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
- Drip Footwear’s financial crisis - a cautionary tale
Rapid Expansion BackfiresDrip Footwear, a once-promising South African sneaker brand, is facing a severe financial crisis that has sparked intense scrutiny and debate. The company’s rapid expansion into shopping malls has backfired spectacularly, leaving it with a R20 million debt, a foreign exchange blunder, and the looming threat ...moreSGS adds to its ‘green’ certifications
International testing, inspection and certification company SGS has launched 2 additions to its SGS Green Marks programme: Product Carbon Footprint and Carbon Footprint Reduced. Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) is an essential measurement of greenhouse gas emission and removal within a product’s life cycle. Brands, manufacturers, ...moreHuntsman to launch new footwear soling for running, hiking and safety.The Woodlands, Texas, U.S. – Huntsman’s Polyurethanes business will launch a ‘gripping’ new soling development for the footwear industry at the NW Materials Show at the end of August.The new portfolio of high performing thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) products is aimed at footwear brands producing running, hiking ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Update on outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Eastern CapePretoria, Gauteng, SA (08 August 2024) – Following the recent outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Kouga and Kou-Kamma Municipalities of the Eastern Cape, the Department of Agriculture is committed to providing ongoing updates and ensuring effective measures are in place to manage the situation.Engagement with Farmers an ...moreCelebrity panel to judge ‘Real Leather’ competition
Washington, DC, U.S. (16 August 2024) – The promotional blog Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD), funded by the Leather & Hide Council of America (LHCA) to promote U.S. leather internationally, organises an annual international student design competition. It has issued the following release: ...moreJob Cards
Job cards – are these bureaucratic pieces of paperwork worth anything? The tracking of work, quality control indicators, dates and timing, and non-conformance can be tagged onto this tool and production control and monitoring can be greatly enhanced. The job card can be historical and diagnostic.Can a tannery run production without ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Report addresses how standards activities in innovative industries underpin sustainability effortsW. Conshohocken, Pa., U.S.A. (02 May 2024) – A major new report from ASTM International highlights the impactful role that standards play in supporting global innovation trends. The Standardization Impact Report (SIR) serves to showcase the direct links between these emerging technologies and the work of several key ASTM commit ...moreFrom lectures to life-saving skills - transforming safety training with Hazard Parks
Randburg, Gauteng, SA – Hazard Parks offer an innovative and practical solution for, companies seeking to prioritise employee safety and well-being in high-risk industries. The constant challenge for most organisations lies in ensuring that their employees are not only aware of safety protocols but are also equipped to handle real-l ...moreMBA North emphasises benefits of safety as regional safety competition closes
Entries for this year’s Master Builders Association North Regional Safety Competition closed in February, and the adjudication or auditing phase has begun. Gerhard Roets, Construction Health and Safety Manager at MBA North, says that the annual competition highlights the importance of safety in an intrinsically dangerous industry li ...more
