S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol89 No11 November 2023
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Upfront
- Port problems: Sort it out or your Masterplan will fail, retail tells Government.
- SAFLIA also has a go over the collapse of SA’s ports.
- SAFLIA AGM: ‘Opposition to unfairness of collective bargaining drove membership drop.’
- SAFLIA AGM: Local production up in 2022, ‘but Masterplan has failed footwear’.
- Tech Fund: Manufacturers to pay full fee again after long holiday, but NBCLI grants another year’s holiday from levy.
04 Exports & Trade
- The rise and rise of Veldskoen as it seeks to double turnover.
06 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- Puma’s partnership with basketball star crumbles under pressure.
- World Shoe Ghana plans to step into the global footwear arena.
12 Notice Board
- Obituary: Misheck Sibanda, The Courteney Boot Company – we lost a staff member, the world lost a good person..
15 Trade Statistics
- South Africa: September imports and exports of footwear and accessories, provided by SARS.
Advertisers in this Issue
APLF (03,16), Evolution Engineering (03), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (04), Palm Footwear (12), Royal Adhesive Industries (07), Saddler Belts (08), SAFLEC (09), S&V Calendar (13), S&V Directory (15), Seadoone Shoes/Solite (06), The Authentic Brands Company/Shoemaker’s Choice (01), Wayne Safety (OFC).
The Next Issue:
- Out on 12 January 2024.
- SAFLIA AGM: ‘Opposition to unfairness of collective bargaining drove SAFLIA membership drop’In an implicit question mark over the future of collective bargaining in the South African footwear manufacturing industry, the Southern African Footwear & Leather Industries Association lost many of its members, most of them SMMEs, at the beginning of 2023.“…they believe our wage rates in the footwear industry have grown ...moreThe rise and rise of Veldskoen as it seeks to double turnoverCape Town, W. Cape, SA – When they started, in 2016, they had no footwear background at all. By last year, they were responsible for between 13% and 18% of SA’s footwear exports by pairs, and probably at least as much by value.Anyone who knows much about SA’s footwear exports will know the reference is to Veldskoen (Pty) ...morePuma’s partnership with basketball star crumbles under pressurePuma's major breakup with a basketball star is a story of social media stardom, Tesla drive-by drama, courtroom proceedings, and some lessons we can take home. ...moreWorld Shoe Ghana plans to step into the global footwear arenaIn the competitive world of footwear, a relatively unknown company has emerged — ‘World Shoe’ — and is establishing its first factory in Ghana. The move is part of its ambitious plan to manufacture over five million shoes annually, with a commitment to producing affordable, durable, environmentally friendly footwea ...moreWe lost a staff member, the world lost a good personObituary: Misheck Sibanda – G&D Shoes, Footwear & Rubber Industries, The Courteney Boot Company (08/08/1961-18/09/2023) ...morePort problems: Sort it out or your ‘Masterplan’ will fail, retailers warn governmentCape Town, W. Cape, SA - “It’s a matter of record that there are 70 000 delayed containers, and that some retailers have resorted to airfreighting in stock,” said National Clothing Retail Federation executive director Michael Lawrence. “Retailers will somehow make it through Christmas, but the problem is getti ...moreLocal production up in 2022, but ‘Masterplan has failed footwear’Contrary to expectations, SA footwear manufacturing in 2022 rose by 20% over 2021 from 51 119 332 pairs to 61 334 614 pairs. The bulk of the increase was made up of cheap constructions such as flip flops, executive director Jirka Vymětal said.Noting the apparently worsening youth unemployment in SA, which he called &l ...moreTech Fund: Footwear manufacturers to pay full levy again after long ‘holiday’, NBCLI levy holiday to last another yearAll SA footwear manufacturers will again pay full contributions to the Footwear Industry Technological Fund – the statutory monthly levy based on a percentage of weekly wages paid – from January 2024. A 3-year payment ‘holiday’ between July 2020, at the beginning of the covid crisis, and June this year, was replace ...moreSA footwear & accessories trade statistics for September 2023Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (31 October 2023) – Source: SARS.Including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN)Cumulative tradeTrade balance R'm (10 870 466 163)Ratio (exports/imports) 0.21Monthly tradeTrade balance R'm (1 384 720 209)Ratio (exports/imports) 0.21ExportsMonth % of total 0.21Cumulative 2022 (R'm) ...more
Footwear Industry Articles
- NCRF: ‘A very complicated stew’Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – The NCRF has 10 members with very different approaches to all sorts of things, so a forecast is difficult.We’re keeping an eye on factors including reduced interest rates, the two-pot retirement system, and political outcomes, and there is a degree of optimism, but I’m not willing to attach any f ...moreHow Asics expansion in non-metro India supports local growth and echoes BRICS aspirationsJapanese sportswear brand Asics is making notable progress in expanding into India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to meet the rising demand for athleisure outside major metro areas. According to Economic Times, by the end of 2024, Asics plans to operate 120 stores across the country, driven by a surge in e-commerce sales from non-m ...moreExpectation that December will be betterDavid Fox, Choice ClothingCape Town, W. Cape, SA - It’s been a pretty tough year for most retailers, I think – a weak Rand and cash-strapped consumers. Our Black Friday promotion will run from 21st November to 3rd December, with specials every day. The merchandise will be across the board – T-shirts, jeans, footwear. It ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Hide demand steady amid growing global supply, gelatine plants absorbing higher number of lower gradesThe picture I get of the leather industry globally is that it is losing share in all its markets for a variety of reasons. In South Africa, the situation is compounded by cash-strapped consumers choosing cheaper alternatives. Cape Produce Company is at the beginning of the leather process, and it supplies all leather markets in SA and internationally. I asked CEO Benjy Lapiner if the picture is as bleak as I’m told. No, he said, but… ...moreLULUC: Explaining the link between deforestation and the leather industryLand 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 ...moreThe power of partnership…This month we are delighted to announce the beginning of a new programme, being funded by the Leather & Hide Council of America as part of the US Regional Agricultural Programme. ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Mastering contractor management for safety, business efficiency and growth in the mining industryJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA (13 November 2024) – The mining industry operates in a complex and demanding environment characterised by rapid technological advancements, stringent safety regulations, and escalating cost pressures. To compete in this context successfully, mining executives must prioritise operational efficiency, cost-eff ...moreThe Fire and Life Safety Blame Game!SFA: EMS Conference 10/24Leighton Bennett (BSc, MDP dip, Pr.CHSA, AIRMSA, GradSaiosh, .M.ACHASM, Former FIOSM)Safety First Association - Chairperson SHE and Risk Management ConsultantOverview• Fire and life safety aspects introduction • Owner / Lessor / Employer Fire and Life Safety Responsibilities • Meaning of life safety ...moreHow dangerous is Radon?Radon is estimated to cause 3% to 14% percent of all lung cancer cases in the world, depending on where you live and how much radon you are exposed to.Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible and odourless gas that enters homes and workplaces unnoticed. It can pose a serious health risk at elevated levels for a prolonged period. But what ...more
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