Walsall Firm Saddles Up 35 Years

Walsall-based, Frank Baines Saddlery is celebrating 35 years of trading as one of the world’s finest saddle makers.

Frank Baines set up in 1980 as a sole trader, becoming a limited company in 2002. Little did he know that 35 years later his brand would be one of the world’s leading makes of hand-crafted saddles, exporting high quality saddles throughout the UK and overseas.

Frank Baines, now 67, remains managing director of the family firm with his two children taking key management roles in the business. Walsall born and bred, Frank said: “I’m delighted with how the company has grown over the years and that the name is synonymous world-wide for high quality and innovative saddle designs.”

Frank started worked in the industry at 15 years old and has family connections with the trade going back 150 years. Since his apprenticeship in the trade, Frank knew he wanted to spearhead the tradition of making hand-crafted saddles, bespoke to individual customer specifications. The company has fought off competition from machine-made saddles, with customers valuing the high levels of craftsmanship that goes into the creation of each individual saddle.

A dedicated team of experienced saddlers are based at the original Walsall workshop in Northcote Street, and only the finest leather materials, fittings and trees are sourced to give a world-class finish to their products.

Frank is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Saddlers, a Fellow of the Society of Master Saddlers, a Freeman of the City of London and has been President of the Society of Master Saddlers.

For more information about Frank Baines Saddlery visit www.frankbaines.com