Oclas Leather joins forces with Americo Gaita in North America
Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, January 12, 2004
SAN FERNANDO, Calif. — Oclas Leather has an exclusive agreement to market and distribute Argentina-based Americo Gaita Tannery's residential upholstery leathers in North America.
At Showtime, the Gaita line was on display at the Oclas booth in Suites at Market Square.
Oclas and Gaita said the alliance will allow them to develop an aggressive merchandising effort for North America.
Mike Tennis, Oclas national sales manager for North America, will manage the new upholstery division.
Tennis, an industry veteran formerly with Argentine tannery Fonseca USA, is responsible for sales and merchandising of the Oclas residential upholstery line. He is based in High Point and reports to Fabian Diana, director of Oclas. Oclas, a longtime sales and marketing arm for shoe and apparel leathers, expanded into upholstery two years ago.
Gaita, like Oclas based in Buenos Aires, has been producing upholstery leather on a contract basis for various suppliers. The company recently expanded with the opening of a new tannery and a cut-and-sew plant.
It said it would continue to support its shoe business as it pushes into upholstery.
