World of Wool – based in Huddersfield: heart of the wool textiles industry

There are no qualifications, training courses or university degrees you can gain in the wool textiles industry. What we know has been gained from working in the industry for over 30 years and is now being handed down from father to son and daughter in our family firm.

The business was established by managing director David and his wife Lynn in 1988, who together built the turnover in just one year to over £½ million all from their own front room!

Fast forward 15 years and David and Lynn’s son Richard decided to join the family firm aged just 16. With that extra pair of hands the turnover grew to £1.2million in the following year, which then prompted the necessity to move to more suitable premises.

So in 2004 they moved the company to 3000sq ft premises in Milnsbridge, Huddersfield, later expanding to 6,000sq ft of storage. This meant they had more control over storage, stock quality and control, and deliveries.

The family circle was expanded again in 2005 when daughter Gina then joined the company – again aged 16 – taking on the role of admin/receptionist. So more often than not it’s her friendly voice you’ll hear whenever you call!

What Gina’s presence also meant was the ability to tackle a relatively untapped market – handcrafts. This is a market that has been steadily increasing in popularity with people keen to create all manner of items from scratch, both through hand felting or spinning and weaving (one of the oldest cottage industries going back to before the industrial revolution, with some Guilds dating back to 1000/1200!).

Because of our stock holding we can be extremely competitive and provide small quantities in excess of 80 different colours and more than 100 natural qualities.

But our main strength, apart from our stock holding, is the service we provide to our many customers.