WE ARE MORE THAN WHAT WE BUY - we are people with stories, dignity, and power.""
Throughout his career, Louis Seeco has immersed himself in the everyday lives of South African communities, walking the vibrant streets of townships, visiting rural villages, and listening in city squares to understand how people experience the goods and services that shape their lives. His decades of inquiry revealed a profound truth: the connection between people and brands is never merely transactional; it is rooted in language, culture, and lived realities.
Building on his groundbreaking Brand Pilgrimage research and his influential Marketing the Same Difference (2010), Seeco now deepens this dialogue. In We Are Not Consumers, he urges leaders of brands, marketers, and corporates to move beyond treating audiences as faceless ""markets"", and instead to embrace them as multidimensional human beings defined by values, aspirations, and cultural identity.
Readers will discover how culture, language, and authentic storytelling can build trust, loyalty, and meaningful connections that drive both social progress and commercial success. Blending decades of research, personal stories, and vivid case studies, Seeco demonstrates that authenticity is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage, transforming ordinary transactions into enduring relationships.
A seasoned strategist and storyteller, Louis Seeco is recognised for connecting brands to people through empathy and cultural insight. He co-founded agencies including Keynote Marketing, Elements Advertising, and Pixykorner Studio, now part of Pixyelements, and helped launch iconic brands such as Castle Lite, Pepsi, and Lipton Ice Tea in South Africa. --- ""He reminds us that meaningful innovation begins with a deep understanding of people's lived experiences."" - Blessing Katsidzira ""At the intersection of brands, relationships, and higher consciousness."" - Milton Nkosi ""A riveting reflection on consumerism devoid of humanity."" - Bridgman Sithole ""Essential in understanding the sociocultural dynamic of South African society."" - Thembisa Fakude
