BWMB to inform of its activities at Golden Shears event

20 Jul '10

3 min read

The British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB), sponsor of this year's Golden Shears at the Royal Welsh (19-22 July), will host a major display of their activities at this year's event showcasing the breadth of their work in promoting British Wool in different sectors, training in shearing skills and their part in the Campaign for Wool.

As sponsor of the Golden Shears event, BWMB Chairman Frank Langrish is delighted that members of the UK teams have attended a Wool Board training course at some stage.

“Our shearing training courses are there for wool producers and provide valuable support to the sheep farmer wanting to learn or advance skills used every shearing season. We see more and more young people take advantage of them and this is an indication that the Wool Board is doing the right thing for our producers, that is very affordable and offers long term benefit to our industry.”

The BWMB will also promote the Campaign for Wool (CfW) which was launched by HRH The Prince of Wales in January, and of which he has now become official Patron. The five year campaign is intended to promote wool to the designer, retailer and consumer helping to improve understanding of the fibre and encourage demand and price improvement throughout the supply chain, returning more to the producer.

“We have backed this campaign with funding and expertise, our involvement has been significant from the start and we are very heartened that fellow wool organisations from Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa and the International Wool Textile Organisation have joined with us to make this a global push to promote wool in every sector. It is what the industry needs and we are right behind it.”

Mr Langrish explained that the wider promotion of British Wool in carpets, upholstery, beds and insulation will gain from this campaign but is already benefiting British focused marketing rolled out by the BWMB at international trade events.

“Our 'British Wool...origin is everything' campaign has hit the right note with manufacturers and retailers and we are seeing the results of pushing the fibre to the fore with this message. There has been a strong British leaning in recent months and certainly that is showing itself at spinners as a powerful trend. We will continue to develop that and add value to our fibre through research and development.”

As prices at the BWMB have been heading upwards in recent sales, taking many types above a £1 for the first time in ten years, Mr Langrish wants wool producers to see the benefit of all the BWMB's work to improve price.

“We have invested in promotion and marketing, research and development and shearing, we work hand in hand with the UK textile industry which is vital to British Wool, but we also work at a global level too. As prices indicate, we are making a difference and it is continually gathering momentum.”

British Wool Marketing Board

More Textiles News - United Kingdom...