Borders textile company knits pathway to success

About the business

Alison Pottie began knitting with her mother Carole as a hobby and, after realising that she really enjoyed designing and being creative with wool, launched bespoke knitwear company Wonky Woolies from her flat in Glasgow. Her vibrant, handmade creations and custom bobble hats quickly became a hit with customers, and within just six months Alison had employed an assistant and moved into businesses premises.

In 2018, Alison took the decision to move the business from Glasgow to her childhood home in the Borders in order to secure larger premises, increase sales and bring jobs back to Scotland’s traditional textiles heartland. The firm also broadened its product range to include knitted scarves and headbands following a £50,000 investment in new machinery.

Wonky Woolies continues to be a real family affair, as Alison’s husband Graham recently joined the businesses, running the design suite and becoming a trained machine technician. The couple have found success by combining their passion for mountain biking with the business, visiting events such as Keswick Mountain Festival, Tweed Love at Glentress and the Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William with their Wonky Woolies stand.

How Business Gateway has helped

Founder Alison Pottie said: “I was looking for some guidance on the digital marketing for the company. I approached Business Gateway for some external help with that because, as a small business owner, sometimes it’s difficult to see things from a different angle.”

Sandra Campbell, Business Gateway Adviser said: “We identified that Wonky Woolies needed help around strategy and marketing to allow the business to achieve its growth ambitions. At the same time, Alison and Graham were undertaking a redesign of the company website, so it was the perfect time to access our DigitalBoost support and focus on getting a digital marketing plan in place. As part of our DigitalBoost programme, Wonky Woolies has received local adviser support on a diverse range of business issues including business strategy, workplace innovation, intellectual asset support and introductions to local networks. Our growth expertise is crucial to businesses ready to take that next step.”