IN THIS ISSUE:
Business Barometer: A very mixed picture
- Bar Global: Black Friday will hurt Christmas.
- River Queen: China is still the best bet.
- Crossover: The in-store experience is vital.
- Discount Fashion: Offering better value.
- ABC Stores: Hoping for better back-to-school sales.
- Malawian retailer: Upping quality to escape flood of cheap imports.
- Langerhans Pharmacy: Nothing is 'business as usual'.
- House of Sandals: Consumer crunch.
- Courteney Boot: Correcting a wrong impression.
Opinion
- Locals must reclaim control of footwear sector, says Proudly South African CE.
Feature: Equator turns Green
- Belt manufacturer Equator, 18 this year, has moved to new premises, and used the opportunity to create the most environmentally sustainable factory in the entire South African leather industry. Here, they explain why it also makes business sense.
Companies
- Earth Gear launches outdoor and leisure brand Woodland.
Labelling
- Sports and textiles companies to benefit from shared labelling requirements database.
Technology
- Fit for Mars: Boots made from fungus and sweat.
Notice Board
- Praise for DTI's Abisha Tembo as he prepares to retire.
- Obituary: Jon Bolton - born to be a shoeman.
- Obituary: Errol Smith - as devoted to his business as he was to his family.
Advertisers in this Issue
Dr Rae Shoes/Carlo Bettini (7), Earth Gear/Woodland (4), Eddels/John Drake (6), Equator (9), Equator/Urban Art (11), Europa Art/Clarks (2), JSM (5), PMC Group (7), Katz Footwear/Willow (13), Katz Footwear/Luciano Rossi (15), Palm Footwear/Trustees (OFC), Soviet (17), The World Focus Group (17).
Footwear Industry Articles
- EU targets Shein as number of low value parcels more than doublesBrussels, Belgium (06 February 2025) – The European Commission has asked online fast-fashion retailer Shein to provide internal documents and more detailed information on risks linked to the presence of illegal goods and content on its marketplace, the EU executive said on Thursday.Shein said it welcomes "efforts that enhance t ...moreObituary: Zelton Wiskin – footwear agent (24/03/1958-24/01/2025) :‘He loved to please people - regardless of the consequences’
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – Retired former footwear agent Zelton Wiskin died in January, after a long illness, aged 66.Born in Johannesburg, he left school early to work for his stepfather, Aubrey Fuchs, who was also an agent.He represented 2 footwear companies for most of his working career – women’s footwear manufactur ...moreA practical joker, honest and generous in all things – except maybe biltong
Obituary: Howard Charles Patterson-Roberts – footwear agent (22/06/1951-08/03/2025) ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Africa Agri Tech Conference and Exhibition: ‘All problems have a common solution – technology’Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – The third Africa Agri Tech Conference and Exhibition (AAT), taking place from 18 to 20 March 2025 at the CSIR Convention Centre in Pretoria, is the gateway to the latest AgTech breakthroughs.“The biggest challenges facing food producers today – rising input costs, erratic weather, theft, and logis ...moreNew Zim tannery seeks ‘retired adviser’A new tannery to process cow and goat skins has started near Harare, and is hoping to attract “a retired tanning person” from South Africa for a short period to help set it up.“We have 3 drums and a few machines,” said Hashmook Naran of Tika Shoes, Harare, who is involved in the new business.“We’re curr ...moreSA ratifies Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and AgriculturePretoria, Gauteng, SA (28 January 2025) – South Africa became the 154th ‘contracting party’ to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) by depositing its instrument of accession with the Director-General of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) on 23 December 2024, acc ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- A partnership for inclusion: Circular Energy and Bradshaw LeRoux join forces for disability inclusionCircular Energy is partnering with Bradshaw LeRoux, a disability inclusion specialists organisation, to forge a disability-positive workplace. ...moreSouth Africa’s first safety escape room for hands-on health and safety training
South Africa's first safety escape room was set up at Phalaborwa Mining Company (PMC) in November last year by health and safety solutions provider KBC.“We required a fresh approach to training,” said Mabore Macheru, Manager in Training Development and Contractor Management at PMC. “This offers an interactive and practic ...moreLengthy detentions: That’s just the way it is, says NCCS&V Protect asked the National Consumer Commission to comment on Treadsafe’s experience, and also whether other containers have been detained. Jabu Mbeje, Divisional Head: Enforcement & Legal Services, at the NCC, sent this response: ...more
