S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol. 12 No. 24, June 15 2026

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Exhibitors ‘satisfied’ with Comrades Expo

The composition of exhibitors at sporting events is evolving. At the Comrades Expo last week, there were 4 sock brands and just 1 shoe brand. All agreed it had been a successful show.

Francois Theron, CEO, Soxfootwear
This was our 4th exhibition.
     I was glad to that all the sock brands were there, even though it meant there was more competition.
     There was a great mix of local and foreign customers. We sold socks from our international range to, for example, Brazilian runners.
     I think runners are paying more attention to socks, and that the evolution of running shoes has been paralleled by developments in technical socks to handle moisture management.


Koos la Cock, marketing & events coordinator, Falke Eurosocks
Last year was our first year back at Comrades Expo since covid, and this year we had more visitors and did more business. We launched new compression styles, and we also used it as a platform to launch our new endurance crew length and anklet running socks.
     All the major sock brands exhibit, so everyone has to be at the top of their game. Falke’s unique strength is offering 4 sizes, and designing socks for specific functions. In running, that covers road and trail running, over short and long distances.
     We also exhibit at the Cape Town Cycle Tour, 2 Oceans, and Cape Town Marathon. Comrades is the only one outside of the Western Cape, and we use it to reach out to customers in Gauteng, which is the biggest market, and KZN.


Joshua Stadler, national sales manager, Implus Africa (Balega)
Runners are definitely paying more attention to what socks they wear, and many runners are loyal to certain sock brands, as they are with footwear brands.
     Running specialist stores focus on socks as they do footwear, as they understand that good technical running apparel is as important as your running shoes when trying to avoid blisters.
     However, I believe there are more sock brands than footwear brands at expos due to the fact that a runner is more likely to purchase and run in new pair of their favourite running socks than a new pair of running shoes.
     There has been a spike in the amount of running sock brands in the market over the past few years, however competition is healthy and it ensures you continue to innovate and launch newness into the market which is a great benefit to the runner.

 

Wage negotiations

Footwear, Tanning, remain unresolved

Durban, KZN, SA – 2 of the 3 sectors in the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of SA (NBCLI) have not reached agreement on wage increases.
In the Footwear Sector, mediation last week failed, and Ilhaam Ryneveld, NBCLI general secretary, said the “only thing I can confirm is that the parties have not reached an agreement”.
     Similarly, the Tanning Sector also remains unresolved, and the NBCLI is waiting for the parties to agree on a date for mediation.
     In the General Goods & Handbags Section, the parties have successfully concluded negotiations and agreed to a one‑year agreement. The settlement provides for a 5% across‑the‑board increase applicable to all prescribed occupations, together with the inclusion of parents’ illness under family responsibility leave.

Death notice

Durban, KZN, SA – Elwyn Haskins, who worked as a designer for Nugshoe and Hopewell Footwear and who also owned his own factory, El Caro Shoes, died last Thursday after a long illness. An obituary will follow.

They Said It

“Question: Are we as consumers to blame for the loss of production in our country? The footwear and clothing industries have lost thousands of jobs due to foreign trade. Now the motor vehicle industry is losing its workforce.  Which makes more sense? Employing foreign workers or bringing in foreign items? Just a thought! This industry will remain very close to my heart.” - Brian R. Zyster, retired shoemaker, Cape Town, W. Cape, 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

Jean Baptiste Ndanguza, Standards Officer, RSB, Kigali, Rwanda
Ruxshon Jahongirovna, Student, Samarqand, Uzbekistan
Kevin Pillay, Manager, Neptun Boot, Durban, South Africa
Marliz, Chemical Manager, Brits Leathers, Brits, South Africa

Birthdays this week

15/06/1945: James Cragg, agent, East London, E. Cape, SA.
15/06/1947: Stuart Cox, agent, Bloemfontein, Free State, SA.
16/06/1945: Yusuf Kadwa, retired, formerly May’s Shoes, Durban, KZN, SA.
16/06/1963: Deepak Dayal, Deluxe Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
16/06/1965: Tersia Wessels, retired, formerly Crocs SA, Somerset West, W. Cape, SA.
16/06/1973: Sue Meehan, left the industry, formerly Saddler Belt and Mantella Q Leather, Durban, KZN, SA.
16/06/1985: Chris Stottelaar, Leather Systems, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
16/06/1960: Jaywant Irkhede, retired, formerly the DTIC, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
17/06/1973: Alfredo de Oliveira, Fashion Fever, Welkom, Free State, SA.
17/06/1988: Deshan Chetty, Ace Outfitters, Kimberley, N. Cape, SA.
18/06/1933: Erich Debus, retired, formerly Richleigh Shoes (closed), Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
19/06/1979: Sumen Naicker, Fusion Footwear, Springs, Gauteng, SA.
19/06/1969: Monica Frank, formerly Labora Shoes, Durban, KZN, SA.
20/06/1964: Vasie Poken, Rathgar Falls Trading (Pty) Ltd, Durban, KZN, SA.
20/06/????: Patricia Khumalo, the DTIC, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
21/06/1962: Carl Brinkmann, agent, Windhoek, Namibia.
21/06/1969: Du Toit Kruger, Cape Karoo International, Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, SA.

In memoriam this week

17/06/1994: Roy Inggs (b. 18/06/1932), Inggs Shoe Stores (closed), Roodepoort/Florida, Gauteng, SA.
17/06/2021: Cornelius 'Con' Barnard (b. 01/02/1934), Stanhope Boot & Shoe, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
19/06/2021: Hennie du Plessis (b. 06/01/1942), Strassberger Shoes, Clanwilliam, W. Cape, SA.
21/06/1992: Jonathan Greenblatt, Richleigh Shoes (closed), 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.

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 (12 June 2026) - The current average hide price increased by 0.15% to R2.263/kg from R2.260/kg, in the previous week. The current price is 0.15% higher than the average price a month ago and was 8.4% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.00 Maximum price: R2.83. 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:

JB Sports, Gaborone, Botswana. Apparel retailer.
JCP Leathers, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA. Sheepskin slipper manufacturer.

THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!

Trading conditions: Not so bad in the Eastern Cape

Wage negotiations: General Goods & Handbags settles

Allfashion Sourcing Cape Town 2025

Change: Vic de Villiers has sold Duke’s Outfitters to Ali Ahmed.

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

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.11 No.24, June 17 2025

THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!

After months of rumours, it's official: IDC pulls plug on FLIC

Industrial Footwear: Cattell's: Erratic, but volumes still there

Sportswear: Somerset Sports: Learning to live with the lesser brands

Men's outfitters: Thiel's: Covid carelessness a danger

Stock Exchange News Services (SENS): TFG final results March 2021

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.7 No.24, June 14 2021

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

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

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

Next newsletter: Monday 22 June, 2026. Ad and editorial deadline Friday 19 June 2026.

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