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Schoeff brings his talents to Hare Canvas Products

New owner Stacy W. Schoeff stands next to the sign outside Hare Canvas Products, located in Markle, on June 24. Schoeff bought the business about a month ago, providing canvas tarps and products made from a variety of materials as well as offering some new services.
New owner Stacy W. Schoeff stands next to the sign outside Hare Canvas Products, located in Markle, on June 24. Schoeff bought the business about a month ago, providing canvas tarps and products made from a variety of materials as well as offering some new services.

Stacy W. Schoeff has taken his love for creating, sewing and tooling leather and gone a step further in his career, purchasing Hare Canvas Products in Markle.

The business, located at 300 N. Tracy St. on Markle’s east end, was previously owned by Mark Hauenstein, who bought it from founder Chuck Hare. Schoeff has been the current owner since June 4, and says even though he is staying busy, the business, which began in 1955, is also one of Markle’s best-kept secrets.

“It’s amazing how many people, since I’ve become associated with it, that I’ve talked to say, ‘Hare Canvas. Where’s that at?’” Schoeff says. “It’s been right here in this building for the last 14 years.”

Schoeff and his team offer a wide variety of custom-made products, including roll tarps, boat covers, pool covers, screens, steel tarps, coil bags and covers for everything from grills to golf carts to sandboxes. Hare Canvas has also added new products, upholstery and leatherwork.

“I’ve done holsters for people – custom holsters that you can’t buy somewhere,” he says. “If you’re left-handed, if you want to carry a certain way, or if you really want a really comfortable shoulder harness, I make shoulder harnesses that nobody else makes.”

Schoeff’s forte is custom leather tooling, having picked up the skill from years of re-enacting at the Forks of the Wabash Pioneer Festival, where he “cracked a bullwhip and told cowboy stories” along with his father-in-law.

“That got me doing a lot of leather work, because I made all the leather in camp, but I sewed the canvas for the chuckwagon, so that would have been my first real canvas work.”

However, it was his mother who first taught him how to sew when he was about 10, he says. He later went on to work for K&K Tools, but he felt the need to become his own boss.
“I’ve worked for somebody else all my life,” he says. “It was time. I’m 56 years old. If I wasn’t going to do it now, then when?”

Having his own business also brings about a great sense of satisfaction in being able to interact with his customers and watch their reactions when they see the final result of the product they ordered.
“I wanted to do something for me and the family and be able to add to the community while I was doing it,” Schoeff says. “Right now, I’m back to something where, they come and pick it up and they say, ‘That looks great!’ and you get an instant gratification out of doing something good … you get a nice sense of satisfaction when you can actually see the customer be happy.”

Hours at Hare Canvas Products are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with special appointments available for off hours and weekends. The business may be reached at 758-8800.