Started by a young Russian immigrant who came to the U.S. with $40.00 to his name, Prime is truly an American success story. The young immigrant's name was Morris Kaplan, whose career in the leather business started in the basement of a relative's home in New England in 1910. By 1921 Mr. Kaplan had purchased a tannery in Woburn, Massachusetts, and had over 50 employees making patent leather for the shoe industry.

In 1935, the need for further expansion and a desire to be closer to shoe makers in Maine lead to the purchase of the 125,000 square foot facility in Berwick. This location remains our headquarters today.

In order to control quality and enhance the supply chain, Prime acquired The Blueside Companies in 1972. Blueside ( now known as Prime Tanning Corp, St. Joseph ) supplies pre-tanned "blue" hides to tanneries around the world. Prime's St. Joseph facility is today the largest "blueing" tannery in the U.S. supplying 2 million feet per week.

The success of Prime was not always an easy path. Challenged by rising costs, government regulations, international competition and constantly changing fashion trends, Prime discovered that innovation and service were the keys to growth and on-going success. This commitment to innovation is evident in Prime's product line and its well-known, trade preferred leather brands such as Crazyhorse and WeatherTuff®.