Business Profile: The Wool Tree

The Wool Tree is a small, independent arts and crafts shop specialising in supplying wool and other materials for all of your knitting, crocheting and sewing needs. Owner, Teresa, tells us how a drastic change of career saw her open the shop and run it as a popular business in the heart of Oreston.

After working as air cabin crew for both British Airways and Air Southwest for 10 years, from 2002 to 2011, Teresa was unfortunately made redundant after the closure of Plymouth City Airport in 2011.

Despite this being a difficult time, Teresa threw herself into part-time work in retail and then came across the Wool Palette based on the Plymstock Broadway where she helped out the owner.

“I have always been interested in sewing and knitting, it is a passion of mine”

The owner of the Wool Palette retired in 2017 and Teresa decided she wanted to open her own sewing and knitting shop. With the rates on The Broadway being very high, Teresa was seeking somewhere local and eventually found her current premises in Oreston.
After viewing the small shop, Teresa was unsure as to whether it could work due to limited space but decided “where there’s a means, there’s a way” and she opened The Wool Tree on 1st September 2017.

Two years on and The Wool Tree is flourishing with regular customers purchasing materials as well as popular workshops being run by Teresa teaching crochet and knitting.

The workshops are important to Teresa as she wants to focus on providing a 1-1 service therefore only allows 4 people to attend each class so that everyone gets the attention and focus they need to succeed. Classes are run once a week at the moment; however, Teresa is looking to start running them 3-4 times a week.

Teresa also runs a crochet workshop alongside Kirsty where they teach both right and left handed crocheting which is very rare.

Not only does The Wool Tree sell materials and run classes, Teresa also takes orders to knit and crochet gifts and has a range of gifts to buy in the shop.

For a small shop in the heart of Oreston Village, Teresa is always looking ahead at the latest trends and has big plans for The Wool Tree. Within the next 5 years, she is hoping to have an online shop where customers can order suppliers, as well as hoping to increase the frequency of workshops and teach a wider range of techniques.

Passion for what you do is extremely important and we do not doubt that Teresa bursts with passion for The Wool Tree and all it stands for. Her dedication to providing a premium service gives The Wool Tree a warm and welcome feel.

“It was the best and hardest decision of my life, but I wouldn’t change it despite all of the challenges”

Teresa loves being based in Oreston with the other business helping to support each other, getting together for Christmas and other special occasions.

For more information about The Wool Tree, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Teresa on 01752 491059.

Call: 01752 491059

Email: wooltreeplymouth@hotmail.com

Facebook: @wooltreeplymouth