Since the UCT Unilever Institute and TNS-Research Surveys first carried out our groundbreaking research on South Africa's burgeoning black middle class in 2005, much has happened that has affected the economic landscape.

This in turn has led to many assumptions being made about Black Diamonds, as well as a number of important questions being posed, the most common being:

• Is this market still growing or has it imploded?
• Are Black Diamonds drowning in debt?
• Have consumption patterns changed?
• Has the move to the suburbs slowed down?

Black Diamond 2008 answers these questions and many more - updating marketers and business people on the latest status of the country's most important consumers. This time there is a special emphasis on Black Diamond women - who the study has found to represent many of the key decision-makers in this sector. Be the first to understand what they spend their money on and more importantly, why!

We pay special attention to their aspirations, discover the challenges they face and get to grips with the business and marketing opportunities presented by this extremely influential sector of South African society.

Venues

Date: 31 October 2008
Location: BMW Pavilion, VNA Waterfront, Cape Town
Cost: R1500 per person non members

Date: 29 October 2008
Location: Montecasino, Johannesburg
Cost: R1500 per person non members

Date: 28 October 2008
Location: One 2 One Gateway, Durban
Cost: R1500 per person non members

Contact: Kulsoem Roode
Company name: UCT Unilever Institute of Strategic Marketing
Telephone number: +27 21 650 4715 / 4633
Email address kulsoem.roode@uct.ac.za