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#002: UK wool grower Lesley Prior talks about the success she achieved through engagement along the supply chain

Lesley Prior

UK based wool grower Lesley Prior of the sheep property Bowmont near Devon gives insights on how she created a successful wool operation with different sources of income streams through engagement along the supply chain.

About Lesley Prior from Bowmont UK

Lesley Prior is a sheep farmer producing Superfine Merino wool and Mongolian grade Cashmere in the UK under the brand name BOWMONT. She has strong international links with other wool growers and regularly imports new genetics from Australia. Lesley is, together with a business partner in Australia, currently developing a new strain of Dual Purpose Merino with wide appeal to European growers.

A council member of the Campaign For Wool, she has broad experience of the industry from greasy fibre to finished garment.  She was recently invited to speak to the Australian Superfine Wool Growers Association Congress about marketing wool direct to retailers in Northern Europe.

Over the past few years Lesley has developed a Consultancy service and has worked in Afghanistan for the US Government and for a Growers Group in Switzerland. She has a unique knowledge of the supply and processing chain for both wool and cashmere and the particular challenges of marketing to Northern European consumers. She enjoys sharing her passion for the wool industry by creating new connections and business opportunities for people.

Connect with Lesley here

Website: www.bowmontuk.com

 Key Timestamps

1:30: Introduction to Lesley Prior and her sheep operation Bowmont UK
8:50: The potential of Merino sheep farming in europe
10:35: Income streams of Bowmont UK
12:50: Biggest issues at Bowmont UK
13:28: Collaboration with Finisterre
18:10: The importance of communications
19:55: About Bowmont’s involvement in the Campaign for Wool
24:23: What does a typical day look like
27:50: The passion for wool
30:00: Collaboration within the wool industry is key for success
34:20: The need of more communications in the industry

About the author, Elisabeth

Elisabeth is the founder and host of the Wool Academy Podcast. She also runs her own consulting business where she supports wool industry businesses with strategic communications and project management.
Elisabeth used to work as the Secretary General for the International Wool Textile Organisation where she developed her passion for wool and the wool industry. Her previous education and work experience equipped her also with a broad set of communications skills.

Elisabeth vision is to see the wool industry thrive which is why she supports wool industry businesses communicate successfully.

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