoelaces.
Stephen Beattie, Marketing and Sales Director of Pyrotec, a leading privately-owned South African product identification solutions provider, confirms that clients are demanding better value in terms of product performance. “Our customers want coders that save them time, but still offer high print quality. The concentrated energy density of the 7031HD laser coder provides excellent print contrast and quality over a wide coding area of up to 415mm x 415mm, depending on the lens selected. With output rates as high as 800 products per minute, up to 24 seals could be coded in less than a second!”
Pyrotec PackMark, a division of Pyrotec, provides factory-level printing equipment to a range of South African companies, selling and renting equipment while also providing the consumables needed to operate them and taking care of any maintenance and repairs. It is the exclusive distributor of the Markem-Imaje range of printing equipment in South Africa.
The 7031HD is the ideal solution for printing High Definition (HD) characters on yoghurt films, ice-cream sleeves or sugar “stick” packs which need to be marked with multiple dots to facilitate opening. A single printhead covers a coding area of up to 415mm and advanced software allows simultaneous control over multiple laser heads, resulting in a further increase of the total marking area. An added feature is the integrated laser head cooling system which requires no air or water, resulting in a higher energy concentration and improved performance.
A key feature of the latest 30 watt version is the innovative modular design which enables optimum integration of production lines. With no moving parts, the 7031HD laser coder is a streamlined alternative to mechanical marking and pre-cutting systems with no wearing of parts or mechanical adjustments required.
The 7031HD offers a range of unique benefits, including:
Performance – advanced scribing galvohead technology provides premium print quality with an extremely high output rate
Reduced costs – the modular cooling system negates the need for air, generating optimal laser performance whilst reducing costs
Simplicity – features such as the colour touch screen display, emergency stop button, USB port for easy message loading and Ethernet connectivity allow for user-friendly operations

Versatility – the 7031HD allows for a wide choice of easy-to-position lenses and is capable of covering coding and scoring applications simultaneously

“No stone was left unturned in terms of the innovation in functionality of the product design. The unbeatable features of the latest Markem-Imaje 7031HD laser coder make it the natural choice for any time-poor consumer looking to cut down on production hours without sacrificing quality.” Beattie concludes.

Pyrotec gets thumbs-up from SABS for ISO 9001:2008 quality management system

lazelle — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 10:59:36 +0000

April 2011: For companies who mass-produce customer-facing products, consistent quality is an absolute requirement. Pyrotec, the privately-owned South African company that specialises in providing innovative and top quality product identification solutions, recently underwent an SABS audit to ensure its ISO 9001:2008 accredited Quality Management System is of the highest order.

Timothy Beatti, Logistics and ISO Accreditation Director of Pyrotec, said the successful audit provides the company’s customers with peace of mind and assures them that the final product will meet all quality standards. “The successful implementation of the Quality Management System is a strategic intervention in ensuring a process-driven and customer-focused organisation.”

The audit conducted in March of this year renewed Pyrotec’s ISO 9001:2008 certification, which provides requirements for a company’s Quality Management System. ISO 9001 is part of a family of standards published by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). Once an organisation is ISO-certified, it is a requirement to conduct bi-annual audits for certification to remain valid and to ensure standards are being met.

The SABS audit process encompasses the following four elements:

1. Verifying the audited company’s Quality Management System documentation

2. Reviewing the audited company’s understanding of requirements with particular focus on the performance of key processes

3. Verifying that internal audits and management reviews are planned and conducted

4. Ensuring that continuous improvement is achieved through the use of a Quality Policy, Quality Objectives, Analysis of Data, Corrective and Preventative Actions and Management Reviews.

Ruth Diedericks, Pyrotec’s Quality Assurance Manager, says the successful audit is the result of continuous reviewing and maintenance of the management system. “The involvement and commitment by executive and senior management is critical to the successful implementation of any Quality Management System, a fact that was confirmed and commended by the excellent audit results.”

For more information about Pyrotec and its expert range of product identification solutions, please visit www.pyrotec.co.za

Boost your brand and meet legal requirements with powerful on-pack solutions

lazelle — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 09:54:31 +0000

April 2011: New legislative demands for product packaging presents brand owners and manufacturers with a major challenge. Given the tough economic times for most companies cost-cutting is the order of the day. It is vital, however, for brand owners to ensure they do not lose brand value when cutting back on unnecessary expenditure, or they risk losing ground in the highly competitive marketplace.

“One of the key areas where brands can boost their competitiveness while meeting new legislative requirements from particularly the Consumer Protection Act is with powerful on-pack solutions,” says Stephen Beattie, Marketing Director of Pyrotec. “Innovative on-pack communication can increase visibility in-store, where crowded shelves and strong competition makes standing out even more important than ever before.”

Pyrotec is a privately-owned South African provider of on-pack solutions, and the sole local provider of the space-saving Fix-a-Form leaflet label. Using a multi-page label on product packaging provides additional space for important information, promotions or other value-adds.

When Vital Health Foods approached Pyrotec for an on-pack solution for its range of Sister Lilian baby remedies, the Fix-a-Form label was a perfect fit for the brand’s requirements. “The brief was to add a means to amalgamate product information among Sister Lilian’s six ranges and 25 variations, eliminating the need for separate inserts while still ensuring neat and presentable design. The client was delighted with the cost-saving and value-adding benefits of the five-panelled Fix-a-Form label we applied,” Beattie explains.

Multi-page labels are supplied on-reel, allowing brands to apply them directly onto virtually any container or product. “In most cases, the labels can be applied with standard application equipment with little to no effect on the speed of the production line. For pharmaceutical or agrochemical brands, which often have immense amounts of important product information to convey, the space-saving benefits of the Fix-a-Form labels are ideal. And with value-adds such as over-coding, batch numbers and Braille, using multi-page labels becomes a necessity for brands who wish to gain a competitive edge over their peers.”

For more information about Pyrotec and the Fix-a-Form multi-page label, visit www.pyrotec.co.za

Rolfe Laboratories increases uptime with Markem-Imaje 9232 inkjet printer

lazelle — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:46:56 +0000

October 2011: Pyrotec, a leading privately-owned South African product identification solutions provider, has endeavoured to increase its customers’ uptime, reduce costs and minimise environmental impact through its latest product offering: the Markem-Imaje 9232 small character Continuous Inkjet printer (CIJ).
This was put to the test when Rolfe Laboratories, a South African based company that specialises in contract packaging of home and personal care products, needed to purchase six new printers. The goal was to reduce maintenance costs by opting for a printer that did not require an ink module, thereby ensuring an efficient and uninterrupted production line.
“We investigated several alternatives before opting for the Markem-Imaje 9232 small character inkjet printer, due to its enhanced performance characteristics and unmatched 18 month warranty” commented Brad Rolfe, Chief Executive Officer of Rolfe Laboratories.
The Markem-Imaje 9232 CIJ printer requires no ink module and has a 99.6% availability ratio due to its innovative ink circuit design and printhead. Its unique features include a hassle-free start-up and shut-down system and its user-friendly intuitive interface allows operators to quickly understand the menu structure.
Enhanced ink cartridge life, low additive consumption and an 18 month service interval allows the company to save on running costs over an extended period of time, and a full 18 month warranty means that they can be assured of continued uptime and productivity.
Additional tangible benefits to the customer include:
1.   Operation optimisation: The printer has a real-time display of remaining print capacity, fast, safe consumable changing with no need to stop printing, and a user interface with a 177,8 mm colour touch screen
2.   High-performance printing:Futuristic technology allows the 9232 to print speeds of up to 6.6m/s with an optional ultra rapid print mode for high-speed printing
3.   Eco benefits: The 9232 is made from 80% recyclable materials, uses less electricity and includes the option of using ketone-free and MEK-free inks
“Although there may be lower-priced alternatives available and one could save a few Rands initially, the running costs of the 9232 are lower and we ultimately save over a five year period. With an established South African-based company such as Pyrotec, we can be assured of an inherent commitment to quality customer service and support” concluded Rolfe.

Pyrotec PackMedia returns victorious from the Fix-a-Form™ Awards

lazelle — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:07:06 +0000

Pyrotec PackMedia recently received acclaim for the innovative use of its Fix-a-Form label range at the 17th annual Fix-a-Form Licensee Conference and Awards, held from the 26th to 27th September at the University of Cambridge in England.

Pyrotec, a privately-owned South African provider of on-pack solutions, is the sole local manufacturer of the space-saving Fix-a-Form leaflet label. This multi-page leaflet label, intended to be placed on a product’s packaging, provides additional space for important information, promotions or other value-adds.

The Fix-a-Form Licensee Conference not only recognises exceptional use of the Fix-a-Form range by licensed manufacturers but also aims to act as an educational platform. External and licensee speakers are given the opportunity to share their experiences and success stories with the rest of the network, ultimately furthering the growth and development of the Fix-a-Form brand.

The 2011 Fix-a-Form awards ceremony highlighted the best of the various categories across the licensee network. All licensees were invited to submit their work for judgement by the independent guest panel, based on the criteria of four different award categories:

•   Best Innovative Leaflet Label
•   Best Informational Leaflet Label
•   Best Promotional Leaflet Label
•   Best Fix-a-Form Marketing Campaign

• The Overall Winner

Pyrotec achieved runner up status in both the Best Informational and Best Promotional Leaflet Label categories. In the Best Fix-a-Form Marketing Campaign category, Pyrotec took home first prize for its prestigious Pyro Inspirations, an awards ceremony which aims to recognise innovative on-pack campaigns in South Africa.

Timothy Beattie, General Manager of the Pyrotec PackMedia brand responsible for the Fix-a-Form range, says: “We are incredibly fortunate to have achieved recognition at the Fix-a-Form Licensee Awards, as we take pride in our commitment to providing quality products and excellent customer service. We aim to continue developing our product offering across all of our brands and through initiatives such as the Fix-a-Form Licensee Awards, constantly challenge ourselves to better our service.”

Pyrotec announces fifth round of finalists for the 2011 Pyro Inspiration Awards

lazelle — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:56:29 +0000

Cape Town, September 2011: Pyrotec, the privately-owned South African company that specialises in providing innovative and top quality product identification solutions, has announced the September finalists for the 2011 Pyro Inspiration Awards. Initiated by Pyrotec in 2008, the awards seek to recognise exceptional on-pack solutions and to establish on-pack as a rightful stand-alone media category.

The awards give recognition to both Informational and Promotional categories for on-pack devices, and this month a total of five finalists were selected.

The criteria for the Informational category take into account the Originality of the on-pack device (its readability, layout and creativity) as well as the Clever Use of Space (amount of information, relevance of information to product, and functionality). In the Informational category, Vida e Caffè Ground Free and Beans Fix-a-Form™ and Efekto’s MCPA were unanimously voted for.

In the Promotional category, where products with innovative and effective on-pack promotions are recognised, three finalists were also selected. Chateau Libertas, with its relevant, attractive and simple Fix-a-Form neck tag, was a clear choice for this category. ACT II Popcorn Single Decker was also nominated for its noticeable and bold labelling, while Safari was selected as a finalist for its functional and eye-catching packaging design on its Fix-a-Form leaflet label.

The entries in the Promotional category were judged according to their Originality (innovation, freshness, and design), Impact (wow factor and selling power) and Clever Use of Space (amount of information, relevance to product and functionality).

The panel of judges consisted of:

Back row: (LEFT TO RIGHT)
Anca Moore from Bester Burke
Beverley Wilson from Ceres
Jurne Brown from Indigo Cosmetics
Diani Smit from Limbik
Denim le Roux from Pyrotec

Front Row: (LEFT TO RIGHT)
Sharnieta America from Indigo Cosmetics
Rory Murray from Tuffy Brands
Nicoletta Mattioli from Parmalat

The winner of the 2011 finalists will be announced at the Pyro Inspirations year-end Awards held in Cape Town on the 9th November 2011.