S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.7 No.07, Feb 15 2021
This Newsletter is sponsored by SAFLIA
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Business
South Africa
FrontierCo acquires Pringle brand, plans wholesale drive to independents
George, W. Cape, SA – FrontierCo, the rebranded New House of Busby, has acquired the Pringle of Scotland brand, and has bought the retail division of The Scottish Group, the former Pringle licensee.
"Pringle has an enormous heritage in South Africa," said FrontierCo CEO Bernard Mostert, "and it has a very loyal following among independent retailers. Our phones are ringing off the hook from retailers keen to know when merchandise will again be available, and we want to support them. They've been fighting the good fight for this brand."
He said when FrontierCo had become aware that the Pringle licence was due for renewal at the end of 2020 "we reached out to them, and found kindred spirits. We understand the South African market, and I think our vision for Pringle appealed to them."
The Scottish Group's wholesale division closed last October. Its retail division, which included 13 Pringle, 3 Palladium and 3 outlet stores, continued trading until recently.
FrontierCo took over the 13 Pringle stores, of which it will keep 11.
He said wholesale would be a key part, not just of Pringle, but across all the FrontierCo brands.
FrontierCo has an informal alliance with its sister company, Mr Tekkie. The companies have 3 common shareholders - Braam van Straaten, Dawie van Niekerk and Mostert - but at this stage they remain separate entities sharing various services.
Between them, they now have 170 stores, including Mr Tekkie, Pringle and the Guess, Aldo and Frasers stores which were part of Busby. He said they would open 20 to 25 more this year.
Master Plan: 'Don't forget footwear'
Cape Town, W. Cape – Locally-made footwear is lagging behind clothing in terms of chain retailers seeking to comply with the DTIC's master plan for growing local procurement, SAFLIA executive director Jirka Vymetal said following an article in the last issue of S&V Footwear & Leather Goods, in which TFG said its local apparel procurement grew by 14.3% in units between September and February, where footwear and leather goods grew by 5.2%.
"I'm sure that's true of all the chains," he said, "and it's a dismaying picture. The growth of local clothing sourcing is impressive.
"We need to look at all aspects more closely to see if more interventions are necessary."
Luvly Lady 'closed at the right time'
Klerksdorp, N.W. Province – Women's footwear specialist Luvly Lady closed in July last year "after 39 years in the Pick 'n Pay Centre", owner Farida Chalacta confirmed last week.
She blamed a high rental increase before the first lockdown. "My lease was expiring, and the [landlord] wouldn't cooperate," she said. "I had to make a decision, and I decided not to re-sign the lease. I think with the economy [as it is] I did the right think at the right time."
UK
Talk of tax on online retailers 'dents Boohoo shares'
A report in the newsletter https://www.ig.com/za, on the fall in the share price of online retailer Boohoo, said: "Are the markets cautious with tax rumours set to curb online presence? Calls for an online sales tax are growing, with major high-street brands penning a joint letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, demanding him to 'level the playing field' between online and offline retailers in his upcoming budget 2021 statement. They remain aggrieved that online retailers only pay business rates on their warehouses and lower tax rates than their high-street competitors."
Boohoo recently acquired Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Burton from failed retail group Arcadia, and "Investors have reacted seemingly negatively to the news, after its value dropped over 4% in early trading," IG reported. - Full Article
They Said It
"The bottom seems to have fallen out of the retail trade for shoes, clothing and other ‘non essentials’ because of the COVID curse – which forces people to focus on food, rent, utilities, and a kitty for meds if required. When you have one of the lowest per capita income in the world like we do, it leaves nothing for shoes or anything else. However, this process does separate the wheat from the chaff and the survivors will emerge stronger than before…we intend to be in that number!" - Rafiq Hajat, chairman, Footwear Centre Ltd, Blantyre, Malawi.
Death Notice
By Paul Walsh, Paul Walsh Agencies
Durban, KZN, SA – ‘Tom’, real name Dhanilall Baijnath (but everybody knew him as Tom), owner of Western Tailors, Merebank, Durban, died on February 10, aged 82, of Covid.
He was a very well-mannered gentleman whose word was his bond. I knew him for about 35 years. He often bought agents' samples and with me always paid cash, or if he didn’t have enough cash, said he’d drop it off next week, and he always did. I’m sure many of the local agents must have known him.
If I think back over the years, Tom was quite a mystery man. He was always bright and cheerful, with a ‘happy to be alive’ attitude. I know he had grown-up children, but that’s about all I know, which seems quite sad after 35 years. I know I’ll miss him.
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
15/02/1957: Ashraf (Baboo) Kader, Kaytex Belts, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
15/02/1965: Sanjay Nana, Navada Clothing, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
16/02/1955: Hennie Roets, BKB, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
16/02/1966: Lorraine Jackson, agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
16/02/1987: Mohamed Hoosen, Winners, Klerksdorp, N.W. Province, SA.
17/02/1950: Ian McDonald, retired, formerly Speciality Threads [closed], Amanzimtoti, KZN, SA.
17/02/1960: Raju Dhaya, VJ’s Superstore, Humansdorp, E. Cape, SA.
17/02/1966: Anton Sprake, agent, Windhoek, Namibia.
17/02/1971: John Harman, formerly Bata SA, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
17/02/1977: Lara Campher, Chillisource, Durban, KZN, SA.
18/02/1942: George Naicker, formerly Edcon, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
18/02/1944: Colin Marx, retired, formerly Tropelli [closed], Pinetown, KZN, SA.
18/02/1956: Kevin Thompson, Leatherite International, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
18/02/1957: Desmond Sutherland, Aviocean (Natal), Durban, KZN, SA.
18/02/1977: Zahir Kader, Kaytex Belts, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
19/02/1944: Bruno Tarasconi, formerly Bruno Original, now Etsang Dieta Primary Co-operative, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
19/02/1988: Joash Govender, Prisaan Footwear, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
20/02/1959: Rashmi Kooverjee, Babu’s, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
20/02/1969: Dada Segwe, Bontsho Bosweu Shop, Vryburg, N.W. Province, SA.
20/02/1973: Bridget Johnson, Bibbi Shoes, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
20/02/19??: Rakesh Ambaram, JFK Trading, Durban, KZN, SA.
21/02/1975: Zubair Desai, Leather Loft, Stanger/KwaDukuza, KZN, SA.
Truly 71 years young
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – In response to last week's birthday list, which noted former Bolton Footwear staff member Miles O'Brien's birthday, but without the year, Nick Bryant of ProFit Safety Footwear wrote: "Miles is 71 today. He was born in 1950, 3 years after my dad, Rodney [of Greenaways]. Miles still cycles around the Cape Peninsula 4 or 5 times a week and is as fit as a fiddle.. My dad and Miles still try to have dinner together at least once a week and reminisce about Villager Rugby days, WP athletics and sprinting days, and the footwear industry. While Miles is a true Silver Fox, Rodder's hair is still 99% black with just one silver patch at the front, like [former boxer] Charlie Weir."
In Memoriam this week
17/02/2011: Basil Benjamin (b.27/08/1929), agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
18/02/2017: Harry Adams, (b24/02/xx), Finlam Textiles, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
19/02/2015: Professor Dr Des Cooper (b. 14/04/1928), Leather Industries’ Research Institute (LIRI) [closed], Grahamstown, E. Cape, SA.
20/02/2004: Barry Dowson (b. 1938), Barry Dowson Components [closed], Greytown, 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.
Trade Fairs
Premiere Vision goes the digital route this week
Trade Fairs
Paris, France – Première Vision Paris will hold a 100% digital February show, in order to continue to support the creative fashion industry and set the stage for the recovery expected to get underway in 2021.
The digital show, a week-long event running this February 15 to 19, will thus be launching new industry-targeted services, and reflects the marked acceleration of the group’s digitization. At this time, Première Vision will also be launching its new, single and integrated website, which will be rolled out in several stages over the course of 2021, bringing together all of its shows and its Marketplace. - www.premierevision.com
Exchange rates
1. SA Rand (ZAR)/Lesotho Loti (LSL)/Namibian Dollar (NAD)/Swazi Lilangeni (SZL)
Source: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 2020/12/05 |
R18.42 |
R20.42 |
R15.20 |
R2.32 |
| 2020/12/12 |
R18.34 |
R20.03 |
R15.14 |
R2.31 |
| 2020/12/19 |
R17.81 |
R19.65 |
R14.53 |
R2.22 |
| 2020/12/26 |
R17.80 |
R19.68 |
R14.59 |
R2.23 |
| 2021/01/02 |
R17.95 |
R20.08 |
R14.68 |
R2.24 |
| 2021/01/09 |
R18.69 |
R20.74 |
R15.29 |
R2.36 |
| 2021/01/16 |
R18.39 |
R20.68 |
R15.22 |
R2.34 |
| 2021/01/23 |
R18.42 |
R20.71 |
R15.14 |
R2.33 |
| 2021/01/30 |
R18.40 |
R20.78 |
R15.16 |
R2.35 |
| 2021/02/06 |
R17.88 |
R20.38 |
R14.84 |
R2.29 |
| 2021/02/13 |
R17.63 |
R20.14 |
R14.55 |
R2.25 |
Note: For previous rates, see HERE
2. Botswana Pula (BWP)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 2020/12/05 |
13.36 |
14.81 |
11.02 |
1.68 |
| 2020/12/12 |
13.27 |
14.50 |
10.96 |
1.67 |
| 2020/12/19 |
13.21 |
14.58 |
10.78 |
1.65 |
| 2020/12/26 |
13.19 |
14.58 |
10.81 |
1.65 |
| 2021/01/02 |
13.17 |
14.75 |
10.79 |
1.65 |
| 2021/01/09 |
13.19 |
14.63 |
10.79 |
1.66 |
| 2021/01/16 |
13.29 |
14.93 |
10.99 |
1.69 |
| 2021/01/23 |
13.33 |
14.99 |
10.95 |
1.69 |
| 2021/01/30 |
13.37 |
15.10 |
11.02 |
1.71 |
| 2021/02/06 |
13.23 |
15.08 |
10.98 |
1.69 |
| 2021/02/13 |
13.30 |
15.19 |
10.97 |
1.69 |
3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 2020/12/05 |
926.76 |
1027.46 |
764.52 |
117.04 |
| 2020/12/12 |
925.52 |
1010.82 |
764.06 |
116.73 |
| 2020/12/19 |
939.48 |
1036.81 |
766.84 |
117.34 |
| 2020/12/26 |
938.70 |
1037.73 |
769.62 |
117.63 |
| 2021/01/02 |
941.20 |
1053.64 |
770.57 |
118.00 |
| 2021/01/09 |
944.79 |
1048.60 |
772.99 |
119.37 |
| 2021/01/16 |
934.87 |
1050.81 |
773.46 |
119.35 |
| 2021/01/23 |
940.27 |
1057.01 |
772.53 |
119.19 |
| 2021/01/30 |
934.58 |
1055.41 |
770.00 |
119.79 |
| 2021/02/06 |
935.16 |
1066.25 |
776.26 |
120.04 |
| 2021/02/06 |
941.10 |
1074.93 |
776.44 |
120.22 |
4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 2020/12/05 |
25.60 |
28.38 |
21.12 |
3.23 |
| 2020/12/12 |
25.61 |
27.98 |
21.14 |
3.23 |
| 2020/12/19 |
25.94 |
28.63 |
21.18 |
3.24 |
| 2020/12/26 |
25.81 |
28.53 |
21.16 |
3.23 |
| 2021/01/02 |
25.85 |
28.94 |
21.17 |
3.24 |
| 2021/01/09 |
26.02 |
28.87 |
21.28 |
3.28 |
| 2021/01/16 |
25.84 |
29.04 |
21.38 |
3.29 |
| 2021/01/23 |
26.01 |
29.24 |
21.37 |
3.29 |
| 2021/01/30 |
26.07 |
29.44 |
21.48 |
3.34 |
| 2021/02/06 |
25.98 |
29.62 |
21.57 |
3.33 |
| 2021/02/13 |
26.27 |
30.01 |
21.67 |
3.35 |
5. Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL$)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
Official US$ |
| 2020/12/05 |
438.69 |
486.36 |
361.90 |
55.40 |
81.87 |
| 2020/12/12 |
438.38 |
478.79 |
361.90 |
55.29 |
81.85 |
| 2020/12/19 |
443.37 |
489.30 |
361.90 |
55.37 |
81.73 |
| 2020/12/26 |
441.40 |
487.97 |
361.90 |
55.31 |
81.78 |
| 2021/01/02 |
442.03 |
494.84 |
361.90 |
55.88 |
81.78 |
| 2021/01/09 |
442.33 |
490.92 |
361.90 |
55.88 |
81.78 |
| 2021/01/16 |
437.42 |
491.67 |
361.90 |
55.84 |
82.09 |
| 2021/01/23 |
440.48 |
495.16 |
361.90 |
55.83 |
82.08 |
| 2021/01/30 |
439.25 |
496.03 |
361.90 |
56.30 |
82.67 |
| 2021/02/06 |
435.97 |
497.09 |
361.90 |
55.96 |
83.37 |
| 2021/02/13 |
438.64 |
501.01 |
361.90 |
56.03 |
83.37 |
ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (February 10, 2021) - The current average hide price increased by 7.5% to R4.14/kg from R3.85/kg a week ago. The current price is 6.6% higher than the average price a month ago and is 203.7% higher than the average price a year ago. Industry players are still reporting relatively low slaughter numbers and as such the amount of hides available on the market decreased. NB* Hide prices are determined by the average of the RMAA (Red Meat Abattoir Association) and independent companies. - Abrie Rautenbach, head Absa agribusiness, Marlene Louw, senior agricultural economist, and Paige Bowen, agricultural economist, Absa group.
| Hide & skin price progression |
| Date |
Hides/Kg |
Dorper/Skin |
Merino Skin |
| 2020/11/06 |
2.36 |
26.00 |
44.00 |
| 2020/11/13 |
2.38 |
23.59 |
40.00 |
| 2020/11/20 |
2.69 |
35.00 |
50.00 |
| 2020/11/27 |
3.08 |
36.00 |
49.00 |
| 2020/12/04 |
3.65 |
34.03 |
49.00 |
| 2020/12/11 |
3.68 |
33.21 |
50.83 |
| 2020/12/18 |
3.93 |
32.59 |
51.67 |
| 2021/12/25 |
4.08 |
34.39 |
51.67 |
| 2021/01/01 |
3.93 |
34.03 |
54.00 |
| 2021/01/08 |
3.88 |
31.43 |
46.43 |
| 2021/01/15 |
4.03 |
31.43 |
46.43 |
| 2021/01/22 |
4.16 |
30.00 |
47.00 |
| 2021/01/29 |
4.04 |
33.05 |
50.83 |
Note: For previous prices, see HERE
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:
Dassiesfontein Farm Stall, Caledon, W. Cape, SA. Far stall, including footwear.
Davidson Cobblers - Bespoke, Hilton, KZN, SA. Bespoke footwear manufacturer.
Classified Adverts
Distributor seeks manufacturers
Zellie Footwear is a distributing company looking for factories that can manufacture PVC/jelly shoes.
We are also looking for factories that can manufacture genuine leather shoes for men and women.
Please contact Zel van der Walt, 079 104 5842, azellemouton1@icloud.com
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: Feb 21, 2021.
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
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