ST. PETERSBURG, FL, May 09, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In 1988 with the St. Petersburg Pier reemerging from a two year $12 million renovation, owners Fred and Merle Snook of The Hide Out were first in line to sign up for a retail home in this magnificent downtown destination. With unique leather products and a recovering retail economy they were quick to expand to International Drive in Orlando and world famous John's Pass Village on the Gulf of Mexico.
Bringing a wide variety of leathers such as alligator, eelskin, stingray, lizard and an extensive
array of snakeskin fashion accessories made them one of Florida's best known leather retailers for almost 25 years.
Approaching retirement age but not wanting to abandon the business they loved, Fred and Merle made the difficult choice to close the retail locations and join the 21st century on the world wide web. Now their long time customers still get the personal service and unique leather products that made them a star attraction in central Florida for those many years.
With less time needed managing locations, Fred and Merle now spend more time developing and producing new, exclusive leather accessories proudly made in the USA.

A bold transition from the twentieth to the twenty first century in the retail industry is key to surviving and The Hide Out is making that move smoothly.