Publishers' Association of South Africa (PASA)’s Post

Last week I was looking for a Secret Santa gift I saw on Carl de Gentile’s wishlist, and with only days to go there was no time to lose. Unfortunately, I found myself turning down some options simply because the websites didn’t display an accurate delivery date. With our Christmas party on Friday, I just couldn’t afford the risk. When customers need an item by a certain deadline, uncertainty leads to lost business. Withings is one of Shipup’s clients that uses our Smart Delivery Estimate to get around this issue. The machine learning model offers precise delivery dates for each carrier by taking into account warehouse opening and closing days, shipping route and time of purchase (there’s even a countdown timer ⏰). If you sell products that could be birthday gifts, Christmas stocking fillers, or other items people need on a deadline, your checkout could benefit from better delivery estimates 👉 https://lnkd.in/e3mpaUD2 Happy holidays to all - here’s hoping you’re as happy with your Secret Santa present as Carl! 🎄 #SecretSanta #PostPurchase #AI

1️⃣ What’s one Christmas gift you wanted as a kid but never got? 2️⃣ Do you prefer using gift bags or wrapping paper to conceal gifts? 3️⃣ Do you return gifts you don’t like to the store or regift them to someone else? 4️⃣ How old were you when you found out Santa was really your parents? 5️⃣ If you have a Christmas tree, do you top it with an angel or a star? Or something else? Welcome to #FridayFunFacts 🤓 When I led my sales teams, one of the tools I used to get to know one another better over time was Friday Fun Facts. ✅ Create a GoogleSheet with each person’s name along the top columns. This will be where they enter their answers each week. ✅ On Mondays, craft up 5 questions for them to answer. The first column will be a rolling list of 5 questions you add to the GoogleSheet each week. ✅ Attach the GoogleSheet link in a calendar invite for 12 noon on Fridays so it’s an occurring meeting on their calendar. Most will complete well before Friday. ✅ Enjoy learning more about your team each and every week as they complete the questions. Best part…seeing your team connect on things they probably never would have known about one another. —— My answers: 1️⃣ A little unrealistic, but I always asked for a pool in our backyard! Video below is from ten years ago as my son Ben opened up a gift he thought he’d never get. 😂 2️⃣ I love to wrap so 99% of the gifts we give are wrapped. If there are multiple gifts for the same person, I use the same wrapping paper design for each gift for that person. 🤷🏻♀️ 3️⃣ If it’s a funny gift that I’ll never use? Def goes in the White Elephant pile to regift! 🎁 4️⃣ I was about 8 or 9 years old. I used to sleep in my older brother’s room on Christmas Eve when I was little and I SWORE I heard Santa’s sleigh one year. 😮 5️⃣ Angel 😇 it’s a homemade one from my mother-in-law and YES! I like it! Wishing you all the merriest season. Happy Friday, everyone 🙌🏻💯❤️

Running out of time to shop for holiday gifts? Forget shipping deadlines, our Gift of Choice has you covered for clients, teams, and anyone on your list! Send same-day gifts with ease (or schedule ahead of time): Here’s why it’s a game-changer: 🎄 No addresses needed, just need their email to send. 🎄 Your recipients pick what they love most, ensuring every gift hits the mark. 🎄 Budget-friendly for you, no waste for them, and shipping’s included. 🎄 Add your company’s branding to create a polished, memorable experience. It’s flexible, thoughtful, and faster than ever, just a few clicks and you’re done. Start sending holiday cheer today: https://buff.ly/3ZLPqlp ✨

“We need a little Christmas….” #thursdaythoughts In July? The above referenced lyrics and song come from the musical Mame: In this particular scene, Mame wants to lift her spirits, so she starts handing out Christmas presents to everyone. Agnes then blurts out, "The paper says there are 16 shopping days left!" Basically saying, "Hey, it's way too early for Christmas cheer!" So July is REALLY too early! Right? The origin of "Christmas in July" is not entirely clear, but it is generally believed to have started as a marketing gimmick. One widely cited instance is a 1933 summer camp event at Keystone Camp in Brevard, North Carolina, where the camp held a "Christmas in July" celebration complete with a tree, gifts, and Santa Claus. The concept gained further popularity in the 1940s and 1950s, partly due to promotions by retailers looking to boost summer sales. The idea was to give people a taste of the Christmas spirit and encourage early holiday shopping. The retail and consumer factions have definitely claimed “Christmas in July” commercially, but the “Christmas Cheer” concept is still up for grabs… …and it’s free. Rough transitions, difficult quarters, slow development, job changes, high quotas, limited budgets… This month isn’t necessarily different than many months lately— It has been a tough few years in our industry and others. So this July, let’s claim the cheer how we can: Encourage each other, celebrate wins (even small ones), share knowledge and insight, be kind. We need a little of that right this very minute. #throwbackthursday #multifamily #motivation #bekind

Best Christmas Gifts 2024: 64 Ideas to Clear Your Holiday List – Easy Method

🎄 Get ahead of the Christmas rush with Useful Gifts and win! Imagine the joy of checking off your Christmas list early AND having a chance to win one of these incredible prizes: ✨ Prize 1: A beautiful tote bag from For Dignity ☕ Prize 2: Three bags of coffee beans from Micah Coffee Brewer 📖 Prize 3: A beautifully designed Proverbs book by Alabaster Co Each prize comes with one of our bestselling Useful Gifts cards card to make it even more useful! How to Enter: 1. Purchase any Useful Gift (usefulgifts.org) during November 2. At checkout, use the code USEFULGIVEAWAY to automatically enter the draw 3. Only one entry per person 🎁 Why wait? Head to usefulgifts.org and make an impact. Happy gifting and good luck! Disclaimer: If you win, Tearfund will contact you through your email address. Please do not accept requests from fake accounts regarding this giveaway. NEVER give out your card details to anyone on the internet or social media.

Say Goodbye to Boring Notes This Christmas! Don’t settle for jotting down ideas, reminders, or doodles on boring old scraps of paper—how dull! This festive season, add a little attitude to your notes with one of Simply Print’s 31 quirky novelty notepads, available to order online now. Why Our Notepads Make the Perfect Christmas Gift 🎅 Packed with Personality: Whether it’s cheeky quotes, playful designs, or outrageous flair, these notepads bring a smile on Christmas morning. ✨ Totally Customisable: Add a personal touch by having a name printed making it the perfect stocking stuffer or secret Santa surprise! 🎁 Practical and Fun: A gift that’s both functional and full of character. Who wouldn’t love jotting down their to-do lists on something fabulous? 31 Designs to Choose From! From hilarious puns to bold cheeky statements, there’s something for everyone. Got a family member who loves chaos or a friend with a crazy sense of humor? There’s a notepad with their name on it—literally! Order Yours Today It’s easy to spread the joy—just hop online, browse our designs, and add that perfect personal touch. We’ll handle the rest, so you can focus on decking the halls and sipping eggnog. This Christmas, make sure your gifts stand out—because life’s too short for dullness! 🎄 Visit Simply Print online now to browse and order your special person a unique one-of-a-kind notepad! https://shorturl.at/kchNS #christmas # noveltynotepads #notepads #noosaprinters #sunshinecoastprinters #simplypromotional #simplyprint #shoplocal #buylocal #supportsmallbusiness #supportsmallbusinesswomen

🎄 How Coca-Cola Made Santa the King of Christmas 🎄 In 1931, Santa wasn’t the jolly figure we know today. He wore different colours and looked different in every picture. Santa was scattered—like many businesses. Coca-Cola saw an opportunity. They didn’t just want to sell soda. They wanted to create a story, a feeling, and a connection. Here's what they did: Step 1: Listen to Your Audience People didn’t drink soda in winter. Coca-Cola made Coke part of Christmas. A season full of joy, family, and memories. Step 2: Simplify the Message Artist Haddon Sundblom painted Santa with: ❤️ Rosy cheeks 🍒 A big belly that shook when he laughed 😊 A warm smile and a red fur-trimmed suit Santa became relatable. Step 3: Attention to Detail Sundblom’s Santa did everyday things: 📬 Reading letters from kids 🥤 Sharing Cokes 🐶 Petting dogs by the fire 🎁 Laughing while delivering toys These moments made him real. Step 4: Consistency Builds Trust Coca-Cola spread Santa’s image everywhere: 📰 Posters 📖 Magazines 🏬 Store displays Soon, stores dressed their Santas in Coca-Cola’s red suit. Santa became the face of Christmas. And Coca-Cola became part of the season. Step 5: Think Long-Term Sundblom painted Santa every year until 1964. Over time, the red-suited Santa became linked with joy, family, and Coca-Cola. 🌟 Key Takeaways 🌟 → Listen to your audience → Simplicity Works → Details matter → Consistency builds trust → Think beyond products 🎅 The Takeaway The Coca-Cola Santa story isn’t just about advertising. It’s about understanding people. It’s about creating something bigger than a product. Whether you’re running a business or leading a team, the lessons are clear: ✔️ Focus on what matters. ✔️ Keep it simple. ✔️ Pay attention to the details. ✔️ Stay consistent. ✔️ Aim for connection, not just sales. This season, as we reflect on stories of transformation and connection, we wish all Christians celebrating around the world a Happy Christmas! 🎁 May your holidays be filled with joy, peace, and memorable moments with loved ones. From all of us at SMA Business Connect: Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year! 🎅

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁-𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 🎁 We all say the holidays aren’t about the presents. But let’s be honest — when GiGi shows up with a bag full of goodies, kids know 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 what’s going on! And yet, we remind them: “It’s not about the presents.” Or once they’re surrounded by wrapping paper, we pivot to, “It’s the thought that counts.” 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲? A reflection of how well we know each other — our stories, passions, and dreams. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆: Is it a quick gift card to check the box? A go-to staple like sweets or soap? Or is it something deeper — a gift that shows you truly know their story and what matters to them? 𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Are you easy to buy a present for? Do the people around you know your passions and what’s happening in your life right now? 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 #𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻.  When we share our stories — the little things and the big things — we give each other clues about who we are, what we love, and how we want to be celebrated. Knowing these stories transforms gift-giving into an opportunity to honor each other’s journeys. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝘄: • Give the gift of time (every parent of a toddler knows this is gold) ⏳ • Create shared experiences (memories last longer than trinkets) 🗺️ • Learn together (a cooking class, perhaps?) 🍳 • Something handmade (it’s the thought and the time that matter) ✂️ 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 — 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴: “I see you. I know you. And I’ve shared part of myself to be seen and known, too.” That’s the real gift. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱? Mine is fresh off the press: Today is a lesser-celebrated holiday - a half-birthday, and the request was for a handmade card. It put my art skills to the test - but simple, thoughtful, and connected in with our lives.

This story on the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade was republished on 649 different news outlets - the top performing story from over 1500+ articles in November. If earned media is the goal, here's 3 cheat codes you can use in your content strategy: Full Headline: "100 years of the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade" URL of article here, courtesy of Nicole Caldwell: https://lnkd.in/eFB3U22e 1) nostalgia. people love to think back. we have seen this played to dozens of content teams' advantages, no matter the niche, from healthcare to finance to lifestyle. Nostalgia is a cheat code. 2) # in the headline. In november, 11% of headlines had a number in it (eg 100 years of...), and 40% of the top performers did. Numbers in the headline are a cheat code. 3) Pre-planning. the story was published on November 4, a full 24 days before Thanksgiving. This gave our publishing partners plenty of space to schedule it when it made sense for them. The story saw 90 pickups in Week 1; 133 in Week 2; 227 in Week 3; and 199 the week of Thanksgiving. Early release + planning is a cheat code. Little things can make a big difference. Don't chase coverage blindly (content needs to make sense for your brand) --- but interesting takeaways here.