How to Store Leather Jackets in a Retail Store So They Stay Sellable

A delivery of leather outerwear is money hanging on a rail, and the way your team handles it decides whether it still sells at full price at the end of the season. This guide shows how to store leather jackets in a retail store, from the day the cartons arrive to the sales floor, the fitting room and the off-season stockroom.

What should you do when new leather stock arrives?

Leather jackets travel folded, and the longer they stay that way, the deeper the fold lines set. Open the delivery the same day if you can and get every jacket onto a hanger.

• Take each jacket out of its shipping bag. Poly bags are for transit, not storage, and hold moisture against the leather.
• Hang it and close it. Fasten the zip or top button so the front keeps its shape, and straighten the collar by hand.
• Give creases time. Light fold lines usually relax on their own once a jacket hangs freely in a room at normal temperature.
• Use gentle methods for stubborn wrinkles. A hair dryer on a low setting, held well back while you smooth the leather by hand, handles most creases. Never put an iron or other direct high heat on leather; it can scorch or stiffen it.
• Inspect while you unpack. Check seams, zips, linings and color match before anything goes on the floor. Our guide on how to inspect wholesale leather jackets has a full checklist.

What hangers are best for leather jackets?

The weight of the hide pulls on the shoulders all day, so hangers matter more for leather than for most stock.

• Use wide, shaped hangers that fill the shoulder. Wooden or padded hangers spread the weight.
• Skip wire and thin plastic hangers. They leave shoulder dents that are hard to remove.
• Match the hanger to the garment. A long, heavy coat needs a sturdier hanger than a cropped jacket, or the shoulders can stretch over time.

How to store leather jackets in a retail store: rails, spacing and covers

Leather needs air around it. Crowded rails flatten collars and can transfer dye from dark pieces onto light ones.

• Leave room between jackets. If you have to force a jacket back onto the rail, the rail is too full.
• Separate light colors and suede from dark smooth leather.
• Keep rails off the wall so air reaches the back of each garment.
• Choose breathable covers. In the stockroom, use cotton or canvas garment bags. Sealed plastic traps moisture and can lead to mold and odor.
• Leave floor stock uncovered and keep reserve sizes covered in the back.

Where should leather be kept in a shop?

The right spot is cool, dry and out of direct light. Watch these places:

• Windows and skylights. Direct sunlight fades and dries leather. Change window displays often and keep rails out of the sun's path.
• Heaters, vents and hot lights. Hot, dry air can leave leather stiff and prone to cracking. Keep rails clear of radiators, heater outlets and close spotlights.
• Damp walls and floors. Basements, exterior walls and concrete floors can hold moisture. Keep cartons on shelving and move rails away from walls that feel cold or show water marks.
• Entrances. A rail near the door gets rain and street dust, so keep leather further inside.

If a stockroom smells musty, fix the airflow or move the stock before you hang leather in it.

Styles to stock or put under your own label

These three styles cover common storage cases: a biker jacket that hangs best with its asymmetrical zip closed, a suede trucker that needs regular brushing, and a car coat that needs a sturdy hanger. Each can be stocked as shown or made under your own label.

Men's Black Leather Asymmetrical Biker JacketWomen's Brown Suede Trucker JacketMen's Black Leather Mid-Length Car Coat

How do you care for suede jackets on the sales floor?

Suede is leather with a napped surface, so it shows dust, marks and water more than smooth leather. If you carry pieces like our women's suede jackets, build these habits into your routine:

• Brush it. Use a soft suede brush, working gently in one direction, to lift dust and refresh the nap before opening.
• Keep it dry. Water can mark and stiffen suede. If a piece gets wet, blot it with a clean cloth, let it dry naturally away from heat, then brush.
• Limit handling marks. Oils from hands, lotion and makeup show on suede. Encourage customers to lift it by the hanger rather than the sleeves.
• Blot spills, never rub. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper into the nap.

How should staff handle leather jackets in fitting rooms?

The try-on is where floor stock gets most of its wear, so train staff to:

• Hand the jacket over on its hanger and help with the sleeves on heavier coats.
• Ask customers coming in from the rain to dry off before trying on leather or suede.
• Check pockets and zips after each try-on, close the front and re-hang the jacket right away.
• Keep jackets off fitting room hooks and chairs, where they pick up dents.

How often should you check leather stock?

Pick a set day each week to walk the rails and the stockroom, and look for:

• Dust: wipe smooth leather with a soft, dry cloth and brush suede.
• Odor: a musty smell is an early sign of damp. Move the piece somewhere drier and find the source.
• Mold: spots or a powdery film need quick action. Separate the jacket from other stock, brush off loose growth in a well-ventilated area, clean it and let it dry fully away from heat. Our guide on how to remove mold from a leather jacket covers the steps.
• Shape: re-hang anything that has slipped or creased.

How do you store off-season leather stock?

Leftover pieces should go into storage clean and ready to sell next year.

1. Clean first. Remove dust and handling marks and let pieces air before covering them.
2. Hang, do not fold. Use the same wide hangers and breathable covers. If you must box pieces, pad the folds with tissue paper and use a breathable box, not a sealed plastic tub.
3. Label everything. Mark each cover or box with style, color, size and date received.
4. Keep checking. Stored stock needs the same weekly look as floor stock.
5. Rotate first in, first out. Put older pieces on the floor before newer ones so nothing sits for several seasons. Leftover sizes also show you how to adjust your next size run for leather jackets.

What leather care advice can a shop give customers?

A short care talk at the till helps the jacket last and builds trust:

• Hang it on a wide hanger, not a hook or a wire hanger.
• Keep it away from heaters and direct sun, and let it dry naturally if it gets wet.
• Store it in a breathable cover, not plastic.
• Condition smooth leather now and then, and brush suede.

Send customers to our leather care guide, or print the key points on a small card for the shopping bag.

FAQ

Can leather jackets be kept in plastic covers?

Only for transit. Plastic holds moisture against the leather, so use breathable fabric garment bags in the stockroom.

Can you iron a leather jacket to remove creases?

No. Hang the jacket first, since most fold lines relax on their own. For stubborn creases, use low warm air held well back from the surface while smoothing by hand.

Should suede be stored differently from smooth leather?

Use the same hangers and covers, but keep suede apart from dark smooth leather, brush it regularly and keep it away from damp.

Can leather jackets be folded in the stockroom?

Hanging is better. If you must fold for a short time, fold loosely with tissue paper in the creases and hang it again soon.

When you store leather jackets in a retail store with these habits, stock that arrives in good shape stays sellable through the season and into the next. Longer styles need the most hanger care, so browse our leather coats and trench coats if you are planning the next delivery.