NOR T H A ME RIC A N F UR AUC T IONS
NAFA NEWS President's Message
November 2012
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Catalogue Changes to Enhance NAFA Brand Labels page 2 NAFA Olympics
page 2
Canadian Draft Mink Code
page 3
Canadian Voluntary Biosecurity Standard
page 3
Market Outlook
page 4
NAFA Expansions
page 4
Fall/ Winter Marketing Program Begins
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Leonard Werner Memorial Scholarship
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over se ven million mink this se ason
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65 Skyway Ave. Toronto, ON M9W 6C7 Canada | tel: +1.416.675.9320 | fax: +1.416.675.6865 | www.nafa.ca
President's messa ge Dear Rancher, With the fall season now upon us and pelting plant operations getting underway, all eyes are now sharply focused on the upcoming selling season. Last year’s auction prices reached record levels, despite warmer than usual winter conditions in all key fur markets around the world. A cold winter this year would be most welcome and help create the optimum conditions for another successful season. NAFA is beginning this year in solid fashion – we are expecting another sizeable increase in our offering and expect to offer over seven million mink this season. To put that in perspective, last year we offered over six million mink and the year before, five million. Growth of this nature is unprecedented and demonstrates that NAFA stands out among auction houses and is becoming the choice for consignors around the world. As announced at the close of the last auction season, NAFA’s dream of becoming completely commission-free for our consignor owners is now a reality. For years, NAFA has had the goal to make selling with NAFA simple, easy and commission-free. The 2013 profit sharing dividend for loyal consignors is now 4.75 percent - the highest it has ever been and NAFA is the only North American auction house that guarantees such a high profit sharing dividend. When combined with the average volume discounts, the 4.75 percent dividend means a zero percent commission rate for most producers. New changes to the cataloguing of Demi and Mutation mink are being made in the 2013 auction season which will ensure that only the finest quality mink will fall under the NAFA label. More details about this change are on page two of this newsletter. The Draft Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Mink in Canada is now available for public comment. A brief synopsis of what is included in the Code is on page three of this newsletter. In addition to the Mink Code, the Voluntary on-farm Mink Biosecurity Standard has been established in Canada and details are also on page three of this newsletter. Both documents were developed in conjunction with producers, advisory groups and veterinarians and I encourage you to become familiar with both documents. Our marketing and promotions department has had its fall Gala fashion shows in Moscow, Beijing, and Dubai, showing off new garments on behalf of our haute couture buyers for 2013. The fashion shows have already created a buzz in the fur fashion world. On-going promotions of the Black NAFA Limited Edition label are continuing to receive positive reviews. Workshops have also begun in key international fur markets, with manufacturers, designers and dealers attending to learn the latest about fur fashion and the NAFA luxury brand labels. All of this is being done to attract a worldwide pool of buyers to our auctions in 2013. On behalf of everyone at NAFA, I wish you every success this selling season and look forward to further great accomplishments in the 2013 year. Sincerely,
Michael D. Mengar, President & CEO
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CATALOG UE C HAN G E S TO EN HAN CE N AFA BR AN D L ABE L S NAFA to modify Demi/Mutation Catalogue In an effort to ensure that only the finest quality mink fall under the NAFA label and to further increase the value of NAFA’s Demi/Mutation collections, a more streamlined and structured catalogue will be put together for the 2013 auction season. NAFA’s Management and Marketing Boards have elected to change the catalogue structure for the Demis and Mutations based on nap lengths. The mink catalogued in the NAFA label section will now consist of the following nap lengths: XSN, SN, and SMN. Mink that contain the nap lengths of MN and LN will now be catalogued in the 5 Star section of our catalogue.
Through the course of thorough discussions with our marketing associations, the American Mink Council (AMC) and the Canada Mink Breeders Association (CMBA), we have come to the consensus that this is the best direction to meet the ever- changing demands of the International fur trade and to ensure that the world recognizes that NAFA mink is the best quality mink available in the world.
nafa olympics It was called the NAFA Olympics – a small group of ranchers gathered together in Digby, Nova Scotia in September for a chance to learn all about grading brown mink. The ‘crash course’ on grading was led by NAFA’s Oscar Carbonell, Private Treaty Manager, who put together the seminar to help ranchers learn about how mink pelts are categorized and put together once they arrive at NAFA. After a brief introduction about categorizing mink according to nap, colour, sex and size, ranchers were then challenged to a hands-on grading competition. About two dozen brown mink pelts were placed on a table and ranchers had to categorize them according to quality, colour, nap and size . Ranchers who correctly categorized the pelts into the 'gold', 'silver' and 'very slight' categories were acknowledged afterward at a dinner. The winners from the NAFA Olympics are listed below: 1. Donna Thibault 2. Christopher Mullen 3. Sankey Mullen Ranchers in attendance agreed that the seminar was beneficial as it assisted them to better understand the intricate process of grading. NAFA was pleased to provide these services to Nova Scotia producers and thanks all those who showed up for the information session.
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Canadian DRAFT MINK CODE Canada Mink Breeders Association (CMBA) and the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) have issued their draft code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Mink in Canada. All ranchers are encouraged to learn more about the draft code and submit comment before December 7, 2012. Details can be found at www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/mink In essence, the code addresses the following: Accommodation/Housing/Handling Facilities; Food and Water Management; Health (e.g., record keeping, condition scoring, sick and injured animals);Transportation; Euthanasia; Husbandry/Stockmanship. This is a comprehensive document and NAFA encourages you to review it carefully.
Canadian Voluntary Biosecurity Standard The Voluntary National on-Farm Mink Biosecurity Standard is now available for review. The Voluntary Standard is a set of guidelines to help you establish a biosecurity program for your farm to reduce the transmission of microbial pathogens that cause mink diseases. The Guidelines are flexible in how the outcomes can be accomplished and the timelines to achieve the targets are also flexible. The standard was put together with producers, advisory groups, the auction houses, veterinarians and the Canada Food Inspection Agency in an effort to help producers limit disease on their farms. It is not the intent of the Standard that producers significantly change the physical layout of their farms but instead use the standard as a set of guiding biosecurity principles. NAFA would like to acknowledge and thank those involved in the process of putting together the Draft Mink Code and the Voluntary Biosecurity Standard. It is NAFA’s belief that codes of practice and certification programs help protect the overall industry and in the long term, will ensure it remains viable and vibrant. The purpose of the code and the standard will not restrict the industry but will keep mink farmers in business well into the future.
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Market Outlook China The strength of the Chinese market continues and, while the season is still young, the market appears to be on track for further expansion. The retail selling season has begun on a positive note as temperatures in Northern China are now dipping below freezing. Retail sales have already begun and all signs indicate that this market will remain strong and stable.
Russia During the first week of November, the cold weather blew into Moscow and temperatures dropped to below freezing. The brisk temperatures did spark an immediate interest in fur at the retail level but, overall the Russian Market has been slower than usual this year. The higher end retail market appears to be OK and sales at the lower end are also responding. However, there is some price resistance at the mid-market level. A cold winter season is needed in this important fur market.
Korea The cold weather hasn’t arrived yet in Korea and, as a result, sales are beginning slowly this year. One thing that has changed the retail landscape in Korea is that department stores have declared that they will no longer permit discounting. Until July of this year, it wasn’t uncommon to bargain for discounts at the department stores; negotiating between department stores was commonplace and permitted the consumer to obtain discounts. As a result of these changes, department store sales were off in July and August. In September, sales began to bounce back and more recovery is anticipated once the weather turns colder.
NAFA Expansions As a result of NAFA’s strength and increase in offerings, there has been lots of expansion at all of NAFA’s locations. • In Toronto, a new building has been acquired to assist with storage and shipping. • In Stoughton, additional space has been rented to also help out during the peak grading and shipping season. • In Poland, more floor space has been added because of the increase in volume in Europe. Page 4
Fall / Winter Marketing program begins from the muggy desert heat in dubai to northern china where temperatures have dipped below zero – the nafa fall marketing campaign has begun in earnest. fashion shows, product demonstrations and workshops are wowing audiences around the globe. russia In Russia, NAFA’s annual Gala fashion show dazzled over 400 guests – from celebrities and fashion media, to government officials and fur trade officials. The annual event took place this year at the Dom Chertkova villa in central Moscow - the 19th century mansion was the perfect location to showcase an array of NAFA furs. The international designers featured on the catwalk were Gianfranco Ferre, Michael Kors and Zac Posen. The highlights of their fur collections in NAFA Mink were extremely chic with a precision cut that gave the simple designs an ultimate sophistication. As always, the sheer beauty of Black NAFA Mink crafted in a unique garment from each brand had the guests in awe. NAFA’s 2012 signature garment by Natalia Valevskaya closed the show to tremendous applause. As guests departed, they were all in agreement that NAFA has the most fantastic collection of furs to be found anywhere.
china Over 100 fashion journalists, photographers and television reporters joined VIPs from the fur trade and foreign guests for the cocktail reception and fur presentation staged on September 5, 2012 at China Box in Beijing’s Olympic Park Complex. The theme of this year’s event was inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s celebrated novel, “The Great Gatsby”. The mood was one of gaiety as models took to the catwalk to the lively jazz tunes of the 1920’s. Many of the furs had the retro feeling that is a major element in fashion today. New York designer Dennis Basso captured the spirit of the evening with an array of NAFA Mink in silhouettes that were feminine and flirtatious. A striking contrast of black and white marked the collections of NAFA Mink from Hong Kong’s leading fur labels Cadano and Messina. A sensuous trio of Gianfranco Ferre Black NAFA Mink and lace designs was the perfect start of the grand finale scene. The sheer natural beauty and fine quality that make Black NAFA the most coveted black mink in the world was clearly seen as models took their final promenade down the catwalk in a unique Black NAFA design from each collection.
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dubai The 30C/90F degree temperatures in the outdoor amphitheatre of the One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel in the posh Jumeira Beach area of Dubai did not deter the many local guests and foreign visitors, along with trade and government VIPs, from joining the Fur Gala show co-hosted by NAFA and Manzari Luxury Furs. This Gala event, held on Saturday, October 13th, began with a cocktail reception in the Arabian Courtyard. As guests settled into their seats in the adjoining amphitheatre, Ms. Diane Benedetti, NAFA’s Senior Vice President, Marketing, greeted everyone and congratulated Mr. George Mantziaris on the Grand Opening of the new Manzari Luxury Furs boutique in Dubai.
greece As the autumn season descended upon Greece, the fur industry there began undertaking plans for the coming months. To offer support, Bobby Poulios, Vice President of Buyer Relations, organized a three-day event in Kastoria, Greece from September 25th through 27th, 2012. The seminars and workshops addressed fur farming, manufacturing and design. For the rapidly expanding fur farming community, Senior Vice President of European Operations, Sebastian Jansen, and Managing Director, Herman Jansen, presented an updated review of the mink farming industry in Europe highlighting opportunities for Greek farmers. Dutch veterinarian Haiko Koenen, who specializes in mink and is an expert on fur farming and related diseases, was guest speaker for the opening seminar. Gregg Dolinsky, Senior Vice President of Operations, hosted an afternoon presentation for local manufacturers and pelt dealers focusing on the grading of mink. His detailed accounting of the advanced grading system used at NAFA, along with a hands on demonstration of pelts, gave participants a clear understanding of why NAFA’s assortments have been receiving such high marks from the international fur trade.
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2012 LEONARD WERNER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS We are pleased to announce the following recipients of the 2012 Leonard Werner Memorial Scholarship.
James Maertens
son of Joseph Maertens, a wild fur shipper from West Fargo, ND
Ted Eilers
son of Jeff Eilers, a wild fur shipper from Ryan, IA
Bailey Riggin
daughter of Rob Riggin, a wild fur shipper from Parsons, KS
Matthew Erickson
son of Michael Erickson, a wild fur shipper from Prince George, BC
Kelsey Pennanen
daughter of Kenneth Pennanen, a wild fur shipper from Dryden, ON
John Seekins
son of Harry Seekins, wild fur shipper from Belfast, ME
Sabine Schwirtz-Zinser
granddaughter of Christel Schwirtz, a mink rancher from Enniskillen, ON
Mary Berkbuegler
granddaughter of Stan Berkbuegler, a wild fur shipper from Swansea, IL
Matthew Campbell
son of David Campbell , a mink rancher from Superior, MT
Trevor Messenger
grandson of Bryan Boyce, a mink rancher from Morgan, UT
NAFA congratulates these ten outstanding individuals & wishes them every success in their future academic & career endeavours. In memory of Leonard Werner, NAFA’s Past Chairman & Founder, NAFA awards ten individual university or college entrance scholarships for eligible family members of North American consignors or NAFA full time staff.
NAFA 2013 PRELIMINARY AUCTION SCHEDULE February 17 – 23, 2013 May 28 – June 4, 2013 September 4 & 5, 2013 NAFA NEWS is published by
North American Fur Auctions 65 Skyway Avenue, Toronto, ON, M9W 6C7, Canada
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(on show Feb. 12) (on show May 24) (on show TBD) Stoughton, WI Tel : 1.608.205.9200 Fax : 1.608.205.9210
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