Ron Sauer has left LeatherXchange Global Information Services in order to independently publish his world hide and skin report and indexes under the name ‘theSauerReport’. The first report was published on June 16.

The original reports were published from 1985 till 2001 as The Market News Service by the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (United Nations) and as the ‘World Hide and Skin Report’ from 2001until June 1, 2003, by LeatherXchange. Sauer says he had too many differences of opinion on company policies with his LeatherXchange partners so decided to leave.

He will produce and publish his market and price information reports and indexes and offers subscriptions at e599 per year. He says that lower overheads and taking out some ‘whistles and bells’ make this low price possible.

His work with the SIC Group in Paris for The Leather Link is continuing and he may also take on further consultancy jobs. Three annual specialised international conferences on: automotive leather, garment leather and furniture upholstery leather are already on the agenda. And he is also considering a new international leather fair for the Americas to replace the old PAL/Miami fair.

He is looking for partners in all his activitities: e-mail: ronsauer@wanadoo.fr

Our sources tell us that LeatherXchange Global Information Services intend to continue the World Hide and Skin Report. In fact, they have informed correspondents that Sauer is in breach of his contract and if they choose to work with Sauer in the future they risk becoming automatically embroiled in legal proceedings. Since Sauer devised the original concept and has been associated with it ever since, one might think it was his intellectural property. However, we must wait and see.