Member Article

Burnopfield leather restorers to open first North East store following success in London

North East leather restorers Handbag Clinic has announced plans to open a Newcastle venue after successfully launching its first bricks-and-mortar store in London earlier this year.

The Burnopfield-headquartered firm is a spinoff of Furniture Clinic, a restoration and leather care products business launched by current MD Ben Staerck’s father, Keith Staerck.

The Newcastle store, on Mosley St, by St Nicholas Cathedral, will offer all the usual Handbag Clinic services, while also selling vintage bags from designers such as Chanel, Mulberry and Louis Vuitton.

Ben Staerck, Handbag Clinic MD, said: “Our plan was always to open in Newcastle but we were waiting for the right premises to come along. We’ll be at the heart of the city’s Diamond Strip with a bigger shop than in London, allowing us to open with a new concept in Newcastle.

With Ben now at the helm, the firm launched Handbag Clinic to clean, repair and re-colour accessories, including handbags by some of the world’s most renowned designers. The firm has also recently started a new service to repair the red soles of Christian Louboutin shoes.

Ben added: “This is a significant six-figure investment for us which demonstrates our confidence in Newcastle and the region as a whole.”

Opening later this month, the shop will create new jobs in the city as well as in the firm’s Burnopfield workshop, which has already taken on three new apprentices and has plans for further recruitment.

Ben continued: “We’re incredibly excited to be opening in our home region. Customers can already drop their bags off at our Burnopfield workshop or post them to us, but to have a base in the city centre makes perfect sense.

“We were always being asked about whether we also bought or sold pre-loved designer handbags. But, up until now we’ve always had to say ‘no’. In Newcastle, we now have the space not only to provide TLC to our clients’ favourite accessories, but to stock unique vintage bags.

“It means we might get one of our customers in Chelsea dropping off a vintage bag with us, which we can then sell on to a client in Newcastle.”

Ben and his team are now busy fitting out the new shop in Newcastle to meet client demand.

He said: “We know lots of people will be looking to have their red soles restored on their Louboutins, or their favourite designer clutch bag restored to pristine condition in time for the Christmas party season so we’re working hard to open as soon as we can.

“This is just the first of several new openings we are looking at across the country and further afield.”

Stephen Patterson, director of communications at Newcastle’s Business Improvement District (NE1) said: “It’s always fantastic news when new shops open up in Newcastle, further improving and diversifying the city’s already impressive retail offering.

“Newcastle is now firmly positioned as a luxury destination and Handbag Clinic, which specialises in repairing designer accessories is a perfect fit with other high-end services and experiences on offer.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .