Meet Paul Barker, our loyal cutter. Paul has been working at the factory for more than 30 years, and has been one of the most dedicated members of the team. Read his story below.
What is your role in the company?
Paul is our main cutter, he's responsible for both press cutting and hand cutting which are the first steps in making a leather good. But in reality, Paul is much like our factory manager Gary, he knows how to operate almost every machine in the factory, apart from the sewing machines.
"I am very much at the start of the manufacturing process. I start by inspecting the skins of leather, preparing them for cutting and then, use a series of tools to cut out the various parts."
How did you start working at Ettinger?
Like many of our factory colleagues, Paul has been working with Ettinger for several decades. After being made redundant from his previous job, an opportunity arose to join the factory - then known as James Homer Ltd - and he has been with us ever since.
What led you to work in this field in the first place?
Unlike Michelle, who knew from a very early age that she wanted to work with leather, Paul's path was more of a gradual discovery.
"When I left school, I did a foundation course at Walsall College of Art for a year and discovered a whole range of arts, from ceramics and jewellery making to sculpture, graphic design, and leather goods. That's where I realised that leather goods really interested me. It was something I had never done before, and it was fascinating to see how some flat pieces of leather could end up turning into something three dimensional, like a handbag or a jewellery box."
What does a day at work look like for you?
"A typical day at the factory involves working on various orders that come in either from corporate sales or via Ettinger's website. I use whichever machine are needed for the products we're making, whether it is the press cutter, blocking machine, splitting machine or pairing machine."
One of the interesting things about working at Ettinger is the variety of corporate orders we receive - these are commissions from other companies, often for gifting purposes, and they can differ quite a bit from our usual product range. It is a great opportunity for the team to work on unique and exciting pieces, beyond our standard collection.
What do you enjoy about working at Ettinger?
Like most members of the Ettinger team, one of the things Paul enjoys the most about working for Ettinger, is that no two days are ever the same.
"It is not a case of just operating one machine five days a week, week in, week out. Sometimes I might spend a few days press cutting if we are working on a large order, but usually, I go through every process and use every machine in a single day."
What are the changes you've seen in your years at Ettinger?
As previously mentioned, Paul was already working at the factory (James Homer Ltd back then) when our current CEO, Robert Ettinger acquired it in 1999. He therefore witnessed the transition before and after our CEO.
"I think that when Robert Ettinger took us over, the quality levels of the work that we produced really went up another notch. You really have to be meticulous with the work we do at every stage."
What is your favourite product from Ettinger and why?
"My favourite Ettinger product is my Billfold Wallet with 6 C/C. I have one from the Sterling range, which I use everyday. It is perfect for carrying a few bank notes and credit/debit cards. It has proven to be very hardwearing."
To read the previous articles from our Ettinger Team Spotlight series, click HERE.