The Wool Company Collaborates: How Connectivity empowers Growth

[Lead image] Pictured from left to right; Senior Business Coach, Chris Hassall; Harry Mayman, Co-Founder; Elizabeth Allen ‘Lizzie’, Lecturer: BA Fashion Marketing; Lydia Cooke, Model and Social Media; Sarah Mayman, Co-Founder.

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For Sarah and Harry Mayman, founders of The Wool Company in Bodmin, the journey of business growth has been a long and steady one. Established 18 years ago, The Wool Company has weathered the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, building a reputation for quality in the world of wool products. With those experiences come a lot of hiccups and business lessons, so with the support of long-standing friend Tim Hunt, ex-CMO of The Guardian, they were ready to take on an exceptional transformation.  

Hunt, newly settled in Cornwall, introduced the Maymans to Falmouth University’s Launchpad Futures programme—a move that would invigorate and change their business strategy in ways they hadn’t anticipated. With initial uncertainty, they would eventually exclaim -  

"Brilliant. Thank you, Chris—we finally feel we are on the move! We are very invigorated,” reflecting on the partnership that has sparked new possibilities for their company. 

At first, Sarah and Harry were unsure of what to expect from Launchpad Futures, but it didn’t take long for them to see the value. The programme began by identifying key areas for business growth and productivity, mapping out where Falmouth University’s strengths could best align with their business needs. One of the first steps saw Chris Hassall, Senior Business Coach, introduce Course Leader: BA Fashion Marketing Emma Goff and Lecturer: BA Fashion Marketing Lizzie Allen from the Fashion & Textile Institute. These consultations helped reshape their brand and marketing approach.

“Thank you for arranging the meeting on Tuesday morning with Lizzie Allen,” Sarah said. “It was very useful and has given me a lot to think about with regard to putting together a brief for the creatives going forward.” 

Even more exciting, there’s an opportunity for Falmouth students and alumni to engage with The Wool Company through internships, offering both parties a chance to collaborate on real-world industry projects. In fact, the right person might even carve out a permanent role at the company, helping to explore untapped markets with future potential. Lizzie would also like to continue working closely with Chris and The Wool Company to build a long-term brand strategy. 

Another key figure in the Maymans’ journey has been Stewart Noakes, a lecturer at Cornwall Business School, entrepreneur, and board advisor. Through Chris’s recommendation, Sarah and Harry attended his 'Supercharge Your Business Growth & Profitability' workshop, and their feedback was nothing short of glowing.  

“It's a fabulous space to be able to host a workshop - no bland white, stifling rooms with overhead projectors! We thought Stewart’s innovative approach to getting us all to think outside the box was very refreshing.” - Sarah  

Since connecting with Launchpad, Sarah and Harry have become regular attendees of workshops and have even taken advantage of hotdesking when they’re in the area for meetings. The Launchpad will be supporting them on the Route 2 intensive support offer, allowing them to deepen their engagement with the university’s expertise, facilities, and creative hubs. 

Even beyond business strategy, The Wool Company has begun working with the university’s Institute of Photography to explore commercial photography opportunities whilst also accessing talented student interns via Launchpad Futures to drive business growth and innovation. The team helped in revamping five Amazon listings to improve sales performance through SEO and commercial photography. Here’s the change: