South Africa’s bourgeoning luxury scene has huge growth potential as the middle classes begin to trade up to luxury. In June 2009 I helped launch and remain Commercial Director of the Southern Africa Luxury Association (SALA), a collaborative association that provides a forum for premium brands operating in Southern Africa to become better informed about relevant industry issues, create new business partnerships and raise brand awareness amongst wealthy consumers, opinion-formers and members of the press. As well as driving membership sales and strategic partnerships, my role involves trade presentations, member management, media relations and website/social media updates. I also wrote SALA’s Year 1 market report, a 50-page booklet entitled “South Africa: a New Frontier for Luxury Brands?” available here in synopsis form

Picture credit: by Chris Saunders, www.imagination.co.za