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S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.11 No.50, December 15 2025

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Retail Trading

Black Friday ‘a thing of the past’

Polokwane/Pietersburg, Limpopo, SA – December has started slowly, menswear retailer Siraj Rawat said on Saturday. His stores, Baggio, Instyle Fashions and Zone One, specialise in menswear.
     “At the moment it’s slow,” he said. “I expected it to pick up this weekend, but so far it hasn’t.”
     He said Black Friday had been a disappointment. “I think it’s a thing of the past. This year the last weekend of November was just normal month-end trading.”.

 

Cost of living hurts apparel sales

Kimberley, N. Cape, SA – The steep increase in the cost of living has affected clothing and footwear sales, Ace Outfitters proprietor Deshan Chetty said on Saturday. “There’s been a big drop off from last year,” he said. “I’m still trading reasonably well, but the prices of necessities are so high that there’s not much left for apparel. Markdowns are what you can sell. Black Friday was fine, but also down on last year.
     “I can’t tell you what the rest of the month will be like. There will of course be a Christmas rush, but aside from that, who knows?”
     Ace Outfitters sells men’s clothing and footwear.

 

‘Happy with trade so far’

Piet Retief, Mpumalanga, SA – After a good Black Friday weekend, December trading “has been steady so far”, Mohsin Badat, member of A.M. Badat cc, said on Saturday. “I hope it picks up, which it normally does from the 18th or so, but it’s not bad, I’m happy with trade so far,” he said.
     A.M. Badat sells men’s clothing and footwear, and women’s footwear.

 

+

Foreign investment

Mr Price buys 2 000-store European value retail chain

Durban, KZN, SA – Mr Price Group has bought the retail business of NKD, a cash-based value apparel and homeware retailer headquartered in Germany and operating 2108 stores in Central and Eastern Europe (Germany, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Poland), with more than 10 000 employees, for €487.00 million (approximately R9.66 billion).
     According to a release last week, NKD generated net sales of €684.57 million for the financial year ended 31 December 2024.
     “NKD has a clearly differentiated value positioning, targeting quality and price-conscious customers, with a predominantly private label range offering that serves the whole family and carries minimal fashion risk. NKD achieves sustainable profitability by operating smaller-format stores with an average store size of 300m². This model is enabled by reduced rental costs in smaller town locations and a lean approach to capital expenditure, labour and logistics. Their supply chain strength is enabled by superior sourcing and operational agility which has supported gross margin expansion.”
     Explaining its choice of acquisition, Mr Price said: “Since the launch of the Group’s new strategy in May 2021, guided by a new vision of becoming the most valuable retailer in Africa, the Group has made significant progress in executing its strategic growth plan. Over this five-year period, it has invested approximately R10 billion in capital expenditure and acquisitions, while returning R8.8 billion in dividends to shareholders.
     “Its three strategic acquisitions in South Africa now account for 29.3% of Group sales and have delivered R1.2 billion in operating profit in the financial year ended 31 March 2025. Its two organic concepts, Mr Price Kids and Mr Price Cellular, collectively delivered over R4 billion in sales in the same period. The Group has continued to demonstrate its ability to identify high growth opportunities and make capital allocation decisions, which result in long-term sustainable returns for shareholders.
     “During the same period of strategic execution, a second phase of research was initiated to identify opportunities that would drive the Group’s future growth endeavours. Research efforts focused on the evaluation of South Africa and other markets, relevant customer segments and operating models, and both organic and acquisitive growth opportunities. Following the diligent research process, apparel and homeware value retailing were confirmed as attractive investment opportunities for the Group. Market data indicates that the growth in the value retail market is outpacing that of the global total retail market, which aligns with the Group’s value-focused operating model.
     “In Europe, value retailing is growing at a significantly higher rate than the total market and now accounts for ~22% of the total retail market. NKD represents an opportunity that is strategically aligned with the Mr Price Group. It is a high-performing, value-focused business with a strong track record, has a skilled and committed management team who know the local market intimately, and has ample runway for further expansion in existing markets. It presents the Group with a platform for future growth due to the depth and skill of the management teams in both markets. Based on NKD’s latest annual financial information (31 December 2024), NKD’s inclusion would increase Mr Price Group’s latest annual revenue (31 March 2025) to approximately R53 billion, store numbers to more than 5,000 and employees to over 40,000.
     “Mr Price Group CEO, Mark Blair, said, ‘We have spent a considerable amount of time researching markets and assessing opportunities. We have been guided by our strict investment criteria which has given us clarity on our next phase of growth and enabled us to move quickly past opportunities that did not fit within our parameters. After meeting the NKD team, it was evident that this was the right business to pursue. Like us, they are value retailers at heart and have a very clear understanding of who their customer is and how to best serve them. They are ambitious and performance driven, which is a natural fit to the Mr Price Group culture.’
     “The CEO of NKD, Alexander Schmökel, will continue running the Business with his skilled and experienced management team, saying, ‘We are delighted to be joining forces with the Mr Price Group. We have a lot in common in terms of our value retailing approach and rich heritage in our respective markets. We are committed to delivering on our growth ambitions and we believe that this new era with the Mr Price Group will create significant value’.”

 

Noticeboard

Hi-Tec CEO leaves to ‘build own business'

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Hi-Tec Sports Distributors CEO Gary de Vogel has resigned “to tick one more box in my career to build and entrepreneur something from scratch”.
     After more than 10 years with Hi-Tec, 5 as CEO, he has acquired a Netherlands-based auditing and consulting firm which will be expanded to SA. He was in a similar field with Deloitte before joining Hi-Tec.
     “This was a very hard decision,” he said. “I do know I leave the business in very capable hands.”

 

Death notices

Durban, KZN, SABerrick Salmond, of Dr Rae Shoe Manufacturers and NR Footwear, died on 06 December, aged 75.

Durban, KZN, SARolf Oltmanns, former MD and chairman of the PMC Group, died unexpectedly on Friday, aged 81.

Obituaries for both will be carried in the January 2026 edition of S&V Footwear & Leather Goods.

 

In case you missed it!

The November issue of S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine

S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol91 No11 November 2025

IN THIS ISSUE:

03 Upfront
- ‘We can grow this industry’ – new SAFLIA director Zamani Oliphant brings a strong legal and business background.
- Bolton Footwear: A welcome return to range launches.
- Pure Endurance Solutions to launch 361°running shoe brand in SA.
- Pietermaritzburg retailer Modway voted ‘best shoe store’ in its area.

10 The Industry of the Future
- Portugal is a success story in footwear exporting, and it aims to stay that way. Part of its strategy is to make its shoe factories ‘agile, intelligent, sustainable, and technological’.

22 Noticeboard
- Obituary: C. Lionel Astill, former MD of Apeco, was a marketing genius and a language dictator, by Hugo Zuanni of Leather Link. He was born in a mortuary, and was forever marked as different, says his daughter, Kaye Durant.

25 Statistics
- Preliminary trade statistics October 2025



Advertisers in this Issue
Arena Trims (05), East Asian Import & Export (10), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), Haesloop Agencies (20), iSync Solutions (04), Kaytex Belts (12), Leather Finishing Products (14), Palm Footwear/Trustees (OFC), Saddler Belts (08), SAFLEC (17), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (11), Shotland Packaging (24), Vandan Engineering (16).
 

 

 

They Said It

"January is the best selling period for specialist running retailers – it’s the start of the running season, coupled with back-to-school, and, of course, all those New Year resolutions." - Jax Snyman, The Sweat Shop, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.

 

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

Teddy Moodley, Shoe Technician & QC, Dangee Carken, Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa
Thashnie Veramuthu, Operations Manager, Smiley's Footwear (PTY) Ltd, Durban, South Africa
Sipho, Senior Planner, Takelot, Cape Town, South Africa
Adriaan Croucamp, Auditor, Defcon Protec, Pretoria, South Africa

 

Birthdays this week

15/12/1973: Charl Lucas, Springbok Skoeisel, Springbok, N. Cape, SA.
15/12/1975: Sabrina van Rooyen, Van Hobs Dry Cleaners, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
15/12/1983: David Fox, Good Hope Sales, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
16/12/1939: Danny Pincus, agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
17/12/1972: Iqbal Abdulla, Studio 88, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
18/12/1978: Hassive Magaña Maya, Spanish Commercial Office, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
19/12/1959: Yegan Pillai, left the industry, formerly Michelle Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
19/12/1944: Hoosen Patel, Spectrum group (closed), Durban, KZN, SA.
20/12/1957: Michael Ngwenya, NULAW, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
20/12/1976: Zamo Mkhize, left the industry, formerly Nicole Footwear (closed), Durban, KZN, SA.
20/12/1984: Carl Prinsloo, Allied Agencies, Westville, KZN, SA.
21/12/1942: Allan Kushner, retired, formerly Shoe Fayre, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
21/12/1963: Trevor Capell, ? Hilton, KZN, SA.

 

In memoriam this week

16/12/2021: Chris Bezuidenhout (b. 11 December 1951), The Cross Trainer, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
17/12/2020: André van der Merwe (b. 03/10/1969), Oasis Tanning, Krugersdorp, Gauteng, SA.
17/12/2023: Cecil Fenwick (b. 09/07/1942), Saddler Belts & Leathercraft, Durban, KZN, SA.
18/12/2003: Ben Stoltzman (b. 03.05/1933), Vogue Shoes/Sportshoe SA (closed), Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
19/12/2022: Reg Hattingh (b. 12/01/1936), 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

A.M. Badat cc, Piet Retief, Mpumalanga, SA.
Ace Outfitters, Kimberley, N. Cape, SA.
Baggio/Instyle Trading/Zone One (Mykatrade 263 cc), Polokwane/Pietersburg, Limpopo, SA.

 

Fairs & events updated last week – see calendar for details

17-19/11/2026: Global Sourcing Expo Australia, Melbourne, Australia.

 

 

 

 

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 ¥
05/07/2025 R20.70 R24.00 R17.58 R 2.45
12/07/2025 R20.93 R24.18 R17.90 R 2.49
19/07/2025 R20.60 R23.78 R17.72 R 2.46
28/07/2025 R20.82 R23.90 R17.81 R 2.48
04/08/2025 R20.79 R23.87 R17.98 R 2.50
09/08/2025 R20.62 R23.85 R17.74 R 2.49
17/08/2025 R20.59 R23.85 R17.60 R 2.45
24/08/2025 R20.44 R23.55 R17.43 R 2.43
30/08/2025 R20.62 R23.83 R17.65 R 2.47
06/09/2025 R20.59 R23.70 R17.57 R 2.46
13/09/2025 R20.38 R23.54 R17.37 R 2.43
20/09/2025 R20.36 R23.38 R17.33 R 2.43
27/09/2025 R20.30 R23.23 R17.34 R 2.43
04/10/2025 R20.21 R23.20 R17.22 R 2.41
11/10/2025 R20.26 R23.32 R17.46 R 2.44
20/10/2025 R20.19 R23.22 R17.31 R 2.43
25/10/2025 R20.10 R23.00 R17.25 R 2.42
01/11/2025 R20.06 R22.78 R17.32 R 2.43
08/11/2025 R20.02 R22.77 R17.30 R 2.43
14/11/2025 R19.89 R22.53 R17.12 R 2.41
22/11/2025 R19.99 R22.74 R17.37 R 2.44
29/11/2025 R19.86 R22.68 R17.13 R 2.42
06/12/2025 R19.70 R22.57 R16.92 R 2.39
13/12/2025 R19.76 R22.55 R16.84 R 2.38
 


2. Botswana Pula

Source: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator/

 
  Euro € GBP £ US $ CNY ¥
05/07/2025 15.58 18.07 13.23 1.84
12/07/2025 14.77 17.07 12.64 1.76
19/07/2025 16.22 18.72 13.95 1.94
28/07/2025 15.81 18.16 13.53 1.88
04/08/2025 15.75 18.09 13.62 1.89
09/08/2025 16.58 19.17 14.26 1.98
17/08/2025 16.57 19.22 14.18 1.97
24/08/2025 16.89 19.45 14.40 2.01
30/08/2025 16.78 19.40 14.36 2.01
06/09/2025 16.45 18.93 14.04 1.96
13/09/2025 16.67 19.26 14.21 1.99
20/09/2025 16.63 19.10 14.16 1.99
27/09/2025 15.68 17.94 13.40 1.87
04/10/2025 16.58 19.03 14.12 1.98
11/10/2025 16.41 18.89 14.14 1.98
20/10/2025 16.57 19.06 14.21 1.99
25/10/2025 16.40 18.77 14.08 1.97
01/11/2025 16.55 18.80 14.29 2.01
08/11/2025 16.60 18.87 14.34 2.01
14/11/2025 16.18 18.33 13.96 1.96
22/11/2025 15.31 17.41 13.30 1.87
29/11/2025 16.57 18.92 14.29 2.01
06/12/2025 15.43 17.67 13.25 1.87
13/12/2025 15.54 17.74 13.25 1.87


3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK) (buying)

Source: https://www.rbm.mw/

 
  Euro € GBP £ US $ ZAR
05/07/2025 2082.80 2416.70 1717.02 100.70
12/07/2025 2065.11 2393.71 1717.02 99.44
19/07/2025 2054.50 2372.84 1717.02 99.43
28/07/2025 2072.89 2372.13 1717.02 99.60
04/08/2025 2043.89 2346.49 1717.02 98.34
09/08/2025 2059.63 2374.43 1717.02 99.76
17/08/2025 2063.52 2395.47 1717.02 100.69
24/08/2025 2050.79 2370.89 1717.02 99.83
30/08/2025 2062.64 2386.46 1717.02 99.78
06/09/2025 2064.05 2381.33 1717.02 99.85
13/09/2025 2074.13 2396.36 1717.02 101.76
20/09/2025 2082.09 2388.75 1717.02 101.85
27/09/2025 2065.29 2361.70 1717.02 101.40
04/10/2025 2072.36 2375.84 1717.02 102.32
11/10/2025 2046.37 2350.20 1717.02 102.44
20/10/2025 Not available this morning
25/10/2025 2052.20 2355.86 1717.02 102.09
01/11/2025 2046.37 2326.15 1717.02 102.32
08/11/2025 2039.47 2319.07 1717.02 101.85
14/11/2025 2058.39 2325.62 1717.02 103.72
22/11/2025 2041.06 2314.65 1717.02 102.54
29/11/2025 2048.49 2336.76 1717.02 103.04
06/12/2025 2061.93 2360.63 1717.02 104.35
13/12/2025 2075.72 2368.42 1717.02 104.97


4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) (buying)

Source: https://www.boz.zm/

 
  Euro € GBP £ US $ ZAR
05/07/2025 28.57 33.11 24.25 1.37
12/07/2025 27.16 31.38 23.24 1.29
19/07/2025 26.77 30.91 22.95 1.29
28/07/2025 27.37 31.38 23.36 1.31
04/08/2025 Website would not open this morning
09/08/2025 27.01 31.13 23.18 1.30
17/08/2025 27.13 31.48 23.21 1.31
24/08/2025 26.97 31.16 23.22 1.31
30/08/2025 27.47 31.69 23.55 1.32
06/09/2025 28.03 32.32 23.87 1.36
13/09/2025 27.88 32.25 23.81 1.36
20/09/2025 27.79 32.85 23.62 1.35
27/09/2025 27.79 31.82 23.77 1.36
04/10/2025 27.90 31.98 23.77 1.37
11/10/2025 26.22 30.10 22.66 1.31
20/10/2025 26.44 30.37 22.65 1.30
25/10/2025 25.81 29.69 22.25 1.28
01/11/2025 25.62 29.06 22.17 1.27
08/11/2025 26.20 29.73 22.66 1.30
14/11/2025 26.25 29.67 22.54 1.31
22/11/2025 26.47 30.06 22.98 1.32
29/11/2025 26.53 30.32 22.94 1.33
06/12/2025 26.84 30.76 23.05 1.36
13/12/2025 26.94 30.73 22.97 1.36



5. Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)

Source: Source: https://www.rbz.co.zw/

 
  Euro € GBP £ US$ ZAR
05/07/2025 ZIG 31.68 ZIG 36.78 ZIG 26.89 ZIG 0.65
12/07/2025 ZIG 31.35 ZIG 36.40 ZIG 26.83 ZIG 0.66
19/07/2025 ZIG 31.13 ZIG 35.96 ZIG 26.80 ZIG 0.66
28/07/2025 ZIG 31.45 ZIG 35.98 ZIG 26.79 ZIG 0.66
04/08/2025 ZIG 31.02 ZIG 35.58 ZIG 26.79 ZIG 0.67
04/08/2025 Website would not open on Saturday
17/08/2025 ZIG 31.17 ZIG 36.22 ZIG 26.78 ZIG 0.66
24/08/2025 ZIG 30.99 ZIG 35.83 ZIG 26.75 ZIG 0.66
30/08/2025 ZIG 31.20 ZIG 36.10 ZIG 26.75 ZIG 0.66
06/09/2025 ZIG 31.17 ZIG 35.93 ZIG 26.71 ZIG 0.66
13/09/2025 ZIG 31.35 ZIG 36.23 ZIG 26.72 ZIG 0.65
20/09/2025 ZIG 31.28 ZIG 35.99 ZIG 26.56 ZIG 0.65
27/09/2025 ZIG 31.03 ZIG 35.48 ZIG 26.57 ZIG 0.65
04/10/2025 ZIG 31.23 ZIG 35.81 ZIG 26.65 ZIG 0.64
11/10/2025 ZIG 30.91 ZIG 35.55 ZIG 26.71 ZIG 0.64
20/10/2025 ZIG 31.06 ZIG 35.76 ZIG 26.61 ZIG 0.65
25/10/2025 ZIG 30.77 ZIG 35.30 ZIG 26.51 ZIG 0.65
01/11/2025 ZIG 30.52 ZIG 34.69 ZIG 26.38 ZIG 0.65
08/11/2025 ZIG 30.44 ZIG 34.62 ZIG 26.38 ZIG 0.65
14/11/2025 ZIG 30.66 ZIG 34.62 ZIG 26.33 ZIG 0.64
22/11/2025 ZIG 30.37 ZIG 34.46 ZIG 26.32 ZIG 0.65
29/11/2025 ZIG 30.34 ZIG 34.66 ZIG 26.19 ZIG 0.65
06/12/2025 ZIG 30.46 ZIG 34.87 ZIG 26.13 ZIG 0.64
13/12/2025 ZIG 30.63 ZIG 34.96 ZIG 26.10 ZIG 0.64
 

Note: For previous rates, see HERE

 

 

 

ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (12 December 2025) – The current average hide price decreased by 0.25% to R2.322/kg from R2.328/kg a week ago. The current price is 0.09% higher than the average price a month ago and was 17.2% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.25 Maximum price: R2.81. 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:

Industri Tools & Equipment (Pty) Ltd, Germiston, Gauteng, SA. PPE reseller.
Industrial Development Corporation of SA, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA. State-owned investor.

 

THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!

December retail: Still waiting for upturn

Exotics: A correction, not a downturn

Services offered

Childhood cancer and Flip Flop Day – an opportunity for promotion and to help?

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.10 No.51, December 16 2024

 

THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!

Business
- Botswana
-- Morongwa: Turnover down, but predicting a better year

- Namibia
-- Fabulous House of Fashion: Dare to be different

- South Africa
-- Shutique: The feet aren't there
-- Shoes & Do's: Called it quits

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.6 No.50, Dec 14, 2020

 

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

All the past S&V Weekly Newsletters from January 2016 onwards are available in the newsletter archive.
VIEW THE ARCHIVE - CLICK HERE

 

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: Monday 22 December, 2025. Ad and editorial deadline Friday 19 December.

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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