The Leather Satchel Company bags export success in Japan

The Leather Satchel Co. is a family owned business started in 1966, based in Huyton, Merseyside.

Already a successful exporter with a significant amount of its product sold to customers outside the UK, The Leather Satchel Co. participated in a UK Trade & Investment GREAT Weeks fashion-focussed outward trade mission to Japan in October 2013, along with 43 other UK companies.

Keith Hanshaw, Director of The Leather Satchel Co. set clear objectives for the mission, keen to enhance his understanding of doing business in the Far East; identify potential partners and buyers, thus developing the company’s market share in Japan; as well as visiting existing stockists, and also hoping to identify new stockists and collaborators for the business.

Keith found it particularly interesting to witness the Japanese approach to packaging and was impressed by the quality control and effective returns and repackaging systems used in Japan. By participating in the mission Keith successfully gained an increased knowledge of the marketplace and learnt how to adapt The Leather Satchel’s existing products to meet with Japanese expectations.

Keith commented that “everything was perfect”. The support provided by UKTI was “amazing” with the team providing “everything that was needed”. He found UK Trade & Investment services to be “very cost effective” and “helped focus efforts”.

As a direct result of participating in the GREAT Weeks mission, The Leather Satchel Co. is now collaborating with Disney Japan.

GREAT Weeks is a programme of trade missions from the UK for the creative, retail, luxury, food and drink sectors. Organised by UK Trade & Investment in collaboration with industry experts in some of the world’s fastest growing markets, GREAT Weeks equip British businesses with the support they need to export overseas. Attendees benefit from gaining access to key decision makers, major buyers and potential partners in a range of countries. Each visit allows UK companies to build long term relationships and engage in high-level discussions. GREAT Weeks also run in parallel within high-profile events in the region, such as fashion shows or festivals. To find out more, visit www.greatweeks.co.uk

Sectors: Clothing & Footwear and Wholesale & Retail
Countries: Japan
Export Action Plan