There is always something exciting going on behind the scenes at Townsend Leather, but lately things have especially been a-buzz with an intriguing new connection and a multitude of developments.
The well traveled, well known, designer, brand, art-in-everything-finder, and fascinating personality – Stacy Garcia is developing a line of leathers with Townsend Leather!
Stacy Garcia, Inc. Partners with Townsend Leather
Stacy and her design team have been working closely with Townsend over the past weeks to generate ideas and create some truly exciting new leathers. The ART& D process started when Stacy’s ‘genius and design’ team visited with Townsend Leather in upstate New York, to combine forces with our ‘craft and design’ team.
The teams spent a the day wandering Townsend, reviewing samples, and pouring over Stacy’s catalog of gorgeous products to find inspiration and make an attempt to narrow in on the nearly limitless possibilities of which beautiful leathers to create.
The teams got deep into the process. Discussing the intricate details of leather production, color development, creating the perfect feel, hand, and texture, and how to bring it all together into a must-have, beautiful, luxurious leather.
The teams continue to revise, refine, and perfect the leathers – still in the ART & D process and not ready for public view. But check back soon and keep your eyes pealed on twitter for new announcements and future sneak peeks.
@StacyGarciaInc partners with @TownsendLeather http://t.co/kEXi5B22VM #hoteldesign http://t.co/aoEi6i3F4x
— InspireDesign (@myinspiredesign) June 12, 2015
Here’s the sneak peek for now though…still very early in development, but sharp eyed viewers might be able to pick out a few pieces of the possible exciting new Stacy Garcia leathers in the photos below.
We will have special releases for a select few over the coming months. A few very special sneak peeks at the initial production, but most customers will have to wait until the official launch this fall.
We could not be more excited about this relationship and the incredible things that are being created. The process so far has been easy and fun, our teams mesh so well you would think they have been working together for years. And we think you are going to feel that ease, fun, harmonious synergy, and beauty in the final product.
With how many custom requests we fulfill and because our Art & D Team is always creating – we generate a lot of new products, all the time, at Townsend.
Even with new stuff coming out regularly, it is so satisfying and exciting to craft, refine, edit, and perfect a new formally recognized crafted and curated leather line. This Spring/Summer Season we have introduced 3 satisfying and exciting crafted products and 1 full collection.
If you haven’t seen these products at our recent tradeshows or in person at our facility, we are proud to introduce these beautiful additions to you now.
Our New Product Showcase…
Townsend Leather’s craftsmen and women have created stunning examples of what the best leather in the world can look like with our Regal Cowhide, Voyager Cowhide, Metallic Perfectly Pebbled new products.
Regal Cowhide is our best grade of premium cowhide with a lustrous pearlescent or sparkling metallic finish that accents perfectly the subtle antiquing effect. This leather is offered in a sophisticated and beautiful color palette, ideal for creating an alluring and chic look. Look for coordinating colors in our Classic and Voyager products.
Voyager Cowhide is our best grade of premium cowhide with a refined and subtle antique effect that highlights the smooth, natural grain of this selected hide. This leather is offered in a sophisticated color palette, ideal for creating an alluring and chic look. Look for coordinating colors in our Classic and Regal products.
Regal and Voyager are part of our Jetsetter Collection. Think of our Jetsetter Collection just like you would a collection of clothing pieces by the same designer. This collection tells 4 color stories, and when you use the leathers in this collection alone or in different combinations with each other, you can produce multiple looks, all unique and beautiful.
A mix and match set of luxury leather inspired by the high life and the jet setter attitude, the Jetsetter Collection is an opportunity to create. These leathers are hand selected to coordinate and create beauty wherever they’re used.
Metallic Perfectly Pebbled takes texture to new heights and transforms four metal-inspired colors onto leather. These hides are produced as an aniline-dyed, finished cowhide that have been embossed with a small pebble grain embossing and accented with popular tone-on-tone metallic effects. Offered in whole cowhides, averaging 55-60 sf each, these leathers meet all industry standards and are suitable for most all upholstery and wall applications.
Metallic Perfectly Pebbled highlights a color range of soft metals that is warmth in hue, but emphasizes the brilliancy of each pebbled tip. Mixing combinations of rustic and retro styles with comfortable, classy, and modern design creates gorgeous interior spaces. Metallic Perfectly Pebbled is the perfect transitional leather.
An ever-changing, ever-improving favorite event of Townsend’s was held recently.
Our Longevity Luncheon.
Townsend takes part of a day each year to spend time specifically focused on Partners that are celebrating a milestone anniversary at Townsend. Taking time to honor Townsend Partners celebrating 1, 5, 10… even up to 35 year anniversary’s of working at Townsend Leather. It was a day full of laughs, meaning, fun, prizes, tacos, and hugs!
The event started off with a couple of ‘cool rides’, our lunch was catered by our local crowd-pleasing Moe’s restaurant and there was even a cool Firetruck cooler for raffle.
A basket of happy goodness was also raffled off to help raise money for our Relay For Life Team
Every company luncheon is a busy, fun time, but this one was especially great. With stories, prizes, and memorable moments.
Partners celebrating 20 years were gifted a Townsend Leather in-house crafted custom ottoman.
The day was filled with heartfelt moments and meaningful times. There is something magical about celebrating each others longevity. Taking a moment to reflect on the time that has passed the lessons learned, the growth, the experience, the knowledge gained. Especially when it is family and people that feel like family. One of our esteemed honorees was SVP of Customer Service, Tricia Martin, officially on the books for 15 years, shown above being celebrated by her sister, SVP of Sales and Marketing, Sarah Eckler.
With about 150 Partners and guests, it was a full happy house. Our President, Jared Eckler, hosted the days events by sharing stories and memories, passing out letters, gifts, handshakes and laughs. Providing a excellent balance of humor and meaning, with a keen perspective of the history of the company and knowledge of each honoree’s personal history.
There were hugs for everyone and special gifts for many. Our music lovin’ SVP of Finance, Kim Russo, was gifted a special gift by her accounting team for her 10 years at Townsend. A giant poster signed by her team, to please her eyes all day as she sits and studies the numbers, of the one and only Bruce Springsteen. She was more than delighted to receive it.
We had almost 50 Partners in total to honor that day celebrating 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 year anniversaries. Each getting their own special recognition and gifts.
After taking time to honor each of our celebrated anniversaries, we surprised Jared with a couple awards of his own. SVP of Production, Jeff Martin, presented an award signed by nearly everyone in the company to Jared and spoke of his urgency, willingness, and expertise at “getting sh*t done”. Jeff spoke from the heart and celebrated Jared’s love of Townsend Partners.
Executive Administrative Assistant, Rebecca Danelorich, then presented Jared with a “Best Captain’s Award” on behalf of our management team. Rebecca was nervous to speak but blew the room away with her prepared words. She blended humor and heart speaking to Jared’s leadership abilities and making the sentiments ring true to everyone there. You can see her holding her long long scroll of speech notes in the picture below, it reached all the way to the floor!
And Jared’s wife and SVP of Sales and Marketing, Sarah Eckler then took the stage to further express Jared’s love of Townsend Partners and his desire to help everyone become the best versions of themselves. Sarah’s love of Jared and Townsend was visible in her talk and she presented Jared with a plaque of his 40 Under 40 Leadership award.
Surprise!
Many Townsend Partners mentioned this event was their favorite yet, they loved the relaxed feel, the time to honor each other, the funny stories, the food, and just the fact that it happens at all. Many people noticed this is a unique thing for a company to spend time doing and its impact is deep and long lasting.
“I loved seeing everyone’s surprise and excitement over what you were saying about them and the gifts they were receiving. These luncheons always seem to happen around the perfect times too. Everyone is super busy this week, but was nice to take the time and step back for the hour and enjoy some inspiring and heartfelt items rather than always being in the grind.”
“Wanted to share with you that I discussed the lunch in with my wife and she stated that it is great that we do this for the partners and wished her company did such a thing”
“Food was great!”
“The personal messages were very touching, Jared spoke from the heart and beautifully”
“Our guest felt extremely welcomed during this event, and now they event want to apply at Townsend!”
We take pride in our events and take seriously any opportunity to celebrate our awesome team. This was a fantastic event and we are looking forward to making next year’s even better!
A team of dedicated Townsend Partners took special time and effort this past weekend to show their support for friends and family, to get involved in the community, and to take an action toward helping create a future that holds no place for cancer. Once again, Team Townsend was out at our local Relay For Life, raising money and spirits.
Team Townsend had a variety of fund raising efforts, selling water and goodies, selling hand-crafted inspiring crafts from one of our own, Tiffany, donations, a super fun casino bus trip, and even working with our local Applebee’s restaurant!
The final total is still out, but Team Townsend has raised over $1800 toward cancer research so far this year!
The Team had so much fun working hard at the Fulton-Montgomery Relay for Life. The team manned the Townsend Tent for the hundreds of people walking around by selling items, raffling a handbag, giving hair extensions, and painting faces.
Thank you so much to Louise Kucel, Jamie Kucel, Mary Ellen Palmateer, Rebecca Danelorich, Larissa Groesbeck, Tiffany Young, Ashley Donald, Kim Russo, Cindy Moyer and her mother Merry, Sharon Wager and fiancé Tim, Cheryl & Steppy Brothers, Jared, Olivia, and Sarah Eckler, Cathy Willis and her daughters. You each helped make this a meaningful and impactful time. Your involvement, passion, and care made this a special memorable event, and is an example of how awesome Team Townsend truly is.
Everyone at the Relay For Life event has stories and memories of the time. One memorable story stuck out for one of our team’s face painters, the master of crafts, Tiffany:
“I met a family that really stuck out in my mind; they were one of the first face painting customers that I had Saturday morning. Their 2 year old daughter was a miracle baby! The mother is a survivor of brain cancer, which was reluctant to rid her body. She suffered in many different ways and the doctor pretty much told her that she would never have children. Then, she became pregnant with their daughter. They visited the booth twice, for two different face paintings during the day. It was very touching hearing her story and having the opportunity to meet someone so thankful and happy about Life after Cancer. She was truly an inspiration. She was emotional telling the story, but kept looking down at her daughter with a huge smile on her face. I do not think I will ever forget them.”
Relay for life events always hold so much emotion and meaning. Everyone knows someone touched by cancer and that is what makes the luminary lighting, after the sun sets, such powerful.
“The luminary lighting at night is always a beautiful and memorable part of the event as it really brings it home how many people are affected by cancer.”
Donations are being accepted for Townsend’s Relay For Life Team until August, click here for info and to donate, Team Townsend Relay For Life
Looking forward to Relay for Life 2016.
Most places have an R&D team to develop and test products, but Townsend has an ART & D Team to create and inspire with products.
Our team of leather experts have years of balanced history, spending as much time creating art as they have working with leather. They understand leather on a chemical and physical level, knowing what finishes and products will work and last with the leather, knowing what will stand up the the abuse a seat sees in a lifetime, and knowing how to work with every kind of hide. All while still having a deep understanding of complimentary colors, artistic balance, various creation techniques.
This is much more than a Research & Development team, this is a Art & Design Team creating products that inspire, impress, and delight.
This week our ART & D team, under the direction of our head resident artist, has been hard at working creating a stunning new collection. This is still in the early stages, not ready for sampling or details, but take a look at some of the photos of these eye catching pieces and the companions.
Luxury, hand crafted, artistically developed, painted pig skin that can be easily translated to goat, lamb or cow hide as well. This collection especially showcases our capability to create distinctively designed leathers using a variety of techniques and utilize a full range of materials and be fun and attractive while doing so.
A Super Team of Townsend Partners took a trip to Albany yesterday, to participate in the huge CDPHP Workforce Challenge 5K event.
Our team had matching “Super Townsend” shirts and even Townsend Capes! to help speed them along during the run.
After some relaxed conversation and fun team camaraderie on the bus trip down, our super crew arrived at the run along with 10,200+ other participants!
This is a huge event with companies from all over the area participating. It was perfect weather, cool and overcast, with beautiful scenery to take a run or a walk. And even in that size crowd you could still spot Townsend super heroes here and there.
The excitement to start was palpable. With that many people all anxious to move – you can feel the buzz around you. And to know we were running to raise money for charity, made the event even more exciting and meaningful.
A couple of our team were even spotted by Times Union.
Everyone did awesome and were still all smiles at the end of the race.
The event was tremendous fun with a truly super team. We are looking forward to next year!
Townsend Leather had an exciting time celebrating Earth Day 2015, balanced with fun and meaning.
Townsend is so lucky to have such scenic beautiful property. We spent part of the day outside in our company pavilion next to our pond enjoying food, conversation, and the great outdoors. Our annual event focused on having fun and enjoying the beautiful area we live and work in – our own backyard.
Not many people can say they work at a place with its own pavilion, outdoor seating areas, grass to walk in, trees to sit under, plants to admire, a creek to listen to, and even their own pond! But we are so grateful for our access to nature and this day we fully enjoyed it.
After some food and relaxation, Jared spoke to the group relaying the news of our newly awarded 2015 Top Work Place recognition and excitement for the impress team we have.
We then, as a company, took a moment to reflect on Townsend’s past and honored the late great matriarch of Townsend Leather, Dorothy Kucel.
When we are all fed, we will gather by the Red Memorial Park sign, to take a moment to reflect on Townsend’s past and to honor the late great matriarch of Townsend – Dorothy Kucel.
Dorothy, Red Kucel’s (Townsend Leather Founder) wife / Terry Kucel’s(Chairman of the Board/Townsend Legend), Louise Kucel’s (Shipping Leader), and Kevin Kucel’s(Director of OEM Aircraft Sales) mother / Sarah (SVP of Sales and Marketing) and Tricia’s (SVP of Customer Service) grandmother, and relative or friend to countless other… was a founding member of Townsend Leather and instrumental to its history and lore, she passed away this past fall.
Townsend Partners honored her legacy and memory by planting lilac bushes (her favroite) at the Red Kucel Memorial Park (Townsend’s pavilion/park/backyard).
After honoring a Townsend legacy we took some time to honor the earth, in one of the strangest and funnest ways we could. We had prepared to garden areas in front of our main building and then we setup for fun! Using “Seed Bombs” from our friends on Etsy we planted wildflowers.
How often do you get to throw dirt clumps at your boss?! We planted wildflowers by throwing them at our President and SVP of Production! They were kept safe with custom made cardboard shields and face masks, but as soon as we said the word go a storm of seed bombs were launched their way!
Most were hand thrown, but we also had a handcrafted catapult on hand to give the seeds some extra umph!
Jared and Jeff were great sports about it and kept the fun going until the last seed was thrown.
We worked together to press the seeds in and jump start the growth.
It was tremendous fun with lots of laughs and good times. Watching the smiles on everyone’s faces as the seed bombs were launched and exploded against Jeff and Jared’s shields (and sometimes heads or faces) was a delight. This is an impressive team of people who so willingly join together to make fun and meaningful moments happen. We can’t wait for next year!
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There is always something exciting going on behind the scenes at Townsend Leather, but lately things have especially been a-buzz with an intriguing new connection and a multitude of… Full Aritcle
