S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.5 No.4, Jan 28, 2019

This Newsletter is sponsored by SAFLIA

LET'S MAKE 2019 A REALLY GOOD YEAR!

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

Retail last week

On Saturday, comment from 5 independents
"Fair to mild - that's the last week, but generally trading is tough, and last year was disastrous." - Mahomed Vahed, proprietor, All Shoes & Luggage, independent, family footwear and travel goods, Estcourt, KZN.

"Horrible. Very quiet. January started quite well, although back-to-school wasn't as good as we had expected. But the last 2 weeks have been worse than anything I can remember." - HK Bawa, director, All Star Fashions, 4 stores, family outfitter and footwear, Vereeniging, Gauteng.

"Very, very quiet. People don't have money, and you can't predict what trading will be like. You have to take it on a day-by-day basis." - Abdulrashid Mohamed, proprietor, Amajitas, independent, men's and youths' outfitter and footwear, Tzaneen, Limpopo.

"We don't do schoolwear, so January is normally quiet, but this January has been exceptionally quiet. Yesterday and today there has been some movement - because of payday - but it won't make up for the month as a whole." - Yusuf Carrim, member, Yankees Stores cc, 3 stores, men's outfitter and footwear, Rustenburg, NW Province.

"This last week hasn't been good at all. From the beginning of January to the 18th was quite good, but this week has pulled us back." - Muhammad Ismail, director, American Shop, 2 stores, men's and boys' outfitter and footwear, wedding specialist, Pretoria, Gauteng.

Bata SA head leaves

Pinetown (SA), January 8 – Bata SA country manager John Harman left the company last Monday, 2 years after he joined. Financial director Benson Okumu is running the company until a replacement has been named.
       In a release, Bata said he had "left to pursue his own interests".
       Okumu has been a part of the senior management team in Bata SA since his appointment in 2010 and prior to that he was with Bata Kenya as Chief Financial Officer.

Alex Gordon, whose contract with Bata SA wasn't renewed at the end of 2018, has returned to Novita Shoes in a sales position. He first joined Novita at the beginning of 2016 when he retired from Bata at the end of 2015. Bata recalled him at the beginning of 2017 to assist new country manager John Harman.
       "I left Novita on good terms," he said. "[Novita MD] Eugasen [Reddy] said I'd be welcome to return, and I'm pleased to be back."

They Said It

"Sorry lost my crystal ball!" - Apeco MD Mark Gibbings, in response to a request for a forecast for the year ahead. In fact, he found it again, as you will read in the next issue of S&V Footwear Leather Goods, out later this week.

"Get yourself a nice 25 year old which should keep you from being lonely." - Dick Whittington Shoes MD Arveen Boodhoo's advice to me. When I queried the practicality of his suggestion, he added: "I had a nice single malt scotch in mind. Hmmm.

Help needed for the Zimbabwe National SPCA as situation becomes dire

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) urges members of the public, particularly ex-pats of Zimbabwe, to assist the Zimbabwe National SPCA (ZNSPCA) as the situation in Zimbabwe becomes dire.
       Protests and unrest have caused the entire country to shut down. The situation is devastating as hospitals run low on supplies, shops are closed and violence disrupts the entire country. The country’s people have been left severely compromised – this includes the animals.
       The NSPCA have had a long standing relationship with the ZNSPCA and wish to offer as much support as practicably possible for the organisation that serves and protects all animals in Zimbabwe.
       If you are able to make a contribution, no matter how big or small, we ask that it is paid into the NSPCA’s bank account and we will ensure that it reaches Mr Ed Lance, the Chairman of the ZNSPCA, for the purposes of protecting the vulnerable animals that are left lost, displaced, compromised and injured as a result of this shattering situation.
Banking Details:
National Council of SPCAs
Standard Bank – Current account
Account number: 201 032 015
Branch code: 006 405 00
Reference: Zimbabwe

If not you, who? If not now, when?

S&V Directory - Updates

OK - Leather companies and component suppliers, too late to update your entries. Manufacturers and importers, you have today to get in any changes. Retailers, you have until Wednesday. Not kidding. Spoon feeding is over.

Trade fair delegations

The SA Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) and the SA Ostrich Business Chamber (SAOBC) have a schedule of fairs where they plan to lead delegations of SA firms. For this year, they are:
       Moss Shoes in Moscow, Francal in São Paulo, Magic in Las Vegas, Leather World in Paris, Fashion World Japan in Tokyo, All Africa Leather Fair in Addis Ababa, A+A in Düsseldorf, Footwear and Leather Show in Melbourne. Contact SAFLEC +27 (0)31 266 1472 or SAOBC +27 (0)44 272 3336 for details. Note that the deadline for applications for the first few shows is the end of January.

2019 Trade Fairs Another essential service from S&V

Please note that we have put a list of the 2019 trade fairs and conferences on our website, linked to their websites: http://www.svmag.co.za/events

Exchange rates

Source: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator/

ABSA Agri Trends 25/01: Hides & skins prices

Hide prices drop 20%, skin prices down
Bovine: The average hide price over the past week was R2.89/kg green. NB* Hide prices are determined by the average of the RMAA (Red Meat Abattoir Association) and independent companies. Sheep: The average price for dorper skin was R31.11/skin and R92.78/skin for merino skins.

28/01/1944: Martina van Jaarsveld, Martina Shoe Boutique, Brandhof.
29/01/1973: Nelesh Gulab, Shawney’s Shoes/Walk Tall, Johannesburg.
29/01/1983: Zubairr Sadak, Shoe Talk, Durban.
30/01/1948: Pravin Mistry, Super Star Fashions, Vereeniging.
31/01/1961: Andy Williams, Agent, Cape Town.
31/01/1971: Ashley Benjamin, NULAW, Durban.
01/02/1934: Con Barnard, Stanhope Boot & Shoe, Pinetown.
01/02/19??: Elaine Smith, the DTI, Pretoria.
01/02/1969: Noeline Kemp, Knots, Bloemfontein.
02/02/1931: Gordon Singh, retired, formerly Monique Shoes, Pietermaritzburg.
02/02/1941: George Geyser, Dancewell, Durban.
02/02/1946: Chris Schroeder, retired, formerly PMC Group, Pinetown.
02/02/1965: Rod Oliveira, Rodrigo Shoes, Durban.
03/02/1963: Vusumzi Mabuto, NULAW, Port Elizabeth.
03/02/1965: Grant Daniel, retired, formerly Mendelson Frost, Johannesburg.

In Memoriam this week

28/01/2004: David Aaron (b. 12/03/1939), Natal Shoe Components/Natalie Footwear [closed], Durban.
28/01/1997: Peter O'Brien, Buckman Laboratories, Hammarsdale.
29/01/1998: Peter Buglass, NPI, Durban.
31/01/2016: Rudi Geyser (b. 11/03/1937), EVA Industries, Durban.
02/02/2018: Sam Foster, retired, formerly Barker Footwear, Cape Town.
03/02/1977: Ismail Adam Moosajee (b. 28/08/1927), Seltex, Johannesburg.

Have you let us know about your birthday, or the birthdays of your colleagues? Our readers love this section, so please become part of it. This also applies to the In Memoriam section. Help us remember former colleagues.

Send us the links

We invite businesses to send us links to websites, Facebook pages and the like which they feel would be of interest to others. The links below are from our database:

Alexiou Leather Coaches, leather furniture manufacturer, Cape Town, W Cape: http://www.alexiou.co.za/
Alfama Boutique, women's boutique, Johannesburg, Gauteng: https://www.facebook.com/Alfama-Boutique-126298247521588/

Classified Adverts

TOETOTOE

Seeking a Vibrant & Creative Shoe Designer

Budding Shoe Manufacturing Company seeks a vibrant and creative shoe designer to help move our company forward. We are looking for someone with leadership qualities as well as a creative side as they will constantly be designing new styles of shoes.
Must have experience in grading and design of ladies' and men's shoes. Experience in designing of boots would be a bonus.
We are based in Benrose, Johannesburg. Please contact Aarifah on 061 046 4180 to set up an interview. Salary and contract terms will be discussed then.

Agencies Required

Experienced agency with many years' experience looking for Men’s, Ladies' and Children’s agencies for Gauteng. We have good connections with Chain and Independent stores.

Please contact

BASIL TANNENBAUM
Phone   082 497 0854
   

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: February 4, 2019.

SAFLIA enquiries: Tel 0800SAFLIA * Email info@saflia.co.za * Website http://www.saflia.co.za

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