Leather veteran Scott Young launching Leather Apogee

New company will supply top-grain leather covers

Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, November 20, 2009

TROUTMAN, N.C. — Scott Young, former CEO of upper-end upholstery producer Bradington-Young, is launching a company called Leather Apogee that will supply top-grain leather covers.

The new company will debut its product line at next month's Showtime fabric market, and plans to begin shipping leather to upholstery manufacturers by late January or early February.

"I'm excited to be back in sales again," said Young, who left Bradington-Young in January after 14 years as CEO. "We're going to focus on only the best-quality, top-grain leathers."

Bradington-Young is now part of Hooker Furniture.

Young said he and two partners, Ivan Speier and Barry Martin, have purchased a leather finishing plant in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Speier's family has been in the hide brokerage business for decades.

Young is president of the new venture and will oversee most sales activities, while Speier will oversee the purchase of raw hides. Martin will be in charge of the company's warehouse in Troutman and also will handle sales for selected accounts, Young explained.

He said one of Leather Apogee's primary goals is to consistently produce high-quality leather covers.

"The lack of consistency is the most frustrating thing about the leather business," Young said. "I want to offer product that I would buy if I were in my old job."

He said the Troutman warehouse will stock 50 to 60 SKUs, and said the company will do a custom order for a manufacturer willing to order a minimum of 60 hides.

"Good quality and good service never go out of style," said Young.

At Showtime, the company will be showing in space 1-402 in Suites at Market Square.