Trading conditions: Better than last year, but nowhere near pre-Covid

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – The foot count in the Oriental Plaza, Fordsburg, is up, which is an indicator of improved trading, said M.H. Abdulla, member of men's lifestyle outfitter Casual Affair.
      "It's not going to be like the old days, pre-Covid, but business is definitely up on last year," he said.
      The biggest single issue affecting trading is load shedding, but procurement hasn't been an issue.
      He said customers were more interested in value than labels, and Casual Affair's strategy has been to offer discounts on branded goods.

Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA – Business "has picked up slightly", said Presheen Jankee, manager of Failsworth Road hawker trade specialist Leatherhaven, "but it's nowhere near what it was before Covid, and I don't think it will ever get back to that - there are so many unemployed people, and the cost of living keeps rising."
      What has improved, however, is that many hawkers are now ordering from WhatsApp catalogues sent out by Leatherhaven, which are delivered by courier. "That makes it a lot more affordable and much easier for them," he said.
      Most of Leatherhaven's hawker customers are from country areas in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West Province, and from rural KZN. "There used to be a lot from the Eastern Cape, but not anymore."
      Leatherhaven sells mostly unbranded, locally made footwear, and he said most demand was for low cost women's and children's shoes.

Carletonville, N.W. Province, SA – "Before Covid there was life," said Power Sports/Power Stores member Anees Nosarka. "Now it's about survival."
      The biggest problem, he said, is that consumers don't have much money. Power Sports/Power Stores has a very broad range to attract as wide an audience as possible, covering casual and formal family apparel, sportswear, workwear, schoolwear and swimwear.
      Among its current best sellers is the outdoor and hunting clothing brand, Sniper Africa.
      "We carry on doing what we've always done," he said. "We'll survive."

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – Trade is "nothing like it was pre-Covid", but it is about 15% up on last year so far, said Chris van den Berg, member of Burgers Brothers.
      Burgers specialises in school wear and corporate wear, and also supplies chef wear.
      "School wear has been hit harder than corporate wear," he said. "People are having to delve into their savings, and school wear is a bit of a grudge purchase.
      "It's clear most people are battling. Where previously someone would come in and buy 5 pairs of socks, now they buy 1."
      He said procurement was sometimes an issue. "Everything is blamed on Covid. It's hard to know whether it's an excuse or not."
      January is traditionally Burgers' busiest period. What is he expecting of this January? "I have absolutely no idea," he said.