Last week, alongside SAFLEC and a delegation of proudly South African brands, Groundcover attended our very first trade show in China - the Guangzhou Shoe & Leather Show.
Representing Groundcover was our Wholesale Manager, Nokwanda Ndlovu.
For Nokwanda, the experience was inspirational:
“What stood out to me most was how organised and fast the production process was,” she shared. “I visited a six-storey footwear market where each floor focused on a different craft - one for soles, one for stitching, one for laces and trims."
"Seeing the anatomy of a show laid out like that was a light bulb moment for me. Even with my experience in the industry, watching the components harmonise in real time gave me new perspective of the process. It felt like you could build an entire shoe simply by walking through the market."
"The scale and efficiency of their production processes was eye opening. Overall, the trip was very inspiring and made me see my own work and my role at Groundcover in a new light.”
A Genrational Story
While Nokwanda has been an official part of the Groundcover family for nearly three years, her roots here run much deeper. She grew up on the farm where her father, Ernest, has been a cornerstone of our factory for the past 35 years.
Through the Groundcover Education Programme, Nokwanda was given the opportunity to further her studies and grow within the business. Today, seeing her represent Groundcover on an international stage is something we are incredibly proud of. She truly embodies the heart and spirit of our company.
At Groundcover, we believe that investing in people and education creates lasting impact - not only for individuals, but for families and future generations too. Nokwanda continues to pursue her own growth and is currently studying bookkeeping part-time while working with us.
Her journey is a reminder of what can happen when opportunity, hard work, and support come together.