S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.3 No.31, August 7, 2017

This Newsletter is sponsored by SAFLIA

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

Hannsa: 'No option but to close'

Durban (SA) – Attorney Gary van Wyk has confirmed to customers of Hannsa Tool & Die that the 47-year-old unit manufacturer, founded by Georg and the late Franz Hannweg, closed at the end of July.
       Franz's son, Günter, who had been GM for a number of years, became the sole director and shareholder in June, and was "shocked to establish the exact extent of the trading difficulties...[and] that Hannsa had not turned a profit for the last 7 years, the trading shortfalls having been met by previous shareholder loans".
       Although he also injected money into the company in June and July, "it was apparent that Hannsa had no prospect of trading profitably" for a number of factors, including the loss of key staff, very old machinery, overheads which couldn't readily be removed, and its inability to increase revenues in a depressed market.
       "As a consequence of the aforesaid, Günter has directed, as he is obliged to do in terms of the provisions of South African company law, that Hannsa cease trading."
       We expect to carry a fuller article in the next issue of S&V Footwear & Leathergoods. - [+27 (0)31 266 1013, gary@vaninc.co.za]

Ralph Lauren to cut jobs, close flagship Fifth Avenue Polo store

(Reuters) – Ralph Lauren Corp said on Tuesday it would cut jobs and shut its flagship Polo store on Fifth Avenue in New York City, among other office and store locations, as part of a cost-cutting plan.
       The luxury retailer also said its e-commerce business would move to Salesforce.com Inc's cheaper and more efficient Commerce Cloud platform.
       Ralph Lauren had said last year it was building an in-house global e-commerce platform.
       The New York-based retailer also said on Tuesday that it would integrate its products from the Fifth Avenue store into the Ralph Lauren men's and women's flagship stores on Madison Avenue and its downtown locations.
       Ralph Lauren said it expects to incur about $370 million in charges and save about $140 million from the new measures, which are part of a cost-cutting plan announced in June.
       The retailer did not specify how many jobs it would cut.
       Ralph Lauren said in June it would cut about 1,000 jobs and close 50 stores to lower costs and revive sales growth.
       Ralph Lauren, like other luxury brands, has been struggling as Americans spend lesser on apparel and accessories, resulting in falling sales in the last seven quarters.
       The company's margins have also taken a knock as department stores discount heavily to get rid of excess inventory.
       Ralph Lauren's lower-end Polo and Lauren brands are facing competition from fast-fashion retailers such as H&M and Inditex's Zara.
       Ralph Lauren's shares dipped 1.3 percent to $80.32 in early trade. - [http://www.reuters.com/]

They Said It

"I suppose she has to blame someone." - Bess Gericke, the 81-going-on-21 mother of Source Africa/ATF organiser Deidre Harte, who had introduced her as "the person who taught me to drink wine". A delightful evening in her company made it clear that Deidre had inherited more than just a taste for the fruit of the vine from her parent.

"Just a case of you asking and me merely informing you. Like hitting the refresh button." - Apeco MD's PA Karen Bowman, sending a copy of correspondence which I had forgotten. You can almost FEEL the smugness, can't you?

Recovering

Brian Pollock, former MD of Jordan, from a op to remove part of his colon due to cancer. He described it as "quite a wake-up call, as I have only been retired for a year". - [49brianpollock@gmail.com]

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Midrand (SA) – Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg will be held from August 17-19 at Mall of Africa, according to organiser African Fashion International (AFI).
       It said in a release that there would be 44 local and international designers.
       Tickets range from R150-R300. - [www.africanfashioninternational.com]

Diary

August 10-11: SA Crocodile Industry Association conference and AGM, Willows Country Lodge, Pretoria. +27 (0)12 529 8510, gerry.swan@up.ac.za.
August 18-22: Podiatry Association of SA 11th Biennial Congress, The Maslow, Sandton. info@pasacongress.co.za.
October 14: Cobblers' Luncheon, Goodwood Sports Club, Cape Town. Voden Wearne, +27 (0)21 551 4032, Voden.Wearne@apeco.co.za.

Birthdays this week

08/08/1950: Eldon Fortmann, retired, formerly Bagshaw, Port Elizabeth.
08/08/1953: Doug Hawkey, John Whittle Components, Pinetown.
08/08/1986: PG Needham, Needham Leather Goods, Pretoria.
10/08/1951: Kevin Davidow, Nakara Leather, Namibia.
10/08/1963: Grant Hansen, Apeco, Pinetown.
10/08/1971: Shane McEvoy, Exodus Footwear, Cape Town.

In Memoriam this week

08/08/2010: Gareth Davies [b. 02/04/1945], Edgars group, Johannesburg.
09/08/2013: Daniël Bruwer (Stoffel) Matthis (b. 04/05/1934), SHALC and many meat industry bodies, Pretoria.
10/08/2006: Abdool Kader (AK) Seedat (b. 12/03/1933), agent, Durban.
11/08/2011: Ken Riches (b. 15/07/1922), educator, Port Elizabeth.

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

ABSA Agri Trends 04/08: Hides & skins prices

The average bovine hide price over the past week was R14.16/kg green. Hide prices are determined by the average of RMAA and independent companies. The average price for Dorper skins was R43.69/skin and Merino was R99.64/skin.

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

Fashion design/buyer position sought

Madelein Kearns, 23, with a BSc in Consumer Sciences - Clothing Retail Management from the University of Pretoria, and an MSc in Leather Technology from the University of Northampton, seeks a post as a fashion designer, fashion buyer or similar.
       Fluent in English and Afrikaans, with some French. I am a hard-, dedicated-, diligent worker who accepts challenges. I am willing to learn new skills. I perceive myself to be trustworthy, friendly and helpful.
       For a detailed CV, contact: madzkrns@gmail.com

Manufacturer sought for women's fashion range

I will be opening a women's trend and culture based fashion shoe business in the near future, in the R500-R1500 retail price range. I'm looking to start with boots, and the initial orders would be 50-100 pairs. I’d really like to manufacture the footwear locally.
       Please contact Shannon Correia, missscorreia@gmail.com, +27 (0)63 596 4074.

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: August 14, 2017.

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