Jim Allchin is now AWN’s Tasmanian wool buying division manager.
Tasmanian woolgrowers can now look outside the traditional auction system to create specialty markets for their product using the Australian Wool Network’s supply pipeline.
AWN, one of the nation’s biggest wool brokers, acquired the Launceston based Conn Wool as its newest buying division.
The acquisition is the latest in a three-year expansion program for the network, with 16 outlets now operating across Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Tasmania.
Victoria, Tasmania and South Australian manager Mark Quartermain said AWN provided an alternative to the traditional auction selling system for Tasmanian woolgrowers, including finding markets for specialty wools, small clips and other allotments.
AWN’s newly created specialty program DNA (Direct Network Advantage) is a bale to retail consumer focused wool selling option offered to Tasmanian growers.
This will be available for superior handling wools via the company’s Victorian knitwear businesses MerinoSnug and, its latest manufacturing acquisition, Hedrena.
Mr Quartermain said the specifications of 17-18 microns for the Hedrena types would, in particular, be easily met by Tasmanian growers.
He said AWN was committed to employing local people under the DNA wool supply program.
“We have had Tasmanian clients supporting us for the last 10 years – Conn Wool was a service provider for us,’’ Mr Quartermain said.
“We are now offering fully fledged private buying and direct wools straight from farm gate to mill.
“Growers will have the benefit of being able to follow their product through the process, and be rewarded financially.’’
Former Conn Wool co-principal Jim Allchin is now AWN’s Tasmanian wool buying division manager.
Mr Allchin said DNA was an exciting project to enhance the profile of environmentally sustainable Tasmanian wools.
“Growers who place their wool with AWN have an exclusive opportunity to participate in the DNA program which offers them an attractive financial reward,’’ he said.
“It is an option for locally produced wool to be made into a genuine Australian made product and for growers to know exactly where their wool is being used..’’
Conn Wool was founded in 1949 by Len Conn, a respected wool classer who was regarded as an institution in the Tasmanian wool industry.
Conn Wool’s experienced staff and focus on quality customer service have been retained by AWN. Two wool specialists Brett Cox and Tony Bradfield service the north and south respectively.
Mr Allchin was impressed by AWN’s growth potential after handling the company’s direct to mill consignments for the past eight years.
He said AWN’s market share in Tasmania was growing rapidly.
“That will continue to grow because our focus is on wool with the bottom line being maximising returns for growers.
“We purchase full clips and cater for everything from the one fleece farmer to 1000 bale wool clips.
“We service door sales from smaller hobby farmers to direct mill link clients based on tested data.’’
Mr Allchin said AWN offered services including sheep classing, ram purchases, clip preparation, shed clean outs and down to butts, bags and oddments.
