When you hear the words “Upholstery Shop,” you might think about fancy dining chairs, expensive curtains, and those vintage couches covered in embroidery. That’s not wrong, necessarily, but at Fredrick's Upholstery & Leather Crafts & Sausage Seasoning Mixes in Swift Current, they keep things a little more practical.
Fred and Denise Chalk, co-owners and husband and wife, specialize in the everyday repairs – vehicle interiors, tractor seats, powersport vehicle seats, truck and boat covers, and dining room chairs.
“The list goes on and on,” said Fred.
With how specific upholstery work can be, it’s nearly impossible to list every project; some of their notable work, though, includes quad seats, tailgate covers, boat seats, and tarps.
“The tailgate covers started a long, long time ago. We made some for ourselves, to protect the tailgate from rock chips when you’re hauling stuff,” said Fred. “We put a few decals on them, and everybody started to see them and want them. We’ve shipped them all over the place now, including British Columbia and Alberta.”
They make similar covers for boats, as well, whether you need some extra windshield protection or a custom boat cover.
“It’s a snap-on cover, so they don’t come off,” said Fred. “You can drive through the rain and snow, and they stay put.”
“We do a ton of quad seats, too,” added Denise, whether it’s restoring regular wear and tear or fixing them up after they’ve been eaten by bears.
Yes, bears!
“Bears eat a lot of them,” laughed Fred. “The guys who go hunting up north, they’ll be up in the tree stand, come back to their quad or side-by-side or whatever, and the seat’s just gone.”
Fred and Denise have owned and operated the shop for going on 38 years. Fred started his work there, sweeping the floors at just 12 years old while his mother did the bookkeeping. He eventually bought the business from previous owners, Jim Davies and Ed Leier.
“Jim Davies’ dad started the shop just after WWII, originally down on the docks that used to be beside the police station,” said Fred. “Then Jim and Vern took over, then Ed became a partner, and I bought it out after that. I can’t tell you how many years they ran the shop before that.”
Needless to say, Fred’s Upholstery has been a staple in Swift Current for decades, keeping the spirit of the local, family-owned business alive.
In addition to the upholstery side of things, Fred’s has also grown their craft-supply selection in the last few years.
“When [the pandemic] came, that’s when all the craft stuff came in,” said Denise. “I’ve had leather craft supplies for probably over 20 years, but [during the pandemic], I put some of the kits on Facebook. Then everyone started asking me, ‘Do you have this?’ And I said no, but I can get it!”
With Fred on board with the idea, the storefront grew into what it is today, with a large selection of yarn, needlepointing supplies, beading supplies, and more, plus smoker pellets and sausage and jerky spice mixes.
“And zippers!” added Denise. “We sell a ton of zippers – we carry various sizes and colours, for the at-home seamstress and crafters.”
Whether you need something repaired, need the material to repair it yourself, or want to stock up on fibre-craft supplies, Frederick’s Upholstery is the place to go. And, if there’s anything from the storefront you need but can’t find, just ask Denise – “I’ll do my best to get my hands on it.”
Fredrick's Upholstery & Leather Crafts & Sausage Seasoning Mixes is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, closed on Fridays in July and August.
Check them out on Facebook, or visit them in store at 135 10th Avenue Northwest.
