LEMONADE

In the continuing World War P (P standing for phones), there are two main enemies: Nokia vs. Samsung. Before that there was Samsung vs. Apple which was fierce, but was more of an American war.

In this edition of World War P(s) Samsung hit out hard with the Galaxy range and for a long time they were winning the war. They came out strongly, taking the Earth from the Milky Way to the Samsung Galaxy. They had numerous versions, from the Galaxy Y, Ace and the latest ones, the S3 and S4.

All was well. Samsung had won - until Nokia’s response to the Galaxy was the lemonade.

Let me explain. The Nokia Lumia is derived from an Italian word meaning lemon (one of its several meanings, anyway). So Nokia literally took Samsung’s smug lemons and made lemonade.

 The Lumia is an impressive phone especially for emerging markets in Africa. It is a Windows phone. The two main divides are the 10 series and the 20 series, and they are giving the Samsung galaxy a run for their money. The Lumia might just be better than the iconic 3310.

Nokias get points for reinventing themselves and coming up with a brilliant smart phone. I recently bought a 620 and my favourite feature is…it looks good. Most importantly, it can fit comfortably in my pocket (unlike…you know what)!

Irregardless of the competitions and wars, Nokia is still living up to its slogan; folk are still buying their phones. They are still Connecting People.

Coming to Kenya

When you see this title you will probably remember Eddie Murphy’s 1987 hit movie Coming to America. In this comic movie a young prince by the name Hakeem comes from Africa in pursuit of a wife, all this time hiding that he is wealthy. After finding his wife he finally reveals he’s a prince and they live happily ever after.

This time, it’s coming to Kenya, a wealthy drink coming to Africa, the last frontier – Kenya, to be specific. Pepsi have landed in Kenya, and not for a honeymoon –they are here to stay. 

Reports indicate they opened a 2.6 billion shilling plant in Ruaraka which manufactures six of its flavours.

Though Pepsi has come into a new market it faces its old arch-enemy Cocacola. 

For decades Coke has had the Kenyan market share, but now competition is here and Kenyans will enjoy all the benefits that come with it. For example, the price wars have already begun as Pepsi reduces its cost to cater to the average Juma. 

Signs of Pepsi marketing are evident in the supermarkets where they have put coolers for their drinks, among other obvious takeover shots.

Pepsi’s current slogan is ‘Dare for More’, currently occupying one of the hugest billboards in Nairobi at Nyayo Stadium. This right here is an example of the epic war; Pepsi has the biggest bill board in  the compound of Nyayo stadium, yet Coca Cola has painted the outer walls of the stadium red – Coca Cola colours and insignias. In fact, at some point it was called the Coca Cola stadium! I think they should just make a movie called World War Drinks: Battle for Kenya. We are yet to see how Coca Cola will respond. As for their current theme ‘Africa, let’s go crazy’… I think it’s incomprehensible. Their billboard on Uhuru Highway says ‘Open happiness, Africa lets go crazy’. 

Too many ideas and themes on one billboard. Not Coca Cola at all. Remember the days of ‘Brrr!’ and ‘Live on the Coke side of life’? Now that was marketing. Coca Cola are losing their Midas touch, while Pepsi are slowly and steadily growing.

In line with the Pepsi slogan, they truly have dared for more by coming to Kenya. Now let us wait and see their marketing prowess. Hopefully they will make a television commercial with black Kenyan people…

DOWN TO EARTH

I open You Tube and there is a 45 second advertisement on the new Samsung Galaxy S4 phone. It looks very familiar… ah, now I remember. About a month ago Samsung were advertising their new galaxy camera in the same 45 second way. They show the camera spinning. It spins… and spins… this ad is all about aestheticism. It is the same with the S4 with a few changes like more words and a few features.

I am a professional photographer besides being a marketer. I had the opportunity to get my hands on the Samsung Galaxy camera. It is a startling white; I felt like Kylie Minogue singing Love at First Sight. 

It’s one of the best looking cameras I have ever seen. Its features: it has seamless connectivity, meaning you can send pictures by literally anything (social media, Wi-Fi etc.). It has a SIM card! It acts like has full functions of a DSLR camera; shutter speed, ISO, aperture and is fully touch. It can give the Canon 1D a run for its money with that touch screen.  Simply put, the camera is amazing.

Now this is my bone of contention; no, no, my skeleton of contention. When you are advertising electronic devices, please show what the device does. Samsung, c’mon. You can come up with a better advertisement than that. Do not misunderstand me; your products (especially the Galaxy camera. It’s super-duper fly) are great. However, the advert to someone who has never seen the phone live will not appreciate it and know its true broad functionality. Samsung has chosen to name their phone series GALAXY; there is nothing galactic about their commercials or promotions. When you hear the word galaxy the first thing that comes to mind is celestial bodies but no; the adverts are just down to earth.

If it was up to me to market the Samsung Galaxy series this is who you would see in major bus stops around the country starting with Kencom; something out of this world.

Samsung gets a 4 out of ten.

MINGLE MINGLE MINGLE!

Yes, I have been gone for a while. 

My first event of the year: The Mingle, held at Nairobi Racecourse. It is supposed to be an event that people meet, flirt, play games  - kwa ufupi, have fun.

I arrive at the entrance and there is an army of security officers (G4S, to be exact -  but not the ones you see in town. These guys were big and looked like they take pleasure in rearranging dental formula). At the end of the queue they give me a wrist tag. Past that, two young ladies dressed in Heineken football jerseys hand me a bottle of Heineken. I like it already and I’m not even inside!

There is green everywhere, i.e. Heineken everywhere; tents, posters, etc. I find the Heineken VIP lounge. Ladies and tables and couches. Heineken couches, I kid you not. This whole time there is loud music and swarms of people passing me by; I am stuck in a green moment and I take a sip. It almost feels like I am in a brewery with all this branding; in my head, Daniel Craig is about to show up any minute now. After the successful Heineken campaign, anything is possible, right? Teaming up with the Mingle was also an excellent marketing idea, seeing as all of Nairobi and their mother wants to go for it after it became marketing. I am of the opinion that marketing should hit you like those cold high school showers asubuhi asubuhi; and I think that is what Heineken is slowly but surely managing to achieve.

I give Heineken a clean ten out of ten.

I have said it a thousand times. East Africa Breweries Limited should up their game. Yes, they have a bigger market share and are not as aggressive as Heineken, but…why are we still doing Pilsner Pool Challenge, which has been there since I was in primary?

I can’t wait to see what Heineken will do for the Champions League Final!