S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.10 No.01, January 3 2024

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A time for fortitude

Everyone I’ve phoned for comment this week so far was either not back at work or had just started, so my queries about back-to-school and New Year sales went unanswered.
      My impression late last year was that most businesses in our industries were pessimistic about this year. There were exceptions, but they were rare.
      And it didn’t take long for most South Africans’ number 1 gripe, load shedding, to kick in. After a couple of load shedding-free weeks – in Durban, anyway – the lights went out last night with almost no warning.
      I’m expecting a difficult year, and I know this business will have to make changes – though quite what I’m not yet sure.
      What I do know is that change is possible, and that if I’m to save the jobs I support, my business, my future, I must try hard not just for myself, but for the greater good.
      Best wishes to our readers. May we all be able to help make a difference.

They Said It

"There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night—
Ten to make and the match to win—
A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
An hour to play and the last man in.
And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat,
Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,
But his captain's hand on his shoulder smote
Play up! play up! and play the game!" - Henry Newbolt (1862-1938), the first verse of Vitaï Lampada (the torch of life).

New subscribers last week

Pine Pienaar, Vereniging, Gauteng, 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

01/01/1937: Franco Polia, freelance designer, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
01/01/1946: Stan Smidt, former agent for Bolton Footwear, retired, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
01/01/1947: Chris Ryder, left the industry.
01/01/1952: Cecele Therese 'Carrots' Doyle, former agent, retired, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
01/01/1965: Selwyn van Aarde, Barker Footwear, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
01/01/1999: Verushca Esterhuizen, African Leather & Skins, Paarl, W. Cape, SA.
03/01/1946: Johannes Kruger, Perfect Shoes, Keetmanshoop, Namibia.
03/01/1948: Dave Lloyd, retired, formerly Bata SA, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
04/01/1945: Mike Lambrakis, retired, formerly various shoe factories in Pinetown, KZN, now in Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
04/01/1956: Allison Gans, GW Cowie & Co., Pinetown, KZN, SA.
05/01/1950: Roger Durrbaum, retired, Barker Footwear (now part of Bolton Footwear), Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
05/01/1952: Charles Poole, Design Unique Belts, East London, E. Cape, SA.
05/01/1957: Herman Alheit, Dick Whittington Shoes, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
05/01/1965: Jay Lalloo, Decofurn, Durban, KZN, SA.
05/01/1983: Andreas Lambrakis, Europa Art Group, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
05/01/1963; Hugo Zuanni, Leather Link, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
05/01/1977: Peter Lin, C.Y. Lin, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
06/01/1947: Allan Harris, Woodheads, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
06/01/1968: Gavin Kisten Pillay, Topline Manufacturers, Durban, KZN, SA.
06/01/1970: Neville Walters, ACA Thread, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
06/01/1976: Michael Gounden, Michelle Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
07/01/1941: Dieter Zettler, retired, formerly PMC group, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
07/01/1977: Hannelie Scholtz, Fabulous Fashions, Vryburg, N.W. Province, SA.
07/01/1970: Ingo Fleischer, Johnson Controls SA, Uitenhage, E. Cape, SA.

In memoriam this week

01/01/2012: Balduin Heimann (b. 30/06/1932), agent, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
01/01/2021: Alvin Reginal Naidoo (b. 27/02/1970), Angel Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
04/01/2004: Rob Gowie (b. 01/07/1938), GW Reynolds/Rob Gowie Components/ Fashion Components/ Plasticone [all closed], Pinetown, KZN, SA.
05/01/1996: Henry Ogus (b. 09/02/1944), Bata SA, Shoes for Africa, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
06/01/2000: Alan Palmer (b. 02/09/1946), Medicus, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
06/01/2010: Minty Kock (b. 15/06/1950), Meroda Footwear [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
07/01/2010: Danie Du Toit (b. 22/02/1948), Carca Footwear [closed], Lesotho.
07/01/2015: Rob Thompson (b. 06/08/1948), agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 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 (14 December 2023) - The average hide price decreased by 0.07% to R3.288/kg from R3.286/kg in the previous week. The current price is 0.23% higher than the average price a month ago and 21.3% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R3.25 Maximum price: R3.50. 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:

Colba Tannery, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tannery.
Hafde Ethiopian Leather, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tannery.

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: January 8, 2024.

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

Our website www.svmag.co.za