S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.9 No.33, August 14 2023
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Winter was fair, wait-and-see for summer
Brett Pengelly, Trailmix Trading
Durban, KZN, SA –I think most businesses had quite a good winter. Boots are being heavily discounted now, but that’s the end of season and everyone is clearing the last of their stock in preparation for summer. However, summer is proving slow. Retailers are taking a wait-and-see attitude, not wanting to commit too far forward, waiting to see how the rest of the year unfolds.
Overall, I’d say everyone is ticking along, but it’s very tough. There are definitely no fireworks out there. Inflation is still sticky, load shedding is an ongoing problem. It’s another year to hang in there.
We’re carrying stock, which is gold at the moment, and we’ve placed orders going forward.
Despite the exchange rate, I don’t see it as a viable option to deal with local manufacturers. Most chains and mini chains are dealing with them directly anyway and don't need to go through a wholesaler.
Sports goods ‘a tricky space’
Brett Burnill, GM International Brands, Performance Brands
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA - Branded sports goods are a tight and tricky space at the moment. There are various factors – all the usual ones plus, in our case, emigration, because those are the LSMs who can afford those products.
Of course, we negotiate with our principals to get best prices, but they are international brands, and the exchange rate makes things worse.
Our business is very seasonal – basically January to April, the back-to-school period. I would guess that schoolchildren make up 80%-90% of our market. The club market, in most sports, has declined.
I think that because prices have risen as much as they have, many kids are getting a combined birthday and Christmas present – a cricket bat, say.
Another factor is that a few chains – Totalsports, Mr Price Sport, Makro – have probably over 500 doors, so apart from the small number of really good independents, there’s not much space for other retailers to get into sports goods.
My guess is that over time the number of brands in South Africa will reduce and that there will be less choice. Nonetheless, we have no intention of quitting.
Analysts ‘upbeat’ over new Wolverine CEO
Footwear News reported last week that the appointment of new Wolverine Worldwide CEO Christopher Hufnagel – following the “sudden firing” of Brendan Hoffman – had analysts “feeling overall positive about the leadership change”.
“In the wake of the move, which occurred in tandem with a weak earnings report for the second quarter and a downgraded full-year outlook, analysts appeared overall positive about Hufnagel’s ability to help ignite growth for the company, which owns the Saucony, Merrell, Sperry and Sweaty Betty brands, among others.”
They Said It
"I’ve always said ‘if they pay me enough, they can call me what they like’." - Brett Burnill, GM International Brands at Performance Brands, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA. He had had to think about his correct job title.
New subscribers last week
Safa, Marketing Manager, Sole Agents Distribution, Johannesburg, South Africa
Directory entries updated last week
Bolton Footwear (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
Bolton Footwear Great Brak River & Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, 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
Birthdays this week
15/08/19??: Bob McDonald, retired, formerly Budget Footwear [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
16/08/1948: Chris Williamson, Trader Vic, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
16/08/1957: Paul McMillan, Reflex, George, W. Cape, SA.
16/08/1969: Rajeev Pattundeen, Palm Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
17/08/1959: Berkly Lupton, agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
17/08/1972: Alistair Watt, Bresan Footwear, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
18/08/19??: Robbie Blom, ?, Durban, KZN, SA.
18/08/1958: Mike Wallace, agent, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
18/08/1961: Braam Pretorius, ?, formerly Watson Shoes, Great Brak River, W. Cape, SA.
18/08/1971: Rooksana Moosa, Mozak Shoes, Amanzimtoti, KZN, SA.
19/08/1959: Luis de Freitas, Leather Leisure, Welkom, Free State, SA.
19/08/1979: Suran Sukdav, Ornella Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
20/08/1965: Craig Brouwer, Albatros Clothing & Promotional Gifts, Germiston, Gauteng, SA.
20/08/1980: Nicholas Bryant, A Greenaways and ProFit Safety Footwear, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
In memoriam this week
15/08/2011: Geoffrey Leonard Keane-Murphy (b. 08/03/1927), consultant, Durban, KZN, SA.
15/08/2011: Newton Wade (b. 16/06/1925), Panama Shoes [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
15/08/2015: MH Moosaji, Trendsetters, KwaDukuza, KZN, SA.
16/08/1997: Ed Aubin, agent, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
16/08/2012: Margaret Jordaan (b. 15/01/1931), Centra-Cast, Durban, KZN, SA.
17/08/2016: Alan Sykes (b.17/10/1945), Western Tanning [now Mossop Western Tanning] and Corium [closed], Wellington, W. Cape, SA.
17/08/2020: Manilal Jeeva (b. 23/07/1944), P. Jeeva Outfitters, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
18/08/2016: Christian Meyer (b. 16/12/1936), Jack & Jill [closed], Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
19/08/2002: Dick Ilsley (b.11/12/1921), BUSM [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
19/08/2019: Ronald 'Ronnie' Harris (b. 4/12/1934), La Nuova Shoes [closed], Pinetown, KZN, SA.
20/08/2016: Gordon Horsfield (b.), GW Cowie & Co, 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.
 
Exchange rates
Note: For previous rates, see HERE
1. SA Rand (ZAR)/Lesotho Loti (LSL)/Namibian Dollar (NAD)/Swazi Lilangeni (SZL)
Source: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 01/07/2023 |
R20.55 |
R23.90 |
R18.83 |
R2.59 |
| 08/07/2023 |
R20.63 |
R24.19 |
R18.84 |
R2.61 |
| 15/07/2023 |
R20.36 |
R23.74 |
R18.13 |
R2.54 |
| 22/07/2023 |
R19.96 |
R23.05 |
R17.93 |
R2.49 |
| 29/07/2023 |
R19.41 |
R22.63 |
R17.61 |
R2.46 |
| 05/08/2023 |
R20.34 |
R23.54 |
R18.46 |
R2.57 |
| 12/08/2023 |
R20.75 |
R24.08 |
R18.97 |
R2.61 |
2. Botswana Pula (BWP)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 01/07/2023 |
14.66 |
17.05 |
13.44 |
1.85 |
| 08/07/2023 |
14.74 |
17.28 |
13.46 |
1.86 |
| 15/07/2023 |
14.89 |
17.13 |
13.08 |
1.83 |
| 22/07/2023 |
14.62 |
16.89 |
13.14 |
1.82 |
| 29/07/2023 |
14.35 |
16.73 |
13.02 |
1.82 |
| 05/08/2023 |
14.71 |
17.03 |
13.35 |
1.86 |
| 12/08/2023 |
14.82 |
17.20 |
13.54 |
1.86 |
3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 01/07/2023 |
1146.90 |
1333.84 |
1051.01 |
144.92 |
| 08/07/2023 |
1141.81 |
1338.52 |
1042.61 |
144.39 |
| 15/07/2023 |
1174.02 |
1369.47 |
1045.97 |
146.51 |
| 22/07/2023 |
1169.18 |
1350.42 |
1050.45 |
146.17 |
| 29/07/2023 |
1148.37 |
1339.05 |
1042.19 |
145.93 |
| 05/08/2023 |
1187.80 |
1374.67 |
1078.26 |
15.41 |
| 12/08/2023 |
1190.28 |
1381.30 |
1088.12 |
150.87 |
4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 01/07/2023 |
19.14 |
22.26 |
17.54 |
2.41 |
| 08/07/2023 |
19.76 |
23.17 |
18.04 |
2.49 |
| 15/07/2023 |
21.21 |
24.74 |
18.89 |
2.64 |
| 22/07/2023 |
21.68 |
25.04 |
19.48 |
2.71 |
| 29/07/2023 |
20.63 |
24.05 |
18.72 |
2.61 |
| 05/08/2023 |
21.39 |
24.75 |
19.41 |
2.70 |
| 12/08/2023 |
21.11 |
24.50 |
19.30 |
2.65 |
5. Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL$)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
CNY ¥ |
Official US$ |
| 01/07/2023 |
394.61 |
459.39 |
49.93 |
3739.79 |
| 08/07/2023 |
396.33 |
464.61 |
50.12 |
5251.06 |
| 15/07/2023 |
406.20 |
473.82 |
50.69 |
4985.06 |
| 22/07/2023 |
402.80 |
465.24 |
50.36 |
4537.49 |
| 29/07/2023 |
398.81 |
464.96 |
50.62 |
|
| 05/08/2023 |
398.66 |
461.38 |
50.48 |
4556.16 |
| 12/08/2023 |
398.88 |
459.38 |
49.86 |
4555.75 |
Note: For previous rates, see HERE
ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (11 August 2023) - The current average hide price decreased by 1.2% to R3.06/kg from R3.10/kg a week ago. The current price is 9.4% lower than the average price a month ago and 25.3% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.75 Maximum price: R4.50. 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, and Zama Sangweni, 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:
Katharina Karl, Windhoek, Namibia. Leather clothing, handbag & accessory manufacturer.
Katy Kruger SA, Hartbeespoort, N.W. Province, SA. Taxidermy.
Contact us
News & Classifieds: Tony Dickson, +27 (0)31 209 7505, tony@svmag.co.za
Next newsletter: August 21, 2023.
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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