General News
3 July, 2023
Win another feather in the cap for Leroy Mac
A Lexton business which makes blankets, beanies and scarves from its own pure Merino wool has won a coveted business support package from Australia Post. Leroy Mac Designs is unique because the wool used in its products is fully traceable — right...
A Lexton business which makes blankets, beanies and scarves from its own pure Merino wool has won a coveted business support package from Australia Post.
Leroy Mac Designs is unique because the wool used in its products is fully traceable — right back to Lexton.
“There is no one else in Australia doing it,” Leroy Mac co-founder Rebecca McErvale explained.
Mrs McErvale and her husband Rodney are fourth generation Merino wool growers and wanted to be sure their own wool was being used in Leroy Mac Designs products.
It sounds simple but was a complex undertaking.
Most wool harvested in Australia is sent to China for processing. Wool from different places is mixed, so when it is returned to Australia, it is not certain where the wool originated.
“Eighty-seven percent of Australia’s wool clip went to China last year. We didn’t want to go to China because they wouldn’t guarantee that what we sent was what we got back,” Mrs McErvale said.
Processing the wool in Australia wasn’t an option because the McErvales wanted what they sold to be machine washable.
Australia no longer has the facilities to process wool and turn it into a machine-washable product.
Despite being told it wasn’t possible, the McErvales were determined to find a way to create machine-washable clothes and blankets and be certain that the wool they were using had come from their farm.
It took four years to make it happen.
“We send our greasy fleeces to Italy, they process it into tops. It comes back to us as tops and then we get it spun at Wangaratta. And then knitted in Ballarat,” Mrs McErvale said.
“Italy would guarantee that what we sent was what we got back. And there is no one else in Australia doing it. So there’s full provenance [with our products].”
Their perseverance has been rewarded, with Australia Post naming Leroy Mac Designs one of its 100 Local Business Heroes program winners.
The program supports small businesses across the country, with the McErvales winning a $5000 business support package.
They were selected from more than 4000 applicants.
“I applied back in February and didn’t think anything of it. It was awesome when I got the phone call to say we’d been successful,” Mrs McErvale said.
“We get a home office makeover and I think 3500 postcards are sent to addresses.
“It includes small business mentoring which will be good.”
To learn more about Leroy Mac Designs or buy their products, visit www.leroymac.com.au