| Your name: Paul McCaul Stall/business name: The Real McCaul
What do you make and sell at Eumundi Markets? I manufacture and sell leather apparel of the highest quality – made by us at our home near Eumundi. I primarily use locally tanned kangaroo leather, which makes the most durable lightweight leather in the world. I also use the best sewing threads, zips (Australian made) and fittings (brass and stainless steel when available). Approximately half of our business is custom or tailor-made With 30 years experience, I am probably the only or one of the few remaining leather tailors in Australia. I am certainly the only tailor using kangaroo leather.
Tell us your story… a bit about your background and development as an artist/ designer/ craftsperson: I was always interested in fashion and how one could change their appearance with an outfit (e.g. uniforms). Not having much money, I started making my own clothing. Actually, I had no money because I did not want to go on the dole, as I was not looking for work. I started making outfits using spent flour bags from the local health food store in Mullumbimby which where free. They were compliments of the Seventh Day Adventists who ran the store … who probably felt sorry for me … poor hippy! The first market I ever did was the Main Arm Market at Kohiner Hall in Mullumbimby around 1978.I was very shy and didn’t sell much. It then grew from there. People saw what I made and asked me if I could make something for them. An old saddler in the town was very helpful with advice and other people I have met have been the same. I ask the questions. Luckily people tell the truth. Since then (1978), I have not been without work. Orders normally only take about two weeks, but there is the odd one that has been hanging around about a year or so (some people are very patient!). I try to keep a really diverse range made up so that people don’t have to order, but Murphy’s Law rules, and I sometimes don’t have what they really want … so I custom-make it for them. One thing that The Real McCaul will not compromise on is the quality. We keep our manufacturing in-house so we can guarantee the quality. To quote a couple of quotes… “Quality not quantity”. “The bitterness of cheap quality lingers longer then the sweetness of cheap price” and “The price is soon forgotten, but the quality is not”. This is where The Real McCaul comes from. When did you join the Eumundi Markets community? The first Eumundi Market I did was around about 1981. What’s the BEST thing about being part of Eumundi Markets? Being part of the best market in Australia. Who is your favourite musician/entertainer at Eumundi Markets? Jambezi. They produce a great sound with a lot of enthusiasm that pleases a large majority of the crowds. Where is your favourite place on the Coast – other than Eumundi Markets? Home
Oh and where can people find you at Eumundi Markets? Fairly central. I’m on the northern side of the Old Railway Station – where all the food is. Tell us something that your fellow stallholders and customers/clients might not know about you… We are not at Eumundi Markets on Wednesdays – just Saturdays. Is your product available elsewhere? Yes. I have a shop in Nambour at 32 Queen St, Nambour, 4560. Web address: www.paulmccaul.com.au Email address: paul@paulmccaul.com.au
Contact phone numbers: (07) 54412794 or mobile 0438467083 | 
