In this conversation, Cee Ng and Katie Kutskill dive into the complexities of the leather industry, examining the relationship between leather, meat consumption, and sustainability. 

Katie, Business Operations & Strategy Lead at Is It Leather?, shares insights on the environmental impacts of fake leather, indigenous practices, and the importance of holistic business metrics beyond carbon footprints. 

They explore the value of leather as both an aesthetic and economic asset, touching on the tanning process, meat reduction, and waste utilization. The conversation also delves into responsible luxury, trade-offs, and the role of marketing in reshaping consumer perceptions around leather’s value, sustainability, and resale.

Watch, Listen and Subscribe on Desktop & Mobile:

Conversation with Cee:

1. Mythbusting the Leather Industry
2. Responsible Luxury & Trade-offs
3. Benefits, Costs & Resell Value

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Key Takeaways:

• Katie Kutskill highlights her 20 years of friendship and cultural connection with Cee Ng through music.
• The leather industry has both cultural and business implications.
• Global experiences enhance understanding of local markets.
• The leather market has seen a decline in recent years.
• Fake leather is often made from petroleum-based products.
• Indigenous practices emphasize respect for the entire animal.
• Sustainability should consider long-term impacts, not just short-term gains.
• The leather industry is one of the oldest professions.
• Holistic metrics are necessary for evaluating business sustainability. We need to reduce meat in our world while utilizing waste.
• The tanning process preserves hides and adds value.
• The leather industry is driven by meat production, not hides.
• Every hide is unique, which adds to its value.
• Luxury consumers desire authenticity in their products.
• The relationship between leather producers and brands is crucial.
• Marketing strategies can reshape consumer perceptions of leather.
• Sustainability in leather can lead to economic benefits.
• The 'Got Milk' campaign illustrates effective marketing for natural products.
• Consumer awareness can drive demand for sustainable practices.

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Connect with Cee:

1. Book a 15-minute business transformation consultation with Cee
2. Watch the episodes on YouTube
3. Watch the episodes on Spotify
4. Connect with Cee on LinkedIn ‍
5. The CEEATTLE Podcast Instagram ‍
6. Follow Cee on Instagram
7. Sign up for Cee’s personal letter  ‍
8. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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In this Episode:

• 00:00 Celebrating 20 Years of Friendship
• 01:05 The Power of Connection Through Music
• 03:03 Global Perspectives on Leather and Culture
• 06:08 The Intersection of Meat and Leather Industries
• 09:48 Understanding the Leather Market Today
• 15:02 The Environmental Impact of Fake Leather
• 19:54 Indigenous Practices and Sustainable Use of Animals
• 25:04 The Need for Holistic Business Metrics
• 32:33 Exploring Meat Reduction and Waste Utilization
• 35:40 Understanding the Tanning Process and Byproducts
• 39:03 The Stakeholder Dynamics in the Leather Industry
• 42:52 The Aesthetic and Economic Value of Leather
• 48:02 Marketing Leather: Lessons from the 'Got Milk' Campaign

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Featured Expert:

• Visit Katie Kutskill’s company website, Is It Leather?
• Connect with Katie Kutskill on LinkedIn, here‍