The story of the VWV Group began humbly as a two-man PR consultancy, Warrick & Associates, in 1982. Over the years, through various mergers and acquisitions, it transformed into VWV (Videosound Warrick Vision) in 1990. Initially specialising in commercial photography and brochure design, the company swiftly moved into audiovisual production and event management, before pioneering video production and cutting-edge technologies such as stereoscopic 3D and panoramic video projection.
VWV’s growth trajectory was remarkable. Starting from a modest house in Melville, the company expanded into larger premises, eventually settling in Kyalami Business Park with a custom-built headquarters, complete with studios, editing suites, and theatres. Yet, this journey was far from smooth. In 1992, the Boiphatong massacre triggered widespread unrest, which devastated the South African economy. Corporate budgets shrank overnight, and VWV teetered on the brink of bankruptcy. However, they endured, and by 1993, VWV launched one of the first corporate multimedia and internet applications divisions in South Africa, VWV Interactive.
VWV Interactive quickly became a formidable player in the digital space, with a team of 120 young developers creating award-winning corporate websites. But the bursting of the global internet bubble in 2001 struck a severe blow. Despite retrenching over 100 staff members, VWV’s digital division could not recover and had to close. Yet, VWV’s commitment to technological innovation never wavered. Today, the digital business unit remains smaller but highly successful, focusing on integrating technology with live experiences.
Over two decades, VWV established itself as a dominant force in the experiential marketing industry, both locally and internationally, delivering campaigns for global giants like SAB, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and BMW. The company garnered numerous prestigious accolades, including the coveted Loerie Awards, winning multiple Grands Prix for the BMW 3 and 7 Series launches—still the only Grands Prix awarded for car launches to date.
VWV’s success wasn’t confined to South Africa. In 2004, following SAB’s acquisition of Miller Brewing Company, VWV set up an office in Chicago, overseeing Miller’s annual Distributor Conference for 4,000 delegates for over a decade. Their success in the US market earned VWV a place among the top 100 experiential agencies in the country. However, a discovery of financial misconduct led to the closure of the US operation, marking yet another challenge in the company’s storied history.
Perhaps VWV’s most high-profile achievement came in 2008 when they secured the contract to produce the opening and closing ceremonies for both the 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. With a crew of 96 and a cast of 3,600, the events set a new standard for live performance, featuring a groundbreaking projection onto the entire field surface, a world first at the time.
But challenges continued. The COVID-19 pandemic nearly spelled the end for VWV as in-person events and activations were halted globally. The company, renowned for its large-scale events, had to pivot quickly, building virtual and hybrid solutions to stay afloat. As live events made a comeback, VWV found itself inundated with clients eager to reconnect with their audiences.
In recent years, the company has undergone a change in leadership. Shale Gama, founder and CEO of Tribe, VWV’s activations subsidiary, stepped up as VWV’s Managing Director, alongside Richard Lowe, head of the digital business unit, who became Deputy MD. Together, they have transformed VWV into a more collaborative, empowering environment, while maintaining the company’s reputation for being at the forefront of technological innovation.
VWV’s focus has now shifted towards a digital-first future, where technology enriches live experiences through interactive, multi-layered engagements, paired with leading measurement frameworks and tools. The company continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the experiential marketing world, both in South Africa and globally.
After 43 years of resilience, adaptation, and creativity, VWV remains a trailblazer, setting new benchmarks in the industry and blending cutting-edge technology with the human touch that makes live events unforgettable.
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