Leather Repair Company adds first UK franchise to international network

A family firm which is expanding internationally through its ambitious distribution and franchise programme has now sealed its first UK auto detailing partnership with a branch in the south of England.

The Leather Repair Company, which was set up in East Yorkshire in 2007 by Richard and Carolynne Hutchins, is supporting former IT professional Jon Timson as he rolls out the company’s products and services across Kent and Sussex.

The venture has its roots in a detailing summit which took place at the Leather Repair Company’s workshop in Hull earlier this year and attracted industry experts from the firm’s distribution network embracing the USA, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada and India.

Delegates were attracted by the Leather Repair Company’s success including restoring a spectacular white sofa which featured on the cover of George Michael’s Patience album. The company is currently applying the same treatment to seats from G-BOAC Concorde, which attracts thousands of visitors every year to the Runway Visitor Park at Manchester Airport.

Jon shone after setting up his mobile car detailing business from his home in Penshurst in 2020, building a customer base local to him Kent and Sussex.

After partnering with the Leather Repair Company and tapping into its links with the International Detailing Association (IDA) he has how added interior detailing to his expertise with exteriors.

In addition to offering upholstery restoration services in the motors sector, Jon is also ready to meet demand from clients who want to breathe new life into other old, treasured leather items.

He said: “Working with Richard and Carolynne has sparked me into thinking about what else I can do. It’s craftsmanship and I want to become a master at it. That takes a lot of time but this has given me a great grounding.

“Richard had a background in car valeting and they set up their own business which evolved into leather repair, and that in turn brought requests to restore old pieces of furniture and all sorts of other items.

“Customers wanted the same tender treatment to preserve other possessions, and in our latest training session we were working on leather sofas, jackets and even saddles. It’s good for my clients because I can go to them with a complete solution, and it’s good for me because sometimes the mobile car care is weather dependent, whereas indoor services can be provided year-round.”

Richard said: “It’s a sector with a lot of potential for growth. We can restore any vehicle – even boats and planes – and we know from our own experience how expertise in those areas can lead to customers asking us to help with other items.

“We have various international partners. At the moment Jon is the only franchise owner in the UK but there will be more as a result of the summit which he attended. It’s not just about  being able to repair and restore leather. We support franchisees with guidance on how to run a business in this sector and with health and wellbeing, which is important for people who are largely working on their own.”