The Brief

Apex (Vestrel Group) sought the expertise of an integrated marketing and events agency to manage the concept, design, and production of their conference exhibitions. As leaders in the energy industry supply chain, maintaining an impactful presence at industry events is critical to their business success.

Outcome

Firecracker successfully designed and delivered two exhibition stands for Apex at Windaba and Africa Energy Indaba. By understanding the unique requirements of exhibition booth design and production, Firecracker ensured a successful activation for Apex at these key industry events.

Overview

Leading offshore training specialists, SAFER Training based in the UK and their partners in Africa, Offshore Africa Training Centre (SA) and True Blue (Nigeria) required a marketing partner to grow their social media presence and digital campaigns to generate leads for their offshore training courses.

Objective

Increase and build key stakeholder audiences in Southern Africa. Position SAFER Training and their African partners as the ‘go-to’ resource for all offshore training requirements. Deliver quality leads for conversion.

Results

Firecracker delivered a number of digital campaigns for SAFER, including thought leadership content and customer engagement. Since running their social platforms we have doubled their LinkedIn followers (organically) and seen fantastic engagement levels.

Overview

Brief:

Launch the Irish Tech Challenge initiative by the Irish Embassy, Technology Innovation Agency, and Department of Science & Innovation. Generate buzz and drive quality applications from promising South African tech entrepreneurs. Design a compelling brand, CI and associated marketing collateral to generate brand awareness, engagement and conversion.

Outcome:

Successfully launched an impactful event featuring an insightful panel discussion and keynotes from leaders like Irish Minister Brophy. Powerful branding and marketing rolled out across channels. Widespread awareness among government, private sector, and entrepreneurial communities. Influx of outstanding applications.

Elevating The Premier Offshore Training Provider

Brief:

Position Offshore Africa Training Centre (OATC) as the industry-leading offshore training provider of choice in Africa. Amplify their brand presence among key stakeholders and drive new registrations through compelling marketing efforts.

Outcome:

A transformative digital and live experience showcasing OATC’s world-class offerings.

Our team:

Designed and developed a new best-in-class website, bringing OATC’s brand to life through immersive multimedia while optimising user experience and ecommerce functionality. Produced a standout industry networking event at OATC’s Cape Town facility, highlighted by live training demonstrations and insightful keynote speakers. Executed an integrated marketing campaign delivering brand exposure, thought leadership content, and seamless registration channels.

Results:

• Increased website traffic and engagement metrics.
• Surge in new online training registrations.
• Heightened visibility and credibility among African offshore companies
• Strengthened OATC’s reputation as the continent’s premier training destination

Project: Marketing Strategy and Brand Development

Facing the need for a comprehensive rebrand, BackaBuddy entrusted Firecracker with a multifaceted project aimed at redefining their marketing strategy and elevating their brand identity. The scope included the development of strategic projects encompassing brand strategy, donor retention and a communications plan. Additionally, the project involved a complete redesign of the brand, including collateral and the website.

Outcome: Practical Customer Retention and new Brand Identity

The collaboration resulted in a practical and effective customer retention plan, complete with a detailed customer journey for Backabuddy’s team to seamlessly implement. The brand transformation we achieved was stunning – an identity that resonates with the target audience. The new brand and associated collateral, including the redesigned website, stand as a testament to the success of the project, equipping Backabuddy with a refreshed and resonant presence in their endeavors. This comprehensive approach has not only revitalized their brand but also fortified their strategic initiatives for sustained impact in their mission.

Objective: Activate Seequent’s brand in the African region

As the ongoing marketing agency our role is to provide comprehensive support to both global and regional marketing teams through strategic events and marketing services in Africa. The overarching objective was to amplify Seequent’s brand presence and foster lead generation through meticulously planned and executed events.

Outcome: Successful Event Activations for Lasting Impact

Firecracker has successfully executed three significant event activations for Seequent to date, including high-profile engagements like Mining Indaba and JMP Mali. Taking charge of project management, our dedicated team ensured the flawless execution of these crucial sales and lead generation events. From design and production to presentations, merchandising, and collateral, every element was meticulously curated and delivered on brand, on time and with exceptional attention to detail.

This outcome reflects our commitment to elevating Seequent’s market presence in Africa, establishing a foundation for sustained success in the region.

Objective: The primary goal of our project was to dissect the anomaly behind HI-TEC’s exceptional performance within a specific retail landscape. We aimed to pinpoint the unique factors contributing to HI-TEC’s success so this could be emulated in other retail stores.

Output: Conducting in-store and in-person consumer insights surveys with over 250 HI-TEC customers produced invaluable data. The findings from these surveys became the foundation for strategic adaptations by the marketing teams. This output facilitated a refined and targeted approach, ensuring our client could leverage insights to stay ahead in a fiercely competitive market, demonstrating the tangible impact of our research.

Overview

The Color Run is a global phenomenon, with over 3 million people in 33 countries having participated to date. The licence holder appointed Firecracker as the agency to localise and activate this powerful global brand to connect with South African audiences and drive ticket sales.

Objective

Localise and execute the Color Run brand across every channel and touchpoint. Ensuring design, production and execution delivers an immersive and engaging brand experience, from pre-event marketing to the event experience and post event activity.

Results

A fully integrated, globally aligned but localised brand experience that connected with South African audiences. Driving mass participation in a National series of events requires a through-the-line marketing and advertising strategy. We delivered a stunning brand execution at every touchpoint including print ads, social media, website, posters, billboards, extensive event branding (signage, gantry, stage, colour stations, etc) and runner packs.

Our multi talented events team also produced 8 events with over 25,000 participants. All at a profit with no sponsorship. Almost unheard of in the events industry.

Overview

Objective:

Delivering an Integrated Digital Marketing Strategy for Successful Lead Generation.

Our mission was to create a seamless and comprehensive digital marketing approach that would effectively generate high-quality leads for RenEnergy. Through a strategic combination of Pay-Per-Click (PPC), LinkedIn, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tactics, our team aimed to establish a digital sales funnel that not only addressed technical and creative requirements but also ensured a steady flow of marketing qualified leads.

Output:

Ongoing Success and Continuous Improvement. As RenEnergy’s trusted digital marketing partner, we have successfully implemented and optimized a powerful digital sales funnel. This ongoing collaboration has already yielded a substantial number of high-value marketing qualified leads, providing the sales team with a fertile ground for conversion.

Embracing a ‘Test, Learn, and Refine’ approach, we are committed to continuous improvement, ensuring RenEnergy stays ahead in the ever-evolving digital landscape. Our partnership not only reflects a successful execution but an ongoing journey of refinement and growth.

Objective: Creating Memorable Experiences for Distinguished Guests

Barclays International Bank wanted to host two distinctive, world-class gatherings for a select group of valued guests. The aim was to create evenings that blended insight and indulgence, offering cultural and culinary experiences in extraordinary settings.

Output: Two Immersive Experiences Curated with Precision

Firecracker carefully curated every touchpoint, from pre-event communication and personalised invitations to on-the-night experiences and bespoke luxury gifts. The result was a seamless journey for guests, where every detail reinforced the sense of exclusivity and care.

Event One: The Legacy of Wealth

Location: Ellerman House, Cape Town

This intimate evening brought together the worlds of art, wine, and fine dining:

• Personalised invitations and guest communication set the tone ahead of the event.
• Guests enjoyed a private art tour led by one of South Africa’s most respected art historians.
• A joint masterclass on “Timeless Investments: Art, Wine, and Generational Wealth” was presented by a Barclays wealth strategist and a Sotheby’s expert.
• The evening concluded with a five-course gastronomic journey, paired with rare wines selected by South Africa’s top sommelier.
• Every element was designed to create an atmosphere of discovery, luxury, and connection.

Event Two: Mastery & Markets: A Global Investment & Culinary Experience

Location: The Jordan Restaurant with Marthinus Ferreira, Stellenbosch

This event fused world-class dining with global investment insight:

• A champagne reception in the vineyards opened the evening.
• A fireside conversation between a Barclays offshore strategist and a leading economist explored themes of diversification and emerging markets.
• A bespoke tasting menu with wine pairings followed, along with a blind tasting challenge linking wine appreciation to investment timing.
• Guests departed with personalised engraved bottles of flagship wine and a limited-edition Barclays investment insights book — luxury touches that extended the experience beyond the event.

Impact

These events went far beyond standard hospitality, offering guests something rare: an experience that was personal, immersive, and unforgettable. Firecracker’s meticulous approach to every touchpoint ensured that Barclays International Banking’s guests felt valued, celebrated, and deeply engaged.