Today's Guest: Peggie MacLean of L & M Highland Outfitters in Nova Scotia, Canada
Today's Host: John Bentley
February 2008
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Peggy MacLean Transcript Page
Peggie MacLean Expert PageANNOUNCER: Welcome to the VTalk Radio Music Spotlight sponsored by Henderson Imports. Henderson's of Northern Michigan, supplier of bagpipes, piping supplies, pipe band and percussion and Highland wear. Henderson's can supply the full range of products made by L&M Highland Outfitters. Today's guest, Peggie MacLean of L&M Outfitters, joining John Bentley in the studio via the phone.
JOHN: Today on VTalk Radio's Music Spotlight we have Peggie MacLean of L&M Highland Outfitters of Nova Scotia, Canada, joining us via telephone. Welcome to the program today, Peggie.
PEGGIE: Thanks very much and greetings from Nova Scotia.
JOHN: Yes, glad to have our Canadian friends on VTalk Radio today. Now, L&M manufactures an extensive range of leather products. Could you describe the range of products made at L&M?
PEGGIE: L&M Highland Outfitters is a manufacturer of leather products for Scottish, Irish, and Welsh dress. The company began making a bagpipe bag. The bagpipe bag is actually a bladder for the Great Highland Bagpipe. The product range eventually evolved into a complete line of sporrans, belts, and accessories for Highland dress and for those who don't know a sporran is the purse or the pouch that's worn in front of a kilt. In recent years, a highly successful range of giftwear including leather journals and various giftwear items have become a staple of our range.
JOHN: Now it seems like making sporrans and pipe bags is a rather unusual vocation. How did you come to be involved in this business?
PEGGIE: My husband, Joe, and I are partners in this business and back in the day, we were both involved in pipe bands. We were approached by the former owners of L&M to gauge our interests in what was then a 25 year old company. This provided us an opportunity for a career that would turn a hobby into our life's work. We embraced the challenge and have probably turned the company into a globally recognized force since 1966. L&M has been making a world class range of products.
JOHN: Since sporrans are such a big part of what you create at L&M, could you talk a bit about the sporran making process? Maybe you could start with the process of making leather sporrans and then talk about fur and horsehair models also.
PEGGIE: Our raw materials come to us in a very basic form and are transformed into the beautiful range of products made at L&M. From the first cut of leather we ensure that the leather is appropriately cut without flaws. An example of a basic leather sporran includes a back, a front, a gusset to allow for the sporran to open. We can emboss the leather to incorporate a Celtic design and then assemble the various pieces together to form a functional pocket or sporran. We often will add leather braids or leather tassels to dress it up a notch. These same type of steps are involved in all of the sporrans. So even a fur sporran will have a back prepared, a front typically of fur. We would add a chrome or pewter cantle which is the half moon shaped piece across the top of the sporran. Maybe add some tassels of leather or fur fringed type to dress it up. And, again, it would be assembled in a way to make it a functional sporran. A horse hair sporran is no different. With several hundred steps involved in getting from the first cut of leather to the finished product. So everything we do here takes a lot of work, a lot of effort, but it's certainly worth it when you see the end product.
JOHN: Now, Peggie, what sets L&M Highland Outfitters's sporrans apart from others on the market?
PEGGIE: The quality of the raw materials that we use here at L&M, and the attention to detail of our production staff certainly set us apart. We have a very organized and efficient and communicative administration department which really does set us apart. The L&M sporran is a functional heirloom. It will stand the test of time in function and fashion.
JOHN: Now your website shows over 100 different sporrans in a lot of different shapes, colors, and materials. What are some of the unique sporran features that L&M offers?
PEGGIE: L&M has the ability to provide resellers with the ability to custom brand their sporrans with unique embossed elements and leather. For instance, this gives the pipe band the opportunity to have a band logo embossed in leather and incorporated into a sporran that is unique to their organization. That logo can then be carried through to more of a range by embossing the same element on journals, pouch wallets, or water bottle holders. We do work hard on the relationship with our resellers and this sort of level of communication in working with our resellers does certainly set us apart.
JOHN: Now, how do you come up with your design ideas?
PEGGIE: Inspiration comes from many areas. We certainly have no shortage of inspiration here. We have an extremely artistic team. Designs are flowing all the time. One of the sporrans that we are about to introduce comes from a design noted on a fine Italian shoe. We try to be mindful of our heritage, but we also try to be cutting edge to make sure that we do stay ahead of the competition.
JOHN: Now, aside from all the options you normally carry, I see you have a Build-a-Sporran program people can use to create custom sporrans. Can you explain a little bit about that process?
PEGGIE: This innovative technology allows the consumer to become involved in the design of their own sporran using all the elements that we have available here at L&M to create their own design. The customer can build any combination of their preference of a leather, fur, or horse hair sporran. It's an opportunity for people to exercise their creative energy and end up with a very functional design.
JOHN: Now if you were to give somebody advice about purchasing a sporran, what should they be thinking about or looking for, Peggie?
PEGGIE: It's imperative that people look for the L&M logo. This logo has been proudly embossed on every product ever made. When you can confirm that logo is on your sporran, you can be assured of quality. There are many cheap imitations on the marketplace which truly will not carry you through. The quality of some of what's on the market now is quite deplorable. L&M is extremely proud of the quality and the durability of our range.
JOHN: Now, of course, sporrans are not all you craft at L&M. You're also known for your hide pipe bags. What types of pipe bags do you make?
PEGGIE: The L&M pipe bag is a leather bag pipe bag. We use a special tanning process to ensure the air tightness of the bag. We also have a very comfortable design to ensure that the pipe bag is ergonomically correct. L&M makes a traditional hand sewn pipe bag, as well as, the new Scotian pipe bag which has a zipper which allows the player to get inside the pipe bag for maintenance and a grommeted version as well for ease of the tie in of the wooden stocks.
JOHN: How many people work at L&M and what's the facility like?
PEGGIE: L&M provides a family-like atmosphere here in Nova Scotia. We employ some of the best leather workers and artisans in Nova Scotia. We employ between 8 to 10 people. Our facility includes an organized and spacious area for administration and shipping and a textile sewing room for things like bag pipe bag covers and hose flashes and even bridal garters. The heart of the company, however, is in production. The back end of our building, you'll find sewing machines, quicker press, embossing machines, leather, fur, threads, all the raw materials that go into making the products that we put on the marketplace.
JOHN: Now, Peggie, what products or principals of your company are you most proudest of?
PEGGIE: L&M really prides itself on the quality of our products and the way in which they're introduced to the market. We take very seriously the relationships that we've built up with our resellers. We're only too glad to hear from them to hear what's working and what's not working. Overall, L&M is a company that has always taken the high road and we're certainly very proud of the people that work here along side of us.
JOHN: Great. Now where do you see L&M Highland Outfitters five years from now, Peggie?
PEGGIE: In five years we certainly would like to have a larger share of business globally. We feel very well represented in the North American marketplace, but our product range is well received in Europe, as well as, Australia and New Zealand. So in terms of maintaining our market share and growing our market share, we would like to expand in those areas.
JOHN: Now, Peggie, since L&M doesn't sell retail, you probably don't get to talk with the end customer as much as you'd like. What's the one thing you'd like those customers to know about your products?
PEGGIE: L&M completely stands behind our product line. We believe in everything we do here, and we believe in supporting our resellers and you, the end user. If for some reason you're not happy with your product, please communicate that with our resellers, and we'll work with them on a solution that works for everyone.
JOHN: Well, Peggie MacLean, I want to thank you for joining us on VTalk Radio's Music Spotlight today.
PEGGIE: Thank you for having me and greetings to everyone from New Scotland, Nova Scotia.
JOHN: Excellent. We've been in the studio today with Peggie MacLean of L&M Highland Outfitters of Nova Scotia, Canada, and you've been listening to VTalk Radio's Music Spotlight. Thanks for tuning in. Have a great day.
ANNOUNCER: This VTalk Radio Spotlight has been brought to you by Henderson Imports. Henderson's in Northern Michigan is a supplier of bagpipes, piping supplies, pipe band percussion, and Highland wear. Henderson's can supply the full range of products made by L&M Highland Outfitters. You can visit them on the web at www.hendersongroupltd.com. You've been listening to VTalk Radio Spotlight only on a href="http://www.vtalkradio.com" target="_blank">VTalkradio.com radio for the 21st century.
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