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
- The Complete Shoemaker – and Golfer
Obituary: Michael Lambrakis – Scotts Group, Frame Group, Poly-Soles, OG Footwear, Kalistos Footwear, Lambella Footwear, Andreoli Shoes, ShoePairMarket (04/04/1945-20/09/2024) ...moreAMSA: ‘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 ...moreCan reduced VAT revitalize France’s shoe repair craft?
The French parliament has recently reduced VAT on repairs for shoes, leather goods, textiles, and bicycles from 20% to 5.5%, a move expected to support sustainability, local artisans, and potentially revitalize a declining industry. This decision, reported by World Footwear on November 6, 2024, raises questions about its potenti ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Agency company changesCape Town, W. Cape, SA – Gert Bosch and Arné Husselman left TST Agencies earlier this year.Bosch started Bosch Technical Services (Pty) Ltd (BTS), which began trading on 01 March, servicing the tanning industry. He represents a number of principals including some formerly represented by TST.Husselman has left the industry and ...moreTRACEABILITY IN AFRICA
Africa, specifically South Africa, leads the world in the traceability of leather, especially crocodilian and ostrich leather. Created decades ago, the trace and tracking system adapted for the high value exotic skins was implemented to prevent skin theft, and to monitor the value of skins (to enable the final payment to co-operative farm ...moreSlavesPublicity has always been a very important trade tool and its use to sell products goes back ‘ages’. The use of publicity is becoming more and more important as people, the consumers, are not thinking anymore with their own heads, but follow what others, so-called self-promoted influencers, tell them how to behave, how to dres ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- AI solution shows truck drivers where to park
Berlin, Germany (02 September 2024) – Parking spaces are in short supply at rest stops along Germany’s highways. Truck drivers are required by law to observe certain rest periods, so when they cannot find parking, they often simply park off to the side of an entrance or exit or on the shoulder, all of which are very ...moreArtificial intelligence for Clinical Pathology: Data-efficient foundation model for biomarker detection
Bremen, Germany (02 September 2024) – The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems shows promise in medicine, where they can be used to detect diseases earlier, improve treatments, and ease staff workloads. But their performance depends on how well the AI is trained. A new multi-task approach to training AI makes it possible to t ...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
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