Pinetown, KZN, SA - In a letter to customers dated 04 September, signed by CEO Brian Kuhnert, safety footwear manufacturer BBF Safety Group has accused competitor Dromex of “crossing an ethical line” by copying 2 of its best selling styles, the Sisi Reese and the Bova Neoflex. It says it is “considering the appropriate legal recourse against Dromex”.

More to follow. 

Windhoek, Namibia - Trading conditions this year so far show a positive growth monthly! Considering the increase in expenses, living costs, etc., there is still no balance between business and reality!

Namibia has an estimated population of 2.6 million. 43% of the population is experiencing multidimensional poverty!

1.6 million people live off grants/pension/feeding programmes (source: UN + Namibian Government), leaving a mere 1 million liquid people to keep the trading economy afloat.

To reach the trading peak of 2018 will still take a long time.

Customers have everything and too much. The quality of goods in general is declining and prices are climbing. Survival is the key word! 

UK tannery and glove maker Pittards has closed following failed talks with a prospective buyer, according to a BBC report.

Most of the 135 staff at its Yeovile, Somerset plant have been made redundant.

According to the report, "Administrators are assessing options with regards to its Ethiopian business and are in discussions with local management in this regard". Pittards Ethiopia employs around 900 people. 

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA - Trade is quiet at the moment, but winter is always quieter for us, and we expect it to pick up with summer.

We get a lot of tourists at our Paarden Eiland store, and they tend to kit themselves out. Local customers at our other stores tend to buy what they need, as they need it.

Sourcing has improved. We buy from distributors, and we import ourselves. Some of the canvas goods are locally made. 

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA - In December last year we took the decision to stop supplying retailers, instead becoming a full-time retailer ourselves. It was a decision forced on us by a combination of circumstances, and not one we took lightly.

Our numbers dropped right down during covid, but the principal reason was the exchange rate which, combined with a sharp price increase from the Hotter factory, meant there was just no wholesale margin.

Hotter UK had also had a big change when it went into administration – business rescue – on 18 July last year, and was bought by WoolOvers Group 2 days later – an indication that it was still a very desirable brand.

We already had a shop at Access Park in Kenilworth, and an online store, which has taken off quite nicely. As from July this year, the new Hotter range is available only from these stores. We are looking to open a second store in Centurion, which is good Hotter territory.