S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.11 No.9, March 3 2025
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Trading conditions (respondents in business alphabetical order)
Hoping for a year with fewer distractions
Andreas Joss, member, Ally Shoes cc
Hermanus, W. Cape, SA – Although last winter was unusually slow, the summer season has been quite good so far. Not sure what to expect for this winter, but we are cautiously optimistic it will be better than last year, given the absence of elections, reduced loadshedding and hopefully milder storms.
Expanding with next-generation hospitality footwear
Gary Trappler, MD, Cheftrapps (Pty) Ltd
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – ChefTrapps, in collaboration with its American partner, Shoes For Crews, has re-engineered its footwear collection to meet the demanding needs of the hospitality industry, with a strong focus on slip resistance, durability, and all-day comfort in high-performance work environments.
The latest range includes the ChefTrapps Signature Clog, featuring an open swivel-back, and the Classic Clog, a closed-back alternative. Designed with chefs and kitchen professionals in mind; and casual wear, both styles provide exceptional grip on wet and greasy surfaces, featuring a specialised slip-resistant rubber outsole, a cushioned insole for long shifts, and a waterproof, anti-bacterial design. They are fully CE-approved, available in UK sizes 2 to 11.
My sons, Max and Dylan, have joined in key leadership roles, signalling the company’s transition into a second-generation business, poised for growth both locally and internationally, and we are looking for additional sales representatives in Gauteng and Cape Town. https://www.cheftrapps.com
A return to ‘dressing up’
Michelle van Emmenes, sales director, Paris Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – Trading is still slow at most of our clients, but the brands are still doing very well. Corporate tenders are coming in faster than expected. Finally, after the covid epidemic, people are dressing up again and all are back at work now as we are seeing in our sales for our smarter end styles. We are selling very well on high fashion and business wear styles with a lot of our clients requesting styles with detail, “elegant” bling and high-quality leathers and buckle finishes.
Customers still only buying essentials
Richard Harris, CEO, Woodhead’s cc
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Our leather division is performing well in the upholstery, bag and craft industries. Our competitively priced new ranges that we launched last year have been well received.
However, customers are still sorting out the December/January cash flow issues and are only buying essentials. There seems to be a lot of quoting going on but not yet translating into orders.
We also noted that customers are adding a lot more fabric and PU/Vinyl to their ranges. This is having a negative effect on leather sales even though leather is extremely well priced.
Wage negotiations
Durban, KZN, SA – Wage negotiations begin next month.
The first round of the General Goods & Handbags Sector is on 01 and 02 April, with the second round on 07 and 08 May.
The first round of the Footwear Sector is on 14 and 15 April, and the second round is on 13 and 14 of May.
The Tanning Sector last year signed a 2-year agreement.
Counterfeits
Workshop on effects of illicit trade
Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) will host a workshop on the illicit trade in counterfeit footwear and leather goods in South Africa, tomorrow (04 March) at the Protea Hotel Menlyn Fire and Ice, from 09.00 to 14.00.
Dr Jaywant Irkhede, Director: Leather & Footwear at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) has encouraged members of associations within those industries to attend.
Attendees are asked to confirm attendance by 3 March 2025 via the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/2zhSZFAbxq
In a notification of the meeting headed ‘invitation to workshop on the draft study on illicit trade in counterfeit footwear and leather goods in South Africa’, CIPC Senior Manager Copyright and IP Enforcement, Amanda Lotheringen, wrote: “The Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Project of the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), has commissioned a study to map the channels of illicit trade, distribution systems, and flow of counterfeit footwear and leather goods in South Africa. This study focuses particularly on counterfeit imports and their economic implications, including adverse effects on employment, investment, and tax revenues in the sector.
“Conducted by Mr. Mervyn Chiwayu, a specialist in the leather and footwear sector, the study aims to provide strategic insights and recommendations to curb illicit trade while fostering a sustainable, inclusive, and growth-oriented business environment. The findings will support interventions aligned with the Government’s Retail-Clothing, Textile, Footwear & Leather (R-CTFL) Master Plan, promoting investment, sustainable SMME growth, and the creation of decent jobs, particularly for the youth.
“We are pleased to invite you to a stakeholder workshop where the draft findings of this study will be presented. The workshop will provide a platform for stakeholders to engage in discussions, share insights, and contribute to shaping effective responses to illicit trade in the sector.”
SENS
Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – Truworths International Ltd: Unaudited group interim results and cash dividend declaration for the 26 weeks ended 29 December 2024
| KEY FEATURES |
|
| - Sale of merchandise |
up 2.5% to R12.1 billion |
| - Retail sales |
up 2.4% to R12.5 billion |
| - Gross profit margin |
g51.8% (Dec 2023: 53.6%) |
| - Operating margin |
22.5% (Dec 2023: 24.5%) |
| - Earnings per share |
down 8.1% to 488.6 cents |
| - Headline earnings per share |
down 4.6% to 489.2 cents |
| - Diluted headline earnings per share |
down 4.3% to 483.2 cents |
| - Cash generated from operations |
up to R3.3 billion* (Dec 2023: R2.7 billion) |
| - Net asset value per share |
up 21.9% |
| - Net cash |
up to R1.2 billion* (Dec 2023: net debt R124 million) |
| - Interim cash dividend per share |
down 4.5% to 317 cents |
| * Impacted by month-end payments falling after the period-end. |
In case you missed it!
The February issue of S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine
S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol91 No2 February 2025
IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Upfront
- R-CTFL Masterplan at a halt – for now, anyway, as government funding isn’t renewed.
- EU targets Shein as number of low value parcels more than doubles.
05 Export & Trade
- From crisis to catwalk: Can South Africa follow Portugal’s footsteps to save its footwear industry?
07 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- ‘De Minimis’ exemption removal – what it means for Shein, Temu & Amazon Haul.
- Top footwear resale trends 2024 – StockX report.
- Law firm files class action lawsuit against Crocs.
14 Noticeboard
- Obituary: Zelton Wiskin, an agent who loved to please, regardless of the consequences.
- Nostalgia: Hub Bijsterveld, cheese & wine after a career solving consumer complaints.
- History: British United Shoe Machinery – Harking back to the days of the great BUSM, by Barry Turner.
Advertisers in this Issue
Arena Trims (06), Berzack Brothers (04), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), Haesloop Agencies (08), Kaytex (10), Leather Finishing Products (13), Saddler Belts (OFC), SAFLEC (11), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (12), Shotland Packaging (15).
They Said It
"Take everything in your stride – or make like a dog – if you can’t eat it or play with it, poop on it, wipe your feet and walk away." - Very good advice I was given over the weekend by a wonderful person in the accounts department of one of our advertisers after I told her I had had a rough week. It’s amazing the relationships you can develop with people you’ve never met in the course of otherwise mundane email correspondence.
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
Thashnie Veramuthu, Operations Manager, Smiley's Footwear (PTY) Ltd, Durban, South Africa
Birthdays this week
04/03/1946: John Commins, retired, formerly Wayne Plastics, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
04/03/1971: Yahya Tayob, Ahmed Tayob cc, Polokwane / Pietersburg, Limpopo, SA.
04/03/1973: Gerrit Sander, GPS Agencies, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
04/03/1977: Regan Govender, Paragon Footwear, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
05/03/1937: Arnold Buckby, agent, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
05/03/1949: Tony Carnecky, retired, formerly Futura Footwear/Bata SA and Bata Kenya, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
05/03/1983: David Novos, Economic Shoes (closed), Paarl, W. Cape, SA.
05/03/1986: Muhammed Omar, Fashion Square, Durban, KZN, SA.
06/03/1963: Sunil Jethwa, The African Boot Co., Nairobi, Kenya.
06/03/1971: Sunil Bhagwandas, Ginger Bhagwandas, Durban, KZN, SA.
06/03/1976: Kevin Pillay, Alateens Bopsi Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
07/03/1960: Rafique Moosa, Cassim Moosa Bros. Trading, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
08/03/1956: Cedric Zoghby, Atlantic Protective Clothing, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
08/03/1958: Gary van Rooyen, Certo Sports, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
08/03/1962: Rajesh Kulwa, United Agencies, formerly Apeco, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
08/03/1966: Yamraj Deeplal, Foot Flair, Amanzimtoti, KZN, SA.
09/03/1967: PJ Moloisane, Trade & Investment SA, Sandton, Gauteng, SA.
09/03/1982: Romal Sewsunker, Sunstep Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
In memoriam this week
03/03/2003: Gerry Elder (b. 03/08/1928), agent, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
03/03/2010: Ernest Alfred ‘Basie’ Heunis (b. 17/05/1923), Silverton Tannery [closed], Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
06/03/1993: Brian Murphy, agent.
06/03/2011: Livio Sirilli (b. 06/04/1921), Sirilli Shoes [closed], Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
09/03/2016: David Opie (b. 11/01/1963), Hippo Bag & Screen [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
Wouter Joubert, who was correctly listed in the In Memoriam column, and then incorrectly in the birthdays, left TFG to join VF Corporation in June 2015. He was General Manager Commercialization and Production: The North Face/ALTRA at VF Corporation in Vietnam. In 2021 he died in a motorcycle accident in Vietnam. – Updated information provided by Jirka Vymĕtal.
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
Dilesh Dajee Agencies [Machiavelli Trading cc], Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
Footwear Infrastructure Systems cc, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
Gopal’s Bags & Luggage cc, Durban, KZN, SA.
Paris Belts [Paris Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd], Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
Reflex Footwear (Pty) Ltd, Maputsoe, Lesotho.
ST. Apparel, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
Stanhope Boot & Shoe Manufacturers (Pty) Ltd, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
The Footwear Design & Technology School of SA, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
 
Exchange rates
Note: For previous rates, see HERE
1. SA Rand (ZAR)/Lesotho Loti (LSL)/Namibian Dollar (NAD)/Swazi Lilangeni (SZL)
Source: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 04/01/2025 |
R19.31 |
R23.26 |
R18.72 |
R2.55 |
| 11/01/2025 |
R19.57 |
R23.32 |
R19.10 |
R2.60 |
| 18/01/2025 |
R19.25 |
R22.81 |
R18.73 |
R2.55 |
| 25/01/2025 |
R19.30 |
R22.95 |
R18.39 |
R2.53 |
| 01/02/2025 |
R19.35 |
R23.13 |
R18.67 |
R 2.57 |
| 08/02/2025 |
R19.01 |
R22.83 |
R18.40 |
R 2.52 |
| 15/02/2025 |
R19.25 |
R22.09 |
R18.35 |
R 2.52 |
| 22/02/2025 |
R19.20 |
R23.19 |
R18.35 |
R 2.53 |
| 01/03/2025 |
R19.38 |
R23.50 |
R18.68 |
R 2.56 |
2. Botswana Pula
Source: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 04/01/2025 |
14.39 |
17.33 |
13.95 |
1.90 |
| 11/01/2025 |
14.25 |
16.98 |
13.91 |
1.89 |
| 18/01/2025 |
14.39 |
17.05 |
14.00 |
1.91 |
| 25/01/2025 |
14.50 |
17.24 |
13.82 |
1.90 |
| 01/02/2025 |
14.41 |
17.23 |
13.90 |
1.91 |
| 08/02/2025 |
14.50 |
17.42 |
14.04 |
1.92 |
| 15/02/2025 |
14.51 |
17.41 |
13.83 |
1.90 |
| 22/02/2025 |
14.40 |
17.40 |
13.77 |
1.89 |
| 01/03/2025 |
14.29 |
17.32 |
13.77 |
1.89 |
3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK) (buying)
Source: https://www.rbm.mw/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
ZAR |
| 04/01/2025 |
1816.63 |
2191.92 |
1717.02 |
94.59 |
| 11/01/2025 |
1819.29 |
2171.58 |
1717.02 |
93.34 |
| 18/01/2025 |
1820.17 |
2159.73 |
1717.02 |
94.18 |
| 25/01/2025 |
1848.47 |
2193.86 |
1717.02 |
96.09 |
| 01/02/2025 |
1837.33 |
2196.51 |
1717.02 |
95.29 |
| 08/02/2025 |
1835.03 |
2197.40 |
1717.02 |
95.78 |
| 15/02/2025 |
1848.82 |
2119.86 |
1717.02 |
95.70 |
| 22/02/2025 |
1854.83 |
2238.78 |
1717.02 |
96.30 |
| 01/03/2025 |
1836.44 |
2224.46 |
1717.02 |
95.68 |
4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) (buying)
Source: https://www.boz.zm/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
ZAR |
| 04/01/2025 |
28.75 |
34.65 |
27.93 |
1.48 |
| 11/01/2025 |
28.66 |
34.25 |
27.81 |
1.46 |
| 18/01/2025 |
28.64 |
33.90 |
27.82 |
1.48 |
| 25/01/2025 |
29.15 |
34.54 |
27.84 |
1.51 |
| 01/02/2025 |
29.09 |
34.80 |
28.01 |
1.30 |
| 08/02/2025 |
29.13 |
34.94 |
28.07 |
1.52 |
| 15/02/2025 |
29.47 |
35.42 |
28.13 |
1.53 |
| 22/02/2025 |
29.58 |
35.73 |
28.26 |
1.53 |
| 01/03/2025 |
29.67 |
35.91 |
28.51 |
1.54 |
5. Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)
Source: Source: https://www.rbz.co.zw/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US$ |
ZAR |
| 04/01/2025 |
ZIG 26.52 |
ZIG 32.01 |
ZIG 25.82 |
ZIG 0.72 |
| 11/01/2025 |
ZIG 26.83 |
ZIG 32.03 |
ZIG 26.05 |
ZIG 0.72 |
| 18/01/2025 |
ZIG 27.03 |
ZIG 32.09 |
ZIG 26.26 |
ZIG 0.71 |
| 25/01/2025 |
ZIG 27.47 |
ZIG 32.58 |
ZIG 26.30 |
ZIG 0.70 |
| 01/02/2025 |
ZIG 27.38 |
ZIG 32.74 |
ZIG 26.36 |
ZIG 0.70 |
| 08/02/2025 |
ZIG 27.40 |
ZIG 32.81 |
ZIG 26.40 |
ZIG 0.69 |
| 15/02/2025 |
ZIG 27.62 |
ZIG 33.18 |
ZIG 26.43 |
ZIG 0.69 |
| 22/02/2025 |
ZIG 27.60 |
ZIG 33.33 |
ZIG 26.46 |
ZIG 0.69 |
| 01/03/2025 |
ZIG 27.59 |
ZIG 33.42 |
ZIG 26.56 |
ZIG 0.69 |
Note: For previous rates, see HERE
ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (27 February 2024) – The current average hide price decreased by 0.16% to R2.796/kg from R2.801/kg a week ago. The current price is 0.07% higher than the average price a month ago and was 14.8% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.75 Maximum price: R3.00. 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:
Gopal’s Shoe Repairs, Durban, KZN, SA. Shoe repairer.
Go Safe, Vredenburg and Cape Town, W. Cape, SA. PPE reseller.
THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!
Major fire at Berzacks KZN premises
After better than expected back-to-school, sales have plateaued
Truworths International Ltd: Unaudited group interim results
READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.10 No.10, March 04 2024
THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!
Retail so far this year
Ihlobo Footwear: Creditors' meeting date
Steinhoff 'continues to rebuild value'
SLTC Convention: List of speakers
READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.6 No.09, March 2, 2020
Contact us
News & Classifieds: Tony Dickson, +27 (0)31 209 7505, tony@svmag.co.za
Next newsletter: Monday 10 March, 2025. Ad and editorial deadline Friday 7 February.
SAFLIA enquiries: Tel 0800SAFLIA * Email info@saflia.co.za * Website http://www.saflia.co.za
Our website www.svmag.co.za
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