S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.11 No.18, May 05 2025

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U.S. footwear industry urges Trump to exempt shoes from harmful tariffs

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA (01 May 2025)  – The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), alongside more than 80 leading U.S. footwear companies, sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to exempt footwear from the administration’s new reciprocal tariffs.
     The letter warns that without swift relief, the tariffs could force hundreds of businesses to close, eliminate tens of thousands of jobs, and drive up costs for hardworking American families.
     “Our industry is uniquely vulnerable,” the letter states. “With some of the highest tariff rates already in place—especially on children’s and low-cost shoes—these new tariffs are simply unsustainable. They won’t bring manufacturing back, but they will hurt families at the register.”
     The letter includes strong support from major brands like Nike, adidas, Skechers, Steve Madden, and Under Armour, among others. FDRA calls on the administration to act quickly and remove footwear from the tariff list to avoid severe economic consequences for workers and consumers.
     Read the full letter here: FDRA Letter to President Trump – April 2025

Running shoes continue to drive sales in Q1 despite overall footwear slowdown

Overall, U.S. footwear industry sales in Q1 totalled $19.3 billion, a decline of 4% from last year.

Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 01 May 2025
Running shoes continued to dominate in the first quarter of 2025 despite an overall slowdown of sales in the period.
     According to new data from Circana’s Consumer Tracking Service, sport lifestyle, or athleisure sneakers, remained the largest footwear segment and grew almost 1% overall for the quarter. Running shoe sales grew 7% in Q1 and generated the most incremental dollar growth versus last year.
     Overall, Circana noted that the performance category outperformed the total market, with dollar sales up 4%. In addition to running, walking sneakers were strong, as well, growing double-digits based on both dollar and unit sales.
     On the flip side, the fashion shoe category continued to slide, with sales dropping 9% in Q1. However, Circana said that growth within fashion stemmed from some smaller segments such as high shaft boots, flats, and ballerina. In addition, boat shoes grew for the first time in about 10 years, driven by new fashion interpretations in women’s. Slipper sales also increased by 10%.
     These numbers come as Circana found that U.S. footwear industry sales totaled $19.3 billion, a decline of 4% versus the same period last year.
     Beth Goldstein, footwear and accessories advisor at Circana, said in a statement that while shoe sales slowed in Q1, demand remained strong for certain product categories, including running and sport lifestyle, as well as select fashion styles that provide comfort and versatility.
     “The upcoming months are likely to test the limits of consumers’ wallets, but these results are an indicator of the types of footwear that consumers will continue to prioritize,” Goldstein said.
     This new data comes one day after AlixPartners revealed a whopping number of shoppers who are walking away from footwear purchases due to high costs. “Price is top of mind for consumers shopping for shoes, with 78% saying they have walked away from a shoe purchase due to cost, up 12 percentage points from last year,” the report’s authors said.
     Shoppers in the survey said they are planning to reduce their spending on all shoe categories this year: shoes/boots (down 29%); fashion/dress footwear (down 26%); athleisure/multiactivity shoes (17%); and casual shoes (down 16%).

Durban fair delayed

Aflex 2025, which was scheduled to be held in Durban in July, has been postponed to November or December, according to the Dubai-based organiser, Verifair. An update is expected this month. More details in the trade fair calendar.

They Said It

"He’s a spoilt brat and hen pecked." - A contributor to my matric WhatsApp group, referring to Prince Harry. I would have thought they were mutually exclusive terms, but I do feel for the rest of the family.

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

05/05/1963: Pradeep M Bhoola, Hardy's Outfitters, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
05/05/1967: Vernon Lotter, Comfy Feet Shoes, Jeffery’s Bay, E. Cape, SA.
06/05/1932: Yusuf Sayanvala, Westgate Wholesalers, Brits, N.W. Province, SA.
06/05/1979: Stelio Krystallidis, K-West/Fashion Trims, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
07/05/1947: Mike Rolfe, retired, formerly Barker Footwear, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
07/05/1955: Mark Tovey, retired, formerly Global Golf, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
07/05/1956: Mahomed Vahed, All Shoes & Luggage, Estcourt, KZN, SA.
07/05/????: Gerard Aarnikhof, formerly Angels Shoes, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
08/05/1950: David Boast, retired, formerly African Hide Trading, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
08/05/1956: Jeff Human, John Whittle Components, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
08/05/1965: Theo Koutsoudis, Action Sports, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
09/05/1949: Mike Millar, retired, formerly MRM Agencies, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
09/05/1955: Jill Fraser, Claw Boot International, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
09/05/1960: Rodney Reynders left the industry, Durban, KZN, SA.
09/05/1963: Don Tully left the industry, formerly Groundcover Leather Company, Curry’s Post, KZN, SA.
09/05/????: Sarie de Wet, KKI Leather Marketing, Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, SA.
10/05/1950: Brian Da Costa, agent, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
10/05/1971: Ashraf Kathrada, Catz, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
11/05/1945: David Maisey, emigrated to the UK, formerly Brondean Agencies, Port Elizabeth, E Cape, SA.
11/05/1973: Shaun Bucktaraj, Palm Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.

In memoriam this week

05/05/2001: Raj Kallichurum (b. 23/02/1954), Shoe Component Supplies, KwaDukuza, KZN, SA.
06/05/2016: Herbert Lohmeier (b. 25/11/1954), H. Lohmeier Men’s Outfitters, Swakopmund, Namibia.
06/05/2018: Tony Bradshaw (b. 22/06/1952), left the industry, formerly Jack & Jill [closed], Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
06/05/2022: André Otto (b. 17/05/1951), retired, formerly Bata Shoes/Futura Footwear, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
08/05/2010: Bob Hunter (b. 18/11/1938), footwear agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
08/05/2018: Peter Jönsson (b. 01/04/1967), formerly TFL SA and others, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
10/05/2011: Albino Rodrigues De Oliveira (b. 09/01/1944), Andreoli Shoes/Giorgio Marelli/Sabrina Shoes [all closed], Durban.

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

African Hide Trading (Pty) Ltd, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
Cape Produce Co. (Pty) Ltd, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
Hides of Africa, Lion’s River, KZN, SA.
Leather by Dori (Pvt) Ltd, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Nakara Leather Tanning & Processing (Pty) Ltd, Windhoek, Namibia.

Fairs & events updated last week

06-08 September 2025: Who’s Next & Bijorhca, Paris, France.

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 (02 May 2025) – The current average hide price decreased by 0.05% to R3.004/kg from R3.006/kg a week ago. The current price is 7.87% higher than the average price a month ago and was 6.8% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R3.00 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, 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:

Haly’s Fashion, Durban, KZN, SA. Men’s and women’s clothing ad footwear.
Handbag & Luggage Centre, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA. Handbag and luggage retailer.

THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!

Dangee Carken to launch safety range

4Tify Africa resurrection bid withdrawn

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.10 No.19, May 6 2024

THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!

Limited restart for footwear manufacturing and retail, no word yet on leather goods, more leeway for tanning industry

Harvest outlook impressive and raises hope for agriculture sector rebound

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.6 No.18, May 1, 2020

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: Monday 12 May, 2025. Ad and editorial deadline Friday 9 May.

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

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