Behold
The Marketing Zoo, just a normal marketing company – with so much more! We are fresh & innovative with marketing in its wildest form. Name it and we will do it. Developing brands since 2014. Building relationships since 2008.
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Wait… What?
The Marketing Zoo, just a normal marketing company – with so much more! The company is fresh & innovative with marketing in its wildest form. Clients can be assured to request and receive any type of marketing solutions – in its wildest form. Public relations, branding, outdoor advertising, digital strategy, social media, design, event management & entertainment needs is some of our expertise. Our team of young professionals will make sure that you get noticed. Mission: Strive to live successfully in the business environment with experience, honesty and good relationships by being innovative in the industry we know best – MARKETING.
We take pride in managing your project / brand like our own. Your goals, needs and budget becomes our strategy. Previous / current projects include: Well-known artist management, Festival line-up & marketing management, Event coordination, PR & marketing strategy for franchising, PR & bookings for artists, Brand analysis & consulting for leading companies, Social Media management for successful brands, Entertainment bookings for corporate clients, specific design needs, noticable outdoor exposure – MARKETING in its widest form! We are not going to boast with all our success (or failure) stories, please ask us about what we have done / are still doing and we will gladly discuss this over a cup of coffee – we hope you like Zoo cookies? Let’s greet, meet and analyze your need.
It’s about the journey.

Founder, Wian Smith-Venter, is a B.Comm Marketing Management graduate from the University of Johannesburg. Since 2008 Wian worked in the Marketing & Media industry by fulfilling various roles in professional structures. During this time he took responsibility for some of South Africa’s biggest artists and was involved in a lot of successful projects and events. WS Marketing was founded in 2014 and the birth of The Marketing Zoo followed in 2017. Teamwork makes the dream work with our highly skilled team of young professionals and we take pride in our valued relationships and strong connections. We are all lovers of entertainment, marketing & brand building and strive for success in every aspect. a Goal without a plan is just a wish. We don’t let our clients wish – we dream together and make it happen. Building brands is our biggest passion and our expertise branched into various aspects. We live, work and sleep by this – To be INSPIRED is great, to INSPIRE is incredible. In this zoo, any animal is welcome and we use different strategies to create marketing in it’s wildest form.
“Let’s work hard, but have fun while we do it”: Wian Smith-Venter, Managing Director
The Zookeepers, they’re a talented bunch:
The only way to create great things every day is with great people who truly enjoy what they are doing, we make sure to only hire the best. So who are the real people behind all the smoke and mirrors?

Wian Smith-Venter
Brand Buffalo
Key Function: CEO & Founder
Like: Avo
Dislike: Negativity

Ilzé Saunders
Marketing Monkey
Key Function: MD (SA)
Like: Smiles
Dislike: Unproductiveness

Lettie Nkuna
Social Squirrel
Key Function: Social Strategist
Like: Listening to music
Dislike: Crowded places

Michelle Alberts
Creative Cat
Key Function: Content Specialist
Like: Chai Tea
Dislike: Laziness

Jaco Smith-Venter
Financial Fish
Key Function: Accounting
Like: Sailing Yacht
Dislike: Pretentiousness

Jeváhn Marais
Technical Turtle
Key Function: Technical Support
Like: To Braai
Dislike: Raisins

Vicki van der Merwe
Entertainment Eagle
Key Function: Entertainment & PR Specialist
Like: To make people happy
Dislike: Dishonesty

Juanita Roos
Creative Cheetah
Key Function: Entertainment Creative Zookeeper
Like: Plants
Dislike: Bullying

Tania van Zyl
Creative Caterpillar
Key Function: Content Specialist
Like: Loyalty
Dislike: Turkish Delight

Emile Opperman
Content Cockatoo
Key Function: Content Specialist
Like: Travelling
Dislike: Spoilers

Pieter Smith
Project Panther
Key Function: Financial and Project Director
Like: Being Active
Dislike: Arrogance

Mariza Pace
Creative Chipmunk
Key Function: Corporate Creative Zookeeper
Like: A good braai
Dislike: Untidiness

Zanel Erasmus
Creative Chameleon
Key Function: Strategic Zoolander
Like: Tuna Sashimi
Dislike: Unfinished tasks

Kailin de Lange
Creative Cricket
Key Function: Strategic Zoolander
Like: Ice cream
Dislike: Asparagus

Max Ziervogel
Lead Generator Alligator
Key Function: Lead Generation & Digital Marketing
Like: Sheep
Dislike: Coriander