Earlier this year, Cape Union Mart held a "supplier open day" in both Cape Town and Durban. We advertised this event in local newspapers, inviting prospective suppliers to demonstrate why we should stock their product.
The open day was a great success, and we will definitely be holding them again in the future.
Watch this space for details...
Every year, Cape Union Mart receives hundreds of proposals from companies who would like us to sell their products.
We're extremely picky, and not ashamed to admit it.
We sift through these proposals carefully, and eventually might choose one or two that we investigate further. Cape Union Mart insists on only the highest quality products for our customers.
This process has, over the past 75 years, uncovered some incredible brands - many of which are now incredible partners. It has allowed us to foster strong working relationships with the likes of Hi-tec, Garmin, First Ascent, and Wild Frontiers (to name but a few).
This said, we are always on the lookout for fresh, preferably local talent.
ADVENTURA TOURS
Adventura Tours is a group of like-minded individuals that came together to create lavish and personalized vacations. Adventura creates the dream - you experience it. The company offers you the best of our homeland, from stunning mountain ranges, amazing coastlines, and exceptional wine lands. Included in Adventura’s repertoire is the unforgettable luxury photographic safari experience to Africa.
BLACK DIAMOND
What began with in the backyard with an anvil and a hammer, has since developed into a global company with offices that span two continents. Black Diamond is not just about rock climbing, but rather stands for the sports we live and breathe, and their values, goals and history. Since 1957, Black Diamond’s innovative gear designs have set the standards in numerous areas of sporting development.
BUFF
Buff is an innovative brand of multifunctional headwear that offers technical performance, and protection against the elements, in a stylish headpiece. The beauty of Buff® Headwear is its simplicity – one garment serving multiple functions. Among its many uses, Buff serves as a beanie, headband, neck gaiter, balaclava, pirate-style cap, hair band, helmet liner, scarf, sun, wind or dust screen, bandana and wristband. As a result, it can be used for a number of different sports.
BUSHNELL
Bushnell has been the industry leader in high-performance sports optics for over 50 years. Their guiding principle is to provide the highest quality, most reliable and affordable sports optics products on the market. A pair of Bushnell binoculars is a compulsory addition to any Safari suitcase.
CAPE CONSUMERS
With a proud track record of sixty years, Cape Consumers is a buy-aid organisation which negotiates discounts, exclusively for its members, from selected retailers and manufacturers.
CHILLI ADVENTURES
If you plan on taking a gap-year, it might be a good idea to seek professional advice. Cape Union Mart trusts and recommends Chilli Adventures – an independent, South African adventure company operating in Joburg, Cape Town and Durban.
Click here for great advice on travelling overseas - courtesy of Cape Union Mart.
CLIMBING ZA
Climbing ZA is an informative site on South African Climbing and the best local climbs and climbers. Adrenalin junkies and “risk-everything” adventurers MUST visit this site for a 360 degree experience of climbing South Africa.
CROCS
It all started when three Boulder, Colorado based founders decided to develop and market an innovative type of footwear called Crocs™ Shoes.
Originally, Crocs™ Shoes were intended as a boating/outdoor shoe because of its slip-resistant, non-marking sole. By 2003, Crocs™ Footwear had become a bona-fide phenomenon, universally accepted as an all purpose shoe for comfort and fashion.
CUM HIKE
The Cape Union Mart Hiking Club (CUM Hike) is a Cape Town-based club established to provide an extra service to all Cape Union Mart customers. The club was founded in September 1991 by Maritjie Odendaal while she was working at our N1 City branch. The club has grown steadily year by year and is one of the biggest clubs of its kind in the Cape Town area. Although the club maintains a close relationship with Cape Union Mart, it is financially independent, and runs as a Bona Fide club with its own committee and constitution. Visit their website for more details, or ask around at any Cape Union Mart store.
DEUTER
Hans Deuter established Deuter through the selling of outdoor gear such as tents and backpacks. The Deuter collection achieves a new level of innovation through the application of functional design through all product categories. The Deuter crew is continually motivated by the newest sporting trends, staying in tune with needs of the most extreme customer. By working together with renowned mountain guides and sports people, Deuter consistently develops products of convincing quality and functionality.
DISCOVERY HEALTH
Discovery's core purpose is to encourage people to follow a healthier lifestyle, and to enhance and protect the lives of their clients. Cape Union Mart has partnered with Discovery Health, to help you save while you shop.
FIRST ASCENT
First Ascent is one of South Africa’s leading specialist outdoor gear manufacturer. First Ascent designs and manufactures equipment using a perfect blend of technology, cutting edge materials and manufacturing techniques, and extreme-tested designs.
Every item of First Ascent gear is made by passionate outdoor fanatics for real people who do real outdoor pursuits. Worn and used by ordinary people every day, as well as many of South Africa’s leading extremists in some of the most inhospitable places on earth, our products are designed to keep you comfortable under harsh conditions – and perhaps even save your life.
GARMIN
Garmin is a leader in Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and an innovator in consumer electronics. Garmin serves both the aviation and consumer markets, and its products are used in flying, boating, driving, fishing, hiking and many other activities. Garmin – you’d be lost without it.
GERBER
Savvy. Ingenuity. Moxie. Craftsmanship. Attention to detail. These are just a few of the company traits that contributed to Gerber’s emergence as a world leader in outdoor gear. One Christmas, Joseph Gerber hired a local knifemaker to craft 25 sets of kitchen cutlery as client gifts. The knives were so popular, Mr. Gerber ultimately left his agency to launch Gerber Legendary Blades in 1939. His success in the world of knives quickly gave way to a number of other outstanding products such as tools, personal LED lighting and backpack hydration. Cape Union Mart is proud to stock Gerber.
GETAWAY.CO.ZA
Getaway.co.za is Getaway magazine's inspiring and entertaining travel website. We’ll help you plan your trip with our travel packages and exclusive specials, accommodation search tool and country information. Plaster your desktop with wish-you-were-here wallpapers, come travelling with us in our photojournalists' blogs, or listen to adventurers tell their crazy stories. Press play and watch our beautiful photographs come to life with Getaway TV and enter all of the fantastic Getaway competitions online. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for hot travel information and win weekly and monthly prizes. Visit www.getaway.co.za and come travel with us.
HI-TEC
Hi-Tec footwear is one of Cape Union Mart’s closest partners, and the two companies frequently work together. Hi-Tec Sports was founded in 1974 in the appropriately named village of Shoeburyness, in England.
Hi-Tec originally succeeded with the Hi-Tec Squash shoe, which is recorded as Britain’s best selling sport’s shoe to this day. In 1982, the Hi-Tec brand was launched worldwide, and it hasn’t looked back since. With over 500 styles in existence throughout 80 countries, Hi-Tec is at the forefront of outdoor shoe design. We trust them. So should you.
K-WAY
K-Way is a well-loved and respected brand of technical apparel and gear. With a factory in Cape Town that employs almost 150 staff, K-Way is the only factory on the African continent that currently produces garments using sew-free technology, and other similar processes.
K-Way’s range of products includes tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, shell jackets, middle layer garments and a range of thermal underwear and foul weather gloves. K-Way has sponsored numerous expeditions to Mount Kilimanjaro, Antarctica, Mount Aconcagua and Mount Elbrus, including Team Isicongo's 7 Summits attempt, and Sibusiso Vilane’s summit of Mount Everest from the North Face.
LAKEN
Laken analyses the needs for adequate hydration in all sports activities and provides a container that is technically and personally suited to every sportsperson. All this is done with complete respect for international environmental considerations and health and safety requirements. Come into Cape Union Mart and browse our range of Laken hydration solutions – which will accompany you from the roof of Africa to the depths of the Sahara desert.
LEATHERMAN
Since Tim Leatherman’s invention in 1978, the original Leatherman Multitool has developed into a vast range of high quality, compact folding tools. Leatherman provides the highest quality, and most innovative multipurpose tools, and has been a firm favourite at Cape Union Mart for many years.
MAG-LITE
Every Mag-Lite is a high precision instrument, with an “over-10-year” warranty on all products. Founded in 1955, this company has developed its products into an incredibly distinctive shape and style that is seen as synonymous with quality. This has led Mag-Lite to become one of the leading flashlight manufacturers in the world. Cape Union Mart is a proud stockist.
MERRELL
Merrell believes that the outdoor journey should be one of freedom and exhilaration, and thus aims to equip everyone with the means to get outside. Merrell provides outdoor enthusiasts with quality performance footwear, packs and bags.
Over time, Merrell has broadened their concept of the outdoors to include all types of activities and environments - both natural and urban. What began in the mountains of Utah, now roams the world.
MOUNTAIN CLUB OF SOUTH AFRICA
The Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA) offers mountaineering, which includes climbing of all types and hiking opportunities to its members. It is also involved in mountain search and rescue, training, conservation of mountain areas, procurement of access for mountaineering.
The MCSA was founded in 1891 and is one of only two mountain clubs in Africa which are affiliated to the world mountaineering body, the UIAA.
The Club consists of 14 Sections geographically distributed. Contact the section nearest to you to join in activities.
PETZL
Petzl offers a variety of gear for work or play… but mainly play. In sport they offer specialized gear for alpinism, canyoning, spelunking, and rock and ice climbing. A zest for exploring has led to the invention and production of gear for working under the most extreme mountain conditions. They are probably best-known for their headlamp, which has revolutionised the torch industry. Today, Petzl is at the pinnacle of headlamp and adventure gear providers.
SALOMON
Salomon is one of the world’s leading outdoor brands with a unique approach founded on being committed, innovative, authentic, and honest. Their mission is to provide pure products for Freedom Action Sports enthusiasts around the world. Salomon develops products, services, events and experiences to fuel their dedicated customers’ desire to make the World their playground.
SKIAUSTRIA TOURS
skiAustria Tours has been in business since 1995, and so has developed a wealth of knowledge concerning all things to do with skiing in Austria.
Cape Union Mart has partnered with skiAustria Tours to offer customers an incredible chance of winning an all expenses paid trip to Austria. Although the competition has closed, there a definite chance we will run another in the near future.
Thinking of taking a skiing holiday? Check out skiAustria Tours for an A - Z plan to making it a reality!
Recommended wholeheartedly by Cape Union Mart.
SUUNTO
Suunto was born in 1936 when Tuomas Vohlonen invented the liquid-filled compass. Essential to Finnish troops during World War II - who needed to know where they were in a flat country full of ice, snow and dense forests, the compass also set the direction Suunto would follow over the next 70 years – precision MEASUREMENT. With this goal in mind, Suunto were able to replace the need for luck, giving individuals more personal control of their environment. Today, Suunto is the largest manufacturer of compasses and precision instruments worldwide, used globally for accurate measurement in areas such as outdoor navigation, mining, and surveying.
THE ABSA CAPE EPIC
The ABSA Cape Epic, presented by adidas, is the largest, full-service mountain bike stage race in the world. Cape Union Mart has been involved since the beginning, whether it be with sponsoring the tents for the race village, or holding Rider Information evenings in our stores.
To deserve the honourable title 'Cape Epic Finisher', contestants have to ride more than 900 gruelling kilometres, and climb some 16000 vertical meters during their journey. This year's event runs for 9 days, starting on the 28th of March from Knysna.
THE BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM WORLD TOUR
The BANFF Mountain Film World Tour is a collection of the world's finest mountain culture films, bought to life on the big screen. Cape Union Mart is currently the official host of the South African leg of the World Tour, and has been so for the last 2 years.
So, if you're an extreme sports junkie or mountain fanatic, this film festival is for you.
THE CAPE ODYSSEY
Cape Union Mart is the official outdoor retailer for the Cape Odyssey, presented by Salomon. The Cape Odyssey is a full service trail running race, operated in a manner similar to the legendary Cape Epic, a mountain bike event of significant stature. Odyssey athletes cover just less than 200 kilometres over 5 days, through some of the most beautiful (and testing) landscapes the Western Cape has to offer. For more information on the Cape Odyssey, and how to enter, follow the link below.
TOMTOM
TomTom NV is the world's largest navigation solution provider. TomTom's products are developed with an emphasis on innovation, quality, ease of use, safety and value. TomTom was founded in 1991 in Amsterdam and has offices in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Cape Union Mart is a proud stockist of TomTom navigation solutions.
VICTORINOX
The “Swiss Army Knife” company has been phenomenally successful, and has transgressed its boundaries to become a supplier in not only knives, but also in sport tools, multitools, and watches. Founded in 1884, Victorinox is undoubtedly one of the leading suppliers in knives for all outdoor activities.
WILD FRONTIERS
Wild Frontiers has been running for over 23 years, and offering safaris throughout Africa since 1991. Both owners and staff are incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to travelling and working in Africa, and share a passion for the continent. The head office is based in Johannesburg, with satellite offices in both Uganda and Tanzania.
Every year, Wild Frontiers assists Cape Union Mart with our annual staff trip up Mount Kilimanjaro, so we have experienced first-hand their expertise and professionalism. Cape Union Mart trusts and recommends Wild Frontiers wholeheartedly.