THE Managing Director of Australia’s largest wool exporting companies Lempriere, has urged Tasmanian wool producers to commit their wool to the Roberts Wool Link (RWL) marketing programme or risk damaging established relationships with innovative wool customers.
William Lempriere said securing wool was vital for achieving stable and sustainable returns for RWL growers and assist built long term relationships with their global customers (retailers, apparel and textile brands)
“We have made a huge investment in building up the Tasmanian brand and it is now up to more growers to get on board,” Mr Lempriere said.
“We have secured numerous retail contracts for a lot more wool and to continue servicing this demand, we need more.”
He said Tasmanian wool grower were in a “unique position to exploit the demand”, but pressed upon growers at that a further commitment of supply was required.
“More wool in the RWL pool will ensure greater control and the ability to deliver the long term stable and sustainable returns the programme delivers” he said.
Addressing over 200 of the state’s Merino growers at the RWL second anniversary at Moorilla winery last Wednesday, Mr Lempriere reinforced the company’s commitment to RWL, but pushed the need for more wool to “ensure greater control” and the “ability to deliver long term stable and sustainable returns.”
Will Bignell, a participant in the RWL programme and member of the RWL Growers Reference Group, also stressed the opportunities available to Tasmanian wool growers should they commit more of their clip to the programme.
“In addition to the stable and sustainable returns delivered, another advantage from being
involved in RWL is the feedback on my clip and a better understanding of where my wool goes.
For Shauna and Paul Ellis, Humbie Pastoral, Bothwell, the 45 bales of medium to fine micron wool they entered last year returned a 6 per cent premium over the same wool sold through auction house.
“Being in the pool creates a relationship with the end user, eliminates steps in the supply chain and gives us an option we would not normally have,” Mrs Ellis said.
“This way we have security and we know what happens with our wool.”