Ettinger
United Kingdom
Ettinger is a family-owned British leather goods maker founded in 1934. It produces wallets, bags and accessories at its own factory and says it holds a Royal Warrant.
| Founded | 1934 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Gerard Ettinger |
| Ownership | Family-owned |
| Led by | Robert Ettinger (since 1990) |
| Factory | Walsall (per Wikipedia) |
| Website | ettingerlondon.com |
What is Ettinger?
Ettinger is a British luxury leather goods company. Its website describes it as a long-standing purveyor of luxury leather goods and a champion of handmade British craft.
History
Wikipedia records that the company was founded in 1934 by Gerard Ettinger, and that his elder son Robert Ettinger has led it since 1990. The company says it is family-owned. Early customers included department stores and retailers such as Harrods, Fortnum and Mason, and Asprey.
Products and positioning
The range covers attache cases and briefcases, overnight and weekend bags, totes and portfolios, along with billfold, coat, zipped and card wallets, women's purses, belts, stationery and gifts. Listed prices on the website run from 95 pounds for a travel shoehorn to 4,060 pounds for a Heritage St James attache case.
Business model and distribution
The company says it is one of the last British luxury leather goods brands still producing in the UK, with goods handcrafted at The Ettinger Factory. Wikipedia places the factory in Walsall and a showroom in Putney.
Wikipedia dates its first retail outlet to 2010 and its first stand-alone shop, in Tokyo, to 2013, and reports exports to more than 210 countries, with about 70 percent of revenue from foreign markets. That figure comes from Wikipedia without a stated year.
Why it matters
Ettinger is a documented example of a small family manufacturer that kept production in Britain while building an export business and a royal endorsement.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Ettinger?
Ettinger describes itself as family-owned. It is led by Robert Ettinger, the founder's elder son, who has run it since 1990 according to Wikipedia.
Is Ettinger a luxury brand?
Yes, the company describes itself as a purveyor of luxury leather goods, with handcrafted products made in the UK and prices that run into the thousands of pounds for its top cases.