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Save our Wool!
Listed under: One Voice
Published: Thursday, February 11, 2010
With well-known names such as Jamie Oliver and Prince Charles now highlighting the importance of supporting British wool farmers, there couldn't be a better time to rethink the origin of your stock. Farmer Beate Kubitz discusses the importance of supporting this cause
Have you noticed an increase in the number of people buying British wool?
We have been running the business for just over five years now and have witnessed the demand for UK-sourced wool rise significantly during that time. People are generally far more aware of the issues affecting British farmers and there seems to be much greater coverage of these matters in the media, as well as on our screens.
Why is it so important for retailers to support British farmers?
As a country, we are meticulous when it comes to our farming standards and while this is definitely something we should be very proud of and celebrate – because it means the products we source and the way we farm them are second to none – it also makes the farming process itself that little bit more expensive for our producers as well.
As such, it is absolutely essential for us all to do as much as we can to support the farmers in this country, so they are able to do their jobs well and create the best possible goods they can. We must also remember that these are the people who are looking after our countryside and ensuring some of our nation's most treasured and iconic landmarks are well-looked after and preserved, meaning it is our duty to support them as much as possible.
What are some of the biggest challenges they currently face?
Unfortunately, there is presently a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy associated with the farming in this country and while some of it is extremely beneficial and a credit to our nation, alot of it can be quite tedious and overly time-consuming as well. The introduction of Electronic Identification Ear Tags is also likely to be quite problematic for many enterprises and, in a country with more than 20 million sheep, will be a massive project to undertake. Diseases are also a common cause for worry, as are the prices farmers are paid for their fleece – which have risen slightly over the past year, but still remain well below what they should be.
What can retailers do to help?
Sadly, there is not much they can do for the farmers themselves, as many of the issues they currently face are down to the Government and therefore difficult to alter. However, it is possible and the more people we make aware of these problems and the greater the support we give our farmers, the louder their voices will be heard, and the higher the likelihood that something will change.
As a retailer, it's therefore essential to ensure as many customers are aware of this matter as possible, whether it's through literature you have in the store, everyday conversations with your regular shoppers or through simply highlighting the provenance of the wool you sell at every available opportunity. Remember, consumers are now more interested in the origins of the products they buy than ever, and it's up to us, as an industry, to capitalise on this growing demand as much as possible by using it to generate as much money and support for our farmers as we can.
As a retailer, how has business been for you over the past 12 months?
It certainly hasn't been easy and although we have managed to keep our turnover up, we have had to work incredibly hard to do so. As a business, we have focused on getting our name out to as many people as we can. This has included everything from visiting individual shops and discussing what we do, to doing special talks in various outlets and contacting the local press. While it has definitely been a tough year for us, we have managed to hold our ground.
How has the recession affected the demand for British wool?
Interest in the craft market generally tends to be quite cyclical and this is something we have seen with the renewed interest in hobby-related activities over the past year. The recession has undeniably had a lot to do with this, as it has made people far more conscious of the supplies they are buying and generally motivated the public to look for cost-effective ways of creating their own things. The same thing happened following the industrial revolution and I think it is a pattern we will see repeat itself many times in the future.
How do you think the demand for British wool will change over the next year?
The market has been growing slowly for quite some time and I honestly believe that as we come out of the recession and the economy begins to pick up, interest in the sector will peak – something which will not only help the farmers themselves, but also the retailers selling their stock too.
Beate Kubitz owns a flock of Shetland Sheep and has a business selling beautiful sustainable knitwear, using wool from her own flock. For more information, please visit http://www.makepiece.co.uk
We have been running the business for just over five years now and have witnessed the demand for UK-sourced wool rise significantly during that time. People are generally far more aware of the issues affecting British farmers and there seems to be much greater coverage of these matters in the media, as well as on our screens.
Why is it so important for retailers to support British farmers?
As a country, we are meticulous when it comes to our farming standards and while this is definitely something we should be very proud of and celebrate – because it means the products we source and the way we farm them are second to none – it also makes the farming process itself that little bit more expensive for our producers as well.
As such, it is absolutely essential for us all to do as much as we can to support the farmers in this country, so they are able to do their jobs well and create the best possible goods they can. We must also remember that these are the people who are looking after our countryside and ensuring some of our nation's most treasured and iconic landmarks are well-looked after and preserved, meaning it is our duty to support them as much as possible.
What are some of the biggest challenges they currently face?
Unfortunately, there is presently a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy associated with the farming in this country and while some of it is extremely beneficial and a credit to our nation, alot of it can be quite tedious and overly time-consuming as well. The introduction of Electronic Identification Ear Tags is also likely to be quite problematic for many enterprises and, in a country with more than 20 million sheep, will be a massive project to undertake. Diseases are also a common cause for worry, as are the prices farmers are paid for their fleece – which have risen slightly over the past year, but still remain well below what they should be.
What can retailers do to help?
Sadly, there is not much they can do for the farmers themselves, as many of the issues they currently face are down to the Government and therefore difficult to alter. However, it is possible and the more people we make aware of these problems and the greater the support we give our farmers, the louder their voices will be heard, and the higher the likelihood that something will change.
As a retailer, it's therefore essential to ensure as many customers are aware of this matter as possible, whether it's through literature you have in the store, everyday conversations with your regular shoppers or through simply highlighting the provenance of the wool you sell at every available opportunity. Remember, consumers are now more interested in the origins of the products they buy than ever, and it's up to us, as an industry, to capitalise on this growing demand as much as possible by using it to generate as much money and support for our farmers as we can.
As a retailer, how has business been for you over the past 12 months?
It certainly hasn't been easy and although we have managed to keep our turnover up, we have had to work incredibly hard to do so. As a business, we have focused on getting our name out to as many people as we can. This has included everything from visiting individual shops and discussing what we do, to doing special talks in various outlets and contacting the local press. While it has definitely been a tough year for us, we have managed to hold our ground.
How has the recession affected the demand for British wool?
Interest in the craft market generally tends to be quite cyclical and this is something we have seen with the renewed interest in hobby-related activities over the past year. The recession has undeniably had a lot to do with this, as it has made people far more conscious of the supplies they are buying and generally motivated the public to look for cost-effective ways of creating their own things. The same thing happened following the industrial revolution and I think it is a pattern we will see repeat itself many times in the future.
How do you think the demand for British wool will change over the next year?
The market has been growing slowly for quite some time and I honestly believe that as we come out of the recession and the economy begins to pick up, interest in the sector will peak – something which will not only help the farmers themselves, but also the retailers selling their stock too.
Beate Kubitz owns a flock of Shetland Sheep and has a business selling beautiful sustainable knitwear, using wool from her own flock. For more information, please visit http://www.makepiece.co.uk
