Di Wilson, Founder and MD of Shop! South Africa, says, "Our goals are to upskill participants, facilitate networking and collaboration and recognise outstanding achievements. These awards are not just about creativity. They are also about effective campaigns that drive conversions and truly commercialise brands."

Siobhan Sullivan, one of the judges, says, "While the industry has evolved tremendously, the core principles remain the same. This is evident in the winning campaigns, which showcase results-driven strategies that resonate with shoppers."

The winners expressed their pride and gratitude for the recognition, with Jennifer Inns from Hyphen Creatives affirming Shop! South Africa's primary goal, "Our award is a testament to the vital role of shopper marketing in bridging brands and consumers."

Nande Myama from Integer Hotspot describes their award as a validation of their focus on impactful, results-driven work, while Alison Mitchell from 99c says that their award underscores their commitment to delivering meaningful results, "Our win affirms us as an agency that does work that works, and that keeps our clients' promises."

Trevor Shell of H&A Manufacturing, which won Gold in four categories, says "Achieving these results is testament to the commitment of each team member to innovation and excellence." Shell also thanked their clients for their trust and partnership, saying that great clients enable great work.

Speaking for Tradeway Promotions, Andreas Smit says that the evening was an incredible opportunity to see the level of commitment in the industry and appreciates the value of having been able to celebrate success alongside the agency's clients.

Shop! South Africa says that held on Tuesday, 5 November at the Bryanston Country Club, the ceremony attracted guests from across the shopper experience, retail, FMCG and advertising and marketing sectors. Guest speaker Tanja De Korte, MD of Rainmaker Media, shared insights on the transformative potential of retail, emphasising how data can help brands deliver relevant, meaningful messaging where it counts most — on the shopper's path to purchase.

Gold winner Claire Swart from Barrows Design & Manufacturing, says, "Here's to all the late nights, big dreams and every milestone we've achieved. 2025 … We're ready for you."

Wilson says, "We are turning our attention to building the association to include best practice events, knowledge sharing and an even bigger awards event. But we need engagement from the industry in order to do so, and we will be calling on your expertise and involvement."

Shop! South Africa concludes that the judging panel included industry luminaries: 

  • Siobhan O'Sullivan (Premier FMCG)
  • Wendy van Zyl (Libstar)
  • Katleho Mahloane (FNB)
  • Craig Small (Clicks Group)
  • Candice Schooling (Rainmaker Media)
  • Joanne Gould (Smollan)
  • Tshiamo Tladi (Accenture Song)
  • Francois Jurgens (Nestle), and
  • Craig Dore (Brand Amplify).

For more information, visit www.shopassociation.africa. You can follow Shop! South Africa on Facebook, LinkedIn, or on Instagram. 

*Image courtesy of contributor