S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.10 No.51, December 16 2024

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December retail: Still waiting for upturn

Zubeda Khan, Classique Shoes
Scottburgh, KZN, SA – December has been very quiet, and it’s the first year that I have found it like this. We did have Black Friday specials, but there wasn’t much response – it was much like any other Friday trading.
I don’t know why trade is so poor at the moment. We’re not in the centre, but I hear the retailers there are also complaining.
We just have to hope it improves.


Cassim Dawjee, D-Style by Daks HQ
Harrismith, Free State, SA – Black Friday was decent. So far in December, trading conditions have been very difficult, but we’re hoping they hold up over the Festive Season.

Exotics: A correction, not a downturn

Pino Di Lembo, SA Crocodile Investments
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – Ostrich has been stable this year, Nile crocodile has been more challenging.      There is still a demand in Europe for the top ostrich grades and top crocodile grades.
     However, the demand for crocodile in Europe has slowed down. This comes after a couple of years of high demand for Himalayan niloticus croc leather – a tanning process where the skin is not bleached, leaving the natural pigment colours to contrast against the white bellies. It was hugely popular, but now everyone is offering it, so demand has slackened. Current demand is more about normalising the curve than a drop in demand, but it feels like hitting a wall. The major brands in Europe, with the exception of very few, have seen their share prices plummet after the last few months of poor trading.
     Asian demand follows Europe, but the correction isn’t as marked there yet, however we will see what the demand is after the Chinese New Year.
     Quality is always an issue in Europe. American alligator skins are the main competition, and South African farmers need constantly to improve their standards. An issue at the moment in South Africa is ‘double scale’, which is a condition caused by external factors, not a genetic condition. A major cause is stress. Other contributing factors are temperature extremes and erratic feeding practices.
     Overall, business is always challenging, but essentially satisfactory.

Services offered

Durban, KZN, SA – Pattern making, product and development services as well as designer shoe projects. 15 yrs manufacturing experience. Please contact Thausif Mahomed, 069 810 1020 (WhatsApp only), sneakermaker.sa@gmail.com.

Childhood cancer and Flip Flop Day – an opportunity for promotion and to help?

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – As part of its fundraising initiatives, the Childhood Cancer Foundation SA organises an annual Flip Flop Day, on which people are asked to buy a sticker for R10 and wear flip flops for the day – including to work.
Flip Flop Day next year is on Friday, 14 February – also Valentine’s Day, if you need reminding.
It should offer flip flop manufacturers and brands a marketing and a charity opportunity. For further details, see https://choc.org.za/
     Any businesses which follow up on this, please let me know.

They Said It

"I was in the industry here for 30 years, but the last few were not nice. The people who were supposed to be supporting us didn’t behave properly – penalising us for deliveries which were a bit late, or paying us on 90 days when they paid the Chinese on 30. Now, I’m in a completely different industry and loving life again." - Former footwear manufacturer and importer.

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

New subscribers last week

Kamal Cassiram, Executive Assistant, Palm Footwear Manufacturers (PTY) Ltd, Durban, South Africa
Nazneen Arnold, Senior Key Account Manager, BBF Safety Group, Western Cape, South Africa
Kelly Damons, CEO, KellyGirl Skills, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Adam Young, Business Owner, Rowdy, Cape Town, South Africa
Angelique Janse van Rensburg, Business Owner, Milk & Honey Southdowns Pty Ltd, Centurion | Menlyn Maine, South Africa

Birthdays this week

16/12/1939: Danny Pincus, agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
17/12/1972: Iqbal Abdulla, Studio 88, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
18/12/1978: Hassive Magaña Maya, Spanish Commercial Office, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
19/12/1959: Yegan Pillai, left the industry, formerly Michelle Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
19/12/1944: Hoosen Patel, Spectrum group [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
20/12/1957: Michael Ngwenya, NULAW, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
20/12/1976: Zamo Mkhize, left the industry, formerly Nicole Footwear (closed), Durban, KZN, SA.
20/12/1984: Carl Prinsloo, Allied Agencies, Westville, KZN, SA.
21/12/1942: Allan Kushner, retired, formerly Shoe Fayre, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
21/12/1963: Trevor Capell, ? Hilton, KZN, SA.
22/12/1966: Collin Kisten Pillay, Topline Manufacturers, Durban, KZN, SA.
22/12/1973: Hassan Adam, Seadoone Shoes, Amanzimtoti, KZN, SA.

In memoriam this week

16/12/2021: Chris Bezuidenhout (b. 11 December 1951), The Cross Trainer, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
17/12/2020: André van der Merwe (b. 03/10/1969), Oasis Tanning, Krugersdorp, Gauteng, SA.
17/12/2023: Cecil Fenwick (b. 09/07/1942), Saddler Belts & Leathercraft, Durban, KZN, SA.
18/12/2003: Ben Stoltzman (b. 03.05/1933), Vogue Shoes/Sportshoe SA [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
19/12/2022: Reg Hattingh (b. 12/01/1936), agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
22/12/2008: John Whittle (b. 21/05/1936), John Whittle Components, 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 last week

Classique Shoes (Pty) Ltd, Scottburgh, KZN, SA.
D-Style by Daks HQ [Full Output cc], Harrismith, Free State, SA.
Feetfirst Distribution [Tradeshoe (Pty) Ltd]
Safey Bazaar (Pty) Ltd, Durban, KZN, SA.

3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK) (buying)

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

4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) (buying)

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

5. Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)

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

Note: For previous rates, see HERE

ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (12 December 2024) - The current average hide price decreased by 0.02% to R2.803/kg from R2.804/kg a week ago. The current price is 0.02% lower than the average price a month ago and 14.74% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.75 Maximum price: R3.06. 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:

Simply Chique Boutique, Reitz, Free State, SA. Women’s clothing and footwear.
Sims Safety Wear, Durban, KZN, SA. PPE reseller.

THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!

Last quarter poor, but no knowing what’s to come : Greg Bing, A.P. Jones

Shoe Zone: Getting better, but not up to previous years

Casanova to call it a day next year

Components quiet, sandals busy : Matthew Hansen, Reunion Components/Angelsoft Shoes

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.9 No.51, December 18 2023

THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!

Good news last week

Retail last week: Overall, better than expected

Closing: Latiff's Boutique

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.5 No.51, December 23, 2019

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: Monday December 23, 2024. Ad and editorial deadline Friday 20 December.

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

Our website www.svmag.co.za