S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.10 No.52, December 23 2024

Download PDF

Merry Christmas to our Christian readers, and to everyone else expecting presents on Wednesday.

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

A season of mixed fortunes

Salma Muhammad, Bhamjee’s Shoe Centre
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – It’s an absolute disaster. For the year up to December, we’ve been trading at 50% of what we normally trade at, and this month – when we would expect turnover to be much, much higher, we’re trading at what we would normally trade for the rest of the year.
     I’m blaming it all on Shein and Temu, and government’s complete lack of effective protection against them.
     We’re all guilty, and it’s not just footwear. My domestic helper is buying from them. I buy from them – not shoes, obviously! – but items like party goods, where I’d rather spend less. People at all levels have been buying from them, and no wonder – their shoe retail prices are frequently lower than my cost price for the same item.
     Talking to other retailers, it appears that we’re all affected by this.
     The banking sector says ecommerce is at an all-time high, but much of – most of it? – is going to offshore accounts.
     Government HAS to come to the party, or lots of businesses will close, and even more people will be out of work.


Dave Vallabh, Bilimoria Fishing Tackle
East London, E. Cape, SA – Business is very good. Our Vincent store mostly attracts locals, but our Beacon Bay store is a gateway to the Transkei resorts for visitors from the interior, and there are lots of holidaymakers.
     Most of our business is fishing tackle, but we do quite well with waders and shoes and sandals for fishing and work-related activities like sewerage, but on footwear specifically, there probably has been a drop because of Shein and Temu – there are lots of aqua shoes on their sites, and people will go for price. You can’t blame them, although buying sizes online isn’t easy.


Greg Bing, A.P. Jones
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Trading for us from 01/12/24 to 18/12/24 has been average. We are meeting last years’ figures for the same period, but still nowhere near where we were pre-Covid. Some folk are suggesting that we are bloody lucky to be achieving the same turnover and that we should be grateful for this. They may have a point.

Kamlesh Chagan, American Clothing/The Vault
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – It’s been strange trading the past few weeks.
     Black Friday fell on the month end weekend, instead of a week earlier previously. So the month end and Black Friday coincided and ended off fairly.
     But I’m of the opinion that consumers have lost interest in this Black Friday trend.
     Sales tapered off after 9th December and the past weekend of 13th picked up again. The past weekend was a good uptick and trade was brisk, but one can clearly see it’s about price and value for money. Customers do not have the disposable income to spend like previous.
     Retail has been like a “see-saw”.
     There’s been a delay in deliveries, especially with delays in shipping of both raw material for local production and imports. September and October footwear orders from the likes of Bolton, Eddels and, worst of all, Dick Whittington, only came through recently.
     As independent retailers we’ve changed direction, and our focus switched away from the big athleisure brands. We’re needed to rekindle our traditional outfitting offerings which is gaining momentum, thankfully.
     Strangely we’ve had an unseasonal demand for some of our winter clothing the last few weeks. Customers were shopping for warm clothing, jackets etc caused by our inclement weather of late.
     This year Christmas Eve is on Tuesday instead of Sunday last year, hoping that these two extra days assist us.
     We are hoping to end off positively, pay our bills and have better trading in 2025.

Moody’s affirms Pepkor’s credit rating

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – The rating agency Moody's Investors Service has concluded an update on Pepkor Holdings Ltd's credit analysis. Moody's has affirmed Pepkor's Corporate Family Rating of Ba2 and National Scale Long Term Rating of Aa1.za with a stable outlook. Moody's highlights Pepkor's stable operating performance with demonstrated resilience to economic shocks, positive organic growth, conservative financial policies and robust credit metrics as key factors reflected in the rating.

Kushy and The Shoedog:

For those who missed our last chat for the year – see the link https://youtu.be/KVGYEcj4TE4

They Said It

"I remember chewing gum while walking between classes and Mr Webber was leaning on one elbow on the passage balcony wall. Next second I was flying through the air, launched by the scruff of the neck and he instructed me to put my gum in the waste bin! That was 1967 and didn't chew gum again at school." - One of my 1970 matric WhatsApp group in a tribute to a teacher who has just died. The teacher, Alan Webber, was also the captain of the Border rugby team.

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

Alan Matlala, Managing Director, Guzzzo Trading Enterprise, South Africa

Birthdays this week

23/12/1947: Chris Dorasamy, Robach Components, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
23/12/1949: Alex Gordon, Novita Shoes, Durban, KZN, SA.
24/12/1947: Gerald Borg, formerly Bata SA and Amshoe (closed) , KZN, SA, emigrated to Cyprus.
24/12/1953: Morgan Naidoo, Alan D Jackson, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
25/12/????: Malcolm Walton, retired, formerly Corrida Shoes, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
25/12/1934: Ivan Harris, retired, formerly Woodheads, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
25/12/1948: Morris Smith, agent, Durban, KZN, SA.
25/12/1960: Yusuf Moosajee, Seltex, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
25/12/1969: Noel Whitehead, Bolton Footwear and chairman, SAFLIA, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
25/12/1975: Mohamed Ameen Ravat, Ravat & Sons International, Pietersburg/Polokwane, Limpopo, SA.
26/12/1937: Andre le Roux, retired, formerly Watson Shoes Ladies’ Division, Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, SA.
26/12/1948: Peter Waddleton, left the industry. Formerly Bata SA, then Finlam Textiles, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
26/12/1977: Kirit Mistry, Shoe Junxion, Sasolburg, Free State, SA.
26/12/1956: Omar Faruk Doola, Shoe World, Springs, Gauteng, SA.
26/12/1987: Mohamed Bulbulia, Boot & Shoe Centre, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
27/12/1962: Kareem Kader, Options, Gaborone, Botswana.
28/12/1970: Tony Vaubell, Mr Price Group, Durban, KZN, SA.
28/12/1979: Peter Bassingthwaighte, Bass Marketing, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
28/12/1988: Ismail Moosa, Jumbo Footwear, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
29/12/1944: Andy Woods, Woods’ Tanning, Uitenhage, E. Cape, SA.
29/12/1949: Paul Jacobus Smit, S&S Boutique, Tzaneen, Limpopo, SA.
29/12/1971: Regman Govender, Exodus Marketing, Durban, KZN, SA.
29/12/1981: Ganesh Kadoo, UCL Co Ltd, Dalton, KZN, SA.

In memoriam this week

23/12/2004: Stewart Dorrington (b.?), King Tanning [closed], King William’s Town, E. Cape, SA.
23/12/2014: Mohammed Seedat (b. 16/07/1942), Jino’s Clothing, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
23/12/2020: Hennie van Zyl (b. 26/10/1959), Ostriland Import/Export, Citrusdal, W. Cape, SA.
25/12/2003: Lionel Klein (b. 24/08/1926), agent, Durban, KZN, SA.
26/12/2020: Neville Dodo (b. 02/04/1941), Edworks Group [closed], Dodo’s Shoes, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
26/12/2023: Lodewyk Marthinus ‘Lou’ Jonck (b. 26/09/1951), agent, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
27/12/2020: Yusuf Bham, Megashoes [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
30/12/2016: Michael O’Connor (b. 11/12/1951), Jensen Belts [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
31/12/2003: Peter Craythorne (b. 28/02/1935), BUSM [closed]/Woodheads, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
31/12/2000: Nols Jonker (b. 10/06/1944), Watson Shoes, Great Brak River, W. Cape, 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

Bilimoria Fishing Tackle, East London, E. Cape, SA.
Department of Trade, Industry & Competition, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
Simply Chique Boutique (Pty) Ltd, Reitz, Free State, 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 (20 December 2024) - The current average hide price increased by 0.09% to R2.806/kg from R2.803/kg a week ago. The current price is 0.02% lower than the average price a month ago and 14.54% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.75 Maximum price: R3.09. 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:

Sissy Boy [Blue Jean Traders (Pty) Ltd], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA. Apparel brand.
Siyaphambili Tannery, Ladysmith, KZN, SA. Tannery.

THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!

December Trade:
- Trade seesaw, ‘but there’s always hope’
- On the whole, below par
- More competition for less custom

Nike Aims to Save $2B Over Three Years With New Plan to ‘Streamline’ Organization

Death notice: Cecil Fenwick of Saddler Belts & Leathercraft

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.9 No.52, December 27 2023

THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!

Retail last week

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.5 No.52, December 30, 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