Producers will hear all the risks, challenges, costs, effort and benefits associated with direct marketing from high-calibre facilitator Robert Wallace, who specialises in business development, industry and corporate change, and developing and implementing commercial projects based on quality systems.

Leading Sheep Southern Inland coordinator Emily Martin said Developing Wool Supply Chains would be run over two days, 6-7 November.

“The second day is optional and geared for producers who like what they hear on day one and want to proceed with direct marketing their clip,” Ms Martin said.

Leading Sheep is an innovative, regionally-based project working to boost the profitability of the Queensland sheep and wool industry. The project was initiated by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and operates in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and AgForce.

“From this particular activity, growers will gain knowledge about direct marketing, determine if it is for them and if so, what route to take, who to involve and how to manage the process,” Ms Martin said.

Learning objectives of the Developing Wool Supply Chains activity are:

· identifying the various methods of direct marketing a wool clip, with or without a broker;

· assessing what can be gained for a wool clip if the producer goes down this path;

· identifying the risks that can be encountered in various direct marketing methods;

· coping strategies for managing the risks associated with direct marketing;

· developing contacts that are available to assist wool growers with direct marketing.

Facilitator Robert Wallace’s qualifications include being engaged by AWI to write a Wool Marketing Guide for Wool Growers to help growers better understand the various alternatives for marketing wool. A copy of this guide will be available to those who attend the November 6-7 activity.

Wool grower and Leading Sheep Southern Inland regional committee member Don Perkins, from “Nelyambo” at Dirranbandi, said this activity was chosen with the view to setting up supply alliances as a way of ensuring messages about quality and demand requirements filter down to the producer.

“Producers are keen to get closer to their customers, to ensure they’re supplying what the spinners and weavers, and ultimately the wool consumers, want. If we start talking to each other, who knows what might happen? The problem at the moment is that everyone has a vested interest in their place along the supply chain and often growers never hear back from customers,” Mr Perkins said.

Booking are essential for this activity and must be made by 27 October for the workshop to proceed. The activity includes at optional networking dinner from 7pm at the Bollon Hotel. To RSVP or for more information, contact Emily Martin on 07 4625 5444 or Tony Hamilton on 07 4653 4233.