Andrew Thompson

Cape Town

Writer and Photographer at Freelance

Journalist living in Cape Town, South Africa.

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Articles

Would you take a four-pack of wine to a braai?

3 weeks ago | businesslive.co.za | Andrew Thompson

THE GHOST TRAIN Take an overdose of Trump, add some tariffs, bring to a boil, and voila — a hot mess in consumer stocks
There’s no such thing as a free megabyte

2 months ago | businesslive.co.za | Andrew Thompson

The postponement of the 2025 budget has created a rare opportunity for the GNU to design more democratic budget processes and develop lasting fiscal solutions
It’s a crapshoot: The great toilet paper review

2 months ago | currencynews.co.za | Andrew Thompson

Toilet paper is an odd topic for a financial publication. But few supermarket items are as essential, regulated and confusing as the humble loo roll. Take, for example, that pack of ultra-luxe supreme quilt rolls you may have treated yourself to recently. They were the same price as the far more ordinary-looking two-ply alongside them, so why not?
How much is your morning coffee costing you?

Jan 9, 2025 | currencynews.co.za | Andrew Thompson

Coffee — the world’s most popular psychoactive drug — is a daily essential for millions. But as news outlets are desperate to tell you, there’s trouble brewing: global coffee prices have hit record highs, with little relief in sight. Agricultural experts like Wandile Sihlobo attribute the surge to bad weather in coffee powerhouses Brazil and Vietnam; poor harvests and depleted stocks are driving the price higher. “These problems may last for some time.
These are South Africa’s priciest schools for 2025

Dec 8, 2024 | currencynews.co.za | Andrew Thompson

As important as a good education might be, nobody likes paying school fees. For most local parents in South Africa, the inevitable annual increases – even at government schools – likely come at the expense of some purgeable luxuries.
Secret markups, hidden fees: The truth about 'cheap flight' search engines and domestic airfares | Life

Dec 3, 2024 | news24.com | Andrew Thompson

They may promise to find you cheap tickets, but for domestic bookings, almost all online flight search engines were significantly more expensive than booking direct.
Luxury escapes at half price: SA residents enjoy up to 50% off these 7 iconic lodges | Life

Nov 26, 2024 | news24.com | Andrew Thompson

Although still pricey holidays, these SADC rates may make those bucket list destinations easier to check off.
Online or not, it’s still best to beware of sales

Oct 16, 2024 | businesslive.co.za | Andrew Thompson

Few online sales tactics are as compelling as the time-sensitive deal. The flash sale is almost as old as shopping, and most retailers have used it to drive out old stock or get more feet through doors. Black Friday hasn’t always helped.
Addressing some misconceptions about imposing cost

May 28, 2024 | imposecost.net | Andrew Thompson

I have heard, seen, and had to correct enough misconceptions about "impose cost" that it warranted a quick blog. Misconception 1:Raising cost is synonymous with imposing cost. An easy way to think about "impose cost" versus "raising cost" is that "imposing cost" does "raise cost" but "raising cost" does not inherently mean "imposing cost." This is because "imposing cost" is coercive and/or punitive in nature.
Opening salvoes in the Amazon vs Takealot battle

May 15, 2024 | businesslive.co.za | Andrew Thompson

South Africa has only ever had one online store that would compete and compare with Amazon. And though the US giant’s plans to launch here have been a poorly kept secret since 2022, Amazon.co.za’s lacklustre overnight appearance surprised many. Except perhaps its biggest local rival. As local news outlets raced to inform South Africans of Amazon.co.za’s activation, Takealot was prepared for the opening skirmish.