Happy 4th of July! Proud to be Made in the USA
Once again Townsend Leather will shut down production for one week at the beginning of July. For a countless number of years, Townsend Leather has taken the 4th of July week to catch up,… Full Aritcle
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Once again Townsend Leather will shut down production for one week at the beginning of July.
For a countless number of years, Townsend Leather has taken the 4th of July week to catch up, clean up, and prepare for the second half of the year. We also take this week off from manufacturing production as a way to celebrate, remember, and honor our independence and the greatness of our country.
Most of the company will be on vacation during the week (June 30 – July 4), getting much need rest, enjoying time with families, and getting out to explore the beauty of our local Adirondack mountains, which are especially wonderful this time of year. However, Townsend’s Customer Service, Accounting, and Sample Department teams will be here next week, as will our maintenance crew, to keep things moving and to make sure things will go smoothly when we ramp back up on July 7th.
Everyone here at Townsend takes this time of celebration and national pride especially to heart. We are proud to be Made in the USA. Over the past few decades, manufacturing in the United States has undergone a massive change, outsourcing and decline. So few products are actually made, built, manufactured, and crafted in the USA anymore that the ones of us that are left are quick to join together to shout our collective pride.
Fortunately, it looks like the times are changing yet again (as they always will) and many customers and companies are recognizing the need for the high quality and high value that can only come from more locally-produced materials. We benefit from such a remarkable country where we are held to the highest of standards and regulations environmentally, with work conditions, quality claims and more, but still are offered an unparalleled independence and freedom to explore, research, and be creative. All of which leads us to create the absolute best possible leather.
Our country, freedom, and history allow us to handcraft our leather with the wisdom of years and years of experience, along with the highest-caliber cutting-edge technology.
And so, we take 4th of July and celebrations of our country seriously, as it means much more than fireworks and hotdogs to us.
It means the ability to voice our opinions
It means having confidence in our leaders
It means freedom to try new things
It means certainty in our rights
It means the ability to challenge and question those rights
It means knowing where we stand and where we don’t
It means freedom to change our minds
It means independence from overbearing rule
It means creativity
It means self-expression
It means advancement
It means being cared for
It means caring for others
It means all men are created equal
It means remembering those that came before us
It means remembering what they gave so we could have more
It means learning from our history
It means looking toward a bright future
It means the unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
It means everything that makes our country, our state, our county, our city, our work, our products, and our people great.
It means so much.
And that is why this 4th of July, we proudly celebrate our pride in being Made in the USA.
Townsend started this week off right! With a meaningful celebration.
We held our annual company-wide Longevity Luncheon, where we celebrate and honor employees’ years of dedicated service to Townsend Leather.
This year we celebrated 25 partners’ notable work anniversaries. 25 different employees celebrating anniversaries ranging from 1 to 45 years at Townsend Leather!
The day was filled with delicious food made from local ingredients provided by local companies, good conversation, and great company. Many laughs were shared among the stories and notes of celebration.
Each of the 25 partners, with notable work anniversaries in 2014, were given gifts and had some meaningful sentiments read aloud to the whole company about them and their significance at Townsend.
Townsend is proud of our team and owes so much to everyone’s years of dedicated service. As was humorously pointed out at the luncheon, some of the Townsend veterans have been working, adding value, sharing wisdom, and making Townsend better – for longer than other employees have even been alive! But when celebrating work anniversaries of a big group of 1 year employees, along with seasoned veterans of 40 years, the age difference is bound to be noticeable. We know, though, this range of age, experience, and knowledge is what makes Townsend so strong. Being able to bring so many ideas to the table, being able to learn so much from each other, and being able to be so flexible makes Townsend, and its people, the powerhouse it is.
Congratulations to all the partners that were honored at the luncheon.
We look forward to many more years together.
Townsend is lucky to have such interesting, excited, and vocal customers. We are hearing all the time from satisfied designers. We are proud to play a part in the final successful projects. We don’t see as many photos, as we do compliments though, so it is always very exciting when we get to see images of the final projects.
The always wonderful and friendly Barbara at Zweig Decorating Ideas recently contacted us to let us know how pleased she was with her leather order. But then up-ed the compliment by sending along some photos and letting us see it for ourselves.
We have talked about pairing of leather and fabric a few times before Custom Leather & Reason 17 and this sofa by Zweig is worthy of continuing that conversation. The analogous color scheme of grays is brought to life with the variation of sheen and texture between Townsend’s Pearlized leather and the fabric.
Do you have photos of your projects? Your designs? Your use of leather? Let us know, send your photos and project info to info@townsendleather.com and you could featured on our website too!
Townsend Leather is full of interesting and exciting people.
Each bringing their own unique perspectives and life experience to their work. We are lucky to have a group of people with such varied interests and incredible talent.
One of our expert Cutting-Department-Partners recently displayed their own incredible talent and passion by winning a National Championship!
BJ Smith, Townsend Leather employee and motocross race expert, won the National Championship Title in Las Vegas earlier this year, and everyone at Townsend Leather is quite proud of his accomplishment.
BJ has been racing motocross for many years and has honed his craft here in upstate New York. He has traveled around the north east winning races and making fans, on his way to the AMSOIL National Arenacross Series East Coast Over 25 ProAm championship.
Johnstown area local newspaper, The Leader Herald, covered BJ’s story from beginning to end. You can see those articles here (If you are interested in some exciting Johnstown local news, and reading more about an interesting and skilled Townsend employee, please read these articles – they have a lot of great information about BJ and his racing):
BJ Smith of Townsend Leather is Vegas Bound
and
BJ Smith of Townsend Leather Wins National Championship
BJ had lots of friends and family supporting him along the way and many even came to see him race in person. A couple of caring Townsend partners even took up a secret fundraiser when news of his Vegas trip spread, and raised money to help fund his trip.
BJ has expressed tremendous thanks to everyone who has helped him and supported him.
“So many people helped me, I haven’t even been able to thank everyone, they couldn’t fit it all in the newspaper!”
He is quite deserving of that help and support, as he is so clearly passionate about his craft.
BJ is a relentlessly laid back person, taking everything in stride and keeping an incredible positive outlook on life. He is warm, friendly, and approachable, but he clearly can “turn it on” when needed with intense focus, and unbeatable dexterity.
BJ earned this win through years of hard work and determination, training, and practicing. He has an excellent team behind him, and with his craft and passion he is able to pull through and accomplish great things.
On behalf of everyone at Townsend Leather, we are extremely proud of you BJ and proud to have so many individuals, full of – unique expertise, commitment to craft, and dedication to passion, like you – on our Townsend Team. People like you and your exclusive abilities are what make Townsend such an incredible group of people and having the opportunity to grow, explore, and share those abilities is what makes Townsend such a great place.
Congratulations BJ!
Townsend Leather’s team has returned from a hugely successful time in Las Vegas for the HD Expo.
See the Sneak Peak here, HD & EBACE Sneak Peak
The time was spent meeting with customers and incredible designers, showing our new leathers, and picking up all the industry trends.
Townsend featured some brand new leathers and gave a sneak peak of some leathers that were newer then new! Our new Fifth Avenue Cowhide and Softina Cowhide quickly became designers new favorites and we will be sending out a staggering amount of samples for these in the coming days.
Townsend was also featured in the Hospitality Design magazine (shown at top) with their HD Expo edition. Giving a spotlight to our ever-popular Roger Thomas Faux Parchment leather.
“HD Expo Preview. PRODUCTS. ROGER THOMAS.
From ceramics to carpets, the various collections from Wynn Design and Development’s executive vice president of design will be displayed in the exhibit hall. The Faux Parchment Lambskin leather Thomas created with Townsend Leather invokes the look of genuine parchment with a soft feel, suitable for wallcovering or upholstery use. townsendleather.com”
And in the HD Expo daily news another new exciting Townsend Leather was featured, our Illusions.
“HD Expo Show Daily.
Townsend Leather’s new offering, Illusions, is inspired by geometric patterns and can be used on a variety of leather products, such as cowhide, lambskin, goatskin, or suede. Booth #1665″
Townsend’s booth was very busy with our Reps from all over the country stopping in, helping out, meeting with customers, answering questions and celebrating the new leathers. But it wasn’t just the new leathers that were a hit with this design-centric crowd, our Abstract Art, Fierce Fish, Galuchat, and All That Jazz were all crowd pleasers as well.
The booth was clean, sleek, and easy to navigate through, making it a great place to meet and talk leather.
It was all around a great show and Townsend is looking forward to next years already!
But that’s not all! Townsend is already right back at it, across the planet in Geneva Switzerland for the annual EBACE show.
The show has opened already to great success. Townsend is busy showing our new leathers there as well, but with a focus on our capabilities of understanding customers specific needs and industries.
With exciting new leathers, a modern sleek booth, and our aircraft industry expertise – this is sure to be a great show!
EBACE – Booth #3026 at EBACE May 20-22
Bombardier Unveils The Global 7000 Mock-up—the largest in Business Aviation
On April 27th Townsend Leather was recognized as a Top Work Place of 2014 in all of the Greater Capital Region of New York. you can see the full write-up here, Townsend Leather Top Work Place 2014
Townsend Leather is incredibly proud to be recognized as a Top Work Place AND Best Place to Work for 2014!
In late April of 2014, New York Capital Region’s premier news source, The Times Union, awarded 45 companies the honor of Top Work Place 2014.
Townsend Leather is proud and honored to have been selected as one of them.
*UPDATE: Now Townsend Leather has been recognized a second time this year. The Albany Business Review has honored Townsend Leather as a Best Place To Work in 2014 for the Albany Area! Read more here, Townsend Leather Best Place to Work!
Each year the Times Union explores the large Greater Capital District for worthy companies. Over 600 companies were looked at as potential Top Work Place honorees. Through detailed analysis of thousands of employee submitted surveys, The Times Union and Workforce Dynamics narrowed down the top employers in the region to just 45 companies.
Each of these 45 companies, were categorized into three size categories: Large (500+ employees), Mid-Sized (150-499 employees), and Small (35-149 employees).
Townsend Leather was selected as one of the top 15 Mid-Size companies.
A team of representatives from Townsend attend the exciting and beautiful award ceremony held shortly after the honorees were announced, on Thursday, April 24th at The Desmond Hotel in Albany. The awards were handed out amongst cheers and celebration, with each company honored by a personalized tribute and company biography, as well as handpicked “theme” songs for their award-retrieval-walk.
Townsend Leather’s team waited anxiously for their name to be announced and was elated when the moment came and proudly walked to the podium to the tune of the “Cheers Theme Song”/Everybody Knows Your Name! Everyone felt it was a fitting song, as everyone who works at Townsend feels like family, and the Townsend Leather name is known across the world. It feels great to spend every day at a place where “everybody knows your name” and truly cares about the job they do and the people they work alongside.
“There is a family atmosphere here and everyone works as a team towards the same goal. ” – Townsend Employee
Townsend Leather was not only recognized as a Top Work Place, but was in fact ranked as the Number 4 Mid-Size Work Place! A top 5 placer!
And even more than that, Townsend Leather was the
Number 1 Manufacturer in the Greater Capital Region!
It is the Townsend employees, the Townsend community, the Townsend family that make Townsend what it is. All the employees at Townsend who come every day to share their skills and passions, push things forward, and do so with a smile on their face – this is what makes Townsend a great company and a Top Place to work. Townsend Leather was awarded this recognition for and by its employees. And it is truly the employees that have earned it because they are the people that ensure a positive and fulfilling work atmosphere. Townsend employees are some of the most passionate, hardest-working, and quality-driven people you will find anywhere. Their wholehearted and overwhelmingly positive responses to the survey questions on subjects such as the company’s vision & mission, its leadership, its sense of teamwork and community, and benefits resulted in making Townsend Leather recognized as a Top Work Place.
The Times Union stated: What stands out, once again, is that the 45 workplaces named to the list are not necessarily those that pay the most or are the most glamorous at which to work, but rather they are the places that value employee input, make people feel appreciated and foster a sense of connection — among their ranks and in the wider community.
Townsend was even singled out as a company that represented strong company ethics and values; as quoted in the Times Union:
This company operates by strong values and ethics. • Townsend Leather Co Inc
Townsend Leather Co. Inc.: “I work with great people who help each other without being asked. I love the fact that the people I work with genuinely care about my well-being.”
The morning after the award ceremony, Townsend kept the fun and celebration going with a company-wide breakfast. 
This is when most of the company first heard of the news and all joined in a celebratory cheer. And as we often do, we had customers visiting with us to tour our facility, we were excited to have them join in the fun and festivities. This short, but heartfelt celebration was a welcome break for everyone. And it was a well-deserved time to take a minute and reflect on the company that we have collectively created.
Townsend, since its inception, has been a beneficiary of charismatic, passionate, forward-thinking, incredible leaders. Terry Kucel and his wife Barbara laid the foundation of what Townsend is during its formative years, and their customer-focus and passion for quality is still the life blood that flows through Townsend today. They have successfully instilled those characteristics into the leaders of Townsend today, and President, Jared Eckler, spoke candidly with the company at our breakfast celebration about what this award means to him and can mean to all of us at Townsend.
This is an exclusive award. It is something to continually strive for. It is something the employees have direct influence on. It is something given only to the deserving. Townsend Leather can feel extremely proud to have the leadership it does, the recognition it does, and the employees it does.
We decided to show our pride by each taking turns signing our names to banners that will hang on our building, proclaiming our pride to everyone that drives to, or by, Townsend Leather.
Here are just a few of the great things Townsend’s proud partners said about Townsend Leather in their submitted surveys…
“I work with great people who help each other without being asked. I love the fact that the people I work with genuinely care about my well-being. ”
“It is a community within a community. The partners work as a family with common goal to deliver and service our customers while working in a good environment.”
“It is fun and exciting! ”
“It’s a family-owned company that truly makes every person feel as if they are part of their family. ”
“There is a family atmosphere here and everyone works as a team towards the same goal. ”
You can see the Times Union articles about the Top Work Places honor here:
And see some photos of the Award Ceremony evening here:
Or visit the Top Work Place website to see Townsend in the listing, Top Work Places
Townsend is excited to be awarded with something that all our many employees, customers, visitors, and fans have known for years – Townsend Leather is a truly great company!
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HD & EBACE Sneak Peak - UPDATE, from Around the World
Townsend Leather’s team has returned from a hugely successful time in Las Vegas for the HD Expo. See the Sneak Peak here, HD & EBACE Sneak Peak The time was spent meeting with customers… Full Aritcle
