Durban, KZN, SA –I think most businesses had quite a good winter. Boots are being heavily discounted now, but that’s the end of season and everyone is clearing the last of their stock in preparation for summer. However, summer is proving slow. Retailers are taking a wait-and-see attitude, not wanting to commit too far forward, waiting to see how the rest of the year unfolds.

Overall, I’d say everyone is ticking along, but it’s very tough. There are definitely no fireworks out there. Inflation is still sticky, load shedding is an ongoing problem. It’s another year to hang in there.

We’re carrying stock, which is gold at the moment, and we’ve placed orders going forward.

Despite the exchange rate, I don’t see it as a viable option to deal with local manufacturers. Most chains and mini chains are dealing with them directly anyway and don't need to go through a wholesaler. 

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA - Branded sports goods are a tight and tricky space at the moment. There are various factors – all the usual ones plus, in our case, emigration, because those are the LSMs who can afford those products.

Of course, we negotiate with our principals to get best prices, but they are international brands, and the exchange rate makes things worse.

Our business is very seasonal – basically January to April, the back-to-school period. I would guess that school children make up 80%-90% of our market. The club market, in most sports, has declined.

I think that because prices have risen as much as they have, many kids are getting a combined birthday and Christmas present – a cricket bat, say.

Another factor is that a few chains – Totalsports, Mr Price Sport, Makro – have probably over 500 doors, so apart from the small number of really good independents, there’s not much space for other retailers to get into sports goods.

My guess is that over time the number of brands in South Africa will reduce and that there will be less choice. Nonetheless, we have no intention of quitting. 

Footwear News reported last week that the appointment of new Wolverine Worldwide CEO Christopher Hufnagel – following the “sudden firing” of Brendan Hoffman – had analysts “feeling overall positive about the leadership change”.

“In the wake of the move, which occurred in tandem with a weak earnings report for the second quarter and a downgraded full-year outlook, analysts appeared overall positive about Hufnagel’s ability to help ignite growth for the company, which owns the Saucony, Merrell, Sperry and Sweaty Betty brands, among others.”

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – With consumers prioritising essentials, and the solar power industry and other energy alternatives taking a big slice of disposable income generally, the market for apparel is quite tough. We have to work for our money, we have to try to do a better job than everyone else, we have to concentrate on basics, and we have to offer quicker turnaround times, but it’s not impossible.

It’s also winter, which is traditionally a difficult season for us, and we’re hoping summer will be much better.

Our speciality is locally made leather footwear, under our own brands, Hedgehogs, Hippocreek, Igloo, and WolfRock, and leather care products, under our brand ShoeMakers Choice.

We don’t own the factories, but we have very close working relationships – real partnerships – with them.

They know how to make shoes, we know how to sell them. 

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA - Sales are “pretty much on a par with last year”, Elan-Polo SA MD Stuart Worrall said, “but they’re still down by comparison with pre-covid.”

Freight rates have decreased substantially compared to late 2022, and space was available, but the exchange rate depreciation is a huge factor as always. “The problem is the volatility,” he said. “A few days ago, I was buying forward cover at R17.70, now it’s R18.70, and who knows what it will be tomorrow.”

Elan-Polo SA focuses mainly on casual footwear supplying various SA retailers. “We’re not trying to be everything to everyone,” he said. “We’re known for casual footwear, and we’re not compromising on quality to get into a price point. We believe this is crucial to our longevity.”