Newsletter No 14 /25 April 2025
Click on any ad to go to the advertisers website
To agents, manufacturers, distributors & wholesalers. Please upgrade your 1 line listing to a business listing at least. The Sourcing Directory and Newsletter is dependent on industry support and your business listing offers potential clients more information about your company, products, branches, agents etc.
The cost of a business listing for the entire year is only R1400.
To add a logo is an additional R440. carla@newsbriefs.co.za
Retail sales growth slows in March amid economic uncertainty
by Nompilo Goba
Picture: Reuters/Mark Makela
Annual rate slows to 3.9% in February from 7% in January while monthly sales slipped 1.3%
Retail sales rose 3.9% year on year in February, according to data published by Stats SA on Wednesday, though economists cautioned that a 1.3% decline when compared to a month earlier indicated growing pressure on consumers and an uncertain economic environment.
The biggest boosts annually came from textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods which increased by 15.7% year on year and contributed 2.3 percentage points to overall growth.
General dealers saw an increase of 3.4%, contributing 1.6 percentage points.
However, on a monthly basis, seasonally adjusted retail sales dropped 1.3% after a 0.7% increase in January and no change in December 2024, Stats SA said.
Still, retail trade sales increased by 4.4% in the three months ending February 2025 compared to the same period a year earlier. Again, clothing and footwear retailers led the way with a 10% increase, contributing 1.9 percentage points, followed by general dealers at 4.1%.
Retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods were also the top contributors to seasonally adjusted sales growth over the last three months rising 4.6% and adding 0.8 percentage points, said Stats SA.
Standard Bank economist Shireen Darmalingam said the slower annual pace of growth and the monthly decline pointed to mounting pressure on consumers amid an uncertain economic environment.
She said the annual consumption recovery had been supported by easing inflation and interest rate relief which aided credit growth and spending but risks have since escalated due to external shocks such as the US’s sweeping trade tariffs and the prospect of an increase in VAT locally.
The latter two developments have led to an upward revision in inflation forecasts and a delay in a further interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank, Darmalingam said.
“Despite upside risks, inflation is expected to remain within the Bank’s 3-6% target range. We are postponing the final 25 basis point interest rate cut that we foresee in this cycle to the July MPC [Monetary Policy Committee] meeting, given the current risks to inflation and economic growth from tariffs.”
With the Easter holidays approaching FNB expects a further boost in consumer spending, especially in categories such as accommodation, flights, fuel, hardware and clothing. The bank forecasts growth of more than 8% over Easter compared to the same period a year earlier, when spending rose by 7.41% year on year.
FNB also highlighted a major shift in payments over the course of 2024, with online spending rising 47.1% year on year compared to 24.2% growth in in-store spending. Physical card payments dropped by 10.88%, while virtual card payments surged 90.12% just before Easter and by 134% at the holiday peak, the bank said.
“Our customers’ transactional safety both online and in-store is a key concern for us. With Easter being a high-frequency travel and shopping period, our innovative FNB virtual card will be a critical payment method to ensure safe and secured transactions over this time,” said Senzo Nsibande, the bank’s credit card and card platform CEO.
“Our data shows that our customers have come to value the convenience and safety of the FNB Virtual Card and we truly believe that the unprecedented growth that we continue to see in the virtual cards space is testament to the fact that our customers know that they can trust us and our platform as they conveniently transact both in-store and online.” 
Gucci’s Art of Silk
Keep It Gucci: The Art of Silk, a new campaign featuring actress Julia Garner Image: Steven Meisel
The house’s latest project celebrates its heritage, artistic innovation and cultural legacy
Gucci’s The Art of Silk campaign and project celebrates the house’s storied legacy in silk craftsmanship and forges new paths in artistic innovation. Marrying decades of history with contemporary creative expression, the initiative sees the evolution of Gucci’s silk scarves — from their inception in the 1950s to their current reinterpretation in fashion and art.
The tribute includes Keep It Gucci: The Art of Silk, a new campaign featuring actress Julia Garner, oozing with the timeless elegance of silk in Gucci’s iconic Flora motif, and captured by photographer Steven Meisel.
There’s the 90×90 initiative, which invited nine international artists to reinterpret five selected themes rooted in Gucci’s historical archive — flora, fauna, nautical, equestrian and GG Monogram.
Gucci’s Art of Silk on the runway SS25 Image: Gucci
The artists Robert Barry, Everett Glenn, Sara Leghissa, Currynew, Jonny Niesche, Gio Pastori, Walter Petrone, Yu Cai, and Inji Seo bring individual viewpoints and approaches with witty, emotional and beautiful interpretations. Blurring the lines between pop, fine art and fashion, the scarves of 90 x 90 are mini masterpieces.
Additionally, Gucci: The Art of Silk, a book created in collaboration with Assouline, traces the rich history and artistry behind Gucci’s silk scarves, solidifying their place in fashion’s cultural narrative. Curated by Jo-Ann Furniss and featuring contributions from renowned authors such as Jennifer Sliwka and Christopher Wallace, the book provides detailed stories spanning decades of Gucci’s silk creations. It will be distributed through Gucci.com, the Assouline website, Assouline bookstores, and select Gucci stores worldwide. 
Advanced protection for hazardous electrical environment
Photo by BMG
Safety first BMG’s range of Dromex workwear and PPE includes dependable arc protection products that have been developed through consultation with experts, the testing of fabric combinations and work with world-leading testing facilities
Critical for use near utilities’ generators and substations as well as industrial electrical panels and switch rooms, Dromex arc workwear forms an important part of industrial equipment and services supplier BMGs tool and equipment division’s comprehensive personal protective equipment (PPE) range.
BMG tools and equipment division business unit manager Andrew Johns advises customers to ensure that chosen workwear and PPE offers adequate protection for specific applications as every environment poses different safety challenges; correct product selection is crucial.
“Before selecting arc workwear and PPE for use in hazardous industries, where second- and third-degree burns can occur, it is important that an arc assessment is conducted. Once the arc hazard has been determined, the correct level of protection can be selected.”
Johns further explains that an arc flash – which can reach temperatures up to 20 000 °C – is a potentially fatal explosion of extreme light and radiant heat, as a result of a short circuit on an electrical panel.
This flash can be caused by dust, dropping tools, condensation, corrosion or a faulty installation..
In addition to second- and third-degree burns from the extreme heat of the blast, other possible injuries include burns from airborne molten metal, metal oxides and vapourised copper; concussion and head injuries; hearing impairment; damaged eyesight; and death. Additionally, it could cause a fire in the surrounding work areas.
“Because injuries in these dangerous working conditions can be fatal, we believe it is essential that all selected workwear and PPE undergo relevant testing,” explains Johns.
Moreover, tests should include fabric and garment analysis and be supported by official certification, giving employees the assurance that adequate protection will be provided.
BMG’s’s range of Dromex workwear and PPE includes dependable arc protection products that have been developed through consultation with experts, the testing of fabric combinations and work with world-leading testing facilities.
Johns says the range includes a head-to-toe PPE solution that is light weight, comfortable and provides the highest level of protection against an arc flash.
The Dromex arc workwear is locally manufactured, using Dromex Arc Protection Technologies (A.P.T.TM) fabric. These products – which include 55 Cal and 15 Cal garments, as well as arc gloves, footwear and visors – are certified to stringent local and international standards.
Johns notes that this certification gives the assurance of optimum protection in dangerous working environments where arc burns are a risk.
Designed for comfort and safety, BMG’s Dromex range has many important features including an inherent flame-retardant (FR) thread, triple needle stitched seams, transfer print and embroidery logos, FR velcro and double needle-stitched FR reflective tape.
The Dromex A.P.T.TM FR cotton fabric has passed “Red Metal” testing, which offers additional bodily protection from molten metal, vapourised copper and metal oxides up to 1 400 °C.
Johns explains that, in conventional testing, garments that are tested for flammability against the NFPA 2112 standard have been washed 100 times; the Dromex A.P.T.TM fabrics have been tested against the NFPA 2112 standard and excelled after 200 washes.
However, the service life of an arc garment is dependent on many factors, including careful wash care, storage between use and wear and tear during use.
Specialists recommend that if a worker is exposed to an arc flash incident, the workwear and PPE needs to be removed from service immediately and replaced. Arc protective garments and equipment should always be inspected before and after use to ensure that it is not damaged or torn.
BMG’s range of PPE items also includes general protective clothing, safety spectacles, goggles, face masks, gloves, vests, rain suits and footwear. 
Wardrobe Malfunctions
Carlo Allegri / Getty Images
After the 2005 Oscars, Renée Zellweger wasn’t able to keep her Carolina Herrera gown on for all the festivities because someone accidentally tore it. She told British Vogue, “First of all, it’s an incredible dress. I love that dress. It’s weighted and stuffed at the bottom so that it holds its shape. It was a kind of bustle in the back, and I remember that, as we were leaving that night, a gentleman had stepped on the train, and I kept walking in the other direction, and it ripped it right off my dress from right beneath my booty. So, I walked in with that pose, and I left with that pose.”
Editorial Submission:
Please remember to send me your news so that we can share it with all our readers in the weekly newsletter. Although editorial is neither guaranteed nor implied, suitable editorial for consideration may be submitted to:-
