S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.7 No.02, Jan 11, 2021

This Newsletter is sponsored by SAFLIA

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

For those of you starting work today, welcome back, and happy New Year.

Business

Namibia

Thiel's Shoes: Steady improvement

Windhoek – Business began improving in October, and December sales were 15% up on 2019, proprietor Peter Meinzer said.
      "Business had to improve, and it did," he said. "We had the right stock, and enough of it, and it helped that some other businesses have closed."
      He said getting stock had been an issue, and he was still awaiting some deliveries. "Because of the uncertainty, I was actually quite happy that some orders weren't delivered. It balanced out well."
      He said January was generally a poor month, and also the rainy season when shoppers stayed away. Nonetheless, he expected it to be better than January 2020

South Africa

Soviet: Retail good, wholesale 'exceptional'

Johannesburg, Gauteng – Soviet's 27-store retail division "achieved its targets for December and for summer", but didn't make up for the lost lockdown period, said Caroline Hardman, MD of the Soviet division of Pretoria Clothing & Caps (Pty) Ltd.
      "Retail was good, but the wholesale division's results blew me away," she said. "They were in excess of 30% over budget for the year."
      She said wholesale "decided to go ahead with summer while in lockdown" when many other importers were cancelling.
      "There were issues with a lack of containers and shipping in September, and delays at Customs in October, but we had stock from July when other wholesalers didn't, and I have seen that there was sell through of the stock at retail."
      Soviet was also hit by an armed robbery in October when a 15-strong gang held up 65 members of staff, jamming their cell phones and the alarm system, and making off with over R3 million worth of clothing and footwear.
      "The Hawks were actually aware that they were in our industrial park, but not where," she said. "Just after the gang left, a staff member was able to contact police and 8 of the gang were arrested before they left the area, and some of the stock was recovered."
      However, she predicted a tougher year this year than last, at least to begin with.

Good Hope Sales: All good

Cape Town, W. Cape – David Fox, footwear buyer for Good Hope Sales' Choice Clothing and Big Daddy stores, said turnover for December increased over 2019 "in line with expectations".
      "I ran successful promotions and ensured that my prices were very competitive," he said.
      But of January, he said it as "too early to really tell".

NV Clothing: Virus still a big issue for retail

Durban, KZN – December sales were down on 2019, but still "better than expected", said Nirun Dowlath, member of the 4-store men's outfitting business.
      "We didn't do anything out of the ordinary, but we did buy narrow and deep," he said, "and we only buy from suppliers who hold stock."
      He said January so far has been "very, very quiet".
      "When the late opening of schools was announced, we hoped that holidaymakers would stay longer and shop more, but it hasn't worked that way. I think people are too nervous to shop in big numbers."
      However, he said he was "very impressed" with consumers adhering to Covid regulations. "My customers are from lower LSMs, but they all wear masks properly, and they all sanitise."
      He said the virus remained a serious issue for retail. "The first wave was a walk in the park, but now I'm afraid to look at my WhatsApp messages, and here in Durban we're the eye of the storm."

Avonside to open first stores

Durban, KZN, SA – Avonside, a company within the Gemelli Group, which includes Senqu and Clothing Junction, is to open its first 4 stores, in Gauteng and KZN, probably in March, head of buying Michael Wagner said last week.
      The stores will carry a mixture of lifestyle and technical apparel, including footwear, much of it under its own brand, Primo.

They Said It

"Not sure if you have my details? 31/1/1961...big 60 this month!!...OMG....been in the footwear trade since 1982 when I worked for my dad,  John Williams, at  W. Lipworths, and the late Roy Eckstein selling Puma...oh, and also for Ivor Saks Agencies and Mike Lashbrooke!!" - agent Andy Williams, feeling his age like so many of us.

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

3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK)

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

4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)

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

5. Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL$)

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

ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (January 11, 2020) - The current average hide price is R3.93/kg green. The current price is 7.9% higher than the average price a month ago and is 186.0% higher than the average price a year ago. Industry players are reporting that the number of animals slaughtered over the festive season declined and as such the amount of hides available on the market decreased. Majority of players are currently receiving a price of R4.00/kg depending on the quality of the hide. 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.

11/01/1954: Dilip Merchant, Merchant’s Outfitters, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
11/01/1958: Michael Prinsloo, Shoelettes, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
12/01/1936: Reg Hattingh, agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
12/01/1946: Walter Kassier, Eston Leather, Eston, KZN, SA.
12/01/1954: Dave Nagle, agent, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
12/01/1957: Melanie Thompson, Little Slipper Co., Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
12/01/1969: Lenny Moodley, Michelle Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
13/01/1958: Dr Karl-Rudolf Gassen, Lanxess SA, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
13/01/1966: Farhad Fakir, Tasmo Agencies, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
13/01/1986: Dan Carpenter, Chillisource, Durban, KZN, SA.
14/01/19??: Sylvia De Gouveia, Fashion Centre, Kroonstad, Free State, SA.
14/01/1947: Billy Robinson, retired, formerly Billy Bob Trading [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
14/01/1960: Yusuf Tikly, Legends, Zeerust, N.W. Province, SA.
15/01/19??: Vimal Ambaram, JFK Trading, Durban, KZN, SA.
17/01/1949: Carol Mentor, retired, formerly NULAW, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
17/01/1961: Gita Chetty, Angelai’s, Durban, KZN, SA.

In Memoriam this week

14/01/2004: Louis Nossel (b. 01/12/1931), Dolltown Shoes [closed], Pinetown, KZN, SA.
14/01/2017: Donald Taisekwa Mandirahwe (b. 29/09/1942), Cathula Sandals [closed], Harare, Zimbabwe.
16/01/2000: Brenda Fairhead, Fairhead’s [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
16/01/2004: Derek Funnell (b. 07/10/1938), Carl Freudenberg/DB Funnell Leathers, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
17/01/2012: Graham Pearson (b. 16/01/1929), Apeco, Pinetown, KZN, SA.

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:
Cycle Lab, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA. Sports mini-chain.
D'Oré, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA. Women's boutique.

Classified Adverts

Design department manager seeks post

Devrajah (Teddy) Moodley, who had 31 years' experience with Michelle Footwear and was design department manager, followed by 2 year with Caprini Footwear as technical manager, seeks employment. He is prepared to relocate outside of Durban if required.       A full CV, including references from both companies, is available. Please reply to 083 280 6915, moodleyteddy8@gmail.com

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: Jan 11, 2021.

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