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In our final podcast episode of 2024, we speak with our long-standing customer, Robin Coleman, a Master Saddler and Harness Maker whose exceptional craftsmanship has earned recognition from leading luxury brands like Aston Martin. 

Robin shares fascinating insights into his collaboration with Aston Martin, where he has not only crafted bespoke accessories but also contributed to the development of integral components for their iconic vehicles such as the ONE-77 and DBS. Oh…. and his contribution to James Bond’s Aston Martin in Casino Royale.  He takes us behind the scenes of scaling up his operations and adapting his business approach to meet the exacting standards of a global luxury brand.

Tune in for an inspiring story of artistry, innovation, and business evolution.

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with our scholarship winner, Katy Warriner, a talented leatherworker with over 11 years of experience. Katy shares her journey into the world of leathercraft, what initially drew her to the art, and the profound impact of receiving this scholarship. 

We also delve into the challenges she faced earlier this year, including a moment when she considered closing her business. Katy opens up about how an unexpected new business opportunity reignited her passion and kept her dream alive.

In this episode, Nikki shares the story of how she started Bliss of London, what drives her commitment to quality and animal welfare, and the powerful marketing strategies that have elevated her brand to the forefront of the luxury saddlery market. 

We also get a behind-the-scenes look at what she values in the skilled saddlers who join her team, as she builds a company rooted in craftsmanship, innovation, and a deep respect for the equestrian world.

This week on The Abbey England Podcraft,  we had the pleasure of sitting down with Alistair Tusting, Director of Tusting and Chair of the Leather Trade Committee.
 
Alistair speaks on behalf of the Leathersellers and shares how businesses can benefit from their support while making a compelling case for industry-wide collaboration to drive success. We also dive into the story behind his family business, Tusting, exploring how they’ve built and sustained a thriving leather-goods brand over the years.

In this episode on The Abbey England Podcraft,we sit down with Andrew Sankey, a former professional guitar player turned saddler, to explore his incredible journey from the stage to saddlery.

We dive into Andrew's life before his career switch, uncovering his passion for music and what led him to trade his guitars (literally) for saddlery and leatherworking tools. Andrew shares the fascinating process of how he became a trained saddler, and we get an inside look at what sets his custom saddles apart from the rest. We also discuss the evolution of his business, how he's grown it over the years, and the challenges and rewards of pursuing the work he loves.

The Abbey England Podcraft is back with season 5! On today’s episode, we speak with the Director of The Walsall Leather Skills Centre Patrick Burns

In this episode, we delve into Patrick’s previous life prior to entering the saddlery industry. Patrick also shares his vision for the Walsall Leather Skills Centre, gives us a rundown on the courses available and what students can expect to learn, as well as some key advice for business wanting to survive and thrive in a difficult climate.

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This week on the Abbey England Podcraft, we speak with the owner of Patrick Saddlery, Master Saddler, Les Nolan. 

We talk takeovers, teaching, plans for Patrick Saddlery and some solid advice to those who are looking to maintain a career in saddlery… after 33 years in the saddlery business, we think Les is more than qualified to speak on this!

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