First time in furriers?

[Pelts1698431643]

I'm interested in everyone's first time in a furrier, how amazing was it, what fur caught your eye, how nice where staff?

I went to Ribnick Furs, in 2017. I was speechless and amazed. Tried on a lynx and fox's and minks very fun.

[joel.leon]

The one I've been to mostly just does storage, repairs, and cleaning, so i haven't got to play with any merchandise. One of their employees? regulars? Loved everything I brought in for cleaning and modeled them all for us!

[WinnipegFur]

First time was when I was under 10 years old when Winnipeg used to have at least 10-15 fur salons... I do remember being totally amazed at all the fox coats... back then all that was in the house was Grandmas old muskrat jacket, so seeing these huge fluffy foxes was crazy!

Besides that The Bay and Eatons downtown used to have big fur salons.. at The Bay, when furs were in, the coats used to be just out on racks but chained, so it was easy to just walk around and feel them... Eatons was a dedicated area.. When Eatons downtown closed its doors, I tried on an amazing Coyote full length.. it was a women's coat and I recall the woman who let me try it on saying thats a womans coat, but she didnt really seem to care.. even with it on sale there was no way I was going to be able to afford it.. The Bay when they closed was more friendly.. the gentleman in there let me try on anything I wanted and didnt seem to care at all... 

When I bought my Timberwolf parka, I remember being in the vault where the coats were kept and looking at the coats.. of course I headed straight for the full length fox coats.. the shop owner was very animant that those coats were reserved for women, and the mens coats were on the other end... I was kind of like... umm ok...  bought the timberwolf and never went back in there... 

Mixed bag really on going in fur salons.... some didnt care at all to let me try on, and then others were animant you weren't... I always found the times I went into a fur salon wearing a fur coat, they just seemed more open to let you try on anything I wanted to..

[Tom1698431614]

I bought my first fur at a department store when I was a young student. Next one I bought from a lady on a newspaper add . (Ebay didn’t exist at that time). Later on when I had a good job I started to visit furriers. My strategy when entering a fur store for the first time was to wear a ladies fur. I‘ve openly told the staff that, "as you can see, I‘m a dedicated fur lover and I‘ m interested in ladies furs only rather than male ones“. (I never liked male furs). Over time, when I made purchases I became a valued customer and could try on  everything I wanted. Unfortunately more and more furriers closed and I had to look for new stores. My strategy remained the same though. When entering a fur store for the first time I’ve always made sure to wear a fur. This way I’ve become instantly accepted. BTW: Wearing a fur when shopping is always a good idea. Not just in a furrier.

[kev86]

57 minutes ago, Tom1698431614 said:

I bought my first fur at a department store when I was a young student. Next one I bought from a lady on a newspaper add . (Ebay didn’t exist at that time). Later on when I had a good job I started to visit furriers. My strategy when entering a fur store for the first time was to wear a ladies fur. I‘ve openly told the staff that, "as you can see, I‘m a dedicated fur lover and I‘ m interested in ladies furs only rather than male ones“. (I never liked male furs). Over time, when I made purchases I became a valued customer and could try on  everything I wanted. Unfortunately more and more furriers closed and I had to look for new stores. My strategy remained the same though. When entering a fur store for the first time I’ve always made sure to wear a fur. This way I’ve become instantly accepted. BTW: Wearing a fur when shopping is always a good idea. Not just in a furrier.

A great story and i agree with you, not a good idea to visit a furrier wrapped in fur hahaha...

How this lady react about your love for fur ? She understand you.

Edited May 7 by kev86

[kev86]

My first experience was when i had 19 years, during a flea market in my city. I talk with a lady who searched to sale a mink jacket, I talk with her about this jacket, I give the argument to bought it for my grandma...

When I have a good situation and a good work, I bought from a flea market in a other city with a professional seller, this seller is specialised in vintage fur and accessories made of exotic skin. I bought a beautiful dark mink fur coat.

My experience from a furrier is to modified one of my mink coat, the furrier was gentle and adorable. Any bad reaction from my love for fur... Now this furrier clean my coat and save it in the time !!!

[Paulwhiffen]

I used to accompany my grandmother to the furrier as a child.And my earliest memory is of sitting waiting and having a fox fur wrapped around my shoulders by the shop owner. Each time we went she would wrap me up in fur while she dealt with my grandmother 

[kev86]

16 minutes ago, Paulwhiffen said:

I used to accompany my grandmother to the furrier as a child.And my earliest memory is of sitting waiting and having a fox fur wrapped around my shoulders by the shop owner. Each time we went she would wrap me up in fur while she dealt with my grandmother 

Oh this is a beautiful memory, surely a great experience for your grandma and you...

I imagine your grandma was really happy to see you wrapped in fox fur hahaha... Sound very cute to see your grandma love fur and shared with you this unique experience !!!

Edited May 7 by kev86

[paul2809]

I didnt have a good experience in the fur furrier that i went to..

 

[kev86]

1 hour ago, paul2809 said:

I didnt have a good experience in the fur furrier that i went to..

 

Oh this is really bad to read that.

Why you don't have a good experience ?

[dongleboy]

I suppose my first experience was as a child when I got lost in Jenner’s, Edinburgh’s premiere department store.  I had become separated from my mother and Nana and gravitated towards the fur department!  The pretty ladies made a big fuss of me as a six year old and they put a call out over the tannoy system.  I was rather disappointed when my mother came for me since I’d decided I’d rather stay there!  
 

My first adult experience was in 1995 when I took my sheepskin coat into Dominion Furs in Bruntsfield in Edinburgh in order to have it cleaned.  I asked the charming lady if I could look at the furs and she asked if I wanted to try them on!  I remember trying on an enormous full length mink coat that I absolutely fell in love with.  It was £6,000 which made it as remote as the moon.  However, she told me that they had second hand furs and I could have one laid aside and I could pay it up.  So, that’s how I bought my first mink coat.  
 

To be honest, I probably overpaid what it was worth but this was before the internet and sites such as eBay were common.  Still, it was quite an adventure. 

[kev86]

Oh you live a great experience honestly, Surely you bought a fabulous mink coat and the charming lady understood your love for fur... The price is not really expensive when we see the beauty of a mink full length !!!

I don't have problem with furrier but many members here are not very happy about the idea of visiting a furrier...

Personally, I order from my furrier for fur accessories like a pair of gloves or pillow but I order beautiful pieces from Etsy.

I bought a sheared mink from Dilart and I wait to receive it...

[FurSwede]

On 5/6/2025 at 5:56 PM, Pelts1698431643 said:

I'm interested in everyone's first time in a furrier, how amazing was it, what fur caught your eye, how nice where staff?

I went to Ribnick Furs, in 2017. I was speechless and amazed. Tried on a lynx and fox's and minks very fun.

The staff at Ribnick’s (if you are referring to the Minneapolis furrier) was amazing when I lived there. I went there many times to try on furs. Bought a full length crystal fox and a indigo fox boa. 

My first time at a furriers was many years prior to Ribnick’s. They showed me the local fur vault and I was allowed to try on many coats. I felt like a child in a candy store. 
 

As other people have already mentioned, it always helps if you wear fur when you go there. Then they understand that you are serious. 

[kev86]

1 hour ago, FurSwede said:

I felt like a child in a candy store. 

 

As other people have already mentioned, it always helps if you wear fur when you go there. Then they understand that you are serious. 

I'm totally agree with you, I have always a pleasure to visit my furrier wrapped in my mink, a real moment of fun and happiness.

I'm like a children who enjoyed this first Christmas day...

Edited May 14 by kev86

[paul2809]

The first time in the furrier wasnt a good experience due that not only was the clerk rude, but she was also very sexist towarsds me in that she mentioned that she couldnt sell the fur coat to me( 10K mahogony mink full lenght)....... I ended up fillig a formal cpmplaint about her attitude and I never returned & didnt buy the fur a all...

[paul2809]

One plus size 3x to 4x  mahogony mink fur coat is my dream fur to own and wear... why??? I love the color of it...

[Panther10]

I can’t recall my first time in a furrier. From what I was told I was a young man and one of Great Aunts, who used to work on Behalf of of a few different furriers between 1962-1996 in the Chicagoland area had taken me to her job when she worked at NH Rosenthal furriers in the mid-late 80’s. I was around 4-5 years old at the time. It’s been so long I can’t describe the showroom nor could I describe what I saw or my interactions with the owner or the merchandise, but I was told through later conversations by my Aunt while in my adult years after deciding to enter the fur business in Alaska and elsewhere that while I was at her workplace all those years ago, her boss had said that when I came of age he would be willing to take me in under his wing as an apprenticeship. Unfortunately, life got in the way and I had a Kidney transplant in my early teens, and then my Aunt’s former boss passed away when I was in my 20’s.  But she was very glad that I discovered and was still accepted into this industry on my own merits. 

Edited May 14 by Panther10

[kev86]

This is a beautiful story, i understand how you becoming a fur lover, your aunt's had pleasure to show you the fur industry...

This is for you a real heritage of follow her career... I find the career of your aunt's really nice, opportunity of travel in different countries for work with different fur companies, I'm surely the Alaska would be the best place to work in fur industry...

Your aunt's wear fur ? Opportunity to find a fabulous and exclusive coat.

[Panther10]

19 hours ago, kev86 said:

This is a beautiful story, i understand how you becoming a fur lover, your aunt's had pleasure to show you the fur industry...

This is for you a real heritage of follow her career... I find the career of your aunt's really nice, opportunity of travel in different countries for work with different fur companies, I'm surely the Alaska would be the best place to work in fur industry...

Your aunt's wear fur ? Opportunity to find a fabulous and exclusive coat.

Well I’ve never technically traveled outside of the country for the sake of this job. I’ve lived in the USA all my life and Alaska is a US state so I can’t say I’ve ever technically been to a foreign country before. But still yes it was a very informative experience. And my aunt did wear furs herself. She had at one point in her collection a fisher fur jacket that she had me sell on her behalf as I was just getting my start. Alaska was a great opportunity but I wouldn’t want to work there full time. I don’t have any family out there so I wouldn’t want to be living nearly 3000 miles from home full time. It’s a rough life

I’d prefer to find work near my home. And there are still furriers around here so there are ample opportunities for business and clients 

Edited May 15 by Panther10

[kev86]

2 hours ago, Panther10 said:

Well I’ve never technically traveled outside of the country for the sake of this job. I’ve lived in the USA all my life and Alaska is a US state so I can’t say I’ve ever technically been to a foreign country before. But still yes it was a very informative experience. And my aunt did wear furs herself. She had at one point in her collection a fisher fur jacket that she had me sell on her behalf as I was just getting my start. Alaska was a great opportunity but I wouldn’t want to work there full time. I don’t have any family out there so I wouldn’t want to be living nearly 3000 miles from home full time. It’s a rough life

I’d prefer to find work near my home. And there are still furriers around here so there are ample opportunities for business and clients 

Oh this is really interesting, fisher fur jacket is a great choice. I think she enjoyed it... Great to see your aunt had a fur collection but normally if she worked in fur business...

Of course I understand Alaska is a US state but I talk about the idea of travel in other countries for the fur companies, by exemple : visiting a fur farm from Finland.

Honestly, I understand your opinion and share the same feelings. I appreciate to work around the city or I live. This is a real comfort...

I prefer move for long distance during vacation and free time !!!

Edited May 15 by kev86

[Panther10]

I’ve never visited any fur farms before. As I said in my story I never was granted the opportunity to apprenticeship under a master furrier because I was diagnosed with kidney disease and I to be given a kidney transplant when I was 14 years old. So my career with fur began a little differently. I started selling furs on eBay for 10 years and then when I had enough experience doing that, the folks at Alaska Fur Gallery offered me the opportunity to sell furs on their sales floor at one of their stores in Juneau. But I never visited any fur farm as a part of my job. I don’t make coats I just work in sales 

[kev86]

I find your experience really interesting, your opportunities was a great luck and hope a great success...

When we love fur i find great to have the opportunity of building this career in the fur business...

[Efferus33]

Great stories! 
As a men I was a bit shy for the first time. I was looking to get a hooded mink coat but wanted to try one first.

The real first time wasn’t so great. The shop was big but they didn’t have mink for men and just said I could send them a pic of what I wanted. Felt like I wasn’t taken seriously as a potential client. However what struck me is how everything looked so shiny! I was overwhelmed by the number of coats.

Second time I sent an email to another shop and then went. They were soo nice and insisted on me trying like half of what they had (mostly coats for women). They were really passionate and happy to see a young men interested in fur. They did everything they could to help me. I left with a big smile on my face ! I would love to come back but they a slightly too expensive. 

I then tried a few shops in Paris, none of them had coats for men except Sophie L. The guy there was really kind and has a lot of coats to try that are not too expensive. Apparently he’s had more and more men buying fur for the last two years.

 

[kev86]

Great story...

I understand the situation when a furrier don't take the request seriously but many furrier don't have the habit of seeing a young men bought a fur coat...

Honestly, many men's appreciate the feeling and the beauty of a fur coat for women. Personally i find them more elegant, the design is more attractive !!!

Honestly wear a fur coat for women is not a problem and many ladies don't have problem with this idea.

[WinnipegFur]

10 hours ago, kev86 said:

Great story...

I understand the situation when a furrier don't take the request seriously but many furrier don't have the habit of seeing a young men bought a fur coat...

Honestly, many men's appreciate the feeling and the beauty of a fur coat for women. Personally i find them more elegant, the design is more attractive !!!

Honestly wear a fur coat for women is not a problem and many ladies don't have problem with this idea.

I personally think that whole the hooks do up this or that way doesnt mean a thing.. I was wearing my mom's raccoon coat when the woman in the park complimented me on it..she didnt even realize I was wearing a woman's fur coat until I told her it was my moms.. she didnt care at all, all I remember her saying was it looks great, wear it, and who cares what anyone says...

Way back when I first started venturing out in raccoon or coyote coats, like in the early 90s, for me the way the hooks did up was intimidating.. the young guy seen wearing the ladies fur coat and hat was a bit daunting, and I always remember trying to take the most secretive path and was scared to cross paths with anyone while go for morning walks. Id often make quick turns back the other direction just to not cross paths with anyone... When I look back on it now, I just think of all the times I should have been wearing a fur coat, vs being to scared... now its who cares... going out for walks in raccoon, coyote, lynx, red fox, silver fox, beaver, mink is just normal now... it helps when you live in a freezer too here in Winnipeg... lol