We had a sit down with Ellie, our General Manager, who has worked at Wool Warehouse since 2013. Let’s find out a little more about her, and her role here at Wool Warehouse…
Ellie! Can you tell us what Wool Warehouse was like when you first joined the team?
The warehouse was very different, and it’s amazing to think how small it was and the tiny number of products we stocked compared to now – we even had a sofa area in the warehouse, where we could sit and knit/crochet if we didn’t have many orders to process…no chance of an afternoon knitting these days! There were only a few Woolly workers in the team back then, and it’s incredible to see all the changes, and progress the company has made over the past 12 years!
What are some of your favourite memories from Wool Warehouse’s early days?
As such a small team, when we had a busy day it was all hands on deck and felt like such a team effort to try and get all orders out of the door by 5pm! We didn’t have a dedicated customer service team back then, so I loved getting to learn this side of the role, dealing with telephone calls, and visitors to our shop.
Bacon Thursdays! Everyone at Wool Warehouse, and Premier Ink (the company that used to be in the same building) would get bacon sandwiches ordered in on Thursdays 😊
I also remember when we completed one of the warehouse extensions, we had a roller disco and pizza evening with some of the team, before we moved all the new racking and stock into place!
The past 12 years have surely had their challenges and triumphs. Can you share a time you are particularly proud of?
Working throughout the pandemic was definitely one of my proudest times at Wool Warehouse – we were incredibly busy with orders, and the team really pulled together to try and get orders out as quickly as possible. Again, there is such a team work ethic here, and people helped out wherever they were needed, whether that was picking and packing, or helping customer service answer the hundreds of phone calls and emails we were receiving every day!
Hearing from customers on a daily basis, with thanks and gratitude to us for remaining open and sending out their orders so they could continue their hobbies whilst in lockdown really helped to brighten up what was a very worrying, and stressful time for the whole of the UK!
Can you give us a peek into a typical day in your life as General Manager?
No two days are ever the same as General Manager at WW!! I could be placing orders with suppliers, looking at new products to stock, working on Yarnsmiths new range ideas/colour matching/setting up the new products on the system, checking through product information on our website/database, working with team members in different departments whether that be customer service, HR or Marketing or out visiting suppliers/having meetings at the warehouse in Leamington Spa! And if order numbers get really high in dispatch, then I’m out helping to pick the orders so we can try and get as many dispatched as possible 😊
What are some of the things you love most about working at Wool Warehouse now?
In the early days, I loved when we were able to expand the showroom as I was responsible for the layout of the shop, and deciding each month what we should be displaying/stocking in there. I love that even though we have grown so much bigger than when I started there is still a really good team ethic, and it is a really fun, happy place to work! And of course, I love taking part in some of our Instagram and TikTok posts, when Alex needs someone to model sample garments, or show off some knitting or crochet techniques!
We’ve obviously launched our in-house brand, Yarnsmiths over the last few years. What’s it been like to work on this project?
In one word…amazing! I have quite a lot of responsibility for the Yarnsmiths brand, and get to choose new ranges, colour palettes, and variegated shades to include when selecting ranges. I have always loved colour and have very often been the person to ask when customers and/or staff have been trying to decide on a project colour palette, so it is literally a dream to be able to spend some of my time putting colour palettes together for Yarnsmiths 😊 I do all of the test-knitting for new ranges, as well as setting them up on our system, and sometimes help with the choosing of range names and ball-band designs. I can’t believe how much the brand is loved already by our customers, and I am VERY excited for some of the upcoming launches we have planned!
Can you give our followers any sneak peaks of what’s to come with Yarnsmiths?
Look out for lots more colour, and maybe some more natural fibre ranges coming soon!
Without naming Yarnsmiths, what other brands of yarns do you love that we stock?
There aren’t many brands that we stock, that I haven’t yet tried!! But out of all of them I love Drops yarns – we started stocking Drops just before I started working here, and some of my first wages went on yarn for a new blanket project in Drops Nepal! I have used a lot of Fabel to make socks as gifts over the years, as well as a lot of their Merino yarns for baby garments, and blankets as gifts for friends and family.
As General Manager, I get a sneak peek of new ranges coming from all of the brands we stock, and I am already excited for some of the Autumn/Winter ranges coming from James C Brett, King Cole, and Stylecraft and may have already started planning some projects!
And what crafts are you loving now?
I love to knit, crochet, and sew (cross-stitch, embroidery, and quilting), so working at Wool Warehouse means I’m surrounded by tempting products all the time! My WIP and to-do list is ever-growing, and there is always something in my project basket!
Tell us what you’re currently working on…
I currently have the sleeves to finish on a jumper made in Pebble Haze Prints (hopefully will be finished in time for Autumn/Winter), and a simple knitted tank top made in Drops Cotton, which should have been finished in time for summer…oops! I also have a cross stitch project that I started months ago, and need to pick up again so I can get it finished!
Can you tell us three things you would love to learn/master/execute…
Oohh, that’s a tricky one…I would love to learn fairisle knitting…my mum is ace at it (you’ve probably spotted her on our social media posts showing off her knitted berets)
Sewing in my ends as I go on a crochet blanket project, rather than leaving them all until the end!
Finishing projects in my WIP basket, before getting tempted by new yarns coming into the warehouse and starting a new project!
You’ve been with us so long, what do you do in your downtime?
I love to read, and recently have found myself reaching for a good book more than my knitting projects… I do find I am definitely more of a winter knitter, when the days get a bit darker and colder, and I just want to cosy up under a homemade blanket with my hook or needles!
I also love going for walks, and being out and about…I love taking photographs of landscapes/scenery and spending time outdoors through the seasons.
My friends and family are very important to me, so I try to spend as much time as I can with them outside of work!
And finally, what would you say to those people who are looking to try a new craft, but don’t have the confidence?
Try it!!! Watch a Youtube video, or join a Facebook group relating to the craft you want to try as the community spirit within crafting is amazing! Or why not ask a friend or family member if they want to do it with you, so you can learn together, and encourage each other as you work on your new projects!