The Leather Satchel Company to close flagship Liverpool store

Keith Hanshaw, managing director of The Leather Satchel Co

The Leather Satchel Company is closing its flagship Royal Albert Dock Liverpool store later this month.

After five years at the Dock, the company, which counts the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as fans, has its sights currently set on a new city centre location in the heart of Liverpool’s retail district – which it will confirm in a few weeks.

The current shop and workshop at the Dock will close on Thursday, September 30, for the last time.

Owner Keith Hanshaw said:We are very proud of the time we have spent at the Dock and like to think that we played a part in its recent growth as a popular leisure destination.

“After five years, we’ve agreed on a move to a new location, this time in the heart of the city’s shopping district.

“Of course, the pandemic has hit high streets hard worldwide, but if any city can survive, it’s Liverpool, and we want to be part of its comeback.

“Today the high street is all about customer experience as it competes with online.

“Shoppers are looking for more reasons to leave their computer screens and venture into the city centre. Leather Satchel Company has always been about giving customers that personal experience – and we feel we can bring something truly unique and special to the city centre.”

What started out as a chance order of 200 school satchels, founder and Keith’s uncle, Steve Hanshaw quickly turned a market stall hobby into a thriving business in Liverpool, with fans including royalty, rock legends Freddie Mercury and Oasis, and TV star Fearne Cotton among others.

In 2018, Prince William visited the company as part of an official trip to the city and took three appropriately named Mini Windsor leather satchels, each embossed with a name of one of his children on.

The Leather Satchel Company, which is headquartered in Knowsley, also has an outlet at Disney World’s Epcot theme park in Florida as part of the UK Pavilion, alongside other well-known British brands including Penhaligon’s and Yardley London.

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