Cape Cobra, the manufacturer of exquisite, high quality, handcrafted exotic leather accessories has appointed Chatroom to assist with their communications and re-branding requirements as they move on to an exciting new path.

Account Manager Lauren Newhouse said the Cape Cobra project will enable Chatroom to showcase the full scope of the services the team can offer their clients.

‘Chatroom will be defining a brand identity and developing a campaign that involves creating a synergy through integrated advertising and PR. Chatroom’s  philosophy is to consult, create and communicate; a concept that will identify Cape Cobra’s brand and ensure full exposure to the media,’ says Lauren.

Cape Cobra is a family run business that has been in operation since 1972. This exquisite well-renowned company is best known for manufacturing high quality leather for many international and local brands. Manufacturing exotic leather made out of crocodile, python and ostrich skins, the company also produces its own range of handbags and accessories available in the showroom adjacent to their head office in trendy De Waterkant Cape Town.

In addition to Cape Cobra, Chatroom represents many clients both in the lifestyle, tourism, complex service, financial and automotive industries. These include MTU, Manpower, Winchester Mansions, Anchor Industries and Toyota Tsusho Corporation.

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When Robert Schäfer, Managing Director of Cape Cobra Leathercraft, knocked on the door of American design houses in 1992 to look for business, he earned a few skeptical looks. The manufacturing of high quality exotic leather pieces was known to take place predominantly in Italy. What could this company, based at the tip of the African continent possibly offer?

Quite a lot, as it turned out. Since 1972, Cape Cobra has established itself as a manufacturer of high quality, handcrafted exotic leather items encompassing handbags, briefcases, belts, luggage and smaller leather items. With a production line including exotic skins such as Alligator, Nile crocodile, Ostrich, Lizard, Whip Snake and Python, the company manufactures for top international design houses and labels such as Michael Kors, Judith Leiber, Lambertson Truex, Kara Ross and others. The Cape Town manufactured luxurious bags can be spotted on red carpets, in the British Royal Family as well as on the arms of South African celebrities, and have been worn by the likes of Debra Messing, “Desperate Housewife” Marcia Cross, Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lopez and Anne Hathaway.

The Schäfer family has a long history in the leather trade. Robert’s father, Lothar Schäfer, has learned the trade in Offenbach near Frankfurt in Germany, the European Mecca of the leather trade since the 20^th century. He perfected his skills in the early 1950s when he moved to Egypt to manufacture leather items for the British as well as the Egyptian high society and royalty during the times of the Suez Canal crisis. The Begum, the Aga Khan, the Rothschilds and Queen Elizabeth, among others, had their bags and leather items handcrafted by Lothar.

After several years in Egypt, Lebanon and Germany, Lothar and his wife Denise, who he had met in Cairo, moved to South Africa to once more start their business from scratch. In 1972, Lothar and Denise Schäfer together with business partner Walter Schoch, founded Cape Cobra.

Today, the company is run by Lothar’s two sons Robert and Richard Schäfer with Denise still being involved in quality control and sales. The company has grown to being a global leader in innovative design, development and production of unique, high quality, handcrafted exotic leather pieces. Cape Cobra’s team draws on the founders’ tradition in this highly specialised art, spanning more than five decades.

Says Robert Schäfer: “Our aim is to preserve the tradition of handcrafting accessories in all exotic skins. Quality of work is top of priority for Cape Cobra. All skins are obtained strictly under rigid international “CITES” regulations (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and the company also has its own metal work department and produces high quality fittings in-house.”

In addition to producing for international companies and labels, Cape Cobra has also started selling their own range of handbags and accessories, available only at the showroom adjacent to their head office in trendy De Waterkant, Cape Town.  Cape Cobra accessories stand out through their distinguishable quality and timeless style.

“Cape Cobra stands for classical quality with a touch of extravagance. Our design is inspired by our environment and reflects our dedication to detail and highest demands on production.” says Robert Schäfer. “Our aim is to set market trends in both aesthetics of design and excellence of craftsmanship. We participate, whenever possible, at international leather shows in New York, Hong Kong, Dubai, Paris and Milan, to keep abreast of international fashion trends.”

The Company’s design team is working towards a signature collection which will be launched in the second half of 2009. Current ranges are available at the Greenpoint Showroom on appointment only. For more information and to catch a glimpse of South Africa’s most exclusive exotic leather pieces, visit www.capecobra.co.za.

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Chatroom is proud to announce that they have recently been awarded bronze for their two entries into the PRISM Awards. The 2011 awards that will be added to their list of growing accolades are Bronze awards in the Media Relations and Public Relations categories for Chatroom's successful "SolarWorld Sun-TV Campaign" and "The Cape Cobra Story" campaign respectively.

For the third consecutive year, since entering the prestigious PRISM Awards, Chatroom has received awards for all projects and clients that have been entered. "We are very happy and excited about the awards. It's a testament of the amount of time, effort and skill that we apply to our work. These awards will further cement our status as a leading agency in the communications industry, highlighting our wide range of competencies," says Gordana McNamara, Chatroom Director.

The "SolarWorld Sun-TV Campaign" for SolarWorld Africa entailed Media Relations for the client. In line with SolarWorld's global corporate social investment efforts and to assist sustainable social development in Africa the campaign took advantage of the 2010 World Cup by supplying underprivileged communities with solar powered Sun-TVs to watch the soccer matches. Chatroom pitched story angles to media, secured and coordinated various national and international TV coverage for the campaign.

"The Cape Cobra Story" project came about to launch Cape Cobra, the leather goods manufacturer's own line of handbags and fashion items. The story told of how Cape Cobra has produced some of the finest leather for designers around the world. Chatroom identified story angels and communicated this to media with the result that Cape Cobra received publicity in the leading lifestyle and inflight publications in Africa. One of the challenges that presented itself with this campaign was that Cape Cobra is a local South African Luxury brand that has to compete with global traditional luxury brands such as Hermès or Louis Vuitton that are supported by significantly larger budgets. Chatroom handled this by focusing on creative PR events and establishing individual relationships with fashion journalists that the client could continue to maintain themselves. Chatroom also established partnership opportunities with local fashion design brands, including Gavin Rajah which immediately uplifted the Cape Cobra brand and increased brand awareness.

The awards ceremony took place at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town on Thursday, 24 March and was attended by some of the leading PR agencies in the country. "We are staunch believers in excellence and supporters of initiatives like the PRISM awards. Their contribution towards nurturing healthy competition in the communications industry is vital to its future." added Angela Naumann, Chatroom Director and past Chairperson of the PRISA Western Cape Committee.

About SolarWorld
The SolarWorld AG Group (ISIN: DE0005108401) is a worldwide leader in offering high quality, crystalline solar-power technology. Its strength is its fully integrated solar production. From silicon as the raw material through wafers, cells and modules all the way to turn-key solar systems, including recycling, the group combines all stages of the solar value chain. The central business activity is selling quality modules into the installation and distribution trades and crystalline wafers to the international solar cell industry.

About Cape Cobra
South African leathercraft company, Cape Cobra, offers an exotic leather range that includes amongst others, high quality, exquisitely designed, luxurious handbags, belts and accessories. Items are handcrafted from the finest Alligator, Nile Crocodile, Ostrich, Lizard, Whip Snake and Python skins for top international design houses and labels such as Michael Kors, Judith Leiber and Tiffanys. These exclusive bags have also been spotted on the arms of local and international celebrities such as Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lopez and Anne Hathaway.

For media information contact:
Chatroom

Zukiswa Nomnganga, Account Manager

P: +27 11 463 7078

M: +27 82 557 7877

E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Brand Strategy and PR: Cape Cobra appointed Chatroom to develop an identity to handle Public Relations in South Africa.

Action Steps

• Brand Strategy and Brand Identity Workshop
• Media Launch event
• Public Relations: Exclusive Media Events, Fashion Shows, Media Relations
• Print Campaign Development for overseas audiences and strategic placement options thereof

Outcome

• Brand Strategy
• Media event with editorial coverage on TV, Print, Online
• Publicity activities with editorial coverage in South Africa’s leading lifestyle and fashion magazines
• Brand exposure at Carducci Fashion Show, Arise Fashion Week, Nelson Mandela Day/ Gavin Rajah
• Advertisements in international and local publications

Client Profile

Cape Cobra has established itself as a manufacturer of high and quality, handcrafted exotic leather accessories encompassing handbags, briefcases, belts, luggage and smaller leather items. With a production line including exotic skins such as Alligator, Nile Crocodile, Ostrich, Lizard Python and Buffalo, the company  produces for top international design houses and labels such as Michael Kors, Judith Lieber, CeCe Cord, Calvin Klein and others.

visit website of Cape Cobra