Our impact Archive - Page 3 of 3

YES to youth

March 31, 2022

So many talented young South Africans are battling to find jobs and participate in the economy. TFG employs more than 31 300 people in South Africa, and we are looking for more. We want to inspire young people and help them live better lives.

TFG offers a range of learnerships and internships enabling young people to get workplace experience. They join us, mostly in stores, clothing factories or distribution centres, where they learn about retail and fashion. Many of them then move into further internships, other skill programmes and permanent employment across our business.

We recruit many of these young people through the YES programme, a joint initiative between business and government in South Africa. We take care to make our investment sustainable: this means taking on people close to where they live, and ensure they have the right tools e.g. each learner gets a smartphone to do workplace readiness training. We take them on a digital learning journey and give them coaching and mentoring support throughout the programme.

In the year ended March 2022, we provided 607 manufacturing and 2 283 non-manufacturing work opportunities. This means a total of 2 890 young people had a great chance at starting a career, earn a living and connect with their passion.

If you want to join one of our programmes, CLICK HERE.

Young talent building a revolutionary retail platform

March 31, 2022

The new TFGLabs team has big ambitions to simply advance retail, for the better. Through their work they are defining a truly omnichannel shopping experience blending the online and brick and mortar experience across the Group’s many brands.

Created as an entrepreneurial-style start-up inside TFG in 2021, TFGLabs is the omni-channel division of TFG. At the end of March 2022 the division has already created jobs for over 159 engineers, product managers, data scientists, logistics and operations specialists and digital marketers who are all dynamic young talent looking to reinvent retail. Despite the competitive challenge to secure this sought-after talent, TFGLabs has in all likelihood put together the strongest digital team within retail across South Africa.

TFGLabs also launched an incubator programme where they create first-time employment for high-calibre engineering graduates and individuals with unconventional coding backgrounds.

Major TFGLabs achievements to date have included:

Completed the acquihire of app development agency Flat Circle and acquired Quench, the last-mile delivery business with a marketplace platform of more than 60 vendors.
Replatformed eCommerce through a new omni-enabled enterprise digital solution.
Launched a new best-in-class customer service tool.
Rebuilt taxonomy and re-classified all stock so we have end-to-endsight of inventory.

“We have quickly established TFG as a tech-employer of choice that operates like a modern technology business and attracts the best tech talent in the country.”

Most recently, at the recent Group’s Annual Financial results presentation, CEO Anthony Thunström hinted at the launch of the Group’s new integrated e-commerce platform that brings together all the Group’s brands in an easy-to-shop platform, powered by TFGLabs. Keep an eye out for SA’s newest and most exciting e-commerce destination!

Our new recycled wash care labels

March 31, 2022

Our consumers are becoming more environmentally aware and want more transparency about the products they buy. They want information that will bring them peace of mind and demonstrate value.

TFG has rolled out a new inner garment wash care label that is made from 100% recycled material. You will find the new range of wash care labels in all the TFG in-house fashion brands garments in South Africa.

They are made from recycled polyester: a fabric that is man-made from existing plastic such as water bottles, rather than new materials that require natural resources. The plastic is converted into tiny pellets, melted, and spun into yarn. The yarn is then knitted into fabric ribbons, cut, printed on and sewn into the garments.

It’s a double win: we believe these labels are actually superior to conventional polyester labels and they help to reduce the waste that go to landfills, thereby supporting a circular economy.

Read more about recycling and responsible sourcing in our INSPIRED LIVING REPORT.

Big step for the environment

March 31, 2022

Markham and Relay Jeans are making a difference with their Flip Ur Flops sustainability drive for cleaner oceans and reduced landfill waste.

As we all become more aware of our impact on the environment, it has become clear that everyone has a responsibility to contribute to global sustainability. Basically, we have to change the way we do things in order to help Planet Earth.

Markham and Relay Jeans have embarked on a drive to create awareness around reducing landfill waste and the importance of having cleaner oceans – all while breathing new life into disadvantaged communities.

So, how does it work?

We all have a pair of old flip flops that are long past their use-by date. Now, myTFGrewards members and account customers can exchange any pair of old or used flip flops for a 10% discount on their next new pair of Relay Jeans flip flops. They can simply drop their old pair in the boxes found near till points at participating stores, and then pick out a new pair at a reduced rate.

These old flip flops are sent to our partner EVA industries. They recycle the flip flops into a host of uses – from artificial grass for sports fields to filling for boxing bags donated to schools and sporting facilities in disadvantaged areas.

“We’re on a journey to save the planet, one step at a time – well, one flip-flop at a time.”

Financial support for employees in hard times

March 31, 2022

First, it was COVID-19, then civil unrest in parts of South Africa, and then floods in KwaZulu-Natal. Ordinary people are battling to make ends meet. This includes our employees and their families.

We know financial emergencies can happen at any time. We want to help because we know that financial distress affects employees’ ability to be productive and work well in a team.

That’s why we partnered with PayMeNow, a platform that gives our South African employees a financial boost when needed. The PayMeNow app enables employees to instantly access a portion of their net salary.

We also take it a step further: employees get access to free training on how to manage their money responsibly and reach their financial goals.

We are committed to fair and responsible employee remuneration and this means being consistent and paying employees equally for work of equal value. All employees have the chance to grow their salary through training, upskilling and applying for internal positions. For example, an employee starting out as a sales associate could, through the assistance of various TFG programmes over three to five years, move into a store management role.

Our people and their ongoing health, safety and mental wellbeing are our most important priority. As an employee, if you need help, contact our wellness hotline on 0800 111 323 (South Africa) or +2766 452 4099 (WhatsApp for employees in other African countries). The helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all TFG employees and their immediate family members.

Factory of hope

March 31, 2021

World-class TFG facility in Johannesburg provides training and job opportunities to hearing impaired school leavers.

Unemployment, especially amongst the youth, is at unprecedented levels in South Africa. And the problem is even worse for people living with disabilities, who face additional barriers to finding employment.

TFG is committed to tackling this issue head-on by providing training and creating work opportunities for people with disabilities.

As part of this commitment, a world-class clothing factory in Johannesburg was specifically designed for a hearing-impaired workforce and opened in October 2021. The TFG Prestige Clothing Johannesburg factory, brings with it training and jobs, but above all, hope for a better future.

The program came about through TFG’s involvement with Proudly SA, South Africa’s buy-local campaign. We made a connection with St Vincent School of the Deaf, and partnered with the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing SETA and the Thandeka Vocational Education Trust to train their school leavers. Then, TFG’s Prestige Clothing, Bidvest and Berzacks partnered to provide a modern working environment for the learners.

Currently, 77 learners are training through this partnership. After undergoing training, the students start manufacturing T-shirts for sale in TFG stores, and other items including blankets and bags for the Group’s CSI efforts. The manufacturing lines will be increased to accommodate new intakes as the facility grows.

The factory fills Bongani Sithole, production manager of the facility, with pride. “Once you learn how to sew, you can impart that knowledge and skill to others, for generations to come,” he said.

“It is very fulfilling to see these learners getting an opportunity to be empowered. This gives them a sense of independence and self sufficiency, which is very rewarding”

Prevention is the best cure

March 31, 2021

Immediate assistance to communities at the time of the July 2021 civil unrest provided some relief, but in the long-run, only economic growth and job creation will prevent it from happening again.

The widespread civil unrest that occurred in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July 2021 caused extensive disruption, damage and loss of income – to companies, to the economy at large, and to individuals and communities alike.

The events were a strong reminder for us that our success as a commercial group is deeply interconnected with the rest of society. So, beyond our own operational recovery efforts, we focused on the needs of the communities we operate in and those most vulnerable members of society.

Our security teams, employees and supply chain partners worked tirelessly with local law enforcement, unions, property managers and other relevant parties to minimise damage and losses. We also set about systematically rebuilding, restocking and reopening the vast majority of the 198 stores that were looted during the unrest.

At the same time, the Group worked with our partner, Gift of the Givers, to make donations towards various communities as part of their relief efforts. In addition, a R1,5 million cash donation towards food relief and rebuilding efforts in KwaZulu-Natal was also made.

The concept of “paying it forward” is significant to us. Which is why we are convinced that South Africa’s lethal cocktail of low growth and high unemployment must be solved. We are proud to be a leader in the partnership between the public and private sectors which is making a real difference. We are investing in bringing back to South Africa significant clothing manufacturing capacity.

We are happy to report that TFG spent a record R1,6 billion in capital expenditure in the 2022 financial year and created 7 176 jobs and workplace opportunities in South Africa. The positive impact this investment will have for the country is significant and demonstrates just how strongly we feel about playing our part in realising the potential of our nation and its people.

Leading the future of manufacturing

March 31, 2021

The future of manufacturing is changing rapidly. Technology brings disruption, innovation and great opportunity. And it’s all happening at South Africa’s only manufacturing-focused business school and research institution, the Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies (TWIMS).

As part of our investment in manufacturing innovation and research, TFG is sponsoring a position at TWIMS for the Head of Future Manufacturing, one of four dedicated research chairs. This position will help develop executives with world-class expertise in manufacturing in South Africa, thus addressing the shortage of business managers with manufacturing skills. The chair will also support research, policy creation and industrialisation.

This fits with TFG’s plan to expand its local clothing manufacturing footprint. Our Prestige Clothing company is already the largest apparel manufacturer in South Africa. Dr Kruschen Govender was appointed the TFG-sponsored Head of Future Manufacturing.

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