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
- AMSA: ‘Perturbing trend’ in imports
Durban, KZN, SA – As the economy still seems to be precariously poised due to various exogenous variables, I remain very cautious about looking into the future.The formal sector of the economy has not fared well in terms of employment as measured by Clothing Industry Bargaining Council figures (see attached chart).It appears that th ...moreClusters ‘very successful’, IDC says
As part of the R-CTFL Masterplan, the Industrial Development Corporation funded 2 ‘subnational clusters’ to enhance local manufacturing capabilities. In Durban, the Mr Price Cluster involved Labora Shoes and Smiley’s Footwear, and in Pietermaritzburg, Eddels was the manufacturing partner in the Foschini Cluster. Both are being wound up. Tshepo Ramodibe, IDC Head of Corporate Affairs, replies to S&V’s questions. ...moreTimberland returns to India after exiting in 2015
Initial Exit and Market StrugglesAccording to Livemint, Timberland, famous for its hiking boots and outdoor gear, withdrew from the Indian market in 2015 after struggling to establish a foothold. The primary reason for its exit was fierce competition from Woodland, a Canadian-founded footwear brand that entered India in 1992 and domi ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Rwanda: Realism needed for a country with wonderful hides and skinsNote: This correspondent requested anonymity.I read the Pill concerning the tannery park project in Rwanda. I fully agree with Sam Setter!Please allow me to share my mostly fantastic Rwanda experience. My first visit to Rwanda was back in 1981 where I met the MD of the Rwanda Leather Industry tannery at the outskirts of Kigali and the MD ...moreLULUC: Explaining the link between deforestation and the leather industry
Land use and land use change (LULUC) refers to the study area in general – that is the study of how global land use change (commonly through human intervention) results in increased atmospheric emissions. The obvious emission is that if the forest is burnt, the emissions are directly released into the atmosphere. However, the change ...moreGroenewald returns to OPSA
Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, SA – Newald Groenewald rejoined Ostrich Products SA (OPSA) in September as tannery manager.He started at the then Klein Karoo International in 1991 before joining OPSA as tannery manager in 2015. He joined Le Croc as tannery manager in 2021, and left there earlier this year. ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Standard socks could shock: The hidden danger in anti-static work environments
Pinetown, KZN, SA – In any environment where the build-up of static electricity has been determined to be a risk, anti-static footwear must be worn. Anti-static footwear is designed to help dissipate the accumulation of static electricity from the body while still providing a reasonable level of resistance to electrical hazards from ...moreOffshore wind energy: Mobile test platform for offshore wind turbines
Bremerhaven, Germany (02 September 2024) – Public power grids are highly complex systems. Wind turbine manufacturers have to comply with technical guidelines when connecting new turbines to avoid putting grid stability at risk. In the Mobil-Grid-CoP project, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES have d ...moreFostering safety through commitment by empowering workforce development and lifelong dedication
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (24 October 2024) – Workplace safety is not merely a regulatory requirement; it is a fundamental aspect of organisational health and success. At its core lies commitment—a steadfast dedication to safeguarding the well-being of employees. When commitment permeates an organisation, it creates a culture ...more
