'Dramatic turnaround' for wedding sector

Bedfordview, Gauteng, SA - Retailers specialising in weddings and matric dances were among the worst hit by lockdowns, but for those who survived, there has been a complete turnaround, says Liz de Freitas, owner of Glam & Glitz.
      "It started picking up in September last year," she said. "The recovery has been a bit patchy, but overall it's been a very good year, and we have more than caught up with pre-lockdown turnover. I'm hoping that the growth will continue next year."
      Procurement has been an issue: As a designer, all the fabrics she uses are imported, and there have been periods "when I didn't have much to choose from", but she said her fabric suppliers were now sending notifications that stock was available.
      She also sells a small range of wedding shoes "and my supplier is offering a very limited range". She doesn't sell bags. "I used to supply a lot of accessories," she said, "but people don't have much money, so I've stopped that."