LSA, Wipelli to market leathers jointly
By Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, January 17, 2005
Rhodhiss, N.C. — Imported leather suppliers Leather Services of America and Wipelli Inc. USA have joined forces in a new marketing venture, LSA-Wipelli.
"This is a business partnership," said Joelle Young, president of Leather Services of America. "We remain two separate companies. However, by marketing and merchandising ourselves jointly we can offer a bigger, more extensive program."
She said the goal is to sell to a broader range of customers.
"Because of the warehouse, we can offer one hide or a complete tannery-direct hide program. We have gotten a very favorable response to our offering a wider range of offerings from a single source," said Young.
Other principals in the new operation include Heather Bolick, vice president of LSA, and Kurt Schweizer and Sabine Schweizer, president and vice president, respectively, of Wipelli Inc. USA.
Young, who has worked in the leather supply and import business for over 14 years, was affiliated with Arcona Leather and Friitala Leather before forming LSA in 1997. Bolick, who left Leather Master in 2001 to join Young at LSA, has worked in both upholstery manufacturing and retailing.
Wipelli USA was established in 1995. The Schweizers are the fourth generation of tanners in a family with 138 years of leather history. They started with Arcona Trading in 1982 before launching Schweizer Leather Arcona in 1990, then joining Wipelli USA in 2003. Their strengths lie in tanning, finishing and technical expertise.
Young said the partnership "will bring a fresh approach to buying leather," with programs customized for each customer.
One sales force will represent the LSA-Wipelli line. At the Showtime fabric show in High Point Jan. 10–13, the team will show in space MSQ-311.
Young said the partnership's line ranges from promotional to pure anilines, with more than 300 SKUs of leathers from tanneries in South America and Europe, including Italy and Germany. About 40,000 leather hides are stocked in a 175,000-square-foot warehouse here.
Also available are cut-and-sew and cut-to-pattern programs. With on-site leather testing capabilities here, LSA-Wipelli can assess each dye lot.
With the partnership, the companies say they will have an expanded tannery direct program that draws on multiple leather sources and will be able to offer enhanced customer service.
