S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.11 No.2, January 13 2025

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Back-to-school: Sales good, some issues with supply

Idris Pandor, Gem Schoolwear
Durban, KZN, SA – Retail sales have picked up considerably since Monday and the trend will continue till the 14th. Each year with the volume of customers coming into the store we employ over 100 parttime staff in both our retail stores to assist with the sales. These PT staff get hands-on experience in the retail sector that gives them confidence when they seek jobs elsewhere.  We are proud to skill school leavers for over 30 years.
     Our retail stores are open 7 days a week in December and January to make shopping easier and our doors are open till the last shopper has made their purchase.
     Online sales have been extremely good, and we are satisfied with our growth.
     On the wholesale division, since we opened on the 2nd of January, orders have been pouring in and we have been despatching them as fast as we can.
     Gem Schoolwear is a one stop shop for most of the needs of retailers – our warehouse is like a "bank" of school wear stock.


Jannie Vermeulen, Ekspa and Adno’s
Benoni, Gauteng, SA – Still extremely busy.
     One thing that is noticeable is that the size of individual orders is down. Our sales staff are incentivised to get customers to add items, but this year there are far fewer orders reaching the target.


Chris van den Berg, Burgers Brothers
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – It’s much the same as last year in terms of demand, which is to say it’s quite good.
     There are problems with supply – fabric for uniforms, and apparently leather for school shoes, which are being put down to holdups in harbours. Green Cross has gone so far as to take stock from its own shops to give to its retail customers.


Deshan Chetty, Ace Outfitters
Kimberley, N. Cape, SA – School wear isn’t a very big part of my business, but it’s going fairly well. The only problem I’m having is sourcing specific colour trousers for one school. The previous supplier has stopped supplying them. Still waiting for some of my school shoes.

Arcelor Mittal closure: A blow for northern KZN

Steelmaker Arcelor Mittal – Iscor in the good old days – announced the imminent closure of 2 plants, in Newcastle and Vereeniging. While Vereeniging is a major industrial area, Newcastle has been dependent on the jobs provided by coal mines – many now closed – and the steelmaker. We asked leather and apparel businesses in the area what effect it might have.

Hanno van den Berg, Afritan cc
Dundee, KZN, SA – I only heard about the closure of Arcelor Mittal Newcastle yesterday afternoon (Tuesday), so I am still processing the information. It was mentioned that 3500 jobs will be affected directly and immediately, and there is no telling how many more will be impacted in the areas surrounding Newcastle.
     The situation is likely to be devastating for the local economy, which in turn, will affect our local customers. While most of our business is concentrated in the larger centres, I am genuinely concerned about the repercussions this will have on Newcastle, Dundee, Volksrust, Durnacol and all the surrounding towns.


Ashok Kasiram, Junior Outfitters
Newcastle, KZN, SA – 2024 was one of the toughest years of trading in my 49 years of retail. The news of Arcelor plant closing is going to have a devastating blow to our already struggling economy of Newcastle.  Not a good time to be in business.


Manoj Morar, Impressions
Dundee, KZN, SA – We’re 45 to 60 minutes away from Newcastle, so while I’m sure it will have an effect on the area, it won’t affect us as directly as retailers in Newcastle itself.


Salim Ayoob, Jumbo Footwear
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – As wholesale suppliers to many retailers in that northern KZN area, Arcelor’s closure is very worrying. It’s already a depressed area, and 2024 was a tough year for them. There’s not much we, as suppliers, can do, beyond trying to source more budget lines.

Financial report: VF Corporation

Denver, Colorado, USA (08 January 2025) – VF Corporation, owner of The North Face, Vans, Timberland, Dickies and other brands, plans to release its third quarter fiscal 2025 financial results on Wednesday 29 January 2025 at approximately 6:55 a.m. ET. Following the release, VF management will host a conference call at approximately 8:00 a.m. ET (15:00 South African time) to review results.
     The conference call will be broadcast live via the Internet, accessible at ir.vfc.com. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, an archived version will be available at the same location.

Death notice

Howick, KZN, SA – John Watt of Bresan Footwear, and before that of Bata SA, died on 05 January following a stroke on 02 January. According to his son, Alistair, He had been struggling with a number of health issues over the past 6 months and had been in and out of hospital a number of times in recent weeks.
     An obituary will follow in the January issue of S&V Footwear & Leather Goods.

They Said It

"Management is about walking the floor and fighting fires, not sitting in an ivory tower!" - Idris Pandor, Gem Schoolwear, Durban, KZN, SA.

"I will be 76 on the 17th, but I keep busy. I started working at Jordan Shoes at the age of 15 and retired as president of the National Union of Leather and Allied Workers at 60. I serve on the hospital board of Mitchells Plain District Hospital, Beaconvale Community Frail Care Centre, and Local Network of Care/homeless/street people Ward committee." - Carol Mentor.

"I have also put this together very quickly as I have to play an important bowls game and sink a few beers and talk s--t in the pub afterwards. That is way more important than providing content for you!!!!" - Dr Clive Jackson-Moss, International School of Tanning Technology, Grahamstown, E. Cape, SA. Sigh.

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

Kg, Footwear Designer, Johannesburg, South Africa

Birthdays this week

13/01/1966: Farhad Fakir, Tasmo Agencies, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
14/01/????: Sylvia De Gouveia, Fashion Centre, Kroonstad, Free State, SA.
14/01/1947: Billy Robinson, retired, formerly Billy Bob Trading [closed], Durban, KZN, SA, now in Australia.
14/01/1960: Yusuf Tikly, Legends, Zeerust, N.W. Province, SA.
15/01/19??: Vimal Ambaram, JFK Trading, Durban, KZN, SA.
15/01/1974: Ahmed Jada, African Stores, Heidelberg, Gauteng, SA.
17/01/1949: Carol Mentor, retired, formerly NULAW, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
17/01/1961: Gita Chetty, Angelai’s, Durban, KZN, SA.
17/01/1963: Michael Lawrence, National Clothing Retail Federation of SA, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
18/01/1950: Roy Naidoo, Best Shoes, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
18/01/1972: Ian Otto, African Leather & Skins, Paarl, W. Cape, SA.
18/01/1976: Imraan Mayet, Baxter’s American Centre, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
18/01/1977: Guy Millar, Rags on Trend, Midrand, Gauteng, SA.
19/01/1943: Richard Šantrůček, retired, formerly Conshu (closed), Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
19/01/1960: Saleem Khamissa, His Place, Port Shepstone, KZN, SA.

In memoriam this week

13/01/2021: Rajen Pillay, SOP Trading, Durban, KZN, SA.
13/01/2022: Dan Naidoo (b. 24/01/1937), Togo Shoes, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
14/01/2004: Louis Nossel (b. 01/12/1931), Dolltown Shoes [closed], Pinetown, KZN, SA.
14/01/2017: Donald Taisekwa Mandirahwe (b. 29/09/1942), Cathula Sandals [closed], Harare, Zimbabwe.
14/01/2021: Beeval Kantilal Naran (b. 28/03/1966), Captain Jacob Shoes & Bag Repairs, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
15/01/2021: Idris Kajee (b. 06/11/1950), Favourite Sports, Newcastle, KZN, SA.
16/01/2000: Brenda Fairhead, Fairhead’s [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
16/01/2004: Derek Funnell (b. 07/10/1938), Carl Freudenberg, DB Funnell Leathers [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
17/01/2012: Graham Pearson (b. 16/01/1929), Apeco [closed], Pinetown, KZN, SA.
17/01/2022: Geert Schuiling (b. 26/11/1954), Procap Leather, Woodheads, Geert Schuiling Design, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
18/01/2002: Frank Mellon (b. 04/02/1930), Valmell Components, Durban, KZN, SA.
19/01/2005: Thomas Anthony (Tony) O’Sullivan (b.08/06/1928), Vogue Shoes [closed] and others, Cape Town, 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

Ace Outfitters, Kimberley, N. Cape, SA.
Impressions, Dundee, KZN, SA.
Junior Outfitters, Newcastle, 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

No hide prices for 2025 yet.

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:

Slate Boutique, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA. Women’s apparel retailer.
Smart Labels, Welkom, Free State, SA. Men’s and women’s apparel retailer.

THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!

Back-to-school: Good, after a tough 2023

Retirement - Peter Handley

Death Notice - Lodewyk ‘Lou’ Jonck

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.10 No.03, January 15 2024

THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!

Retail last week: 4 mini-chains

Appointment: Former Adidas retail executive Warren Bowers joined Bounty Brands as MD of the apparel division.

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.6 No.02, January 13, 2020

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: Monday 20 January, 2025. Ad and editorial deadline Friday 17 January.

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

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