About Us... Siegel Of California, Inc

[StevenSiegel]

A Quick Summary of the Policies of Siegel of California, Inc

a) Wholesale Supplier of Leather. For the last couple of years we would sell to the general public at the same price as our wholesale accounts. We have recently changed our policy and require a membership in our Wholesale Club (like many other vendors in this industry) in order to purchase at wholesale prices.

b ) No Hidden Fees. Prices include free freight to anywhere in USA (There are exceptions for specially priced merchandise)

c) We are not manufacturers. This means that we have no interest in "creaming" selections for our own production AND we do not compete against our own customers

d) We act in your best interest. Our customers are extensively questioned about their requirements. If we feel that we can meet their requirements we accept the order with the unheard of guarantee that we will pick up the leather for FREE if it does not meet their requirements. (See below for further details.)

If you wish to read more......

Mission Statement

Siegel of California is more about serving the customer than just earning a living: the secret of our success since 1917.

Pricing

Free Shipping on orders of $75 with No Hidden Costs, and unconditionally guaranteed.

Leather Baron of California Third Generation Leather Merchant

Reprinted from Old Santa Ynez Day Newspaper 1996

Meet Steve Siegel, owner of Siegel of California and a third generation leather merchant whose roots are tied to the leather district of Boston, Massachusetts. The M. Siegel Company was started by his grandfather in 1917, and today is still one of the oldest remaining merchant trade families in the United States.

That leather district of Boston was, at that time, the center of trade for the entire world, and anyone wanting to deal with anything in leather or other goods (importing or exporting) would go to the South Street merchants.

Steve's grandfather would buy the processed hides and then turn around and resell them to manufacturers for anything that required leather. "Excess leather at that time was even sold for fertilizer, and shipped to Florida to fertilize the orange trees," stated Siegel. A huge exporting business was also developed by M. Siegel, and leather was shipped to such areas as Cuba, Lebanon and other parts of Europe.

Leather

Siegel's is the oldest Leather Merchant Family in the USA, established in 1917 and through our nearly 90 years we have developed extensive relationships worldwide. We have always been in the same business. We did not start as a shoe shop or a leather maker and re-invent ourselves. We are the Real McCoy and the best at what we do; sell and source leather at its appropriate and best value. We also have the technical expertise to produce virtually any leather that is currently or was formerly produced. We know how to accurately evaluate a piece of leather. Steven Siegel holds a graduate degree in Physical Chemistry. He worked with his grandfather, uncle and father in this business during school breaks, summers and holidays in the family business that was located in what was unquestionably the world wide center for leather; the South Street district of Boston, MA. At one time or another, Siegel's has done business in virtually every nation.

• Siegel's inventories over 100 stock lots at all times
• We can source virtually any leather. However, at this time, we will not carry/sell exotics or American Bison
• We can provide Military Spec Leather
• We can provide and do stock Genuine Mechanical Leathers

Lowest Leather Prices:
We pride ourselves in having among the lowest wholesale leather prices. Our catalogue is our wholesale price list; and our wholesale pricing is available to everyone with a resale license or a wholesale club membership. (Please see "Ordering Information," on page 9 for information on how to become a wholesale club member.) Where not stated, additional discounts are given for larger volumes.
Unconditional Guarantee:
We have the best guarantee in the business and we back that guarantee up with action. Our intent is to act as your onsite purchasing agent to meet your needs. Accordingly, we have a couple of very unusual policies that are a reflection of this "code of ethics". For most orders (exceptions can be larger, negotiated priced items) we pay freight in the "Lower 48" for orders over $75 which are being shipped via UPS.
We allow you 10 days after receipt to give us a call if the leather does not meet your expectation and we will send a UPS call tag to pick up the leather with no freight charges for you!!! (We reserve the right to modify this policy for special orders and special pricing negotiated via phone)
Our policy can most easily be summed it in a few ancient words, "We try to treat you, as we ourselves, would expect to be treated under the same circumstances."
Siegel of California is Strictly a Wholesale Supplier:
We don't process our leathers in any way and do not compete with manufacturers. When suppliers are also manufacturers, they have the advantage of keeping the best skins for their production. Purchasing from manufacturers/suppliers could actually help your competition.
Protection of Industry Standards:
We are leaders in the protection of our National Security Stan-dards. We always represent and denominate the leathers accurately. You can trust that our English Bridle is the genuine article from J & E Sedgwick in England.
Expert Witness Work- CV of Steven Siegel
Steven Siegel is the third generation of the oldest Leather Merchant Family in the USA, established in 1917 in Boston, MA. Through our nearly 90 years we have developed extensive relationships worldwide. We have always been in the same business.
The leather district of Boston was, at that time, the center of trade for the entire world, and anyone wanting to deal with anything in leather or other goods (importing or exporting) would go to the South Street merchants.
Steven Siegel was trained in the leather business from an early age; starting in the 1950's. He typically worked school holidays and summers in the family business. Steve's grandfather, Morris, who started the business was his mentor as well as his father and his uncle who were also in the business. The business on South Street when Steve grew up and learned the trade first hand, represented on the "Street" virtually every important tanner and merchant in the USA. There were over 100 companies on the same street, each with anywhere from 1 -10 million of leather in stock as well as the agents for most tanners in the USA, and representatives for other aspects of the industry. There was even a Boston Hide Exchange where hides were bought and sold on their future value. The business model as developed by Steve's grandfather consisted of buying processed hides and reselling them to manufacturers for anything that required leather. M. Siegel developed a huge exporting business as leather was shipped to such areas as Cuba, Lebanon and parts of Europe.
Steve's father, Harold Siegel, has a BS degree in Chemical Engineering, specializing in rubber chemistry which has many similarities to leather chemistry. Harold was famous for bringing the company to the next business phase due to his particular knack for evaluating and developing specialized leathers. From Steve's father, a lot of technical experience and creativity was passed.
Steven Siegel has an extensive background in the physical sciences including some of the following:

• Research assistant at Tufts New England Medical Center working on an artificial heart program under the guidance of Dr Harry Soroff (cardiologist)
  A.B. Boston University, Mathematics, research in an Organic Chemistry group working with Adamantane (a viral inhibitor)
  M.S. University of California, Davis, Physical Chemistry, thesis " Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Some Biopolymers", research director, Dr August Maki

Steven Siegel formed a similar Leather Merchant business in 1979 in Santa Barbara, CA. Built customer base from zero, to current base of approximately 15,000 accounts.

In the past 30 years, Steven Siegel has traveled worldwide, in many countries inspecting, examining, testing, comparing leather strengths and developing leather for a wide variety of applications using the skills and methodology developed over 50 years, all the time increasing his knowledge of the trade.

Some of the highlights of the specialized leathers, which Steven Siegel has developed or sourced, are:

• Archival Book Binding Leathers specially tanned per Mr. Siegel's specifications to last many generations. These leathers required the skills, methodology developed over a lifetime of experience in the family business, educational background and extensive evaluations, examinations, comparisons of leathers to direct a tanner to modify his techniques to meet Mr. Siegel's requirements. These leathers have been used in such places as:
  • The US Library of Congress
    Harvard University
    Columbia University
    Stanford University

Specialized mechanical leathers for the equestrian trade. The proper selection of these leathers required the skills, methodology developed over a lifetime of experience in the family business, educational background and extensive evaluations, examinations and comparisons of leathers Some of the highlights of these applications are:

• Tack for winners of 12 Kentucky Derbys
  Specialized leather for trick riders in Las Vegas, NV
  World renowned professional polo players such as Memo Gracida, Sebastian Merlos, and other names upon request
  Military Spec leathers such as:
  Leathers used in anti-gravity suits for US fighter pilots

Some of the endorsements, which Steven Siegel has been given, are from:

• NY Mounted Police Department; "…we've tried leather from everywhere else, but only Siegel's can give us the quality that we desire…"
  Bo Derek, actress
  Ramon Becerra, trick rider and horse trainer to the stars, telephone number on request

Miscellaneous accounts of note:

• Walt Disney, leather for "Pirates of the Caribbean"
  Leather for Custom Saddle for President Bush
  Leather for Custom Saddle as birthday president from President Reagan to his wife Nancy
  Casa Fagliano of Argentina, famous custom boot maker with clients such as HRH Prince Charles of England
  Craft Restaurant, NY award winning architectural design for use of our leather
  Exclusive supplier of J&E Sedgwick of Walsall, England supplier of Genuine English Bridle

In summary, the sum of a lifetime of experiences gained from his grandfather, father and uncle, the educational background in the sciences and years of examining, comparing, and evaluating for strength and other appropriate properties gave Steven Siegel the unusual and extraordinary leather skills and methodology, which he possesses today and uses in the leather industry

[rdb]

In the early seventies, every Saturday morning, I walked into Siegel Leather on South St. for my supplies. The smell, the bustle, the friendliness...it was a glorious time.