About Us

The tannery distribution business, which is a subsidiary of Hide Depot International Inc., was founded as a leather supply operation by Michael and his father, Wolfgang Schluessel.

The tannery business runs deep in the Schluessel family. It was Michael’s grandfather, Kurt, who operated a sheepskin tannery along with his son Wolfgang in Berlin Germany in 1956. With training as a tannery chemist in hand, Wolfgang headed for Canada and new opportunities. The young chemist took a freighter to Halifax, then a train to Winnipeg and Regina in the dead of winter. He had no money and couldn’t speak any English. He thought he had a job at a tannery in Saskatchewan, but when he arrived, it turned out they hadn’t yet built the tannery.

On his way back to Germany, he was determined to see a working Canadian tannery in action, so he travelled to Dominion Tanners in Winnipeg. Thrilled to have a tanning chemist on the premises, they hired him on the spot as Superintendant of their new Tannery in Edmonton. Wolfgang then sent for his young family, which included his infant son Michael, who was born in Berlin. In the 1980s Michael was eager to get into the family business. His father insisted the young man get an education and work in a different industry for at least 10 years before the two could go into business together. Michael then went to business college, with his heart set on being a leather distributor while his dad was Plant Manager of Dominion Tanners.

He first worked for 2 years at Canada Packers and then joined R. Angus Caterpillar in Personnel, Edmonton for 8 years. In 1985 Wolfgang retired from the tannery and went back to Europe. Undaunted, Michael convinced him to return to Canada and start the distribution business in 1986 with warehouses in Calgary and Edmonton. They were partners for 18 years until Wolfgang retired for the second time. In 2018, Wolfgang passed away, leaving behind a legacy as the founding father of the Canadian leather industry.

Michael has operated the business ever since 2005 as sole owner and runs the family business with his daughter, Nikole Schluessel, and wife Janet. Michael is proud that the business he founded with his father Wolfgang has now successfully operated for over 38 years.

Today Buckskin Leather Company is entering its fourth decade of specialty supply as a four-generation family business, operating from its main supply warehouse in Calgary AB and leather sales outlets in Nanaimo BC, and Edmonton AB.