S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol90 No7 July 2024
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Upfront
- Has Nike’s greed come back to haunt it?
- Relationships have to be more equal, says Mike’s Sports’ Mike Augoustides.
- Springbok sponsors – as a sports shop, we can’t get a single jersey, says Action Sports Retailers’ Theo Koutsoudis.
- Their strategy hasn’t unfolded as they expected, says The Vault/American Clothing’s Kamlesh Chagan.
- I’ve ‘filled the gap’, thank you, says L. Cohen Outfitters’ Martin Cohen.
- Others have taken their place, says McCoy’s Outfitters/Playboy Sports’ Iqbal Mahomed.
- Kappa launches Kaizer Chiefs’ replica range.
14 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- Shein and Temu face uncertain times in SA amid high tariff push.
- From traditional dress to sneakers – a Japanese success story.
- Skechers-Shein partnership: Dilution or strategic expansion?
- Celebrity-favoured Golden Goose reveals staggering debt ahead of IPO.
- Nike unveils Hyperice Boot – a game-changer or just hype?
21 Export & Trade
- Expanding horizons: Leveraging African trade opportunities with SAFLEC’s outward selling missions, by Nerisha Jairaj.
22 Sustainability
- SGS adds to its ‘green’ certificates.
23 Notice Board
- Obituary: Stephan Berrill, who was happiest as a technical shoemaker.
Advertisers in this Issue
Arena Trims (08), BBF Safety Group (OFC), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), FrontierCo/Busby (06), Haesloop Agencies (10), Kaytex Belts (12), Leather Finishing Products (16), Saddler Belts (04), SAFLEC (07), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (21), Shotland Packing (14).
The Next Issue:
- Out on 23 August 2024.
- Skechers-Shein partnership: Dilution or strategic expansion?
Since 2023, Skechers’ decision to sell on Shein has raised eyebrows. Known for its comfortable, casual, and sometimes athletic shoes, Skechers occupies a market space perceived to offer higher quality compared to Shein’s fast-fashion, low-price model. This move has some analysts worried about a potential dilution of Skech ...moreCelebrity-favoured Golden Goose reveals staggering debt ahead of IPO
Golden Goose, the Italian footwear brand favoured by celebrities like Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift, is preparing to shed its private veil and enter the public eye through an Initial Public Offering (IPO). This seemingly glamorous transition, however, exposes a surprising truth: the company is grappling with significant debt and might be ...moreNike unveils Hyperice Boot - a game-changer or just hype?
Nike has launched what they call The Nike x Hyperice Boot, a tech-enabled product designed to enhance athlete warm-up and recovery. This wearable technology is aimed at helping athletes perform at their best. The boot is a result of a partnership between Nike and Hyperice, a company known for its expertise in reco ...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, ...moreFrom traditional dress to sneakers - a Japanese success story
Tokyo Kimono Shoes isn’t just a footwear company; it’s a story of innovation, sustainability, and cultural revival. Founded by Shotaro Kawamura, a former logistics professional who witnessed the decline of Japanese brands, Tokyo Kimono Shoes is taking the world by storm with its unique sneakers crafted from recycled kimono fab ...moreHappiest as a technical shoemaker
Obituary: Stephan Berrill – Jack & Jill, Paul Moeller & Co., Adidas, Angels Shoes (29/03/1956-15/07/2024) ...moreExpanding horizons: Leveraging African trade opportunities with SAFLEC's outward selling missionsThe South African Footwear and Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) is paving the way for its members to tap into African markets to grow their businesses through strategic outward selling and inward buying missions. These missions, tailored to maximize market presence and drive sales, are a game-changer for South African footwear and leather ...moreHas Nike’s greed come back to haunt it?Early in July, international media carried reports about a steep fall in Nike’s share price following disappointing results. One was Sky News, which headlined a report: ‘How a series of blunders brought Nike's share price to COVID lows and meant it's being beaten by younger rivals.The iconic sportswear brand has switched away ...moreRelationships have to be more equalCape Town, W. Cape, SA – I’m sure Nike’s decision to drop so many retailers can’t have helped their recent performance, but I don’t know how much damage that did to them.It was mostly motivated by the opportunity to double their markup – that’s the only reason that makes sense. But what they didn& ...moreSpringbok sponsors – and as a sports shop we can’t get a single jerseyPort Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA – What we hear is that both Nike and Adidas are losing sales internationally.Here, however, we’re affected by Nike’s Springbok sponsorship deal – as a sports shop, we can’t get a single Springbok rugby jersey or replica shirt. We couldn’t get them during the World Cup, we cou ...moreTheir strategy hasn’t unfolded as they expectedCape Town, W. Cape, SA – Yes, Nike has been down this road before. Their current new Global Strategy to streamline their distribution was implemented and we independent businesses were out of their bigger plan. This sadly led to many independent retailers, dependent onNike, Adidas, NB, etc., to close down or to downscale their opera ...moreI’ve ‘filled the gap’, thank youCape Town, W. Cape, SA – L. Cohen Outfitters Est 1912 was the first independent in Wynberg to acquire the Nike brand, a situation that we held for a number of years before Nike's policy changed to supplying numerous stores in close proximity.Those were the good years.The World didn't end when they advised that they would be terminat ...moreOthers have taken their placeLouis Trichardt, Limpopo, SA – I do think their drop in business is because they have sidelined all the independents. After all, it was the independents that grew the brand, not the chain groups. With this being said, all other companies have taken advantage and grown to another level. One of those is Puma which has grown so much an ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- SGS adds to its ‘green’ certificationsInternational 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, ...moreSkechers-Shein partnership: Dilution or strategic expansion?Since 2023, Skechers’ decision to sell on Shein has raised eyebrows. Known for its comfortable, casual, and sometimes athletic shoes, Skechers occupies a market space perceived to offer higher quality compared to Shein’s fast-fashion, low-price model. This move has some analysts worried about a potential dilution of Skech ...moreDrip 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 ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- IULTCS announces the appointment of four new Commission Chairs
Each Chairperson was selected due to their dedication, leadership, and vision for the IULTCS organization, these attributes stood out during the election process, and the officers are confident that each one will excel in their new role.As Commission Chairs, they will play a crucial part in shaping the future initiatives, fostering collab ...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: ...moreEleGrade: High-end leather upgrading solutions
Waalwijk, the Netherlands (12 August 2024) – Stahl, a leading provider of speciality coatings and treatments for flexible substrates, has recently extended its EleGrade® portfolio of high-end leather upgrading solutions for a wide range of industries and end markets.Leather upgrading solutions are key to maximisin ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- George disaster highlights the importance of compliance and the right people partnerCape Town, W. Cape, SA (19 June 2024) – The catastrophic collapse of a near-completed building under construction in George in May 2024, which resulted in at least 34 fatalities and many more injured, has shone a spotlight on the need for compliance. This includes health and safety compliance as well as industrial relations (IR) and ...moreInteraction with autonomous driving How drivers and cars understand each other
Karlsruhe, Germany (01 July 2024) – Optimising communication between vehicle and driver as a function of the degree of automation is the objective of a research project conducted by Fraunhofer in collaboration with other companies. The researchers are combining sensors for monitoring the vehicle interior with language models to form ...morePathogen identification — next-generation sequencing optimises diagnostics
Stuttgart, Germany (12 June 2024) – Invasive infections such as sepsis require immediate and targeted treatment. Experts from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB and group partners have succeeded in establishing a reconceptualized detection principle that can make a crucial contribution to savi ...more
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