Wooler Wool Shop
Meet Bridget Napier, owner of Wooler Wool Shop where you’ll not only find wool, crafts and sewing but a whole host of other things such as hats, clothes and essentials for all the family.
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What does an optician and a wool shop have in common? You can find them both at number 18 on Wooler High Street! The business was originally owned by Thompson’s opticians with a wool shop next door but in 2018 they decided to wind down the business and Bridget took over.
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Bridget’s story:
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I’m originally from just outside of London, but I lived in Berwick for over 20 years and now live just outside of Wooler. When the opticians decided they were winding down I only had 9 weeks to turn everything round! It’s been a wool shop and opticians for so long nobody can remember it being anything else. I still have the opticians visiting the shop once a month which is a great service.
I don’t just sell yarn and knitting accessories, I also sell underwear, sleepwear, swimwear, haberdashery, ladies, gents and baby clothes, hats, scarfs, greetings cards - so a bit of everything! I also rent out shelves to local crafters to sell their wares. Wooler Wool Shop is one of those places that you need to visit for a good mooch and look around.
My shop has the personal touch, I sell all sorts in here, and you’ll never know what you’ll find. When you’re buying yarn, it’s good see it, check the colour, the feel. The largest selection I sell is King Cole yarn, which is good quality and a good price, but I also sell local wool that comes from pet sheep near Lucker. I also stock Manos de Uruguay, hand-dyed merino wool and hand-made buttons from South Africa, both of which support local communities in those countries.
It’s not the same when you buy yarn online; I have repeat customers who have visited the shop whilst on holiday and call up to place an order and I send it out to them.
Having a traditional shop in 2023, people are amazed at what I have. People enjoy finding a proper wool shop; being able to see and feel the product is not something that is so common nowadays.
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It’s not the same when you buy yarn online; I have repeat customers who have visited the shop whilst on holiday and call up to place an order and I send it out to them.
Why should people Shop Local?
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Keep businesses in the community and on the high street. We know our customers' names, know what’s going on in their lives. It’s the personal touch, you could be the only person they speak to that day, it’s almost like you’re part of their support network. People know you too, pop their head in, it’s a great community.
Unless people support you, they’ll lose you. You can do most of your shopping in Wooler you just need to know where to look.