Laurence Odie Knitwear drives expansion for isles firm

13 Sep '12

3 min read

A Shetland knitwear manufacturing business is increasing its workforce and investing in new machinery to keep pace with rising demand at home and overseas.

Laurence Odie Knitwear Ltd (LOKL) is based in Sandwick in the Shetland Isles and is currently receiving steady orders from as far away as Japan and the USA.

With assistance from Highlands and Islands Enteprise (HIE) and Shetland Islands Council (SIC), the business is investing £219,000 in four new Stoll knitting machines, mill alterations and computer equipment, all of which will help it explore new international markets.

HIE is providing £76,650, while the council's contribution is £10,950.

Shetland's knitwear industry is worth around £3m to the local economy, and generates annual sales of £2.1 million in exports outside the UK.

LOKL was established in 2004 when Laurence Odie, set up the business in premises formerly occupied by a similar operation, Laurence J Smith Ltd. Mr Odie is a former employee of Laurence J Smith and has 40 years' experience in the knitwear trade.

In-house production employs 10 full time equivalent (FTE) staff, rising to 14 during peak production on a seasonal basis.

Approximately 40 people also provide services as outworkers making hand-framed knitwear and finishing cuffs and necks on the knitted garments. The planned increase in production resulting from this investment will enable LOKL to employ up to three more FTEs.

LOKL works closely with customers to produce bespoke products which fit with their brand image and a back catalogue of garments has been created over the years which is used as the basis for product and design development.

More than 80 percent of sales is made up of products manufactured from Shetland yarn with lambswool/angora and geelong lambswool making up the remaining 20 percent.

The new equipment will be installed in November and staff will be trained on the machines which are planned to be fully operational and in production by March 2013.

Owner Laurence Odie said: "We are delighted with the investment from HIE and Shetland Islands Council which, along with support from the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lombard Finance will help us to greatly increase the production capability of LOKL and realise our target of increasing turnover by over a third in the next three years."

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