brand management

The Group focuses on the sourcing and distribution of branded clothing and footwear, and the supply of corporate clothing. With over 1 000 independent customers, the Group has extensive and proven sales and marketing knowledge and brand building.

This division consists of Skye Group – run operationally through Skye Footwear (Pty) Ltd and Skye Clothing (Pty) Ltd – and the licensing of the Polo brand is run by Polo Management (Pty) Ltd and Polo Distribution, a division of Carter Harris (Pty) Limited.

SKYE GROUP

This unit is South Africa’s largest distributor of leading footwear and clothing brands, with exclusive license and distribution rights held for sub-Saharan Africa to a number of world-renowned international and house brands. Skye Footwear specialises in marketing selected brands of footwear to individual retailers and mini-chains which control a number of stores locally and nationally. Skye Clothing markets and distributes apparel brands into the southern African region, mainly to individual stores and mini-chains.

The international brands are Converse All Star USA and The Williamson Dickies Company USA, and sole trading licenses for southern Africa have been acquired by the Group.

The house brands developed and marketed in South Africa over decades of trading are Mille, Canary Island, Brentwood, Samson, Cutrite and Oxygen. These brands are owned outright.

Many of Skye’s brands have become household names, some typifying a lifestyle but all representing a statement of style, quality, and excellent value. Each is aimed at a particular niche market.

All products are sourced in a finished format with none of the merchandise being manufactured by the Group businesses, and niche markets are carefully selected as key distribution areas. The company has an excellent national distribution and marketing network, supplying over 1 000 of the country's leading chain stores and independent casual fashion and sports retailers.

Management team

AK Peer (MD)
David Kopelowitz (Deputy MD)
Helene van Jaarsveldt (Deputy MD)
Krish Chetty (Deputy MD)
Showkat Allie Mukadam
Jayanthkumar Kasiram
Bipendra Dalpat
Riyadh Peer
Michael Schroder
Yvette van Rooyen
Michel Hasson

POLO

The Group owns the rights to distribute the Polo brand in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

Polo is an upmarket, aspirational brand with a reputation for style, quality and elegance with regard to fashion apparel, footwear and accessories. The brand’s unique, comfortable high-class products are popular among stylish and fashion-conscious customers.

Historically, the group earned royalty and marketing revenue through its 11 licensees under the control of Polo Management (Pty) Ltd.

Four standalone Polo stores were set up to create a greater awareness and broader distribution of the brand. During 2006 the Group changed the business model from a merchandising arrangement to the, managing and distribution a substantial part of the merchandise within the Group. The two biggest licencees were bought out in the first half of 2007, and by the beginning of 2008 the business will be reduced to three, in areas where the Group does not have the expertise in-house.

The Group has also invested in research and development on the Polo brand to support its market penetration over the next few years, with new ranges and fashion accessories planned. Furthermore, sub-Saharan cities have been identified where the spend on leading fashion brands is sufficient to support standalone stores.

Management team

Christopher Evans
Showkat Allie Mukadam
Riyahd Peer
Anthony Dimint
Gilles Flueriot
Akbar Karolia