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S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.6 No.49, Dec 7, 2020

This Newsletter is sponsored by SAFLIA

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

 

Business

South Africa

Some encouraging signs

By Steve Miller, MD of Queue Shoes, a 12-store and online women's footwear and leather goods retailer
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Since lockdown Queue initially traded negatively on last year, this largely due to the fact that two thirds of the stores are in W Cape malls. The trading patterns have varied significantly by province, with the W Cape the most adversely affected in the metro/ mall environments. However we have since experienced an improving trend, and with the inflow of Summer product most stores are now trading comparatively well.
      Our approach to Black Friday this year differed to last year, and we spread our promotions from the Thursday to the Monday. It was as well that we did this, as Friday was very subdued, with most of our customers choosing to avoid the crowds in malls. We did however trade well on the other four days, and ultimately showed single digit growth for the period. We had many more promotions than the previous year, so we ascribe the better result to this, as opposed to more feet in stores. We are not a fan of Black Friday due to the effect on margins, but accept that it is likely here to stay, and as such we need to budget and be part of it.
      December to date has been encouraging, as we have not experienced the slow start to the month that we did last year after Black Friday. We are optimistic about the balance of the month, this despite the still very challenging conditions.
      One of the few benefits that has resulted from the pandemic is our online business, which has grown far quicker than would normally have been the case.
      Even greater attention to product selection, and stock management has resulted from the current trading conditions. In addition, the negotiating of lower rentals is a key focus at this time.

 

Using technology to attract older consumers

Boksburg, Gauteng – Kyle Seita, proprietor of 1-store women's comfort footwear specialist Shooze, said business had been "difficult".
      He described Black Friday as "disastrous", and said Shooze only took part because it was expected of the store.
      Shooze has reduced its imported product, because of price, and is concentrating on local brand Froggie and Hush Puppies' Body Shoe range.
      "Our market is mainly mature women, and we get a lot of referrals from podiatrists," he said.
      For the first time, it will also be offering Froggie's school shoe to capture part of the back-to-school market.
      In addition, Shooze is emailing promotions to its database of around 1 000 consumers, and has added a WhatsApp button to its website for quick response to queries.

 

 

Expecting a subdued December

Newcastle/Vryheid/Estcourt, KZN – The closure of coal mines in northern KZN had hit retail in the area, with many independents downsizing, said Yunus Haffejee, director of the 3-store Moola's Fashion House family outfitters.
      "I think the major factor in this area is that people are short of money," he said. "My yardstick over the last 21 years has been that if trade between November 25 and December 1 is good, December will be good. Based on that, I'm not anticipating a strong December this year."
      He said the decision by Nike and Adidas to close or restrict accounts had also had an effect.
      "We concentrate on sport fashion, and I'm trying to find alternative brands that will perform as strongly for us. I'm also approaching suppliers for deals which allow us to keep our margins," he said. "Some have come through."
      He said Black Friday had seen drops of between 30% and 50%, on both turnover and unit sales, by comparison with last year.
      Since the end of the lockdown, trade had been "erratic".
      "There's a surge in the first week of the month, when pensions and grants are paid, a small surge around the 15th, and then a build-up from the 25th."

 

 

Fashion

FLIC: Handbags, belts & glove trends forecast for autumn/winter 2021 & spring/summer 2021

By Richard Starmer, design, development, trend and training manager, Footwear & Leather Industries Cluster
Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA – FLIC, through its research, has put together its trend review for the general goods and handbags sectors  for the autumn / winter 2021 and spring / summer 2021 periods covering both men’s and ladies'. Pop onto our FLIC website www.flicsa.co.za and go onto the trend information area of the site. FLIC trusts this will prove to be of great value to the Design and Development teams of the South African general goods & handbag industries.

 

They Said It

"Glad I had my ‘good shirt’ on…." - Saddler Belts' Andrew Fenwick, when asked to send a photo of himself. See it in S&V Footwear & Leather Goods, finally out this week.

"You might want to have a look at our Facebook page to see our stance on Black Friday." - Greg Bing of Cape Town department store A.P. Jones (see below).

 

Got anything you'd like to share?

Do you have any suggestions, comments or experiences about the lockdown that you'd like to share with the industry? We will publish the throughout the lockdown, so please let us know. - tony@svmag.co.za

 

 

Exchange rates

1. SA Rand (ZAR)

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

 
  Euro € GBP £ US $ CNY ¥
2020/01/04 R15.97 R18.71 R14.31 R2.05
2020/01/11 R15.97 R18.76 R14.36 R2.07
2020/01/18 R16.04 R14.47 R14.47 R2.10
2020/01/25 R15.87 R18.82 R14.39 R2.07
2020/02/01 R16.54 R19.81 R15.00 R2.16
2020/02/08 R16.48 R19.41 R15.06 R2.15
2020/02/17 R16.16 R19.44 R14.90 R2.13
2020/02/22 R16.27 R19.43 R15.00 R2.13
2020/02/29 R17.27 R20.08 R15.66 R2.24
2020/03/07 R17.69 R20.44 R15.67 R2.26
2020/03/14 R18.04 R19.94 R16.25 R2.32
2020/03/21 R18.92 R20.50 R17.60 R2.48
2020/03/28 R19.63 R21.93 R17.61 R2.48
2020/04/04 R20.58 R23.37 R19.03 R2.68
2020/04/11 R19.70 R22.43 R18.01 R2.56
2020/04/18 R20.43 R23.49 R18.79 R2.65
2020/04/25 R20.59 R23.53 R19.02 R2.68
2020/04/30 R20.24 R23.27 R18.51 R2.62
2020/05/09 R19.89 R22.69 R18.29 R2.58
2020/05/16 R20.11 R22.49 R18.58 R2.61
2020/05/23 R19.24 R21.47 R17.64 R2.47
2020/05/30 R19.48 R21.67 R17.54 R2.45
2020/06/06 R18.93 R21.28 R16.77 R2.37
2020/06/13 R19.19 R21.39 R17.06 R2.40
2020/06/20 R19.37 R21.28 R17.25 R2.43
2020/06/27 R19.35 R21.28 R17.25 R2.43
2020/07/04 R19.14 R21.24 R17.01 R2.40
2020/07/11 R18.94 R21.16 R16.77 R2.39
2020/07/25 R19.39 R21.36 R16.64 R2.37
2020/08/01 R20.05 R22.28 R17.05 R2.44
2020/08/08 R20.78 R23.02 R17.63 R2.53
2020/08/15 R20.57 R23.73 R17.37 R2.49
2020/08/22 R20.23 R22.45 R17.15 R2.47
2020/08/29 R19.74 R22.14 R16.58 R2.41
2020/09/05 R19.66 R22.06 R16.61 R2.42
2020/09/12 R19.83 R21.42 R16.74 R2.45
2020/09/19 R19.32 R21.08 R16.32 R2.41
2020/09/26 R19.92 R21.81 R17.12 R2.50
2020/10/03 R19.39 R21.40 R16.55 R2.43
2020/10/10 R19.47 R21.48 R16.46 R2.45
2020/10/17 R19.40 R21.37 R16.55 R2.47
2020/10/26 R19.28 R21.22 R16.31 R2.43
2020/10/31 R18.91 R21.02 R16.23 R2.42
2020/11/07 R18.50 R20.50 R15.58 R2.35
2020/11/14 R18.34 R20.45 R15.50 R2.34
2020/11/21 R18.28 R20.47 R15.42 R2.35
2020/11/28 R18.25 R20.31 R15.26 R2.32
2020/12/05 R18.42 R20.42 R15.20 R2.32

Note: For previous rates, see HERE

 


2. Botswana Pula (BWP)

Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

 
  Euro € GBP £ US $ CNY ¥
2020/10/31 13.31 14.78 11.42 1.70
2020/11/07 13.34 14.79 11.24 1.70
2020/11/14 13.20 14.72 11.15 1.68
2020/11/21 13.15 14.72 11.09 1.69
2020/11/28 13.19 14.67 11.02 1.67
2020/12/05 13.36 14.81 11.02 1.68


3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK)

Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

 
  Euro € GBP £ US $ CNY ¥
2020/10/31 877.57 975.10 752.96 112.50
2020/11/07 901.04 998.19 758.96 114.86
2020/11/14 899.50 1003.02 760.06 115.07
2020/11/21 902.24 1009.85 902.24 115.97
2020/11/28 904.99 1006.91 756.45 115.06
2020/12/05 926.76 1027.46 764.52 117.04


4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)

Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

 
  Euro € GBP £ US $ CNY ¥
2020/06/20 20.39 22.53 18.24 2.58
2020/06/27 20.48 22.52 18.25 2.57
2020/07/04 20.24 22.46 17.99 2.54
2020/07/11 20.54 22.94 18.17 2.59
2020/07/25 21.18 23.26 18.17 2.59
2020/08/01 21.55 23.95 18.31 2.66
2020/08/08 24.05 24.05 18.42 2.64
2020/08/15 22.08 24.40 18.64 2.68
2020/08/22 22.48 24.94 19.05 2.75
2020/08/29 23.33 26.16 19.60 2.85
2020/09/05 23.27 26.11 19.66 2.87
2020/09/12 23.66 25.56 19.97 2.92
2020/09/19 23.73 25.90 20.04 2.96
2020/09/26 23.26 25.48 20.00 2.93
2020/10/03 23.55 26.00 20.10 2.96
2020/10/10 23.85 26.31 20.16 3.01
2020/10/17 23.71 26.12 20.23 3.02
2020/10/26 23.96 26.38 20.28 3.02
2020/10/31 24.05 26.71 20.62 3.08
2020/11/07 24.40 27.03 20.55 3.10
2020/11/14 24.82 27.68 20.97 3.17
2020/11/21 24.92 27.90 21.02 3.20
2020/11/28 25.21 28.05 21.07 3.20
2020/12/05 25.60 28.38 21.12 3.23



5. Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL$)

Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

 
  Euro € GBP £ US $ CNY ¥ Official US$ Rate
2020/06/20 405.54 446.91 361.90 51.17  
2020/06/27 405.98 446.46 361.90 51.13  
2020/07/04 407.08 451.78 361.90 51.21  
2020/07/11 408.89 456.71 361.90 51.70  
2020/07/25 421.71 463.13 361.90 51.58  
2020/08/01 426.09 473.50 361.90 51.58  
2020/08/08 426.53 472.42 361.90 51.93  
2020/08/15 428.56 473.55 361.90 52.06  
2020/08/22 426.90 473.72 361.90 52.30  
2020/08/29 430.86 483.20 361.90 52.71  
2020/09/05 428.42 480.70 361.90 52.89  
2020/09/12 428.70 463.13 361.90 52.95  
2020/09/19 428.45 467.52 361.90 53.46 80.48
2020/09/26 421.04 461.12 361.90 53.04 81.49
2020/10/03 423.96 468.06 361.90 53.29 81.44
2020/10/10 428.11 472.14 361.90 54.06 80.12
2020/10/17 424.13 467.25 361.90 54.04 81.34
2020/10/26 427.91 471.32 361.90 54.02 81.34
2020/10/31 431.64 468.64 361.90 54.07 81.35
2020/11/07 429.60 476.06 361.90 54.74 81.67
2020/11/14 428.29 477.58 361.90 54.79 81.67
2020/11/21 429.09 480.27 361.90 55.15 81.71
2020/11/28 432.96 481.72 361.90 55.04 81.81
2020/12/05 438.69 486.36 361.90 55.40 81.87

 

 

 

 

ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (November 30, 2020) - The current average hide price increased by 13.0% to R2.69/kg from R2.38/kg green a week ago. The current price is 24.7% higher than the average price a month ago and is 63.2% higher than the average price a year ago. Industry players are receiving prices between R2.50/kg and R3.50/kg depending on the quality of the hide. The global hide market has seen an improvement in hide prices due to an improvement in the upholstery sector as people perform home improvements and home décor with a big push for leather upholstery.  Current demand for hides is exceeding the supply which is adding support to prices. Expectations among industry members is that prices will continue to see an improvement in the coming months until reaching a more sustainable level where prices will then likely hold.. NB* Hide prices are determined by the average of the RMAA (Red Meat Abattoir Association) and independent companies. - Abrie Rautenbach, head Absa agribusiness, and Paige Bowen, agricultural economist, Absa group.

Note: In response to a query whether hide sources really are still attributing rising prices to demand from the furniture upholstery sector - a claim which some believe is untrue - Paige Bowen replied: "It’s the same story yes. The upholstery sector initiated the increase in prices and the automotive sector is having to follow suit and pay higher prices for hides.
      "There is general strength in the market. The prices need to be looked at holistically – the base was so low that the recovery in price is actually just getting back to a rational price as opposed to ‘high’ prices."

Hide & skin price progression
Date Hides/Kg Dorper/Skin Merino Skin
2020/01/03 1.38 35.00 46.67
2020/01/10 1.42 28.69 45.71
2020/01/17 1.35 30.74 45.71
2020/01/24 1.39 33.75 48.14
2020/02/07 1.36 33.47 47.50
2020/02/14 1.36 33.75 47.50
2020/02/21 1.32 33.75 47.50
2020/02/28 1.29 37.22 43.89
2020/03/06 1.29 36.50 43.50
2020/03/13 1.31 36.00 43.50
2020/03/27 0.93 37.22 48.33
2020/04/03 0.92 37.78 47.36
2020/04/10 0.89 35.63 42.22
2020/04/17 0.88 39.38 41.25
2020/04/24 0.89 33.82 43.33
2020/05/01 0.82 34.55 46.88
2020/05/08 0.82 32.10 43.33
2020/05/18 0.77 32.10 43.33
2020/05/22 0.72 26.54 40.00
2020/05/29 0.72 25.44 40.00
2020/06/05 0.70 23.65 40.00
2020/06/12 0.72 31.14 45.71
2020/06/19 0.69 23.62 43.13
2020/06/26 0.73 28.92 47.14
2020/07/03 0.67 23.58 43.13
2020/07/10 0.68 24.96 43.13
2020/07/17 0.61 28.83 45.00
2020/07/24 0.51 25.63 43.13
2020/07/31 0.57 25.19 43.13
2020/08/07 0.61 26.77 42.50
2020/08/14 0.58 28.57 43.57
2020/08/21 0.57 25.63 43.57
2020/08/28 0.59 27.88 43.57
2020/09/04 0.61 27.17 43.57
2020/09/11 0.67 27.48 43.57
2020/09/18 0.82 27.40 43.57
2020/09/25 1.36 28.57 43.57
2020/10/02 1.50 28.65 48.33
2020/10/09 1.83 28.28 48.86
2020/10/16 2.06 26.88 43.57
2020/10/23 2.16 30.39 48.33
2020/10/30 2.20 26.95 43.57
2020/11/06 2.36 26.00 44.00
2020/11/13 2.38 23.59 40.00
Note: For previous prices, see HERE
 

  

07/12/1947: Denton Estment, retired, formerly Tuftex, Pinetown.
07/12/1960: Faldiela Paulsen, Dynatrade, Sandton.
07/12/1973: Brendan Thomas, Techmelt & Polymers, Pinetown.
08/12/1970: Doug Turner, Uniek Leatherworks, Polokwane/Pietersburg.
08/12/1972: Alan Shadbolt, Castaway Components, Cape Town.
08/12/1978: Barbara Wessels, Fleur Avant, Stellenbosch.
09/12/1944: John Watt, Bresan Footwear, Pietermaritzburg.
09/12/1949: Bob Ludlow, Albertina Bay, Durban.
09/12/1957: Rory Anderson, Rory Anderson Agencies, Cape Town.
09/12/1979: Naseem Tadia, Less Price Fashions, Nigel, Gauteng, SA.
09/12/1977: Yusuf Salie, AM Showroom/Shoe City, Marble Hall.
09/12/1990: Trent Hawke, Chillisource, Durban.
10/12/1954: Rolf-Dieter Fuchsmann, ?, formerly involved with ostrich tanneries in SA.
10/12/1965: Benson Gor Okumu, Bata SA, Pinetown.
11/12/1965: Anwar Cassim, Catwalk Footwear Manufacturers, Durban.
12/12/1937: M Kadwa, Umzinto Wholesalers, Umzinto.
12/12/1949: Johan Barnard, Envirotan, Port Elizabeth.
12/12/1956: Chandrakant Dajee, Avalon Job Buyers.
12/12/1970: Kobus Louw, Morgan Beef/Brits Leathers, Pretoria.
12/12/1980: Craig Lahee, Ritewear Footwear, Cape Town.
13/12/1959: Kersie Govender, CK Shoes, Pietermaritzburg.
13/12/1960: Ebrahim Sonpra, Sonpra’s Warehouse, Pietersburg/Polokwane.

 

In Memoriam this week

We have no-one listed for this week.

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:
Croc City Crocodile & Reptile Park, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA. Crocodile farm.
Crossover, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA. Mini-chain specialising in sport fashion.

 

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Contact us

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

Next newsletter: Dec 14, 2020.

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

Should you wish to subscribe email tony@svmag.co.za
Our website www.svmag.co.za

 

 

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