Overview

In November 2024, Col’Cacchio turned up the heat with the launch of its bold new summer menu—signalling the start of a new chapter for the beloved Italian-inspired restaurant chain. Backed by a powerhouse culinary team including new CEO Etienne Pieterse, co-founder Kinga Baranowska, and chef Isla Rechner, the refreshed offering expanded far beyond pizza to include vibrant brunch dishes, innovative small plates, and indulgent desserts with a proudly South African twist.

The Strategy

Rather than simply announcing a menu, we built a narrative. Our PR-first approach focused on evolution, experience, and local flavour—positioning Col’Cacchio as a modern Italian eatery with deep local roots. We placed our storytelling in the hands of top-tier journalists, while carefully timed interviews and high-impact visuals gave the brand authority and flair.

Execution Highlights

• Strategic media engagement led to 13 media items across broadcast and online platforms
• Exclusive TimesLive Q&A with CEO Etienne Pieterse detailed the brand’s future-forward vision
• Live 947 radio crossing took place at the media event in Bryanston
• Featured in Cape Argus, Cape Times, Food & Home, Food Blog, and The Ballito Magazine
• Menu items like “Pap Pops” and the Aperitivo board sparked curiosity and coverage
• All coverage received 100% positive sentiment

Results

• Advertising Value Equivalent (AVE): R2.58 million
• Potential Reach: Over 10.7 million
• PR-driven messaging reframed the brand beyond its pizza legacy—emphasising bold flavours, creative dishes, and Col’Cacchio’s role in shaping South Africa’s modern food culture

Why It Worked

This wasn’t just a menu—it was a movement. By grounding the campaign in PR, Col’Cacchio’s message felt authentic and relevant. The media didn’t just report on new dishes; they told the story of a restaurant redefined. When strategy meets story, the appetite for engagement is endless.

Forever New & Natasha Joubert conceptualised a seven-piece “in white” collection and tasked Brand Cartel in securing positive third party validation through a solid PR-comms strategy. 

Overview

In March 2025, Forever New South Africa made headlines with the launch of its first-ever bridal collection, In White, in collaboration with former Miss South Africa (2023) and bride-to-be, Natasha Joubert. The seven-piece collection, designed for pre-wedding moments, combined aspirational fashion with authenticity—marking a pivotal moment for the brand and a powerful testament to the effectiveness of a media-led PR strategy.

Strategy

Instead of relying on traditional media spend, the campaign leveraged public relations as its core vehicle—building narrative equity through strong editorial placements, celebrity influence, and emotional storytelling. With Joubert at the heart of the campaign, Forever New was able to drive resonance and relevance across earned, owned, and social media.

Execution Highlights

• Dual-location launch events at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre (Pretoria) and aboard the Mirage Catamaran (Cape Town) created striking visuals and multi-platform buzz.

• Influencer and celebrity attendance amplified reach across Instagram and Facebook, accounting for 42% of total coverage.

• The collaboration gained coverage from Entertainment SA, Glamour, Hello Joburg, Sandton Times, Bona, The South African, Saturday Star, and East Coast Radio, among others.

• 100% positive sentiment across 31 media items from 6 March to 2 April 2025.

• Joubert’s personal involvement—wearing the collection during her own wedding festivities—added powerful authenticity and relatability.

Results

• Total AVE: R23.3 million

• 31 media mentions across print, online, broadcast and social

• Featured on top media platforms with high-impact visuals and consistent brand messaging

• Significant online traction with user-generated content praising quality, design and emotion behind the campaign

Why It Worked

The Forever New x Natasha Joubert bridal campaign was a textbook case of what happens when a PR-led strategy is rooted in personal storytelling, beautiful product, and emotional relevance. The collection wasn’t just worn—it was lived, loved, and shared. And that made all the difference.

In an age of oversaturated media, the collaboration between Menlyn Park Shopping Centre and GQ South Africa proves that the sweet spot lies at the intersection of paid visibility and earned credibility.

To elevate Menlyn Park’s fashion-forward positioning, we orchestrated a premium editorial feature that landed the centre on the cover of GQ. What made this campaign stand out was our dual-channel approach—blending strategic media buying with public relations finesse.

The Approach

Rather than relying solely on PR, we invested in a media partnership with GQ, ensuring guaranteed visibility through paid editorial placement. But we didn’t stop there. We layered the campaign with a robust PR strategy—crafting angles that spoke to style, innovation, and culture. The result? Organic media coverage and social buzz that amplified the paid placement, rather than duplicating it.

The Impact

• Guaranteed reach through GQ’s national digital platforms

• Earned credibility with media outlets referencing the feature organically

• Social traction through influencer seeding and behind-the-scenes content

• Elevated brand positioning for Menlyn Park as a style destination

Why It Worked
Media buying secured the spotlight. PR made it shine. Together, they transformed a typical fashion feature into a high-impact brand moment—proving that when spend meets story, the results are unforgettable.

Image Credits: 

• Location & Client: Menlyn Park Shopping Centre (one of Africa’s largest retail destinations) 
• Cover Star: Grant Kekana (South African Soccer Player)
• Photography: Khieran Trent

Campaign Overview:

Century Property Developments hosted the HomeShow in 2024 by engaging a consortium of architects, interior designers, and landscapers to construct six separate mansions from scratch at the award-winning Helderfontein Residential Estate in Dainfern. The HomeShow was used as an opportunity to showcase the latest in all things home and décor. The public was given the chance to see these mansions over two weekends and vote for their favourite.

Objectives:

• Develop creative ways to showcase Century’s new development.
• Position Century as an innovative property developer by highlighting the latest in home and décor trends.
• Appeal to an affluent market to facilitate the sales.
• Use the show to attract footfall, resulting in the purchase of land

(ranging from R1.8 million to over R3 million).

Tactics & Strategies:

• Partnered with the “Real Housewives of Johannesburg” cast, who are synonymous with luxury lifestyle and mansions. Each cast member, along with local viral celebrity Buhle Samuels, was assigned a house matched to their personality and audience.
• Created a series of content for each house, where the respective housewife advocated for their house, inviting fans to visit and vote for their favourite house, with the incentive of winning prizes and meeting their favourite housewife.
• The housewives included: Mareli Bentley, Nicci Lee Watson, Buhle Samuels, Success, Mamus, and Izelle Hoffman. Additionally, Thando Thabethe provided further campaign promotion on her channels.

Results & Impact:

• Leveraged relationships with TV personalities and the Housewives cast to achieve significant results within a two-week period.
• Sold 2 houses as a direct result of the show.
• Sold 13 stands.
• Attracted 6,000 affluent individuals over the event period.
• Achieved a reach of 1,019,038.
• Garnered 751,660 video views.
• Secured 50,907 link clicks for event RSVPs.
• Received 26,458 likes, 872 shares, and 1,635 saves on social media.

This case study highlights how Century Property Developments creatively adapted their marketing strategy to engage a high-profile audience and achieve remarkable sales results, showcasing their innovation and appeal in the luxury property market.