2016 S&V Newsletter No 15, April 18

S&V Footwear and Leather Goods / S&V African Leather

Please note: Click on any ad to go to the advertiser’s website

Treasury delays footwear tender pending investigation

Pretoria (SA) – Publication by the National Treasury of the national footwear tender, RT59 2016, has been delayed pending investigation into prices quoted by tendering companies.
In a response attributed to the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, the Treasury said:
“Publication of the national footwear tender, RT59 2016, has been delayed in order to verify administrative compliance of all bidders.  Since the bid closed towards the festive period, the contract that was running at the time, RT59 2015, was extended to allow government departments to order footwear as required. 
“Footwear items on contract are being restructured to simplify them, with the aim of achieving bigger pairages of a smaller number of styles and encourage more Departments to participate on the contract.”
Arveen Boodhoo, MD of Dick Whittington Shoes, which is the largest recipient of footwear tender awards, said there were “certainly negative implications as far as labour is concerned” for the company caused by the delay.
Rachmat Thomas, a member of Chic Shoe Manufacturers, which has also been a significant beneficiary of tender orders, said that in the interim last year’s tender, RT59 2015, had been extended, allowing government departments to order footwear as required on a monthly basis.
“You can’t base your business on tender orders,” she said, “but there are some people who are employed specifically to work on that business. They are affected.”

Botswana ponders leather plan

According to a report published in various media last month, Botswana’s Ministry of Trade & Industry is considering setting up a leather industry park in Lobatse, which is also where the Botswana Meat Commission Abattoir is situated.
The BMC formerly processed hides to wet blue, but that ended because of effluent issues.
According to the report, the park would include a wet blue tannery and a retanning and finishing plant, with a common effluent treatment facility. Longer term plans would include footwear, leather goods and upholstery manufacturers.
Referring to the defunct Tannery Industries Botswana, the report said it had not been properly co-ordinated. – [http://repubhub.icopyright.net/freePost.act?tag=3.15460?icx_id=50280993]

Borage back in production after fire

Pinetown (SA) – Laminator Borage Trading is “back up to 50% of its production”, using borrowed equipment in rented premises, following a fire on February 29 which completely destroyed its factory, according to managing member Mano Chetty.
He said new machinery and materials had been ordered and shipped from China, and he hoped Borage would be back to full production by June. He said it would take much longer to rebuild the factory. The temporary premises are at 14 Trotter Road. – [+27 (0)82 652 0265, mano@rainbowgroup.co.za]

Leather Basics takes over Billy Bob agencies

Durban (SA) – Leather indent agent Billy Robinson has closed his business, Billy Bob Trading, as of April 1, and handed his agencies to Brett van Rooyen of Leather Basics.
He has also resigned from Froggie, for whom he was managing 2 factory shops. He will leave them at the end of July.
Robinson, who is 69, said he would spend 3 months with his daughter and her family in Australia, but he had no plans further than that. – [+27 (0)83 628 2797, robinbum1@telkomsa.net]

Van Rooyen left Prime Agencies a year ago to form Leather Basics as an indent business, principally of leather.
He shares a number of agencies with Prime: HMB Tannery and Unique Tannery of Pakistan, Limonta Elastics of Italy, Leather Industries of Kenya, and local tanneries Sutherland Tannery and Leather from Hart. – [+27 (0)82 322 2185, leatherbasics@mweb.co.za]

Source Africa: Website goes live

Cape Town (SA) – The website for the Source Africa Trade Event, which takes place between June 7 and 9, went live last week. There will be regular updates on the seminar programme, exhibitors, country pavilions and marketing initiatives to bring foreign buyers to the event. Source Africa combines a series of high level seminars over the 3 days, with a 2-day trade show. – [http://sourceafrica.co.za/]

ABSA Agri Trends 05/04: Hides & skins prices

The average hide price traded higher over the past week at R14.21/kg green. Hide prices are determined by the average of RMAA and independent companies.
The average price for Dorper skins was the same at R64.55/skin and Merino 12.8% higher at R99.17/skin.
The average price for ostrich skins dropped 0.88% to R1486.14.
Ostrich raw meat exports dropped 1.47% to R41.47/kg. Heat treated meat dropped 1.32% to R31.51, and domestic meat sales stayed the same at R11.61.

They Said It

"Well fully retired now but a bit bored and missing the cut and thrust of our wonderful industry." - Ian McDonald, formerly of Speciality Threads. You can reach him on +27 (0)82 576 0317, specialitythreads@telkomsa.net.

"As they say, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. It is the same in a sheep shed." - ISTT head and ex-sheep farmer Dr Clive Jackson-Moss.

Birthdays this week

18/04/1976: Neelan Parumaul, Melton Adhesives, New Germany.
19/04/1946: Mike Pengelly, Trailmix Trading, Durban.
19/04/19??: Chris Beedle, Freestone Global Trade, Johannesburg.
20/04/1954: Barry Clayton, Shoe City, Port Elizabeth.
20/04/1960: Glen Mitchell, Shoprite Checkers, Cape Town.
20/04/1963: Angie Tootla, The Rose Lady, KwaDukuza/Stanger.
20/04/1957: Johnny Kleynhans, ConsulTan, Bulawayo.
20/04/1948: Michael Hoffmann, Max-Cowell, Port Elizabeth.
21/04/1972: Stanton Pullen, previously NFLC, Vanderbijlpark.
21/04/1959: Jirka Vymetal, SAFLIA, Durban.
22/04/1959: John Comley, Eddels, Pietermaritzburg.
22/04/1959: Richard Louw, Quality Store, Lephalale.
23/04/1951: Jerry Pillay, Triple S Footwear, Durban.

In Memoriam this week

21/04/2012: MG Moodley (b. 08/04/1922), MG Shoes/Ballucci Footwear [both closed], Pietermaritzburg.
22/04/2007: Louise Cowie (b.05/06/?), GW Cowie & Co, Durban.
23/04/2012: Chris van der Merwe (b.05/04/1945), Oasis Tanning, Krugersdorp.

Classified Adverts

DIVINE SHOES

Has for sale
HOTMELT TOE PUFF MACHINE
LINING STAMPER, EMBOSSING MACHINE COMBINATION

We are looking for a travelling head press and two swingbeam 25 ton clicking presses.

Contact Nellan Pillay on 083 777 9240 or email divineshoes9@gmail.com

Importer of Exclusive “best in class” International Brands - seeks agents countrywide

Shirnat Fashion International wishes to appoint agents. Targeted Distribution Channels: Department Stores, Fashion Boutiques, Outdoor Lifestyle. Product categories include: backpacks, Women’s and Men’s footwear, outerwear, Designer Handbags, Outdoor Branded Apparel, Accessories, Footwear.

University Student Backpacks – Lifetime Warrantee - all areas EXCEPT Gauteng.

Women’s footwear – Famous USA and European Fashion Brands - all areas.

Women’s Handbags - Famous USA Fashion Brand - all areas.

Men’s footwear – Denim friendly work-styled boots and shoes, deerskin moccasins - all areas.

Where viable, preference will be given to agents specialising in one of these product categories.

Reply to: vinita@shirnat.com

SALE OF BUSINESS

Well established business looking to sell retail operations, 2 stores plus online business and wholesale operations.

Email shikandhee@gmail.com for details

Contact us

News & Classifieds: Tony Dickson, +27 (0)31 209 7505, tony@svmag.co.za

Next newsletter: April 25, 2016

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