S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.8 No.19, May 9 2022

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

Retail - Independent chains report good April results

Kingsmead: Despite flood, April trading was a stand out

Kim Cunniffe, MD
Durban, KZN, SA – Trading in KZN, and especially the South Coast, definitely suffered on account of the floods, but last weekend (the long weekend from 29 April - 02 May) was a standout and more than made up for that. There was an influx of upcountry visitors which helped. Trade in the rest of the country was also good.
      Winter has kicked in over the past 2 weeks - even in Durban - with an uptick in boots and closed shoes and a downtick in sandals. All our winter stock is in and we haven't been affected by supply challenges so far.
      We've opened 2 new stores in the last 2 months, with a third in the pipeline.
      Our Springfield store - at 800 m² one of our biggest stores - which was burnt down in last year's looting, will reopen later in the year with the rest of the Springfield Value Centre.

Queue Shoes: Up on last year, and continuing into May

Steve Miller, MD
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Sales and margins in April have both shown a good increase on last year, and this has continued into the first week in May.
      Winter is kicking in and sales of boots have been strong, initially in Gauteng, and more recently in the W. Cape. Sneaker sales have been steady, and slipper sales, although slower, have now picked up with our Mother’s Day promotion. There has been a significant call for heels and glamour, with increased activity around shoes and bags suitable for functions and weddings.  In addition, there has been a noticeable move back into the work place, and with this the need for more formal footwear.
      With regards supply of product, we have on the whole been very fortunate. Our supplier base have generally delivered timeously, and with no major concerns in terms of quality.

Rosella: Post Covid sales boom

Annmargaret Zietsman, member
Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – Trading in April was really good. People want to come out of the Covid cocoon and want to buy new clothes and shoes.
      We had a few supply issues, mostly on shoes. Deliveries was late but we are glad we did receive a lot by the end of April.

Fabulous: Easter boosted sales

David Mushy, member
Walvis Bay, Namibia – April sales increased by 20% lifting sales high for 2022. I believe Easter trading season contributed to improved sales.
      Winter hasn’t kicked in yet, I am yet to see demand for winter clothing.
      I haven’t experienced problems with my suppliers, I always do most buys in advance. However, one supplier had to cancel my orders for May 2022 due to recent floods in KZN. Containers were damaged by rain.

Appointment

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – Yusuf Vadi was appointed GM of the 160-store The Cross Trainer chain in February following the death of Chris Bezuidenhout. Vadi joined Cross Trainer in November 2020 as head of finance.

Death notice

Durban, KZN, SA – André Otto, former Retail Manager at Bata SA/Futura Footwear,  died on Friday, days before his 71st birthday. An obituary will follow.

In case you missed it!

The May issue of S&V African Leather Magazine

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT ONLINE

S&V African Leather Magazine Vol16 No5 May 2022

IN THIS ISSUE:

03 Upfront
- A new quip from Sam Setter in each issue.
- 'Ban on hunting supposedly endangered species does more to harm than help them'.

06 An Eclectic View
- In-Line Colour: The leather industry needs to take lessons from the print industry, writes H. Procter.

07 Notice Board
- SLTC UK recognises ISTT founder Dr Clive Jackson-Moss's contribution to training with Axel Landmann Certificate.
- Katie Kutskill joins the Sustainable Leather Foundation as technical director.

10 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.

11 Sustainability
- 10 years on, Buckman SA's 'green' cooling tower project shows significant savings.

12 Fairs & Events
- Stahl is the latest platinum sponsor for the III IULTCS EuroCongress.

13 Agriculture
- Agricultural sector should be proactive in mitigating and adapting to climate change, says FNB's Paul Makube.

14 Knowledge Transfer, Education & Training
- Making leather, Part 4 of 10: The removal of water and reconfiguration to a flat form, by Richard Daniels.


Advertisers in this Issue
ISTT (02), Italtan (04), Mimosa (05), Rolfes Leather Division (08), S&V Calendar (this page), S&V Directory (09), Saddler Belt (08), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (12), SIMAC/Tanning Tech (OFC).

They Said It

"Customer actually overheard at our sales counter: "Our f@cking buyers know the price of everything but the value of nothing." - Submitted by a KZN-based trims supplier.

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

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.
10/05/1950: Brian da Costa, agent, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
10/05/1971: Ashraf Kathrada, Catz, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
11/05/1945: David Maisey, emigrated to the UK, formerly Brondean Agencies, Port Elizabeth, E Cape, SA.
11/05/1951: Walter Kurth, emigrated to Australia, formerly Corbeau, Cape Town, W Cape, SA.
11/05/1973: Shaun Bucktaraj, Palm Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
12/05/1946: Gordon Howie, The Runner group, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
12/05/1954: Louise Pelser, retired to Philippolis, Free State, SA, formerly with SAFLEC, Durban.
12/05/1976: Hennie Groenewald, ACA Threads, Cape Town, W Cape, SA.
13/05/1934: Dennis Linde, retired to the W. Cape, formerly SAFLIA, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
13/05/1980: Hayley Mitchell, Silkworm, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
13/05/19??: Carol Roberts, Trailmix Trading, Durban, KZN, SA.
14/05/1950: Phillip Fox, Jumbo Footwear, East London, E. Cape, SA.
14/05/1952: Eric Majoor, retired, formerly agent and retailer, Durban, KZN, SA.
14/05/1952: Devan Sukool, Devan's Footwear Agency, Durban, KZN, SA.
15/05/1941: Pieter van Niekerk, retired, formerly Midland Leather KZN (Gringo), Port Shepstone, KZN, SA.
15/05/1963: Michelle Wilson, Prime Sole, Harare, Zimbabwe.
15/05/1974: Brett Isaacs, BMI Agencies, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.

In Memoriam this week

10/05/2011: Albino Rodrigues De Oliveira (b. 09/01/1944), Andreoli Shoes/Giorgio Marelli/Sabrina Shoes [all closed], Durban.
12/05/2011: Charles Burger (b. 28/12/1968), Klein Karoo International, Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, SA.
14/05/2010: Peter Edginton (b. 19/11/1949), Front Edge Technologies, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
15/05/2010: Louis Conradie (b. 26/06/1935), Conloo Joinery, Welkom, Free State, 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.

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 (05 May 2022) - The current average hide price decreased by 10.2% to R4.60kg from R5.11kg a week ago. The current price is 34.7% lower than the average price a month ago and is 41.6% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R4.00 Maximum price: R5.00. 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

Directory entries updated last week

HCM Designs, Durban, KZN, SA.
Loroban Fashion Distributors, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.

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:
Heart & Soul, Knysna, W. Cape, SA. Women's boutique.
Hedgehog Leather, Koppies, Free State, SA. Taxidermy and tannery.

Classified Adverts

Shoe machinery for sale

Surplus shoe machinery for sale (new and used) . Contact cell/WhatsApp 0837863440  for further information.

SECOND HAND THICKNESS GUAGES FOR SALE

R750 each excl VAT.

Contact Clive Jackson-Moss
082 926 1023
(selling on behalf of someone else)

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: May 16, 2022.

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

Our website www.svmag.co.za