S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.11 No.8, February 24 2025

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‘Switch to local sourcing has worked for us’

Cassim Sidiyot, member, Ace Out Distributors cc
Durban, KZN, SA – Business is not too bad.
     We sell ladies’ and kiddies’ footwear, mainly to mini chains. For the last few years, we have sourced mainly from factories in KZN, and 70% of our footwear is now local. We import for stock.
     The local footwear is based on price points and styling, and we have had a good run with lots of repeats. Winter has been a bit soft on orders, with a bit of a pull back on boots, obviously more so in KZN, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo, which are still buying sandals.

More risk, but instinct still delivers

Morné Strydom, sales & marketing manager, Adventure Inc.
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Trade is generally pretty challenging at the moment. Our summer season sell-inns have shown that retailers are more conservative with forecasting and less willing to take risk on futures, which means that we as distributors are left with the challenge of carrying more of the risk in the form of stockholding. Nonetheless, opportunities exist and understanding your market and trusting your instincts still delivers the results.

Leather women’s sandals ‘a consistent niche’

Nuran Mohanlal, member, Trenzado Footwear
Durban, KZN, SA – We are predominantly a ladies’ leather sandal factory supplying a major local chain. We are quiet for the first few months of the year. It picks up consistently for summer.
We don’t touch synthetic at all – too crowded.  Leather has been a successful niche for us for a number of years.
  

‘Survey shows 82% of US voters – including 76% of Republicans – think tariffs will raise prices at everyday stores’

Washington, D.C., US – A new national survey of registered voters, conducted by Emerson College Polling and commissioned by the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), finds voters across the political spectrum believe tariffs drive up prices on essential goods. While Americans support efforts to strengthen the economy, the data show strong opposition to tariffs on consumer staples like children's shoes and a growing concern about inflation.
     Here’s a statement from FDRA President and CEO Matt Priest: "American families are already feeling the squeeze from inflation, and this survey confirms what we’ve been saying all along—tariffs only make things worse. Voters, including a majority of Republicans, recognize that tariffs are nothing more than a hidden tax on hardworking Americans. This is especially true regarding essentials like children's shoes, where two-thirds of voters say enough is enough. Lawmakers must note that families don’t want higher prices—they want relief. It’s time for smart trade policies that lower costs, not raise them."
     Survey’s key findings:
     • Lowering the cost of groceries and everyday items is the top priority for voters. − 70% of voters say reducing prices on essential goods should be President Trump’s main focus, including 75% of Democrats, 72% of Republicans, and 64% of independents.
     • Voters overwhelmingly oppose tariffs on children’s shoes. − 67% of voters oppose tariffs on children's shoes, while only 33% support them. − Opposition is strongest among seniors over 70 (78%) and Democrats (85%), while independents oppose tariffs by a margin of 72% to 28%. − Republicans, however, support tariffs on children’s shoes 55% to 45%, a significant contrast to other groups.
     • Voters believe Trump’s new tariffs will raise prices at everyday retailers. − 82% of voters think tariffs will increase costs at stores like Walmart, Amazon, Target, and Costco. − This belief is shared across party lines: 89% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 76% of Republicans. − Voters with higher levels of formal education are especially aware of the impact of tariffs: 92% of those with postgraduate degrees believe tariffs raise prices, compared to 84% of college graduates, 79% of those with associate degrees, and 80% of those with a high school education or less.
     These findings come as economic concerns continue to dominate conversation in Washington and the country. Americans are sending a strong signal to policymakers that they want targeted trade policies that reduce costs, not blanket tariffs that make everyday goods more expensive.

They Said It

"I did write it, actually. My input was refined by AI to improve style and grammar and spelling, etc." - A contributor who shall remain nameless so there’s no name calling and hair pulling. Nonetheless, it gave me a jolt to see text from a person whose style I normally recognise, converted into something which looked professional, sure, as well as a bit – I don’t know – impersonal? Along with Photoshop and fake videos and Heaven knows what else, it does make me wonder what information is genuine. I can assure you, S&V is still all generated here, by one very human and fallible person.

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

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.
26/02/1946: Brian Carmichael, MTL Trading, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
26/02/1959: Prakash Chiba, Falcarragy Trading, Durban, KZN, SA.
26/02/1961: Keith Lyons, Strayz, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
26/02/1981: Ndlela Mazibuko, BBF Safety Group, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
27/02/1970: Ahmed Dadoo, Saddle Creek Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, Vereeniging, Gauteng, SA.
27/02/1975: Denver Mahabeer, ?, formerly Edgars, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
28/02/1945: Basil Da Silva, Mendelson & Frost, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
28/02/1969: Dilesh Dajee, agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
02/03/1953: Garth Ewing, retired, formerly Garth Ewing Agencies, East London, E. Cape, SA.
02/03/1960: Robin Teifel, Harry E. Teifel & Associates, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.

In memoriam this week

26/02/2023: David Scott (b. 04/09/1955), Scotts, Brazilia Footwear Importers (both closed), exporter, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
27/02/2010: Jean Mee ‘Mick’ Lailvaux (b. 22/02/1919), Service Agencies (closed), Durban, KZN, SA.
27/02/2010: Amanda ‘Mandy’ Terry (b. 20/02/1969), Makro, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
27/02/2021: Wouter Joubert (b. 06/02/1964), TFG Apparel Supply Co, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA, died in Vietnam.
28/02/2016: Johnny Parboo (b. 21/10/1945), Labora Shoes, Durban, KZN, SA.
01/03/2004: Sandra Faye Campbell (b. 09/06/1971), Dunn’s Stores, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
01/03/2024: Glen Puttergill (b. 18/05/1944), Glen's Shoes [closed], East London, E. Cape, SA.
02/03/1991: Edward Powell (b. 12/02/1967), 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.

Directory entries updated last week

Adventure Inc., Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
Bernstein, Morris, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
Calabash Original, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
Global Tanners (Pvt) Ltd, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Majenta Shoes, Durban, KZN, SA.
Safety-Boyz, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
Trenzado Footwear Manufacturers cc, 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 (20 February 2024) – The current average hide price remains R2.801/kg, the same as a week ago. The current price is 0.09% higher than the average price a month ago and was 14.90% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.75 Maximum price: R3.02. 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, 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:

Gobagandshoe, Bujumbura, Burundi. Men’s, women’s and children’s footwear retailer.
Gopal’s Bags & Luggage, Durban, KZN, SA. Travel goods retailer.

THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!

Sport: In areas where parents withhold school fees, business is slow

S&P: VF will need to sell “sizeable” brands to ease debt burden

In case you missed it! : The February issue of S&V African Leather Magazine

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.10 No.09, February 26 2024

THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!

Retail so far this year

Changes

Woolworths Holdings Ltd

Truworths results

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.6 No.08, February 24, 2020

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: Monday 3 March, 2025. Ad and editorial deadline Friday 28 February.

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

Our website www.svmag.co.za