Australia’s leading wool chain expert and wool marketing consultant Robert Wallace is being brought to Queensland by the Leading Sheep Southern Inland regional committee to present knowledge about supply chains as an alternative to traditional auction and private-treaty marketing options.

Mr Wallace has 20 years’ experience as a wool broker dealing with top global processors and retailers, followed by 10 years’ putting together large and successful wool demand chains in Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.

At the workshop, Mr Wallace will provide growers with an understanding of how wool chains work as an alternative to traditional selling methods, and later work with any growers interested in putting together a commercial project.

Traditionally about 85 percent of Australia’s wool clip is sold by auction and about 15 percent by private treaty. This workshop will canvass the four or five wool-chain options that represent an alternative to those existing marketing systems.

Mr Wallace is the author of a Non Auction Marketing Opportunities booklet, published by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) as an educational guide for Australian woolgrowers. The St George workshop is based on information in this booklet, and each attendee will take home a copy as a source of additional details.

“Many sectors of the wool pipeline are reviewing their operations and commercial relationships, seeking ways to connect with the end user. Growers need to decide where they want their wool business to be in 5-10 years’ time, and this workshop will provide knowledge on how to take advantage of any opportunities,” Mr Wallace said.

The workshop is expected to attract a statewide audience because it is canvassing all aspects of direct marketing including the management changes required, as well as the risks, challenges, costs, effort and benefits and will be followed by the option for producers to be involved in a commercial wool chain reality.

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 AWI and operates in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, and AgForce.

Southern Inland regional coordinator Emily Martin said the learning objectives of this 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;

• managing the risks associated with direct marketing;

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

The 28 February workshop will run from 9.30am-4.30pm and registration information is available by contacting Emily Martin on 0427 255 449 or Don Perkins on 07 4625 8686. Mr Wallace is available on 03 6334 1664. For more information about Leading Sheep, visit www.leadingsheep.com.au