Manufacture of leather products. Leather goods as a business: making products from genuine leather

Beautiful leather products are always popular. Of course, there are a lot of accessories made in the factory. But their quality will never compare with the products handmade. Potential buyers are not even embarrassed by their very high price. After all, having at your disposal a stylish little thing made of genuine leather is prestigious and fashionable.

Before purchasing materials, you should first decide what exactly you would like to produce. Most master leather workers are self-taught. They mastered all the subtleties of the business by trial and error.

Youtube videos and master classes can also help in mastering the craft. You can ask colleagues on specialized forums about individual intricacies of the case. Usually they share them without any intention. Can be of great help.

You should start a business with simple, uncomplicated accessories. For example, with the manufacture of leather belts. There is little work with them, but they are constantly in demand. This approach will allow you to fill your hand and develop your own author's style. Later it will be possible to manufacture more expensive exclusive items.

Where to find suppliers?

You can buy the necessary leather raw materials different ways. Usually craftsmen are not directly engaged in dressing, they acquire already dressed leather. Most favorable prices offer special leather enterprises. But they, as a rule, the skin is released only in large quantities. What's on early stages business development is an insurmountable barrier.

Also, in almost any major city there are specialized stores where you can buy not only leather, but also all the necessary accessories. Tanners living far from regional centers can shop online.

If you plan to make small souvenirs and accessories, then you should try to negotiate with small ateliers to buy scraps. Indeed, whole skins are sometimes sent to marriage, on the surface of which a very small flaw is found. Another channel for the supply of leather raw materials is second-hand. They sell a lot of leather things for a ridiculous price.

What equipment will be required?

Usually, novice craftsmen make the most minimal margin, just to cover the cost of materials. At the initial stages, there is no question of compensation for the time and effort spent.

To determine the final assortment, you need to constantly study the sales market. Fashion for certain products is constantly changing. Usually wallets, purses and business card holders are in consistently high demand.

We select personnel

Finding good workers is not an easy task. who know their business well are worth their weight in gold. Maybe the best way is to hire an apprentice who, together with you, will comprehend the secrets of the leather business.

Also, unemployed relatives or just good friends can be used as staff. You can place an ad on specialized resources such as Avito.

How and where to sell finished products

It directly depends on how developed the sales market is. Promote your products as actively as possible. It is worth working not only individual orders but also for the mass consumer. Profit will be much higher if you can combine the two above presented schemes of work.

One of the most accessible distribution channels is the Internet. Its possibilities are not limited to anything.

Initially, you can create a small online store on free platform or take advantage of social media. It is also worth visiting special crafts fairs. Visualization plays an important role in product promotion. quality, beautiful pictures with the right entourage, they can sell anything.

Offline stores are also capable. Perhaps, in the first couple, it will be most beneficial for you to agree on the delivery of goods for sale or rent of a small showcase. Later, if everything is successful, it will be possible to swing at your own department or a small shop.

Is it worth registering a business and certifying products

Whether or not a business, everyone decides for themselves. On the one hand, tax payments and other payments will take away part of the income, on the other hand, if you reach a higher level, you cannot do without registration.

If you have plans for a serious expansion of your business, you should probably think about product certification. The rules for passing certification and obtaining a declaration of conformity are specified in technical regulations Customs Union.

To confirm the competitiveness of products and expand sales channels, you must pass both mandatory and voluntary certification. For each of these procedures, a separate one is assembled, which is then submitted to the certification center.

I believe that this type of business is quite profitable now, and has always been. But just like in any other field, it requires specific knowledge and skills. Therefore, it is necessary to approach this issue with a certain amount of knowledge, or to select competent personnel.

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I can sew a few things out of leather, for example, a clutch bag, a wallet, bracelets, and so on.

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* Calculations use average data for Russia

Beautiful products made of genuine leather have been used for a long time in great demand, but they are gaining popularity now. Of course there is a large number of both foreign and domestic manufacturers, in the range of which leather accessories are presented various designs. However, they will never match the quality and originality of handicrafts.

The range of leather products that you can make is quite large. Until now, various jewelry and accessories using genuine leather have not lost their relevance: bags, belts, wallets, jewelry, clothes, shoes, binders for notebooks, books and magazines, etc.

The main methods of dressing genuine leather

The main raw material for the manufacture of such products is genuine leather, which has undergone preliminary processing. There are several main ways of dressing genuine leather, among which are the following: raw leather (with minimal processing and preservation of the original qualities of the source material), rawhide (tanning is carried out without tanning), rawhide tanning (light tanning with alum), tanned leather (obtained in as a result of fat tanning or with the addition of vegetable and artificial chemical tannins).

As a rule, craftsmen who are engaged in manufacturing various products from leather, do not carry out independent dressing of the skin. This procedure is carried out at special tanneries in various countries peace. The craftsmen buy from them ready-made dressed leather of the following types: calf, slip, outgrowth, nappa, chevro, husky, shagreen, morocco, natural suede, deerskin, saddlecloth, velor, napplak, shore, split-velor, yuft, parchment.

For each type of product, one or another type of leather is used. Buy everything necessary materials can be found in specialized stores, which can be found in major cities. Masters who live in the region, far from the center, order them through online stores (including foreign ones), as well as in sewing studios. By the way, if you are a manufacturer small items- jewelry, toys, accessories, then you can significantly save on the purchase of raw materials by agreeing with local ateliers, who often sell leftovers and trimmings of large leather pieces for low prices. Often, for work (and even more so for training), leather products that have already gone out of fashion - old shoes, bags, outerwear - can be suitable. Such well-made leather goods can be found in second-hand stores at very low prices.

Determining the value of leather

When buying leather in specialized stores, its cost is indicated by the seller for 1 square decimeter. It is usually sold in whole pieces (skins or skins). The cost may vary, depending on the type of skin (calf, pig, goat), the characteristics and quality of dressing, the thickness of the skin, and ranges from 5 to 50 rubles per square decimeter. The skin of more exotic species of animals (for example, ostrich, crocodile, etc.) will cost an order of magnitude more - from one hundred rubles per square decimeter and more.

When calculating the cost of one product, take into account the fact that the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe smallest skin is at least 40 square decimeters. For this reason, to make small items- jewelry, accessories and other things - it is unprofitable to purchase material in whole skins. And scraps of genuine leather can be purchased at the studio at a price of 100-200 rubles per kilogram. total area one kilogram of scraps is about 50-60 square decimeters.

What tools are required for working with leather

The list of the main ones includes scissors, knives, a wide and long metal ruler, a metal square, a French knife, a hole punch (punch), a vice, a clamp. Experts advise using special self-sharpening scissors for tailors. The following brands have proven themselves well: Scheren konig scissors, RTY-2 / DX Olfa knife, CK-2 Olfa utility knife, artwork AK-1/5B Olfa. In addition, you will need to purchase a circular knife and some other types of knives for special techniques and special types products.

If possible, try not to save on tools, because the quality of your work will directly depend on them. finished work. Experts recommend using knives with interchangeable blades, and not with solid ones, since the first option is more profitable.

Part necessary tools can be purchased at regular construction stores, and some - in specialized online stores, which usually deliver orders throughout the country. If you are still just learning and are not sure that making genuine leather products will become not just a hobby, but the basis for your business, then you can get by with less investment and use stationery and shoe knives for work, the cost of which is an order of magnitude lower than special expensive ones. tools. However, there are also disadvantages: when working with leather, the blades of stationery knives have to be changed more often, and shoe knives require frequent sharpening, so using them for a long time is not so profitable.

Each tool from the above list has its purpose. For example, using a wide long metal ruler and a metal square, you can cut off as evenly and safely as possible for your own fingers. required amount material. A French knife is used to cut (thin) the skin.

Since grinding is a very laborious procedure, it takes a lot of time and effort, therefore, usually they try to acquire the required thickness of the skin for such processing. The vise allows you to fix the product in desired position during work. With the help of a clamp, several parts are clamped big size when gluing. If you plan to make bags and other large items, it is best to purchase several clamps at once.

Ready-made ideas for your business

If you are a beginner in this field and did not have much experience in working with leather and making leather products, then it is better to consult with professionals in advance, before going for tools, read specialized literature and articles on thematic resources on the Internet. Such preliminary preparation will help you save a lot of money. For example, for working with leather, you can purchase inexpensive and fairly high-quality Stayer or Legioner hole punches, rather than special expensive models. They are sold in construction and sewing stores, as well as where a variety of goods for creativity are sold.

How to start a leather goods business

Study hand made leather products can be at home. The main thing is that you have at your disposal a fairly spacious and well-ventilated (which is important when working with adhesives) room where you can conveniently place a desktop, equipment, shelving with materials and finished products. There are no special requirements for workplace equipment. The main thing is that it is comfortable for you. For work will do any wide stable table.

But you need to take into account that when cutting and cutting parts for a product, the surface on which the material is laid out must be non-slip (otherwise the skin will constantly move out and you will not be able to carefully cut out the parts), solid (so that the knife does not get stuck in the base) and not textured. If you are working for wooden tabletop, then it must first be covered with a piece of linoleum, hardboard, plexiglass or at least plastic kitchen board or a plasticine modeling board (for small items), otherwise the knife will constantly “stray” from the line when cutting the skin and go along the wood fiber.

In addition to the actual skin and tools, you may also need various additional elements and materials - accessories (and equipment for its installation), paints, varnishes, etc. The exact list depends on the model and your imagination.

To begin with, it is better to choose products that do not take much time to manufacture: belts, simple decorations and casual accessories. Then, when you get your hands on it, find your own style and choose the technique that suits you, you can take a swing at more complex projects. However, think ahead about the pricing system for your products. Obviously, difficult to manufacture and exclusive handmade items will cost an order of magnitude more expensive than goods. industrial production. On the other hand, you need to rationally evaluate the level of your work and your skill. Experienced craftsmen advise novice entrepreneurs to set a small margin on their work, made for sale. As a rule, the calculation is given according to the scheme: the cost of materials plus 10-25% on top.

So you can learn for the first time, recoup the cost of materials and accessories, and at least slightly compensate for your efforts. For products over high level execution, the following scheme is usually used: the cost of the finished product plus 150-200% on top. Of course, this rule can change, because a lot depends on how much time and effort it took to work, how original it is, whether you have already earned given name(or rather, whether your name as a master has become a kind of brand).

Where to distribute leather products

You can search for the first and subsequent buyers both on the Internet and beyond. In the first case, experienced entrepreneurs are advised to create accounts in the most famous social networks And be sure to make your own website. You should also not ignore resources such as Etsy, the Craft Fair, etc. They may not become the main sales channel, but being on them will help you make your brand more recognizable. An important role (although often underestimated) is played by high-quality and beautiful photographs of your products. It is impossible to sell an expensive thing with a bad photo taken on a soap dish. To do this, you do not need to seek the help of a professional photographer. A good camera and thoughtful surroundings are enough to emphasize all the advantages of your product.

In addition, handmade genuine leather products are sold through regular, offline souvenir and gift stores, accessories, clothing, etc. Think in advance whether you will take orders or sell ready-made items. In the first case, you can increase your profits, but this option is associated with certain risks, especially if you do not take an advance payment from the customer.

Ready-made ideas for your business

The genuine leather business is profitable and not subject to seasonality (leather bags, belts, jewelry and accessories are generally in demand). all year round). About 30-50 thousand rubles will be required for the purchase of material, accessories and tools, as well as for training. But you can get by with less investment at the first stage if you have experience in this area and additional source income for the first six months.

280 people are studying this business today.

For 30 days, this business was interested in 96155 times.

Profitability calculator for this business

rent + salaries + public utilities etc. rub.

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Many mothers, while on parental leave, think about creating own business. If you know how and love to sew, then you can open a small production of slings.

Take a look around you. What do you see? I dare to suggest that since you are reading this post, you are at home at the computer. So what is around you? Standard apartment - dozens of the same are in your house, hundreds are on your street, thousands are in the city; furniture - similar stands in thousands of apartments of the same type, clothes - your peers are wearing exactly the same. In general, you already understand where I'm getting at. Let's talk about making leather goods with your own hands.

Most of the things that surround us are consumer goods - consumer goods. And as it happens, I want to stand out from the gray mass, to show my originality. Chin up. Still, you have one uniqueness for sure - it's you. The second such person can hardly be found in the world. Hope you get the joke. But, nevertheless, the originality of hand-made has always been valued much higher than "stamping", whether it is building a house according to an individual project, or handmade leather products.

Consumer goods and exclusive: the difference in cost

Why do you think handmade products are always more expensive than those whose production is put on stream? It would be interesting to hear your answers (I hope you leave them in the comments to the article), but for now I will offer my options:

• Uniqueness created thing. If you purchased, say, a picture of wood, you can be sure that there is no other one like it in the world (even if the author makes exactly the same, there will still be differences!). In general, there is a special term for this - exclusive.
• Time it takes disproportionately more to create a thing by hand than to "stamp".
• No matter how it sounds, another reason for the increased cost is the special energy products. The master, creating a masterpiece (well, or just doing his job), puts a piece of his soul into it. I think that without this it is simply impossible to create something really worthwhile. Something that will pay very good money.
• Quality. Often such things are created to order (for example, tailoring a suit or dress), taking into account the individual wishes of the customer when creating.

Handmade leather goods: a "field of miracles" for business

Cheaper leatherette, thrown onto the market by literally tons of different products, has not been able to displace or surpass real leather in popularity. Although the quality of the "fake" is sometimes at such a level that you can distinguish eco-leather or vinyl-leather from natural product very hard.

Often, leatherette can be found even in the showrooms of expensive foreign cars, although such “games” between luxury car manufacturers and customers are fraught not only with a loss of brand confidence, but also with numerous lawsuits and huge financial losses. Therefore, heading for the manufacture of goods from genuine leather, God forbid, "knock down" the direction, and try to deceive the consumer.

If you start listing all leather products that can be made by hand, then this, perhaps, will turn out to be a separate article. Therefore, let's try to put together the most popular handmade leather products (well, or almost all), which are in the greatest demand:

• Leather shoes - boots, shoes, shoes, in general, shoes for any season and for any weather.
• Leather clothing - jackets, coats, vests, trousers, shorts, T-shirts. As in the manufacture of shoes, leather for clothing is an “all-weather” material.
• Bags, backpacks, briefcases, leather folders for papers, etc.
• Belts.
• Wallets and purses.
• Various accessories. This includes business card holders, caskets and chests, cases for keys, flasks, bottles, decanters, and other decorative items.
• Jewelry - straps, frames, cases, bracelets, etc.
• Bindings for books, notebooks and notebooks, diaries.
• Hunting accessories - gun and knife cases, cartridge belts, game bags, etc.

And although, of course, there are much more leather products, you can already choose any direction from this list that will bring excellent income.

Business organization

As for almost any offline business, first of all you will need a room in which you will open your production. In principle, there are no special requirements for the workshop, apart from the features necessary for the manufacture of certain types of leather products. For example, for tailoring leather clothes, a room is needed larger area than for making leather belts. In addition, it must have, in addition to the production workshop, customer reception and fitting room. Perhaps the only (not mandatory!) Condition will be the possibility of opening a small shop in production where you will sell your products. But more on that later.

Another important question is where to get the material for production. First of all, these are, of course, specialized stores. Also, farms engaged in livestock breeding and dressing of skins can serve as sources for raw materials. You can try to arrange supplies from sewing studios, which often have suitable trimmings. Well, of course, you can not ignore the "second hand" - old leather goods.

Having decided on the premises and arranged the supply of leather, it's time to think about the tool with which you will work with leather products. As a rule, whatever you do with leather, you will definitely need:

• Various knives, cutters, and scissors.
• Various types of metal rulers, squares.
• Hole punch, or, as it is called - a punch.
• Vice or clamp.
• Sewing hooks.

This is the essential. Optional equipment purchased depending on the type of product produced.

To be or not to be... official business?

Whether or not to register your business is up to you. On the one hand, there is a reduction in tax payments and other deductions, on the other hand, possible troubles with regulatory authorities. Learn how to choose between a sole proprietorship and a society with limited liability you can, how to register an LLC, and how to open an IP - by clicking on the links. If you decide to sell your products through an online store, then this publication will help you -.

How to find "your" client

Surely many of you have heard the expression that a person works for his name for half of his life, the second - the name works for him. I am sure that this applies to absolutely all hand-made ideas. The quality of the products will definitely make your brand recognizable. But first you need to find your customers. Take part in various exhibitions, presentations, shows where you can show your products. I already mentioned a small shop in production, as well as about the development of online sales.