S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.10 No.08, February 19 2024

Download PDF

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

Sport: Schools drive good start to the year

Theo Koutsoudis, Action Sports Retailers

Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA – Business has been good. Schools are obviously a major part, and many sports have become all year sports. With rugby, for example, we’re already selling head guards, which we wouldn’t normally sell before March.
      The chains don’t really affect us. We’ve been in the trade for a long time and we sell a broad range of footwear and equipment across multiple brands, where they tend to concentrate more on the fashion footwear from brands like Nike and Adidas. Totalsports do sell a bigger range of footwear, but even their target market seems to be more the fashion-conscious buyer.
      We’ve also been benefiting from younger customers who have tried to buy online and for one reason or another have been scammed or are dissatisfied with that experience. They’ve come back to traditional retail where advice is part of the package.
      When we lost Nike and Adidas, other brands have picked up the business. Also, Asics and Puma in particular carry large stocks which allows us to replenish as we require.

East London, E. Cape, SA – The year so far has “been okay”, said Clive Webb of L.G.Sports.
      “We get a lot of business from the universities here,” he said. “They play a variety of sports – rugby is big, and netball. Soccer is actually quite a small part of it.”
      Schoolchildren too were an important customer base, “although government budget cuts have affected some schools, which means the children have to rely on their parents to pay for sportswear, and most people are battling financially”.
      He said operating as an independent was challenging. “I started this business 40 years ago, and in East London, I’m now the only independent left.
      “The chains aren’t really competitors. Sports goods retailing is about service.
      “Brands refusing to supply does affect us, but we adapt. Puma must have taken most of the business that Nike and Adidas gave up.
      “I don’t keep the top end in running.
      “We get our own team kit made in Durban, and that does well.”

We will carry more comment on sports goods next week.

Trump sneakers – not made in the US – sell out

A 1000 pairs of ‘president’ Trump’s ‘official sneakers’, offered for sale online at US$399/pair, sold out in a short period, according to various news reports over the weekend. 2 other styles, the POTUS 45 and the T-Red Wave (both $199), along with Victory47 Cologne and Victory 47 Perfume (both $99) are apparently still available.
      The website, https://gettrumpsneakers.com/, does, I think, belong to a Trump company, but the shoes are “trademarks of CIC Ventures LLC. Trump Sneakers are not designed, manufactured, distributed or sold by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization or any of their respective affiliates or principals. 45Footwear, LLC uses the Trump name, image and likeness under a license agreement.”
      And according to the ‘Professional Informative Blog Platform’ Kusum Mahaurja, the shoes were not made in the United States.
      “While the Trump brand is often associated with American luxury, the reality is that Trump shoes are manufactured in various countries around the world. Italy, Spain, and Portugal are key manufacturing locations, known for their expertise in luxury footwear production. Additionally, other countries such as China, Brazil, and India may also contribute to the production of Trump shoes. Regardless of the manufacturing location, the Trump Organization ensures that their footwear meets the highest standards of quality. So, the next time you slip into a pair of Trump shoes, you can appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into creating these luxurious footwear pieces.”
      It seems Trump is as sincere about promoting US manufacturing as many of the role players in South Africa’s footwear industry are about promoting manufacturing here.
      PS: The ‘official sneakers’ have gold uppers, and gold seems to be a favourite colour for Trump. Is it just me, or does he have more than a passing resemblance to the title character in the 1964 James Bond film, Goldfinger?

They Said It

"I still have to have the op, but the Ampath blood tests invoice nearly gave me a heart attack." - Jax Snyman, member of The Sweat Shop, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA, after blood tests ahead of a procedure to replace the battery in his 9-and-a-half-year-old Pacemaker. The blood tests were routine – and clear – but good health does have a price, it seems.

New subscribers last week

Doubt Mawere, Footwear Technologist, Vaal University of Technology, Sebokeng, 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

19/02/1944: Bruno Tarasconi, formerly Bruno Original, now Etsang Dieta Primary Co-operative, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
19/02/1988: Joash Govender, formerly Prisaan Footwear [closed], Pinetown, KZN, SA.
20/02/1959: Rashmi Kooverjee, Babu’s, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
20/02/1969: Dada Segwe, Bontsho Bosweu Shop, Vryburg, N.W. Province, SA.
20/02/1973: Bridget Johnson, Bibbi Shoes, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
20/02/????: Rakesh Ambaram, JFK Trading, Durban, KZN, SA.
21/02/1958: David Barnett, Urban Angel Accessories, Boksburg, Gauteng, SA.
21/02/1960: Nigel Payne, NTE, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
21/02/1975: Zubair Desai, Leather Loft, Stanger/KwaDukuza, KZN, SA.
22/02/1967: Shabir Ahmed Moola, Moola’s Newcastle, KZN, SA.
22/02/1970: Ebrahim Akoon, Urban Legends, Bloemfontein, Free State, SA.
22/02/1982: Katherine Bischoff, Leatherband, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
23/02/1949: Jeff Burland, retired to Australia, formerly United Fram/Wayne Plastics, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
24/02/1954: Linda Gordon, Riversdalse Skoenwinkel, Riversdal, W. Cape, SA.
24/02/1954: Peter Perkins, Sole Base, Durban, KZN, SA.
24/02/1973: M Taljaard, Taljaard Shoe Store, Germiston, Gauteng, SA.
25/02/1963: Anca Facauaru, Anca Shoes, Kempton Park, Gauteng, SA.

In memoriam this week

19/02/2015: Professor Dr Des Cooper (b. 14/04/1928), Leather Industries’ Research Institute (LIRI) [closed], Grahamstown, E. Cape, SA.
20/02/2004: Barry Dowson (b. 1938), Barry Dowson Components [closed], Greytown, KZN, SA.
22/02/2023: Robert Pringle (b. 29/01/1942), Hickey & Pringle (closed), Pinetown, 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 this week

Cambanos & Son Agencies cc, Midrand, Gauteng, SA.
Sanata Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
Vaal University of Technology: Southern Gauteng Science & Technology Park, Sebokeng, Gauteng, SA.

3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK)

Source: https://www.rbm.mw/

4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)

Source: https://www.boz.zm/

5. Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL$)

Source: Source: https://www.rbz.co.zw/

Note: For previous rates, see HERE

ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (16 February 2024) - The average hide price increased by 0.23% to R3.291/kg from R3.284/kg in the previous week. The current price is 0.6% 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:

Stanwell Outfitters, Bloemfontein, Free State, SA. Men’s and women’s outfitter.
Stapol, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA. Adhesive, finishes & stains manufacturer.

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: February 26, 2024. Ad and editorial deadline Friday 23 February.

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

Our website www.svmag.co.za