Mount Nicholas Merino, co-founders of Kate Cocks and McMurray, both from Queenstown, sold their fine articles of wool on the southern island’s agricultural field in Canterbury last week.
The three -day event in Kirwee had a capacity of 650 exhibitors.
The MT Nicholas Merino products were made of wool harvested at MT Nicholas Station, the Family Farm ‘Mrs. COCKS, a 36,000 -country property of the western western western Wakatipu.
About 29,000 Merino and 2000 cattle sheep, a mixture of pure Angus and Pure hereford, were administered at the station.
MT Nicholas Merino was launched in November 2023 and sells hats, shirts, scarves, throws and vests.
All products were 100% Merino and were completely made in New Zealand, said Cocks.
“Tish and I designed the reach and try the guard -a whine that appeals and resists the testing of time.”
Their thread was rotated and dyed in Woolryarns in Wellington and knitted in Tauranga.
The use of an international manufacturer has never been considered, said cocks.
“We wouldn’t have done this if we couldn’t have done everything in New Zealand.
“We know we could have done it cheaper abroad, but for us it was not an option in terms of sustainability and using all the skills we have available in New Zealand.”
Customers were comfortable paying more for a natural product made in New Zealand, she said.
The products were sold on -line and on field days, which fit their business better than the retail of bricks and mortar.
“We are 100 km per road to the nearest city and we are both based on the station, so we don’t have the opportunity to have a retail store.”
She was happy with the number of sales on South Island’s agricultural field days.
Field days were a great way to introduce people to their products and give them a chance to try them.
“It’s great for new people to touch, feel and see the product so we are really pleased to have arrived and time has been great.”
Field days have provided an opportunity to talk to other amazing companies using wool to create goods produced by “fantastic” manufacturers in New Zealand.
Cocks said New Zealand was lucky enough to have these manufacturers and they need to be supported to be kept.
The intention was for MT Nicholas Merino to be operating a long time, which made it easier to launch a new business during a period of economic uncertainty.
“There is always a reason not to do something and you need to look for reasons to do it, otherwise you would never do anything.
“Although there was pressure on people’s spending, we imagine that if we launched it now, over time, it would only improve.”
shawn.mcavinue@alliedpress.co.nz
