December 2022 trading - good for some, others affected by arbitrary or unexpected factors
Omar Hassim, Shoe Biz
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – The relative stability of the Zim Dollar over the last 6 months has had a positive effect of stabilizing prices and an overall positive effect on trading over the last quarter. December sales have been fairly good up to now and hopefully those dark dreary days of the previous Decembers never return again.
The Diaspora returning home again from South Africa and abroad after an absence of a long 2 years will bring much needed respite to their families and have an uplifting effect on December sales. Our footwear sales are still focussed on basic needs as family breadwinners prioritize spending on their children's needs rather than their own.
We face a challenging trading environment as the informal sector continues to grow and the market is flooded with cheap second hand imported footwear and clothing from abroad. This has now become a very popular and affordable option for many cash strapped consumers and is being sold on the road side and the many flea markets that are popping up everywhere.
The informal traders have become increasingly daring and more enterprising these days. I came across an interesting spectacle just the other day as I drove into a service station to refuel. There was this vehicle, parked at the wayside, with an array of colourful sports shoes displayed neatly all over the vehicle, from bonnet to rooftop and boot and all over the windscreen, with more scattered around the vehicle .Now this, I thought, was a more befitting description of a CAR BOOT SALE. A mobile shoe shop poised to move from one prime site to another, available to trade anytime of the day.
David Mushy, Fabulous House of Fashion
Walvis Bay, Namibia – Rather than emphasising December, I would rather say the last quarter has been good for me. All the months have been up on last year, Black Friday was successful, and I would say we have really recovered to pre-Covid levels.
I don't know the reasons, but perhaps it's just that we are very exclusive.
Mark Kingon, Kingon's
East London, E. Cape, SA – Although things have seemed quiet, we are up on last year, especially in schoolwear.
We are still down on 2019 , but I feel that we are being held back by the very high fuel price!
Mohamed Abdoola, Zaa Zaa Shoes
Laudium, Gauteng, SA – Trade for this year is up by 20%.
I found a pick-up in the wedding trade, and also lots more people travelling locally and abroad.
What I also found was that because I am based in a suburb, we were much busier. People don’t want to go out to shopping centres like before.
Most importantly, a big thank you to all my suppliers for trusting me. It made a huge difference for my business.
Abdul Dajee, City Outfitters
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – September, October and November saw City Outfitters, and the majority of retail stores, filling up stock in preparation for the Christmas shoppers as usual. But I must say this December trade was not as vibrant. December trade started slowly and we remained daily in anticipation that the next day it would happen - but in vain.
Okay, after the 15th it improved a bit to the 18th, and ebbed again. Momentum picked up on the 21st and 22nd. Came the 23rd and 24th, disappointing sales. So overall December trade has dropped drastically, which means it's going to be challenging to meet our commitment to merchants.
Ridwaan Sayanvala, Pick & Save Hyperstores
Maseru, Lesotho – Sales this year were one third less than sales last year. Since the borders of South Africa re-opened, and there is no need to get a Covid test for R500 per person, people prefer to go to South Africa for their shopping.
