All in the Family

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We spoke with Sara Hickman, advertising manager at Leather Brothers Inc. to discuss popular products and the history of
the company.

Rebekah: How did Leather Brothers get its start?

Sara: Brothers Louis and Steve Schrekenhofer established Leather Brothers Inc. in 1976 manufacturing quality pet products.

With leather craftsmanship running in the family blood, the third-generation leather workers began making dog collars and over the years have transformed this unique item into a thriving business.

Steve and Louis started out selling to the hunting and equine industry, working primarily with leather making dog collars and horse tack. In 1985, they decided to focus on dog products, which continue to be a primary focus in their business today. Their manufacturing expertise will guarantee customer satisfaction and give customers the peace of mind that they are getting a product from experienced and trustworthy people.

Rebekah: Leather Brothers carries a lot of products. Which are the most popular?

Sara: Our product line is so diverse and large there is always something that will compliment the product you already carry.

Our most popular items would probably be our leather collars in general, since our skill has been finely tuned into leather for over 37 years. We have developed a niche for this market that sets the standard high for leather collars and leads.

Rebekah: How does Leather Brothers set itself apart from other pet product companies?

Sara: Leather Brothers is one of the few remaining “cut and sew” pet product factories in the United States. We still produce a large portion of our products in central Arkansas, with a skilled workforce which we are very proud of.

Helping with the resurgence of American-made products within the pet industry has been a blessing.

Another thing that sets Leather Brothers apart is that we are still a family run and operated business. One of the biggest challenges for family businesses is the passing to the next generation and we have been blessed to see this happen.

Rebekah: How did the company name come about?

Sara: The name Leather Brothers came about one night when Steve and Louis showed up at their parents’ house both wearing leather jackets, to which their mother exclaimed, “Look, it’s the leather brothers!” And the name stuck.