Mars Tanners

Tanning is not easy work, and we do it here on Hospital Road. It’s a messy job, handling hides all day and making sure the process goes right. We are at No. 40/70. It’s a tight space sometimes with all the skins piled up. You can smell the chemicals from the street, but you get used to it after a week or two. We’ve been working here for years. The guys on the floor know exactly how long to soak everything. If you rush it, the leather is no good. We aren't a big corporation with suits. Most of us wear old clothes because of the stains. It gets damp inside. We sell to people who make shoes and bags. Sometimes they complain about the price of raw materials, but we just tell them how it is. Prices go up and down. We try to keep things steady. It’s hard work, standing on your feet and moving heavy loads. The building is old and could use some paint, but it serves its purpose. We don't have a website or anything like that. People just know where we are in the Parade area. If you come by, you'll probably see us unloading a truck or checking the vats. It's just a regular business trying to stay afloat and do a decent job with the leather we get. My grandfather started this business when things were different, and we've tried to keep the old ways of doing things. It’s a life spent in boots and aprons.