Shear Comfort

BY KELLY GRAY

Winnipeg’s North End is home to a lot of tradition. From bakeries to specialty stores to bowling alleys, this section of the city is home to a wealth of multigenerational businesses that have helped shape the fabric of our community. Wonderful World of Sheepskin is one of these businesses. Located today at 250 Dufferin Ave, the Schultz family has been crafting furs and sheepskin magic in the North End for close to 80 years.

According to Myron Schultz, the business his grandfather started in the 1930s was originally located on Selkirk Ave. The company moved to its present home on Dufferin Ave in 1996. Today, Wonderful World of Sheepskin is unique, thanks to a manufacturing facility alongside their boutique in the same building. This on-site manufacturing facility allows the company to offer a full circle of service with a product range that includes footwear, outerwear, plush toys, and automotive specialties, as well as cleaning tools and home décor items, along with personal care and comfort items.

“Our wool dusters have become an industry standard in the hotel sector. Housekeepers have long recognized the quality of these tools surpass everything else on the market,” says Myron Schultz, mentioning that these janitorial items came on board in 1969 and were introduced to the janitorial industry in the US.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, sales of slippers spiked as people sought out ways to make themselves more comfortable at home. Available for men, women, and children, these slippers are renowned for their comfort, style and durability.

“Returning customers will come in looking for a replacement after years of wear and buy several more pairs as gifts. We know we are doing things right,” says Schultz. Similarly, as people spent more time outdoors last year during the winter, mitts, gloves and boots were all in high demand.

“We are all about comfort, and our line is filled with items that make a difference in how our customers go about day-to-day tasks. For example, we make sheepskin insoles for cold weather boots, and sheepskin steering wheel covers to keep your hands warm while driving. We also have seat belt covers and seat skins to take some cold out of Winnipeg winters,” he says.

The company also offers wash mitts, car dashboard dusters and chamois, as well as other car care items. For personal care, Schultz suggests sheepskin wheelchair pads to help limit pressure sores. In addition to soft crutch covers, they manufacture elbow, knee, and heel protectors, as well as forearm covers and specialized slippers.

The product range extends to bedding with wool mattress covers, comfy sheepskins and a broad assortment of outerwear that includes hats, gloves, mitts and jackets, as well as earmuffs. Looking for leg warmers? Wonderful World of Sheepskin will create an item to your specs. They have even produced coats for dogs to keep them comfortable in the winter. All are produced in the company’s tradition of manufacturing excellence.

“We source the majority of our skins from Australia and New Zealand with some tanned in Europe. Since the beginning, the business has been based on quality. And today, when customers come in, they know we will still be here when they need a new pair of slippers, or a relative requires a soft surface on a wheelchair. We are part of the tradition that is the North End, and we are proud of this history as we move forward.”

Schultz invites people to visit them in-store at 250 Dufferin Ave or online at www.Worldofsheepskin.com to discover the comfort of quality in a Winnipeg tradition.