Shop Talk! May 2022

We just wrapped up dance season at our house. Being the mother of five daughters, and having three of the five in dance, we spend the first four and a half months of the year at dance competitions. Miss Aliza, my youngest, really came out of her shell this year. She even had a big solo part in her jazz dance and played her part to a tee. She was giddy with joy when they were awarded at each competition for their efforts. I saw so much growth in my 11-year-old, Audrey Lynn, this year. Her movement became more intentional and I could tell she had really begun to apply the years of foundational instruction she has been given. Her group was also amazing and won awards at each competition.…

LYNN ASCRIZZI Lynn Ascrizzi is a freelance writer, artist, poet and home gardener who lives in a home that she and her husband, Joe, built in the woods in Freedom, Maine. In the past five years, she has written extensively for ShopTalk! Early on, she taught art and English in public schools and was senior editor, illustrator and art director for Farmstead, a national magazine for small farming and home gardening. Later, she was lifestyle editor, feature writer and syndicated columnist for Central Maine Newspapers. Her poems have been published in several journals and in two anthologies by Down East Books: “Take Heart: Poems From Maine,” (2013) and “Take Heart: More Poems From Maine,” (2016). TODD SALZMAN Todd Salzman joined the Hermann Oak team almost 11 years ago as a supervisor in the…

Tandy Leather Roper-Style Wallet Make a classic Roper-style wallet with Tandy’s new kit that includes all of the leather pieces and hardware you need, along with detailed assembly instructions with photos. Wallet design includes snap closures, card pockets, zippered money/change pocket, and wrist lanyard. Leather Cruppers by Bowman Harness For many years Bowman Harness has been manufacturing quality handmade leather cruppers. These cruppers are filled with flax seed which produces an oil that helps preserve the leather from drying out. The black or russet horse size cruppers are available with or without buckles. Cruppers are also made in draft, pony, and mini sizes. Call Bowman Harness at 330-893-4151 to place an order. Latigo Leather by American Leather Direct ChahinLeather® latigo is produced using a chrome tannage followed by a vegetable re-tan for maximum durability. This…

I had the opportunity to catch up with Odin Clack during one of Jim Linnell’s recent tooling workshops. The founder and owner of Odin Leather Goods, his business has grown to be a sizable enterprise over the last 10 years, now operating out of two dedicated brick-and-mortar retail locations, as well as having a fairly robust online presence. Odin has been a great advocate for leatherworking; he and his family have been featured in numerous news stories and television segments promoting the craft. Most notably, Odin Leather Goods had an episode dedicated to their business on the show Self Employed, on Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network. Magnus: I appreciate you spending a little bit of time with me today. Now, I know you’ve been successful in bringing a lot of…

72% of Americans reducing spending due to rising inflation This week Jungle Scout, the leading all-in-one platform for e-commerce sellers, released its Q1 2022 Consumer Trends Report, surveying 1,000 U.S. consumers on spending and e-commerce habits. The report found that 72% of American consumers have reduced their spending due to rising inflation, mainly by cutting down in “fun” or “impulse” purchases. 38% of consumers reported an overall reduction in spending, and 34% said they were cutting down on online shopping. The report also found that consumers were drawn to discounts and deals, with 53% making purchases when offered a deal or coupon and 47% stating that they only purchased products that were marked down. 47% of consumers cited affordability as the main driver of brand loyalty, beating out other factors like quality,…

When ShopTalk! reached out asking if I would be interested in contributing to Industry Tips, my first thought was I would love to. Soon, a second thought crossed my mind, what can I provide to the industry? Seriously, I work with an amazing group of people in St. Louis, Missouri, that take great pride in producing and providing high quality leather. How can I honestly give tips to the amazing artisans, craftsmen and women in this industry? As I struggled for the perfect topic to cover, ideas were all over the place. Should I dive into our 141-year heritage of making leather right here in the Midwest? How about the four generations of Hermann’s that have overseen and ran Hermann Oak? What about the 5th generation that is already an intricate…