Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Kleiner.
Susie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was actually working in the online marketing industry when I met a very gregarious individual who didn’t realize the power of online marketing – I worked with him to help him get his company online, he was an avid biker and resurrected a charity that helped families of fallen riders, we were in search of donations when we realized the lack of leather related stores in our area, I had a bit of knowledge of leather from watching my father years ago. He had the contacts, the mouth and the attitude, which overflowed into who I am today – We decided to partner and open Leathers 4U, in the beginning, it was biker driven, and we remained partners for 4 years, but the time had come to separate. I bought him out, we remained friends, even though we would often throw the F-Bomb at each other – Leathers 4U today, is what we say, not just a store, an experience.
Why buy what everyone can, when you can buy custom! We have made, repaired and created some phenomenal pieces. Taking in broken purses, coats, hey, even a camel saddle at one point, can show you the diversity of what we are willing to tackle. I have 4 girls that work for me, we swear at one another, we are family – we also come together as a team and tackle some of the more difficult projects.
We have our strong suits, each and every one of us. I will not make them do anything, I am not willing to do, and we all learn from one another daily.
Our humor often gets our customers to laugh, a lot. Our back room, where production goes on, should actually be a reality show. We have a few customers, who often come hang out, and even lend their ideas. Thanks to two of them, during a Friday, and a little bit of Jack Fire, both watched me assemble a pair of chaps backwards, thanks guys. It was a moment, where you realize you are human, and that crap can happen. It is a good artist, or craftsman who knows how to fix their mistakes. Even through mistakes, our customers seem to love us!
I have offered leather crafting classes, it is a dying art and the enthusiasm for it is great! Now to get more people on that band wagon, to use their hands and minds simultaneously!
Perseverance is how I got where I am, I can’t tell you how many said, oh… you’ll never make it! Well…that just pushed me more to prove them wrong! Leather On!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Struggles, as a business owner, always!
You have to compete with the internet, I learned early on – do not sell… jackets, chaps or apparel on line, sure you can make a few bucks, but put your time in the unique one of a kind. Everyone wants to be unique nowadays, everyone does have something to say. We often say it on our snarky, in bad taste patches, but it sure makes people laugh. We need more of that – and in the leather business, we can be all shades of crazy.
A struggle I face is the “haggle” – hey, I’m one for a bargain or a barter, but we truly put our soul into what we create. We take what you see in your head and have to transform it into a product, first off, I call my head the “attic” and sometimes all sorts of inappropriate slips out. So clear the slate and figure out how to get what is in the customers head, into mine, put it into a pattern and make the leather work for you! Not as simple as it sounds.
When someone walks in and wants something for nothing, or a 50.00 belt for 5.00 – I simply do not understand, I guess I never will.
Please tell us about Leathers 4U.
Leathers 4U is a brick and mortar store, that carries a full line of leather, jackets, chaps, vests, bags, boots, purses, wallets, belts, gloves, jewelry, leashes, get-back whips and dog collars. The list is extensive, but what sets us apart from others, is we are always willing to try – if it is something out of our scope, we tell you.
One of the coolest products came from a woman who wandered in, an older lady, who some would have shyed away when she came in and at her 5 foot 2 stature, was surrounded by 6 or so burly guys clad in black leather vests, she didn’t – she asked to talk to someone who could design some items for Christmas for her kids….
She had a very old brown leather pea-coat that was her fathers, she stated how proud he was of it. It was a very sophisticated looking jacket. Her father passed away, and she wanted to make gifts for her kids out of the coats, after showing her a few ideas, and talking to her at length, she said… Oh WOW.. You could do all that… certainly… we also love re-purposing anything leather. She thanked me and said she would be back.
A month later, in she came, with her ideas, out went 3 wristlet bags for her girls and a checkbook cover for her son. She was thrilled.
We take the time to listen to our customers, we want your experience to be like the old general store.
I am most proud that people come to me with their ideas and know we can make it into a reality for them!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I don’t think I can give one good memory, I have a great family – mom and dad did well by all of us.
I’m a farm girl, grew up baling hay and all that jazz, my mom believed in goof off days, we now call those “mental health” days, and would allow us out of school to do fun things with her, it wasn’t a stringent upbringing, and we always loved being at home.
Dad worked hard, didn’t complain about it, and I got my clumsy-ness from him!
To sum up the favorite memory is impossible, because so many flood back, bonfires, great family parties, learning to drive farm equipment, learning to drive stick shift – just learning!
Contact Info:
- Address: 982 Illinois Route 59
Antioch, IL. 60002 - Website: www.leathers4u.coom
- Phone: 847-838-8700
- Email: sales@leathers4u.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leathers4u.inc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leathers4Uinc/
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Leathers4U
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