S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.9 No.10, March 6 2023

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Eddels sale: 'Almost there'

Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA - The lengthy negotiations on the sale of Eddels have reportedly ended in a signed deal, S&V has been told, but the principals are reluctant to make a statement until the final matters have been concluded. The new owners are expected to visit the factory today.

War 'causes total destruction' of Sheba Leather

Wukro, Tigray, Ethiopia - Sheba Leather Industry PLC, one of Ethiopia's bigger leather industry businesses, has been "totally destroyed" in the war between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF), according to a report on Saturday in Ethiopian publication The Reporter.
      It said the business had employed "at least" 1200 people. Founded in 2004, it was a vertical operation, from tannery to footwear and leather goods manufacturer.
      The report said it would cost 2.9 billion birr (US$54 million) to rebuild.
      To see the full report, go to https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/31739/

Donated in Singapore, sold in Indonesia: US chemical firm’s shoe ‘recycling’ scheme exposed

- A programme spearheaded by Singapore’s government and US petrochemicals giant Dow Inc promised to divert 170,000 pairs of shoes annually from landfill
- Dow said at the time it would transform the shoes into jogging tracks, fitness corners and playgrounds. But they keep turning up for sale in Indonesia

This article is from the South China Morning Post. To read the full article, go here

Finished goods suppliers order positions

Being different pays

Kelly Logan, director, Blueberry Blush
Durban, KZN, SA - Order position for winter: The Blueberry Blush team are working on some exciting new handmade leather styles to suit the needs of winter with keeping our quirky side coming through! We have sourced new leathers to accompany our new styles that vary in textures and designs!
      Summer sales: December was fabulous and we are so grateful for it, it’s been an okay January and February - however that’s understandable! The team are excited for March and what the year holds for us.

Components

Learning about PVC

Midrand, Gauteng, SA - Despite some drawbacks, PVC remains a very important plastic in footwear manufacturing, and footwear, for its part, remains a small but valued part of the PVC industry.
      The Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) is hosting a 2-day Introduction to PVC at Sasol's premises in Modderfontein on 23 and 24 March.
      Presented by industry experts, the course content will cover the following:
- Overview of the local and global PVC industry
- Manufacturing process of PVC resin
- PVC grades, properties and testing explained
- How PVC heat stabilisers and lubrication works
- Other PVC additives
- Recycling of PVC
      For further information, contact admin@savinyls.co.za.

Retiring

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA - Glen Mitchell, senior buyer at Shoprite Checkers for 28 years, is retiring at the end of April. He's currently on his last trip to the East.

Deaths

Durban, KZN, SA - Rob Pringle and David Scott, both well known personalities in the footwear industry in KZN, died recently.
      Pringle died on 24 February, aged 81.
      Scott died on 26 February, aged 67.
      Obituaries for both will follow in the March issue of S&V Footwear & Leather Goods.
      2 deaths of former Adidas SA staff last year of which we were unaware until E. Cape agent Martin Nefdt informed us last week:
      Former MD Tony O'Hagan died on 19 May, 6 days short of his 81st birthday.
      Former Western Cape agent Sakkie van der Vyver died on 23 August aged 77.

They Said It

"On a side note, I went to Lineapelle. How things have changed since I was there 26 years ago!! It was an eye opener. Essentially I was in Milan to see buyers. The show was a side benefit. Overall very successful. However, it is difficult to secure long term business from buyers, as they know the situation in SA full well. All the usual culprits to blame, electricity, water, exchange rates........No matter we crack on." - Declan Kelly, 4Seeable Trading, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.

"This was a nice break writing to you, Tony. Coming up for air. It’s 2023, and water's still wet and the sky is blue. And more recently, my guide to happiness is to find the good news. The good news amongst the ever deepening, slowly darkening and always turbulent political waters our country faces. We’ve had load shedding every day in 2023 and Stage 6 continues to turn our homes into unwanted mid-90s rave parties. SONA almost turned into an MMA cage match. And Eskom’s problems have been plopped front and centre in a shocking and explosive interview. BUT, in February alone, the Proteas women’s national cricket team made history at the T20 World Cup. Cape Town hosted a triumphantly successful Formula E event and put both the city and the country firmly in the eyes of the world. (Bodes well for a future F1 event!) And Richard Kohler, a 53 year old South African, set the world record for the longest ever solo sea kayak journey when he successfully paddled a 7000km Atlantic crossing from Cape Town to Salvador in Brazil. That’s enough to smile about. Look for the good news. There is so much of it around." - Nick Bryant, ProFit Safety Footwear, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA. When I need to be uplifted, he's a person to turn to.

In case you missed it!

The February issue of S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT ONLINE

S&V FOOTWEAR & LEATHER GOODS MAGAZINE VOL89 No2 February 2023

IN THIS ISSUE:

03 Retailing
- 'The return of the store.' Marshal Cohen of NPD predicts a strong return for brick-and-mortar stores.
- But not in SA? Kelli Kupritz of Dodo's Shoes explains why traditional retailing can't bounce back with load shedding.

05 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- Skechers teams up with Snoop Dogg for Super Bowl ad: A bold marketing move?
- Wrapping your feet in plastic? Not anymore: How Unless Collective is revolutionising footwear manufacturing.

07 Notice Board
- Trailmix Trading's Mike Pengelly sets a swimming record which is unlikely to be beaten for a very long time.



Advertisers in this Issue
Evolution Engineering (01), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), Saddler Belts (06), SAFLEC (07), Softer/Jumbo Footwear (04).

Directory entries updated last week

Bash Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
Leather & Suede, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.

New subscribers last week

Bhayla's Felix Syndicate, Estcourt, KZN, SA.
Robert Ritson, Berzacks, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
Keith Maclachlan, Berzacks, Durban, KZN, SA.
Christine, Edify Digital Media, UK.
Morné, Hi-Tec Sports SA, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
Glynn, Rip Curl, Durban, KZN, SA.

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

06/03/1971: Sunil Bhagwandas, Ginger Bhagwandas, Durban, KZN, SA.
06/03/1976: Kevin Pillay, Alateens Bopsi Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
06/03/19xx: Sunil Jethwa, The African Boot Co., Nairobi, Kenya.
07/03/1960: Rafique Moosa, Cassim Moosa Bros. Trading, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
08/03/1956: Cedric Zoghby, Atlantic Protective Clothing, Johannesburg, 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.

06/03/1993: Brian Murphy, agent.
06/03/2011: Livio Sirilli (b. 06/04/1921), Sirilli Shoes [closed], Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
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.

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/

Note: For previous rates, see HERE

ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (02 March 2023) - The current average hide price remained unchanged at R4.20/kg from a week ago. The current price is 0.3% higher than the average price a month ago and 39.0% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R3.75 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

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:
Jaet Ltd, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Footwear manufacturer.
Jaimee H. Exclusive, Meyerton, Gauteng, SA. Women's boutique.

Classified Adverts

CHOMMIES SEEKS PRODUCTION MANAGER

Chommies, based in Cape Town, is looking for a production manager to manage the in-house production studio. Must have experience in sample and batch sample production, as well as full scale manufacturing according to set targets, timelines and quality control. Must have excellent people, analytical and organisation skills, knowledge of leather production and experience working with inventory and production software (ideally DEAR). Minimum requirements - tertiary studies, car and driver's license. Remuneration negotiable for the right individual. Please send applications to katrina@chommies.com.

To see what we do, visit www.Chommies.com

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: March 13, 2023.

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

Our website www.svmag.co.za