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 (http://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