Adding quality to leather goods

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EXPANDING at an average of one store every two to three months, newcomer retail chain Leather Avenue’s main aim is to “shake up” the leather goods and accessories scene in Malaysia.

Ever since opening their first store in Sungei Wang in May 2010, the chain now boasts 12 stores, with 11 in the Klang Valley, one in Plaza Gurney and a 13th outlet opening soon in Queensbay Mall in Penang.

Handy: The company aims to bring in merchandise with quality craftsmanship and leather including this leatherbound wine case with accessories.

For the retail chain’s general manager Stanny Chan, the eventual goal is to become the leading leather goods and accessories retailer in Malaysia in the coming two to three years, and a regional player in five years or so.

Chan said the Malaysian leather goods and accessories market has become too fixed and traditional, with what termed as “tired” forms of presentation and fashion styles.

“That is not how it should be. Fashion shouldn’t be too fixed or formal, and this applies to leather goods and accessories as well, because they also constitute an important part of a person’s image as well.

“And with what we put on our stands and retail here, the whole point is not to limit yourself,” he added.

Dynamic duo: Toh (right) and Chan (left) working hard to expand their retail chain.

Drawing on a combined 50-odd years of experience in marketing and retailing leather goods, Chan and his associate Kenny Toh aim to expose more Malaysians to quality workmanship and craft in leather goods beyond designer labels.

Carrying brands from Europe, Latin America and Asia, Chan and Toh pointed out that these lesser-known brands were comparable in quality and workmanship to designer labels, but are more affordable for the general Malaysian public.