Richard Winter, one of the most gifted leather crafters in the country, grew up believing that his ability to transform leather into quality footwear and handbags would get him somewhere. He realized six years ago that without capital his talent was just talent.
In 2001, after 30 years in the shoemaking business, Winter managed to secured financial assistance from the Linden Economic Advance-ment Programme (LEAP) and made his first appearance at a trade fair overseas. Since then the years of crafting products by hand and sitting around waiting for markets ended.
Every day, between 50 and 100 leather products – shoes, sandals, safety boots or bags – are manufactured at Arawak Leather Craft, which is based at Coomacka Mines, Region Ten. When Winter packed up and left the city to operate his business in the Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice region 11 years ago, people called him crazy.
“I was leaving Georgetown to go to Linden where everything of economic interest was appearing to fade, but I saw potential in the area. I was called crazy to my face but I was able to run a successful business and create employment in the area,” Winter said.
During an interview with Stabroek News at GuyExpo on Sunday, the businessman said the overseas trip proved very fruitful as he was able to sell every single product he exhibited. Though he has found success, he noted that word ‘assistance’ has as much significance in his life. He said LEAP believed in what he was doing enough to support him and that the organization later reinforced its commitment to offer assistance by providing him with additional funds through the Linden Economic Advancement Fund (LEAF).
Winter explained that after the overseas trade fair in 2001 he joined the annual exhibition at Sophia for the first time and received much needed exposure. He pressed on with his leather craft business and was able to purchase shoe factory equipment based in Trinidad and Tobago using the assistance provided by LEAF.
But before he was able to bring the business over to Guyana, Winter was forced to seek the assistance of the government in securing the land at Coomacka that was once used by the bauxite company. He said he received assistance from Go-Invest and within a few months, the Trinidadian shoe factory was recreated here.
What Winter did was ship the equipment to Guyana and employ the staff from the company, many of whom had over 25 years of service. He said the Trinidadians knew how to operate the machines and were very eager to pass that knowledge on to locals so he immediately took them on. Since then many locals in his employ have been trained to operate the various machines and have been working along with the Trinidadians.
According to him, the factory has the capacity to manufacture around 500 products a day but he has not found that many markets yet. After appearing as an exhibitor at the Guyana Gift and Craft show earlier this year, Winter said, he received an order from a buyer in Germany. He is currently completing production for that order. He said his products are also sold in Brazil due to his association with the Brazil Handicraft Association.
Winter said since his appearance at GuyExpo in 2001 he has been a regular exhibitor and every year the response he receives is overwhelming. He said many persons are usually surprised at the fact that his company is manufacturing safety boots here in addition to quality leather shoes, bags, belts and sandals.
“Nine out of ten times people cannot believe these products are being done right here. They doubt us and we usually have to walk with a few posters featuring myself and other staff while working just so they can believe,” Winter related.
Winter said one of his goals is to supply the joint services with boots and shoes. He said many local persons have supported Arawak Leather Craft and continue to do so long after GuyExpo is over.
His products are also sold at the Gafoor’s Houston Mall, which is the only place they can be found outside Coomacka.
His company was named for his Amerindian tribe and he pointed out that many of the products carry Arawak symbols. Winter said his great-aunt is the oldest living person in his home village of Port Kaituma, adding that she recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
Winter’s six children are all in the leather-crafting business, and, according to him, their talent came naturally. He said his business is largely family oriented since his older children’s spouses have also joined the staff.
