S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.8 No.10, March 7 2022

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

Universal Footwear in liquidation

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Universal Footwear & Trading Co. (Pty) Ltd went into voluntary liquidation last Thursday. Suppliers say the factory was closed on Friday.
      Director Philippe Hasson this morning took S&V's call at Universal's head office in Paarden Eiland, and said he would respond to emailed questions. No responses had been received by 13h00, and the head office switchboard played an afterhours message.
      S&V has no indication that sister company Zoom Footwear, which is an online retailer sourcing locally-made footwear, is affected.
      We expect to have more details by next week.

TFG to acquire leather furniture manufacturer Coricraft

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – According to a report in Fin24 today, The Foschini Group (TFG) is to buy homeware manufacturer and retailer Tapestry Home Brands for R2.35 billion, subject to regulatory approval.
      Tapestry Home Brands includes furniture manufacturer Coricraft, thought by a leather supplier to be 1 of the 3 biggest leather furniture manufacturers, along with Alpine Lounge and Grafton Everest.

MICAM puts the focus on sustainability

The footwear trade fair goes green with a dedicated area, new certification mark, and a robust awareness-raising activity aimed at the footwear industry
Milan, Italy – Sustainability is no longer just a wish, or an achievement to aim for: it is increasingly the starting point for footwear industries investing in research to guarantee high standards of sustainability for their production processes. Shoes have become a symbol of this success, combining creativity, innovative technique and style with a focus on sustainable quality.
      In light of the intense interest surrounding the subject, MICAM Milano, to be held shortly at Fiera Milano Rho from March 13 - 15, 2022, is ready to play its part with a number of initiatives centring around social and environmental sustainability in manufacturing: these include a special exhibition area - the MICAM Green Zone, which will be a wellspring of new ideas and provide a promotional opportunity for numerous enterprises.
      This special area will be set up in pavilion 7 for all operators who want to embark on the path towards production processes that are increasingly in line with social, environmental and governance (ESG) standards. It will be divided into a number of different sectors, each offering an opportunity to find out more about various aspects of sustainability.
VCS certification and a special tool The MICAM Green Zone will feature a corner where companies can find out more about Assocalzaturifici’s VCS (Verified and Certified Steps) certification system, designed specifically for footwear industries aiming to achieve the highest standards of sustainability. VCS guarantees a sustainable approach, manufacturing quality and excellence, and is intended to be a symbol recognised by buyers, manufacturers and financial institutions. VCS is not only a trademark but also a software tool, a “compass” pointing to the benchmarks and initiatives that will allow companies to generate or improve their sustainability impact: during MICAM, live demonstrations will be held to familiarise operators with this easy-to-use tool for measuring companies’ social, environmental and governance performance. The man behind the technical aspects of VCS is entrepreneur and sustainable fashion innovator Federico Brugnoli, recently awarded an honorary doctorate by Northampton University.
20 x Green To provide players in the footwear industry with food for thought, an exhibition of twenty items of footwear provided by 20 manufacturers will express provocative ideas about the sustainability of materials, production systems, and product life cycles.
ACBC The same area will feature the exhibition space of ACBC, the Italian Circular Science Company that leads the way in the creation and production of certified sustainable footwear for the fashion and sportswear markets. The brand, certified by B Corp, will present its upcoming Fall/Winter collection and various capsule collections produced in partnership with some of the world’s best-known fashion brands. Names confirmed so far include Alexander Smith, GEOX, Malìparmi, Northwave, Pantofola d’Oro 1886, Piquadro, Rewoolution, Save The Duck, and Philippe Model.
MICAM X via Live Streaming As sustainability is also a key theme of MICAM X, MICAM’s innovation hub, the Green Zone in pavilion 7 will be live-streaming the meetings taking place on the stage of MICAM X, MICAM’s learning and training platform in pavilion 1.
      MICAM brings sustainability within reach of all footwear companies, with a unique opportunity to find out about the state of the art in this area!
      Come and see us to find out more, and book your demo preview of the VCS software here: https://www.assocalzaturifici.it/sostenibilita/vcs/

Stock Exchange News Services (SENS)
 

Woolworths interim results December 2021

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA (Wed 2 Mar 2022, 7:37) – Revenue for the interim period dipped by 1.2% to R40.1 billion (2020: R40.6 billion), gross profit was 2.9% lower at R14.1 billion (2020: R14.6 billion) and operating profit was down 18.9% to R3.1 billion (2020: R3.8 billion). Profit attributable to shareholders of the parent decreased to R1.6 billion (2020: R2.8 billion). Furthermore, headline earnings per share dropped 35.6% to 168.2 cents per share (2020: 261.1 cents per share).

Company outlook The South African economy is showing encouraging signs of a post-pandemic recovery. Notwithstanding this, high unemployment, coupled with rising inflation and rising interest rates, are likely to remain a headwind to the outlook for consumer spend.
      In Australia, trading conditions are expected to improve post the Omicron peak at the beginning of the second half, as restrictions ease and consumer confidence recovers. Footfall in stores is also expected to improve, albeit that it is likely to remain below pre-Covid levels, particularly in CBD areas. Whilst the prospect of rising interest rates will have some impact, the underlying fundamentals of the economy are sound with record low unemployment, rising wages and a robust housing market.
      Global supply chain disruptions and high freight costs continue to pose a risk to both the cost and supply of product.
      We remain steadfast and focused on the execution of our strategies and deliberate in our drive for sustainable growth and sound capital management across the Group. We have a strong balance sheet, which provides a solid foundation for future investment for profitable growth.

For the full report: https://www.sharedata.co.za/v2/Scripts/News.aspx?c=WHL&sensid=414358

In case you missed it!

The March issue of S&V African Leather Magazine

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT ONLINE

S&V African Leather Magazine Vol16 No3 March 2022

IN THIS ISSUE:

3 Sam Setter's Pills
- A new quip from Sam Setter in each issue.

04 Training
- The International School of Tanning Technology is going online to seek a global market, explains Dr Clive Jackson-Moss.

10 An Eclectic View
- Procurement: Put standards into this complex process, advises H. Procter.

09 Sector Reports
- Crocodile/Bovine/Game skins: Zambezi Tanners hives off its bovine and game skins into a new division, Matobo Tanning, says Arnold Britten.
- Game skins: The trophy hunting value chain prepares for a crucial CITES conference in November.

11 Intellectual Property
- Portugal joins several other European countries banning the use of the word 'leather' in any description of a non-leather product.
- Leather and the consumer: A survey of attitudes in the UK, by Leather UK, Leather Naturally and the ICLT: University of Northampton.

13 Chemicals
- Evonik to distribute Bodo Möller Chemie specialty chemicals in East Africa.

13 Fairs & Conferences
- III Eurocongress IULTCS 2022 announces another silver sponsor.

14 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.

15 Knowledge Transfer, Education & Training
- Making leather, Part 2 of 10: The removal of unwanted materials and extension of the structure, by Richard Daniels.



Advertisers in this Issue
ISTT (02), Italtan (07), Mimosa (05), Rolfes Leather Division (OFC), S&V Calendar (this page), S&V Directory (11), Skin, Hide & Leather Council (SHALC) (08), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (09).

They Said It

"Thanks! But more than that, 008. Different and dangerous world today! One typo on the internet and you hang!" - Secret agent Jerome Ingenhoes (licensed to track down those who left the leather industry years ago), Cape Karoo International, Port Elizabeth, SA. I had suggested a career as a detective, but he wanted more. 

"Did you receive the attached article? Lately I am little bit reckless with attachments." - Frik Kriek, retired-but-on-contract at Cape Karoo International, Mossel Bay, W. Cape, SA.

"When I saw the KPMG guys arriving in a big Mercedes, I decided to change my accountant." - Sam Wells, Malome Leather Technologies, Boksburg, Gauteng, SA, which has been using a one-man accounting firm for years.

Got anything you'd like to share?

Do you have any suggestions, comments or experiences about the industry that you'd like to share with the industry? - tony@svmag.co.za

07/03/1960: Rafique Moosa, Cassim Moosa Bros. Trading, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
08/03/1958: Gary van Rooyen, Olympic International, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
08/03/1962: Rajesh Kulwa, ?, formerly Apeco, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
08/03/1966: Yamraj Deeplal, Foot Flair, Amanzimtoti, KZN, SA.
09/03/1967: PJ Moloisane, Trade & Investment SA, Sandton, Gauteng, SA.
09/03/1982: Romal Sewsunker, Sunstep Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
10/03/1951: Mrs M Balakrishnan, Malar Industries, Ndola, Zambia.
10/03/1958: Nigel Dunning, Mimosa Extract Co., Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
11/03/1956: Sarah Gedye, Michelle Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
11/03/1959: André Meyer, Green Cross, Bloemfontein, Free State, SA.
11/03/1968: Brett Laing, Grounded, Cape Town. W. Cape, SA.
12/03/1937: Alastair MacGregor, retired, formerly MD, Colin D. Bailey [absorbed by BU Technical, since closed], Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
12/03/1966: Matthew Hansen, CL Hansen Agencies, Durban, KZN, SA.
12/03/1967: Shenaz Desai, Fashion Feet, KwaDukuza/Stanger, KZN, SA.
12/03/1988: Mohamed Yaseen Jeewa, Traford Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
13/03/1959: Salim Moosajee, Seltex, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
13/03/1964: Albert Dale, AFD Industries, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
13/03/1965: Eleugene Human, Johnson Controls SA, Uitenhage, E. Cape, SA.
13/03/1966: Ebrahim Shaikh, Kinkle Investments t/a Shoe Lala, Durban, KZN, SA.
13/03/1977: Sarah Chapman, designer, Durban, KZN, SA.

In Memoriam this week

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

Directory entries updated last week

D.P. Sheppard & Co., Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
Famous Shoes, Durban, KZN, SA.

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 (03 March 2022) - The current average hide price increased by 3.6% to R6.87/kg from R6.63kg a week ago. The current price is 22.2% higher than the average price a month ago and is 20.7% higher than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R6.23 Maximum price: R7.00. Please note: Our methodology weighs the prices we collect according to the number of hides they sell in a month. This is done to make it more representative of the prevailing market price. NB* Hide prices are determined by the average of the RMAA (Red Meat Abattoir Association) and independent companies. - Marlene Louw, senior agricultural economist, and Nkhensani Mashimbyi, agricultural economist, Absa group.

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:
Groundswell Surf Shop, Ballito, KZN, SA. Surf shop.
GSpot Couture, Mount Edgecombe, KZN, SA. Women's boutique.

Classified Adverts

Complete vulcanized takkie manufacturing plant for sale.

Please email for more details and list of machines.
Support@frontlinepsg.co.za

Operations / Factory / Production Manager position required.

20+ years experience in the footwear industry. Based in KZN. CV available on request.
Please contact on 068 053 3245.

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: March 14, 2022.

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

Our website www.svmag.co.za