S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.5 No.11, March 18, 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 retailers
Note: Load shedding in Johannesburg around midday affected trade
"It's been tough. Right now the power is off, and that makes things worse. Generally we've seen things dropping over the past few years." - Mohamed Bulbulia, Belchinni Shoes, Midrand, Gauteng, SA. Independent, 1 store, family footwear.
"It's been very slow. The first week of March went very well, but this week has been ridiculously slow. Right now the power is off, and although the centre has a generator, it affects traffic and people don't want to come into Sandton. Generally, retail isn't what it used to be." - Omar Essa, member, Bettini Accessori Moda, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA. Independent, 1 store, men's and women's apparel boutique.
"Slow, very slow, very, very slow. The month started very well, but it really went down this week. People don't have money, and I think the latest petrol price increase has hit them, too." - Suliman Hadjee, member, Bhabha's Shoe & Tekkie Centre, Standerton, Mpumalanga, SA. Independent, 1 store, men's & women's footwear.
"It's been very quiet. Lots of people out of work. Also a lot of people looking, but not buying. Perhaps they're waiting for Easter." - Manhar Bhana, proprietor, Bhana's Outfitters, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA. Independent, 1 store, men's outfitter.
"We had a good week. It started off slowly, but Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were good. I can't explain it either! We're in a smaller town, and it takes about 6 months for economic trends in the big centres to reach us - and the other way round. An advantage of the smaller towns is that there aren't huge swings, one way or the other." - Saeed Bhayla, proprietor, Bhayla's American Man Shop, Ladysmith, KZN, SA. Independent, 1 shop, men's outfitter.
Manufacturer Nicole Footwear closes
Durban, KZN, SA – Women's leather footwear manufacturer Nicole Footwear cc closed last week, founder member Peter Broughton confirmed. Set up 17 years ago, it made around 100 pairs/day, and it mainly supplied the Kingsmead Shoes chain.
"We made 99% leather, and Kingsmead has been going increasingly into imported synthetic upper footwear," he said. "We were getting fewer and fewer orders, and we had no choice but to close."
"We have supported Nicole Footwear for many years," Kingsmead group purchasing manager Kim Cunniffe said, "and are saddened to hear of their closure. We have found it increasingly difficult to obtain the necessary product from them. The needs of our customers have forced us to increasingly source footwear from outside of South Africa."
Broughton, who turns 81 this year, will retire. His partner, Zamo Mkhize, said she hoped to be able to resurrect the business.
WAM adds travel goods range
Durban, KZN, SA – WAM Agencies launched a trial range of luxury leather travel goods from India late last year, and is now following up with a more comprehensive range. "I felt there was a gap in the market for this," GM Wayne Matthysen said. "It's one of the most successful things I've ever done, and it complements our Ferradini clothing and footwear ranges. There has been a very good response from our customers."
Movements
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – Former Brand Folio SA country manager Ahmed Habib left the company at the end of February. No replacement had been named at the time of writing.
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – Former Brand Folio Skechers brand manager Yusuf Vadi has been appointed GM of mini-chain DMF Stores effective from March 1.
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – Leather technician Johnny Kleynhans says he has decided to retire completely from Zambezi Tanners, as their consulting leather specialist, "which was a semi retired post anyway".
"It is my plan to take on the odd consulting requirements with regard to technical issues, but more so to include management strategies and production audits." - jkconsultan@gmail.com
Cape Town, W Cape, SA – Dyllon Gordon (24) has joined the marketing team at Bolton Footwear as marketing intern for brands including Anton Fabi, Bronx Men, Barker, Crockett & Jones, Olympic International and Watson.
Treasury extends tender deadline
Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – The national treasury has extended the deadline for RT59/2019, its footwear and leather goods tender, from last week to March 25.
They Said It
"Don’t have any recent photo of myself! Now 76 and getting uglier by the day." - Steve Fullard, proprietor, Drake's Pride, distributor of lawn bowls apparel and equipment, Port Elizabeth, E Cape, SA.
"I am staying at home with the kids for now... so far so good. Leaving the wonderful world of shoes after a million years...!" - Lee-Ann van Aswegen, former marketing manager at Franco Ceccato, which is now part of the Dodo's Group, Cape Town, W Cape, SA.
SLTC Convention Countdown: Just 9 weeks to go
S&V Directory - Order now
The directory is nearing completion. Copies are available at the pre-publication price of R250. The online version is available at R450 for 12 months' access.
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/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 05/01/2019 |
R15.94 |
R17.79 |
R13.99 |
R2.03 |
| 12/01/2019 |
R15.86 |
R17.76 |
R13.83 |
R2.04 |
| 19/01/2019 |
R15.76 |
R17.85 |
R13.87 |
R2.04 |
| 26/01/2019 |
R15.52 |
R17.97 |
R13.60 |
R2.01 |
| 02/02/2019 |
R15.26 |
R17.42 |
R13.32 |
R1.97 |
| 09/02/2019 |
R15.46 |
R17.66 |
R13.65 |
R2.02 |
| 16/02/2019 |
R15.90 |
R18.15 |
R14.09 |
R2.08 |
| 23/02/2019 |
R15.90 |
R18.32 |
R14.04 |
R2.09 |
| 02/03/2019 |
R16.17 |
R18.77 |
R14.22 |
R2.12 |
| 09/03/2019 |
R16.22 |
R18.79 |
R14.43 |
R2.14 |
| 16/03/2019 |
R16.31 |
R19.15 |
R14.40 |
R2.14 |
Note: For previous rates, see HERE
ABSA Agri Trends 14/03: Hides & skins prices
Bovine: The average hide price over the past week was R1.63/kg green. NB* Hide prices are determined by the average of the RMAA (Red Meat Abattoir Association) and independent companies.
| Hide & skin price progression |
| Date |
Hides/Kg |
Dorper/Skin |
Merino Skin |
| 18/01 |
3.94 |
33.75 |
81.67 |
| 25/01 |
2.89 |
31.11 |
92.78 |
| 01/02 |
2.83 |
30.63 |
87.50 |
| 05/02 |
2.53 |
|
|
| 13/02 |
2.95 |
|
|
| 15/02 |
2.95 |
25.83 |
62.01 |
| 19/02 |
2.01 |
|
|
| 22/02 |
2.00 |
31.88 |
49.21 |
| 26/02 |
2.04 |
|
|
| 01/03 |
2.04 |
30.00 |
45.21 |
For previous prices, see HERE
18/03/1948: Stan Rabinowitz, Footwear Direct, Johannesburg.
18/03/1980: Rory Ramsay, Feetfirst Distribution, Durban.
19/03/1949: Barrie Walsh, Eddels Shoes, Pietermaritzburg.
19/03/1959: Deon van Rensburg, Wayne Plastics, Krugersdorp.
19/03/1972: Morné Pienaar, Memories, Bloemfontein.
19/03/1972: Faieza Akoon, Urban Legends, Bloemfontein.
20/03/1982: Ashley Kisten Pillay, Topline Manufacturers, Durban.
21/03/1970: Shuhui Liu, Chang Tong Trading, Johannesburg.
21/03/1971: Jane Moodley, Michelle Footwear, Durban.
23/03/1965: Nilesh Naran, Curtolo Shoes, Laudium.
24/03/1986: Andrew Williams, Little Slipper Co., Port Elizabeth.
In Memoriam this week
24/03/2011: John Lailvaux (b. 16/10/1946), Naked Feet, Johannesburg.
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Next newsletter: March 25, 2019.
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