S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.2 No.25, June 27, 2016

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

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

SAFLIA, SACTWU mediation fails

Durban (SA) – SACTWU, the minority union in the Footwear Section of the National Bargaining Council, is free to embark on industrial action following failed mediation between it and employers’ association SAFLIA last Wednesday.
“The mediator could not assist the parties to reach agreement,” said Gerald Naidoo, general secretary of the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of SA. “Accordingly, both parties were issued with a certificate of outcome, which means SACTWU can embark on any industrial action it sees fit.”
Options include protest, go-slow, and striking.
SAFLIA reached agreement on an 8% increase with the majority union, NULAW, in May. That increase is due to be implemented from July 1.
Earlier in June, employers in the General Goods and Handbag Section reached agreement with the same unions for a 2-stage 7.5% increase. The Tanning Section last year negotiated a 2-year agreement, also with the same unions, which this year will give them a 7.5% increase with effect for July 1. SACTWU is the majority union in the Tanning Sector only.

Blue Dot re-opens

Wayne Matthysen in the re-opened Blue Dot store

Durban (SA) – WAM Agencies’ Wayne Matthysen re-opened his Blue Dot store on Friday – but the new store is markedly different from the factory shop it replaced.
Though still in Umgeni Road, in an industrial setting, the new Blue Dot is fitted out as a boutique. Also, it is a joint venture with the Franco Ceccato Group’s Queue Shoes chain – the merchandise is a mixture of WAM’s Ferradini men’s clothing and footwear and Queue’s women’s footwear and handbags.
Prices are 60%-70% of normal retail mark-ups.
“The original Blue Dot built a local following,” he said, “and we had a database of 12 000 cell numbers which we could SMS ahead of the opening. We had a steady stream of customers on Friday and Saturday.”

Milestones

De Rust (SA) – Joop de Voest, founder and member of Marketing & Planning Consulting, died on June 3 after a long illness.

Durban (SA) – Billy Moodley, founder and managing member of top-piece manufacturer BM Agencies, died on Wednesday last week of a heart attack.

Cape Town (SA) – Ben ‘Buzz’ Burke, formerly of Apeco and Dolphin Components, died on Thursday after a long illness.

Obituaries will be published in S&V Footwear and Leather Goods next week.

They Said It

"What do you think? I don’t have any expertise in this regard – hence I’m a shoe salesman." - Ralfran Solutions member Cavan Rothwell, in correspondence over a brand to be launched in next week’s newsletter. Murray Chandler, his partner in the business and the accounting half of the team, had some suggestions, which he said were "the input from your number crunching marketing guru".

ABSA Agri Trends 21/06: Hides & skins prices

The average hide price over the past week was R15.11/kg green. Hide prices are determined by the average of RMAA and independent companies.
The average price for Dorper skins was R56.50/skin and Merino was R92.27/skin.

Birthdays this week

27/06/19??: Mpho Ramoshaba, the DTI, Pretoria.
28/06/1948: Joan Furner, Shoe Style, Johannesburg.
30/06/1948: John Ashworth, Little Slipper, Port Elizabeth.
01/07/1953: Bobby Janky, retired, formerly Michelle Footwear, Durban.
01/07/1932: Allan Capell, retired, formerly Capelli [closed], Durban.
01/07/1963: Tommy Sharma, Futura Footwear, Pinetown.
02/07/1949: Maria Augusta Craveiro, Goosie’s, Ladybrand.
02/07/1971: Rajeev Matai, Mantella Q Leather, Pinetown.
02/07/1959: Leo Greef, formerly Southern Hemisphere Trading Trust, Uitenhage.
03/07/1971: Steven Coetser, Safety Smart, Pinetown.
03/07/1949: Pieter Coetzee, Assegaay Bosch Ranch, Van Wyksdorp.

In Memoriam this week

27/06/2015: Dave Bromfield (b. 19/11/1946), Apeco, Pinetown.
28/06/1996: Geoff Hirsch, S&V, Durban.
29/06/2014: Joe Vivian (b. 02/11/1928), agent, Cape Town.
02/07/1997: Clemente Villani, Villani Shoes, Johannesburg.
02/07/2010: Justin McCarthy (b. 29/01/1958), Groundcover, Curry’s Post.

Do you have any names you’d like to add to our list of birthdays and In Memoriam? Please send the details.

Trade Fair dates

For a list of local and international trade fairs covering footwear, leather goods, leather and PPE, visit our website: http://www.svmag.co.za/events.php

Classified Adverts

KZN agent seeks new principals

Established, Durban based Sales Agency looking for Footwear and Clothing product ranges to sell throughout KZN. Thirty plus years experience in Footwear and Clothing, Berea based office and showroom, fully staffed office during business hours.

Contact Paul at 031-3129795 - 0833256000 - agency@viper.co.za

2016 Directories

We have limited stocks of 2016 Directories available @ R450 each (VAT inclusive). We also offer 12 months’ access to the Directory online at the same price.

Email tony@svmag.co.za for details

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: July 4, 2016.

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