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Thread: What’s going on at Leader?

  1. #21
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    315

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    Leaders hasn't been financially viable for a while now. They had to make the decision to sink or swim and they chose the one that hopefully will be able to keep the little guys sugaring for years to come.
    Remember to keep on ticking while the sap is dripping.
    2016- 50 buckets. Made 4 gallons.
    2022- 3900? taps + Smartrek! Made 1300 gallons.

  2. #22
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Leeds County,Ontario,Canada
    Posts
    1,038

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    Quote Originally Posted by sugarman3 View Post
    The head of the board of directors at Leader would not give Brad a long term contract plus she did not like the direction of the company that Brad was trying to take them,unfortunately the board was to old school and said that they never had any sort of contract with the old president.Bruce said it was time to retire and enjoy his wife and grandkids,and yes i am not to sure of the new president when one of his first statement was 'i don't know maple but i know how to make money',now to me that seems he is in it for himself and not the maple industry or the smaller producers,which brad and bruce always made you feel you were important,big or small.
    Must be why I don’t hear from Leader anymore,no email,no catalogs etc. Not a big enough producer in their opinion. Evaporator purchased years ago so no big purchases planned
    7th generation maple producer in sugarhouse built in 1892
    2x World Champion Maple Syrup Producer
    1250 taps on cv adapters
    Leader Vortex 3x14 with Max Flue and Revolution Syrup Pan,Enhanced Steam Away
    www.leggettmaplesyrup.com

  3. #23
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Verona, NY
    Posts
    411

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    Bruce, i think they re did their lists, i just got a catalog last fall and probably weekly emails. no matter what goes on there, we've got a couple stellar dealers around here, so i enjoy doing business with them for that.
    7000 taps on vacuum, just trying to get a little better every year.

  4. #24
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    New Hartford, N.Y.
    Posts
    2,091

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    Spoke to my local Leader dealer today, they are no longer going to be a dealer for them. Calling it quits after 20 years with them. Can't say whether Leader's woes helped that decision or not. But if it's as bad as everyone says it is there...

    Very sorry to see them close the dealership.

    Steve
    2014 Upgrades!: 24x40 sugarhouse & 30"x10' Lapierre welded pans, wood fired w/ forced draft, homemade hood & preheater
    400 taps- half on gravity 5/16, half on gravity 3/16
    Airablo R.O. machine - in the house basement!
    Ford F-350 4x4 sap gatherer
    An assortment of barrels, cage tanks & bulk tanks- with one operational for cooling/holding concentrate
    And a few puzzled neighbors...

    http://s606.photobucket.com/albums/t...uckethead1920/

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,544

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    Me too, they were close by, kept in stock quite well and they could answer any questions I had. In fact, they were my only source for maple info from Feb 3rd of my first year until I attended the maple conference the following Jan. at VVS.
    I however wonder if Leader might only be part of the reason. Just a guess, but their daughter did a lot of the repairs and tapping for maybe 3 years. I wondered if she has decided to go in another direction or other interests. Jon can't do it solo and Remy can't work in the bush if she's minding the store. Maybe they make more on syrup than from working the store.
    Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
    Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
    Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
    After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Ontario Canada
    Posts
    92

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    Past experience for me has been good, both our local dealers have been great to deal with and I have learned some valuable lessons from Bruce Gillian while walking a maple bush with him. Bruce supported me back when no one had heard or was using 3/16 and brought a few rolls up to a meeting so I could try it after I inquired. I hope that the company finds its way and continues, sometimes great things can come out of a re-evaluation. Perhaps the company will reinvent itself .

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