S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.6 No.10, March 9, 2020

This Newsletter is sponsored by SAFLIA

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

Coast 2 Coast rescue plan to be announced soon

Group is the distributor for Diesel, Hurley, Jeep, Vans
Cape Town, W Cape, SA  – The business rescue plan for Coast 2 Coast, holding company of Bounty Brands, distributor of the Diesel, Hurley, Jeep and Vans apparel brands, will be finalised shortly, according to Jacques du Toit, director of Du Toit Business Rescue Practice.
       "...we are in the process of finalising the Business Rescue plan and we expect to publish such plan within the next few days," he wrote. "The set date for final publication is 31 March 2020, but we are aiming to publish sooner.
       "We are currently engaging with the creditors and the creditors committee in terms of the Business Rescue Plan and are in continuous deliberations in regard to the plan and any changes to be made to such plan.
       "I can confirm that 4 group entities are currently in Business Rescue.
       "Unfortunately, this is all the information I can disclose at this moment in time. Once the Business Rescue Plan is published, I will be able to divulge in more depth."
       A number of the former brand holders say that they have not received full payment, and one said that "hundreds of millions" of Rands were owed by Bounty.
       Bounty Brands Apparel CEO Stefan Rabe did not respond to a request for comment on Friday.

Retail so far this year

"Challenging. January was comparable with last year, but February and March so far have been difficult. We have to work longer hours and think very carefully about what we buy. In general, we've gone a notch down. Our customers are mostly factory workers and similar and we have to stock what they can afford. However, you can't think about sticking to one price point - you have to be fluid." - Milan Bhagvan, Ranson's Store, Benoni, Gauteng, SA. Family outfitter, 1 store.

"I used to have 4 stores, now I have 1. I stopped buying in October, and I'm selling off my stock with the intention of closing this last store as well.. Yes, it's sad, because we've been trading since 1989." - Imran Mahomed, director, Mr America, Malelane, Mpumalanga, SA. Sport fashion.

"It's tricky, because we sell very expensive imported apparel, and people are spending less because of the economy. So we need to personalise a lot more and continue to offer excellent service. It's stressful, but our customers are very loyal." - Ilana Allies, Studio 8, Cape Town, W Cape, SA. Women's up-market boutique.

3rd Arsutoria trend workshop

Durban, KZN, SA  – The third Arsutoria trend workshop and seminar will be held at the Moses Mabhida stadium from May 04-08. The main sponsor is SAFLIA. Co-sponsors are SAFLEC and the eThekwini F&L Export Programme.
       To book, please contact Priya Ramklawan, SAFLEC, priya.eep@saflec.co.za.

They Said It

"What, at my age, too young to retire soon. So much to do and time's getting short. Hahahah." - Former agent and retailer ,Eric Majoor, who has closed his shop, St Tropez, in Westville Mall, Durban. The space has been taken over by Kingsmead Shoes.

"Sorry about missing Friday’s deadline. I am currently in Guatemala and my body has no idea what time of day it is. Apparently waking up at 3.19 am is what you do." - Leather scientist Karl Flowers.

SLTC Convention: Update to list of speakers

There has been an update to the list of speakers for the Society of Leather Technologists & Chemists (SLTC) SA Section annual convention (May 15-17):

1. Stahl - Gloria Diaz - Ecological Dyestuff.
2. Rolfes / . – Quintin Marais - Reduction of Lime in beamhouse.
3. Olcina Group - Joaquín Páez
4. Stahl - Marcus Breulmann
5. DTI – Jay Irkhede
6. Zschimmer & Schwarz/TST – Dr. Peter Thoma
7. CADZ - Johanna Höger - Guest speaker.
8. Leather Naturally – Nigel Dunning
9. Smit & Zoon – Johnny Mokbel

       For further information, contact the president, Björn Jönsson (bjorn@leathersystems.co.za), or the treasurer, Warren Phipps (warren.phipps@mendelsonfrost.co.za)

New Dates of APLF 2020 Confirmed

Hong Kong (February 21, 2020)  – APLF continues to monitor the developments of the Novel Coronavirus, that first emerged from Wuhan, China in December of 2019.
In light of the announcement by the WHO on 30th January declaring the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency, it is understood that global corporate entities are implementing preventative measures, which include suspending employees’ business trips to China and Asian cities.
The safety of our customers and our staff is always our top priority.
In view of this, APLF-Leather, Materials+ and Fashion Access, originally scheduled on 31st March – 2nd April 2020 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), will be postponed to 1st - 3rd June 2020 (Monday – Wednesday).

Stand Relocation
The Organisers of APLF are working closely with HKCEC to control and limit the spread of this infectious disease.
       To follow the guideline of the Department of Health, most if not all public activities, including exhibitions to be held in HKCEC in the March and April period have been postponed.
       HKCEC, being the best venue where to organise large scale exhibitions in Hong Kong, has a very busy event calendar. In 2019, the venue held over 1,000 events. Due to the outbreak, it is estimated that 20 mega fairs, including fairs organised by APLF, are being postponed to May onwards.
       After much coordination with the HKCEC, APLF was allocated the June slot, sharing the same venue with another exhibition which is scheduled to take place on the same dates on Level 3 of the HKCEC.
       Under such circumstances, APLF will reorganise the fairs to Halls 1A-E and concourses on Level 1.

Online-to-Onsite Experience
The coronavirus has disrupted the exhibition calendar in the fashion industry, but exhibitors and visitors can still connect with each other by using the APLF.com Online Sourcing Platform.
       In fact, the aim of the APLF.com is to allow exhibitors and visitors to stay connected before, during and after the fair, creating a seamless online-to-onsite sourcing experience.
       APLF.com Online Sourcing Platform, first launched in 2007 and revamped in 2015, offers suppliers 24/7 connection with fashion and materials buyers.
       Each and every APLF-Leather, Materials+ and Fashion Access exhibitor is entitled to a yearly membership of the Online Sourcing Facility and so promote themselves through this self-management platform.
       Buyers can view the suppliers’ profiles including the APLF fairs in which they are participating, the sustainability certificates, etc. and use the enquiry function to request further information.
       As of now, APLF.com has 1,300 suppliers and 6,000 products uploaded, attracting a monthly traffic of 18,000 visitors.
         For more information about APLF fairs, please visit <a href="http://www.aplf.com">www.aplf.com</a> or contact us at <a href="mailto:info@aplf.com">info@aplf.com</a>.

The 2020 S&V Directory - Order now

The 2020 edition of the S&V Directory is in production and will be available soon. The online version is available immediately at R450 for 12 months' access.

2020 Trade Fairs Another essential service from S&V

Please note that we have updated most 2020 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: Hides & skins prices

Hide prices (March 05, 2020) - The current average hide price reduced by 2.6% to R1.29/kg from R1.33, compared to a week ago. The current price however, is 6.2% lower than prices were a month ago and is 24.7% lower than prices were a year ago. The hide market is remains in dire stress.  The issues such as abundant supplies and limited demand from last year still persist; except now Coronavirus has resulted in a huge loss of production due to factories not opening; hides being stuck in ports etc. adding to the glut.. - Conce Moraba, agricultural economist, Absa group.

09/03/1967: PJ Moloisane, Trade & Investment SA, Sandton.
09/03/1982: Romal Sewsunker, Sunstep Footwear, Durban.
10/03/1951: Mrs M Balakrishnan, Malar Industries, Ndola, Zambia.
10/03/1958: Nigel Dunning, Mimosa Extract Co., Pietermaritzburg.
11/03/1956: Sarah Gedye, Michelle Footwear, Durban.
11/03/1959: André Meyer, Green Cross, Bloemfontein.
13/03/1964: Albert Dale, AFD Industries, Pretoria.
11/03/1968: Brett Laing, Grounded, Cape Town.
12/03/1966: Matthew Hansen, CL Hansen Agencies, Durban.
12/03/1988: Mohamed Yaseen Jeewa, Traford Footwear, Durban.
13/03/1959: Salim Moosajee, Seltex, Johannesburg.
13/03/1965: Eleugene Human, Johnson Controls SA, Uitenhage.
13/03/1977: Sarah Chapman, designer, Durban.
13/03/1981: Colin Muir, Pasacojo Marketing Services, Port Elizabeth.
14/03/1958: Berno Dumas, Watson Shoes, Great Brak River.
14/03/1966: Silvan Pillay, Shoe Biz, Pretoria.
15/03/1965: Neil Solomons, Bolton Footwear, Cape Town.
15/03/1972: Vanyo Mangaliso, Sun Goddess, Johannesburg.
15/03/1973: Jacky Hay, Little Slipper Co., Port Elizabeth.
15/03/1974: Tim Pittaway, Ostrich Emporium, Port Elizabeth.

In Memoriam this week

09/03/2016: David Opie (b. 11/01/1963), Hippo Bag & Screen [closed], Cape Town.
10/03/2004: Steven Naidoo, Nasron Footwear, Durban.
10/03/2017: Kevin 'Tubby' Hannaford (b. 05/11/1949), Moulded Footwear Components, Durban.
11/03/1993: Doug Roberts, Clarks SA/Kingsley Shoes [both closed], Pietermaritzburg.
11/03/2005: Des Orme, (b. 27/11/1924), Panama Shoes [closed], Durban.
11/03/2013: Donald Henry Gough (b. 02/07/1922), Barker Footwear/FMF, Cape Town.
13/03/1997: Denis Kalil, Payless Shoes, Durban.
14/03/1988: John Begg, BU Shoe Machinery, Port Elizabeth.

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.

Have a look at these 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:
Canaan Coffee & Gifts, Winterton, KZN, SA. Gift shop:
Cango Wildlife Ranch, Oudtshoorn, W Cape, SA. Crocodile farm:

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: March 16, 2020.

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

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