Conneaut Leather is now Cortina Leathers
Conneaut Leather Rebranded as Cortina Leathers
Merged firms to now do business as single brand.
NEW YORK, (Jan 3, 2019) – Conneaut Leather and Cortina Leathers (acquired in 2014), will now do business under the integrated Cortina Leathers brand, which has been re-imagined to incorporate all the strengths of the combined global company.
The decision to combine all leathers under the single, more recognized Cortina Leathers brand and to phase out the Conneaut Leather name will help to eliminate confusion in the marketplace and enable the company to better leverage its capabilities and best serve all markets. “Retiring the Conneaut Leather name, which has been trusted by our valued customers for decades, was a difficult and emotional decision for all of us,” said Jack Prause, President of Cortina Leathers. “But, we are confident everyone will appreciate the clarity and other benefits this change will bring to them.”
Brand consistency will enhance customer service as well. “Operating under a unified brand will allow us to better share the artistry from our Italy tanneries, the design expertise from our NYC design center and the technical capabilities from our U.S. manufacturing facility across all operations. In addition, we’ll be able to improve service to all customers regardless of where the leather is made—enhancing our ability to deliver the operational excellence, design focus and customer service for which we are already known.” explains Prause.
The rebranding will not impact its operational footprint or its current leather offerings. The company will continue to produce leather in its finishing facility in Conneaut, Ohio, and partner with select tanneries to produce leather in Italy as well. The Cortina design center and showroom in New York City will now lead new product development for all leathers.
The Cortina Leather Story
Conneaut Leather’s acquisition of Cortina Leathers in 2014 brought together two of the most storied companies in the leather industry. Conneaut Leather, which was founded in Conneaut, Ohio in 1903, was the largest supplier of performance leathers to the U.S. office furniture, residential and automotive aftermarket markets, while Cortina, formed in New York City in 1976, provided the finest Italian leathers to architecture and design and Commercial Aviation markets throughout the world.