Furniture traders' body joins CGCSA

FTA national president Bruce Sinclair said last week that a year ago the organisation was at a crossroads and had to make a decision that would ensure its members got good service.

“Staying as we were was not an option.

“We had limited resources and gearing up did not make sense either, given the recession,” Sinclair said.

“The only option was to look at a merger with an organisation that had similar objectives.”

The FTA has more than 70 members representing 2867 stores in SA. It includes big furniture groups such as Shoprite Furniture Division; JD Group; Ellerine Holdings and Lewis Stores and about 65 other independent stores.

This merger will tie in well with the establishment of the soon-to-be-launched South African Retail Council, a body within the CGCSA to serve the retail members.

“This merger will go a long way in ensuring a single voice that will represent and facilitate matters on behalf of retail industry,” CGCSA CEO Mncane Mthunzi said.

“Our industry needs to consolidate existing organisations and not to create new ones.”

Sinclair concurred. “The retail industry needs to be represented by a unified body, the segmented representation is not good.”

Source: Business Day