Barnsley knitting specialist untangles "whirlwind" Covid hit to increase sales 300%

A Yorkshire craft business has reported a 300 per cent increase in online sales since the beginning of the pandemic.

Wool Couture, in Barnsley, has seen its online sales triple since March, despite a frozen supply chain for the first few weeks of lockdown.

The company, which trades in 42 countries, started the year with an annual turnover of £1m and has said that it expects its 2020 figures to triple or quadruple.

During lockdown, Wool Couture closed its retail store and pivoted to focus more on digital sales.

Claire Gelder, founder of Wool Couture, commented: “The initial shock of Covid hit us hard like everyone and I think I lay on the settee for three weeks wondering what on earth I was going to do.

“But on our return to work after that initial shut down, we made the place Covid-safe and found we had an unprecedented number of orders waiting for us and more pouring in.

“We had to work very quickly to change our business model and ensure we could deliver high quality products safely to thousands of new and existing customers.

“We’ve basically changed our little craft company into a huge 100 per cent online seller and modified our product range to ensure we can still deliver on quality and creativity.

“It’s been a whirlwind experience, but we are now in our stride and have a business model fit for purpose.

“I am, of course, extremely grateful not to be facing some of the challenges faced by other businesses at this time.”