S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.9 No.43, October 22 2023

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Remaining positive for end-of-year upturn

Pretoria, Gauteng, SA - "Business is slow - there's no money," said Gattas Trading Store member Ahmed Gattas. "It's Saturday morning, and it's frightening how quiet it is. However, we remain positive. November and December are normally good months for us."
      Gattas specialises in military-style products - blankets, clothing, footwear, and outdoor gear - both new and second hand, and it sources much of its product from overruns, broken ranges and job lots. "We sell 1 item at a time," he said. "We can move that kind of merchandise."
      He said the challenge was that overheads remained much the same while profitability was down.

Boardriders: Wait-and-see for SA operation

Durban, KZN, SA - The wave of layoffs at Boardriders globally since its takeover by Authentic Brands Group hasn't affected the operation in SA, sales and marketing manager Dane Patterson said last week.
      However, after all the global effort of merging the Quiksilver and Billabong groups and turning distributors into subsidiaries, ABG is expected to revert to the distributor model.
      "We're still waiting to see who ABG award the license to in SA for Boardriders brands. The global deal was done on 01 September. Lots of changes and restructuring in the big territories like US, Europe and APAC."

Falke South Africa appoints new CEO

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA - The fourth generation, family-owned German textile group Falke has appointed Michael de Koker to manage their South African operations.  He has a background in manufacturing, retail, and distribution, and "is well equipped to lead Falke SA in an ever-challenging South African retail landscape", according to a release.
      Established in 1974, FALKE SA manufactures technical sports and fashion socks for the domestic and export market at its Bellville factory and high-end hosiery at its Rosslyn, Pretoria, facility.

Cobblers Lunch: A final farewell

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA - The annual Cape Town Cobblers' Lunch, which was first held in 2004, has been discontinued, the organising committee said last week.
      Brian Schenck, Pierre Marais and Anthony Lopez said declining attendance was behind their decision.
      "Even though there was always great enthusiasm and a lot of chin wagging that took place on the day, each year it became more difficult to get people to commit to attending the Cobblers Lunch. The Cobblers Team have therefore decided to end the Annual Cobblers Lunch, and distribute the remaining funds to charity."
      The lunch was started by Schenck, Brian Carmichael and the late Lionel Williamson, who later handed over to Marais and Lopez.
      "The aim of the Cobblers Event was to get the manufacturers and suppliers together for what we know as a Cobblers Lunch  where they could network and enjoy an affordable lunch on a cobblers wage, nothing fancy or spectacular.
      "The Goodwood Sports Club always hosted us and gave us a wonderful 3-course meal for a fraction of the intended price, along with our regular generous sponsors within the industry.  Selling of Raffle tickets and donated prizes made up a generous kitty, which most of the time, subsidised the meal tickets and enabled us to donate to a charity each year.
      "Brian would get up and tell the audience with great enthusiasm of orders received and pairage made in the footwear industry, which in those days equated to telephone numbers.  Those who could relate would shout cheers of warm approval and admiration that would confirm the speaker.
      "The Cobblers Team would like to thank all the sponsors over the years for their generosity.
      "It has always been the HEART of the committee that the excess funds, be donated to various charities over the years, like that of Peninsula School Feeding, STEPP (Meals on Wheels), Table View Angels, and TEARS.
      "A Final Farewell from the Cobblers Team."

In case you missed it!

The October issue of S&V African Leather Magazine

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT ONLINE

S&V AFRICAN LEATHER MAGAZINE VOL17 No10 October 2023

IN THIS ISSUE:

02 Sam Setter’s ‘Pills’
- A new quip from Sam Setter in each issue.

04 An Eclectic View
- Social management – changing trends in staffing, H. Procter.

08 Sustainable Leather Foundation
- Closure of Pittards and threatened closure of Institute for Creative Leather Technologies made it a turbulent month for the leather industry, writes Sustainable Leather Foundation MD Deborah Taylor.
- SLF MD admitted to the Worshipful Company of Curriers.

18 Simac/Tanning Tech
- Alpespak: New splitting concept ‘improves productivity and safety’.
- Cape Karoo International: ‘The search is on for real sustainability,’ writes Charl du Pisani.
- Kymera: ‘Virtual tannery’ for remote maintenance.
- NTE: Overall picture is of gradual improvement.
- Spraytech: ‘Looking to relight the flame of interest in SA.’
- TST: Of robots and precision, writes Arné Husselmann.

17 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.

18 Agriculture
- Government ‘welcomes the agricultural sector’s continued contribution to the country’s economy’.

19 Animal Welfare
- NSPCA ‘celebrates major victory to SA’s lions’.

20 Cosmetics
- IFRA and Cosmetics Europe welcome European Parliament’s support for the CLP revision.

18 Trade Statistics
- SA hides, skins and leather trade statistics for August 2023, issued by SARS.



Advertisers in this Issue
APLF (03), Authenticae (ofc), Evolution Engineering (01), International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) (05), Mimosa (07), Rolfes Leather Division (09), S&V Calendar (11), S&V Directory (21), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (18), Sustainable Leather Foundation (02), TFL (13, 14, 15, 16).

They Said It

"We don’t need to reply [to] this type of nonsense. This is not correct legal procedure. The publisher will face the consequence." - Bing Ji (Kenny), Pinnacle Welding & Safety, Germiston, Gauteng, SA. This was in response to an email requesting comment on an allegation by Rebel Safetygear that Pinnacle had copied a style from its technical clothing range. The article will appear in S&V Protect on Wednesday.

New subscribers last week

Chante Botha, Library Data Analyst, Novus Group, Johannesburg, South Africa
Daniso Mbalula, Refreshment Officer, Multichoice Group, Randburg, South Africa

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

23/10/1940: Pat Coyne, retired, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA. Formerly R. Faulks & Co., Jordan Shoes, Bellstedt, BUSM, Grosby, Pagoda/Brown Shoe.
23/10/1949: Alf Bettoni, ?.
24/10/1956: John Bouwer, Headmasters, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
24/10/????: Prenisha Dukhipersad, SAFLEC, Durban, KZN, SA.
07/10/1964: Max Schaefer, Nakara, Windhoek, Namibia.
24/10/1995: Sifisosethu Khumalo, Truworths, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
25/10/1969: Leon Buhr, Equator Accessories, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
25/10/1966: Michael Schiller, Nakara Leather Tanning & Processing, Windhoek, Namibia.
25/10/1972: Venothan Munsami, BBF Safety Group, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
25/10/????: Chrystal Erasmus, Imaani, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
25/10/1977: Daniel Kerdachi, Flamingo Sales, Durban, KZN, SA.
26/10/1941: Rob Morris, retired, formerly BU Technical [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
26/10/1959: Hennie van Zyl, Ostriland, Citrusdal, W. Cape, SA.
26/10/1962: MH Klopper, Bethlehem Hides & Skin, Bethlehem, Free State, SA.
26/10/1971: Ayoob Seedat, Shoe Tech, Springs, Gauteng, SA.
26/10/1973: Grant Walker, McCullough & Bothwell, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
27/10/1949: Rolf Stumpfe, Lederwerkstatt, George, W. Cape, SA.
27/10/1949: Ralph Dodo, Dodo’s, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
27/10/1950: Beverly Phillips, retired, formerly Bata SA / Futura Footwear, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
27/10/1965: Selvan Naicker, Ethekwini Leather, Durban, KZN, SA.
28/10/1970: Sannet Gerber, Zoom In Shoe Boutique, Jeffry’s Bay, E. Cape, SA.

In memoriam this week

23/10/2022: Ismail Anwary (b. 15/03/1925), Anwary’s, Butha-Buthe, Lesotho.
24/10/1999: Norma Varley, Edcon, Durban, KZN, SA.
24/10/1995: Wally Zwart, Dick Whittington, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
25/10/2000: CIR 'Rex' Van Coller, (b. 12/04/1925), agent, Durban, KZN, SA.
25/10/2005: Braam Keyser (b. 05/09/1957), Feltex Automotive Leathers [closed], Ladysmith, KZN, SA.
26/10/2015: Richard Reddiar (b. 29/03/1943), Premier Safety Footwear, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
27/10/1994: Brian Vincer (Futura), Pinetown, KZN, SA.
29/10/2021: Nigel Plumpton (b. 29/04/1949), CNB Industries [closed], NP Enterprises [closed], Ribtech, Pietermaritzburg, 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

McCullagh & Bothwell [McCullagh & Bothwell Hyde Park (Pty) Ltd], Johannesburg, Gauteng, 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/

Note: For previous rates, see HERE

ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (19 October 2023) - The average hide price increased by 0.1% to R3.372/kg from R3.370/kg in the previous week. The current price is 10.1% higher than the average price a month ago and 26.9% 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:

Mila + Kayla, Bloemfontein, Free State, SA. Women's boutique.
KLK, Klerksdorp, Upington, N. Cape, SA. Co-0p.

Classified Adverts

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: October 30, 2023.

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

Our website www.svmag.co.za