The commission spinning team

We started a with hard-working mum with a mission, a recalcitrant husband and a teenage son who thought wool was for wallies.

After four years things are very different. Instead of making decisions over morning cups of tea or even-earlier-hours bottles of wine, we now have a board including accountant and solicitor Tomas Lynch, fund manager Sharon Pipe, businessman Ian Bowers and financier and entrepreneur Tony Everett who represents Finance Cornwall and the small shareholders.

Hard-working mum Sue Blacker is managing director, husband Douglas Bence is on the board and the son has even been known to wear our products.

As the company grows, others may join the board. These could be from our increased number of outside investors, textile or marketing specialists.

Most important to the company today, however, are the staff. Those that finish the goods, in alphabetical order, are Kellie, Rachel and Susan.

Paul is operations manager, but he also looks after worsted spinning and works closely on scouring, blending and carding with James, the carding engineer and his trainee, David, who keep the machines working and handle production up to the finishing stage.

All the commission-spinning customers know Sonja who, as well as being office manager, is responsible for all goods in and out and keeps everything running smoothly.  The customers are also getting to know her new assistant, Anne, and our dyeing expert, Kate.