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S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.7 No.18, May 3 2021

This Newsletter is sponsored by SAFLIA

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

 

Vans to quit Bounty, open own subsidiary

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Vans is ending its distribution agreement with Bounty Brands and opening a subsidiary in South Africa.
      The agreement, which covers SA, Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mauritius, was originally with Chappers Sports Direct, beginning in 2009, and moved across to Bounty in 2015 when it acquired that business.
      Commission agents who have represented Vans have been given notice for that brand, but not for any other brands in the Bounty stable which they represent.
      Bounty Apparel's other brands are Diesel, Hurley, Jeep and Superdry.
      The agreement ends on December 31, 2021. Bounty notified key customers on April 23, and is issuing a press release today, which reads:

VANS Partnership Conclusion
In view of the resounding performance of the VANS brand in South Africa for many years under the stewardship of licensee Bounty Brands Apparel, VANS EMEA has resolved to establish a direct presence and operations in the South African retail sector. To this end, Bounty Brands’ licence agreement with VANS will come to an end on 31 December 2021.
      Warren Bowers, Managing Director / Executive: Bounty Brands Apparel commented; “We have enjoyed a valuable partnership with VANS and are honoured to have been the action sports brand’s distribution partner in South Africa for over 12 years. Our partnership achieved great success and we are grateful that we could have contributed to the brand’s significant growth in the South African market over the years. The success of VANS in South Africa is a testament to the world class quality of the Bounty Apparel business and its people.”
      Bowers added; “We are currently putting transitional plans in place and will be addressing the way forward with our customers and stakeholders in the next few months. Looking to the future, we are excited about the growth prospects of our existing stable of brands. Discussions with other leading local and international brands who are interested in partnering with us will continue.”
      “We would like to thank Reviva and Bounty Brands for their partnership and contribution over the years. We are mindful of the impact of a business transition and are committed to a seamless business continuity for our Vans Brand,” commented Michel Bilodeau, General Manager of VANS EMEA.


Bowers this morning responded to questions from S&V:
Was this a surprise, and when did Vans first broach this with you?
The decision was the result of in-depth discussions between ourselves and VANS EMEA. We respect VANS’ decision and wish them the very best for the future.

  What percentage of Bounty Brands Apparel Division turnover does Vans contribute, and are there any other brands that Bounty is in discussions with?
Bounty Brands has a solid portfolio of leading brands and remains in a strong financial position. Discussions with other leading local and international brands who are interested in partnering with us will continue.

  The agents have been given notice. Will many other jobs be lost?
VANS EMEA has the option of retaining the impacted talent they require. We are also looking for opportunities to absorb impacted talent into our broader operations where possible. Our intention is to retain as many of our colleagues as possible.

  Vans is a division of VF Corporation, which has a number of other brands represented locally, including Dickies, Kipling, The North Face and Timberland.

 

 

Retail

'Retail improving, but still slow'

Gaborone – Retail is much better than it was last year, but is still slow, said agent Stephan Ncube, who represents SA wholesaler Jumbo Footwear.
      "There are still lots of constraints when consumers go shopping," he said. "The malls are very strict about the Covid regulations. You have to complete a form, sanitise and all the rest - it takes quite a while to get into a shop, so people have to plan. Going from shop to shop would take too long."
      He said a number of apparel-related businesses had closed, and most chains had closed some branches. "But I think the South African chains will keep a presence here, because it's still a market with potential".
      Empty shops were mostly being taken over by Chinese, he said.
      "Covid may go away, but the way of doing business has changed, and I think rentals for offices will have to come down. There's lots of space available."

 

 

They Said It

"Six or seven years ago a well known guy in the industry said to me: 'Imports won't kill the industry. Suppliers will kill the industry.' And it's happening. China's a different world now. No more 10 metres for sampling - it's take 500 metres or nothing if it’s not available at the market." - A. Greenaways Natal's Garth Ribbink, who confessed on Friday he was a bit depressed about the state of the industry, but added: "We're in it to stay - believe me."

 

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

 

90 not out

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Former Apeco staff member Bill Ramage celebrated his 90th birthday on May 1. "He was a leather man through and through," wrote former Apeco MD Lionel Astill. "Bill entered the industry, selling to the Johannesburg market for the King William's Town-based King Tanning Company in the late 60s. Later, he joined Apeco and headed up the Pietermaritzburg office before being transferred to be the Cape Town branch manager, from where he subsequently retired. He was a rare gem of a guy, respected by everyone, and he wasn't just popular, he was very, very successful . The footwear and tanning industries could do with more like him . 90 not out and many more to come. God bless him."

 

03/05/1949: Sam Wells, Malome Leather Technologies, Boksburg, Gauteng, SA.
03/05/1951: Ron Rink, retired, formerly Puma, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
03/05/1953: Alex Leith, left the industry, Durban, KZN, SA.
03/05/1964: Rafique Vahed, Casual Boyz, Estcourt, KZN, SA.
03/05/1972: Afzal Deedat, Speed Zipper, Durban, KZN, SA.
04/05/1940: Isaac James, retired, formerly Step High Shoe Boutique, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
04/05/1948: Martin Nefdt, agent, Port Elizabeth. E Cape, SA.
05/05/1967: Vernon Lotter, Comfy Feet Shoes, Jeffery’s Bay, E. Cape, SA.
06/05/1932: Yusuf Sayanvala, Westgate Wholesalers, Brits, N.W. Province, SA.
06/05/1979: Stelio Krystallidis, K-West/Fashion Trims, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
07/05/1947: Mike Rolfe, retired, formerly Barker Footwear, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
07/05/19??: Gerard Aarnikhof, formerly Angels Shoes, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
08/05/1950: David Boast, retired, formerly African Hide Trading, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
08/05/1956: Jeff Human, John Whittle Components, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
09/05/1949: Mike Millar, retired, formerly MRM Agencies, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
09/05/1955: Jill Fraser, Claw Boot International, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
09/05/1960: Rodney Reynders, left the industry, Durban, KZN, SA.
09/05/1963: Don Tully, Groundcover Leather Company, Curry’s Post, KZN, SA.
09/05/19??: Sarie de Wet, KKI Leather Marketing, Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, SA.

 

In Memoriam this week

05/05/2001: Raj Kallichurum (b. 23/02/1954), Shoe Component Supplies, KwaDukuza, KZN, SA.
06/05/2016: Herbert Lohmeier (b. 25/11/1954), H. Lohmeier Men’s Outfitters, Swakopmund, Namibia.
06/05/2018: Tony Bradshaw (b. 22/06/1952), left the industry, formerly Jack & Jill [closed], Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
08/05/2010: Bob Hunter (b. 18/11/1938), footwear agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
08/05/2018: Peter Jönsson (b. 01/04/1967), formerly TFL SA and others, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 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.

 

 

 

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 ¥
2021/04/10 R17.38 R20.01 R14.60 R2.22
2021/04/17 R17.15 R19.80 R14.31 R2.19
2021/04/24 R17.26 R19.81 R14.27 R2.19
2021/05/01 R17.43 R20.03 R14.49 R2.23

Note: For previous rates, see HERE

 


2. Botswana Pula (BWP)

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

 
  Euro € GBP £ US $ CNY ¥
2021/04/10 13.13 15.12 11.03 1.68
2021/04/17 12.98 14.98 10.83 1.66
2021/04/24 13.09 15.03 10.82 1.66
2021/05/01 12.98 14.92 10.80 1.66


3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK)

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

 
  Euro € GBP £ US $ CNY ¥
2021/04/10 935.73 1077.61 786.22 119.97
2021/04/17 945.86 1092.19 789.44 121.06
2021/04/24 957.69 1098.87 791.67 121.88
2021/05/01 953.33 1095.68 793.00 122.47


4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)

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

 
  Euro € GBP £ US $ CNY ¥
2021/04/10 26.47 30.48 22.24 3.39
2021/04/17 26.56 30.67 22.17 3.40
2021/04/24 27.01 30.99 22.33 3.43
2021/05/01 26.75 30.75 22.25 3.43



5. Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL$)

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

 
  Euro € GBP £ US $ CNY ¥ Official US$
2021/04/10 430.72 496.02 361.90 55.22 84.39
2021/04/17 433.60 500.68 361.90 55.49 84.48
2021/04/24 437.80 502.33 361.90 55.71 84.48
2021/05/01 437.07 500.03 361.90 55.89 84.50

 

 

 

 

 

ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (April 29, 2021) - The current average hide price increased by 7.3% to 8.98/kg from R8.37/kg a week ago. The current price is 41.8% higher than the average price a month ago and is 493.8% higher than the average price a year ago. Reports suggest that supplies are still tight but that the price run of the past few weeks could ease in the coming weeks. 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, 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
2021/02/05 3.86 31.41 45.71
2021/02/12 4.33 35.46 45.83
2021/02/19 4.29 34.49 50.00
2021/02/26 4.94 34.70 47.50
2021/03/05 5.67 38.33 51.67
2021/03/12 4.80 42.50 59.17
2021/03/19 4.99 35.74 52.86
2021/03/26 6.33 35.16 55.00
2021/04/02 6.50 31.83 49.00
2021/04/16 8.98 37.44 50.00
2021/04/22 8.37    
2021/04/29 8.98 40.96 62.00
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:
Milsons, Carletonville, N.W. Province, SA. Family outfitter.
Mimosa Extract Co., Pietermaritzburg, KXZ, SA. Wattle extract.

 


Classified Adverts




Agent wanted

New brand, *Gaby and Butch*, ladies', men's and children's leather footwear, seeks an agent to cover Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Free State.
Must travel, calling on customers continually. We do not sell via email pictures. If not prepared to visit stores regularly, please do not waste your time.
Our new *Gaby and Butch* leather ranges are casual, easy to wear footwear.
Our factory is Durban-based and we use only genuine leathers in our men's and ladies' ranges.
Our ex-factory prices are extremely competitive.
The commission rates are extremely generous.
We would consider adding the long established Naked Feet health and comfort leather range should we find a suitable representative for the brand *Gaby and Butch*.
The allocation for the areas mentioned would be 2000 pairs per month at present.
Contact details:
Email:  gabyandbutch@gmail.com
Whats app: 0824405460
We will reply to all emails and WhatsApp messages.
Some of our footwear can be seen on the https://www.facebook.com/gaby-and-butch-leather-footwear

 

 




 

 




 

 




Contact us

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

Next newsletter: May 3, 2021.

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

Our website www.svmag.co.za

 

 

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