About Us
Buckskin Leather Company, a trusted fourth-generation Canadian family business since 1986, is Western Canada's largest premium leather supplier. With leather supply warehouses in Calgary and sales outlets in Edmonton and Nanaimo, we are committed to providing the highest quality leather. We also offer reliable shipping across Canada, bringing our premium leathers right to your door.
𝑩𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏 & 𝒕𝒉𝒆 “𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒍” 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆…
The tannery distribution business was founded as a leather supply operation by Michael and his father, Wolfgang Schluessel. The tannery business runs deep in the Schluessel family. Michael’s grandfather, Kurt, operated a sheepskin tannery along with his son Wolfgang in Berlin Germany in 1956. With training as a tannery chemist, Wolfgang headed for Canada and new opportunities.
He took a freighter to Halifax, then a train to Winnipeg and Regina in the winter. He had no money and couldn’t speak English. He thought he had a job at a tannery in Saskatchewan, but when he arrived, it was not yet built.
On his way back to Germany, he was determined to see a Canadian tannery in action, so he travelled to Dominion Tanners in Winnipeg. They hired him on the spot as Superintendant of their new Tannery in Edmonton. Wolfgang then sent for his family, which included his infant son Michael, who was born in Berlin.
In the 1980s Michael was eager to get into the family business. His father insisted he get an education and work in a different industry for at least 10 years before they could go into business together. Michael then went to business college, with his heart set on being a leather distributor while his dad was Plant Manager of Dominion Tanners.
He first worked for 2 years at Canada Packers and then joined Edmonton R.Angus Caterpillar, working in Personnel for 8 years. In 1985 Wolfgang retired from the Tannery and went back to Europe. Undaunted, Michael convinced him to return to Canada and start the distribution business in 1986 with warehouses in Calgary and Edmonton. They were partners for 18 years until Wolfgang retired for the second time. In 2018, Wolfgang passed away, leaving behind a legacy.
Michael has operated the business since 2005 as sole owner and runs the family business with his daughter, Nikole Schluessel. He is proud that the business he founded with his father has been operating successfully for 39+ years. Today Buckskin Leather Co. is entering its 4th decade, operating from its main supply warehouse in Calgary AB and leather sales outlets in Nanaimo BC, and Edmonton AB.
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