AN Ilkley entrepreneur on a mission to save British wool has recruited a valuable ally to her cause - none other than children's favourite Shaun the Sheep.
Mum-of-two Sarah Turner, 44, whose business Little Beau Sheep produces the UK's only 100 per cent natural British wool dryer balls and laundry products, has signed a deal with the world renowned and multi-award-winning Aardman creation.
Sarah's products, added to tumble dryers to add freshness to washes, scooped her the 2019 Wool Innovation Prize, and she's in a spin over the latest development.
Sarah, 44, said: “One of the things I love most about my job is being able to advocate for this incredible magic material, collaborating with Shaun the Sheep allows us to take this message to a much wider audience.”
Sarah, who has shared her views on the power of wool and the tragedy of it being an underrated material in a TedX talk, has worked with the Aardman licensing team to create a range of products including; Laundry Balls, Laundry fragrance, Linen Spray and Felted Soap.
The products have already been selected as finalists for Branded Gift of the Year in the most highly respected industry accolades, The Gift of the Year Awards, run by the Giftware Association.
Sarah added that Shaun the Sheep’s ethos is the perfect match for Little Beau Sheep, which offers an effective and sustainable alternative to traditional plastic balls. Little Beau Sheep tumble dryer balls are a natural alternative to fabric softeners.
Handmade in Yorkshire from 100 per cent British wool, the dryer balls are chemical free, relying instead on their native lanolin content to naturally soften clothes. Natural and biodegradable, they provide a much quieter, planet-friendly alternative to their plastic prototypes. Little Beau Sheep also produces an eco-friendly range of other laundry and body care products.
Rachael Peacock, Senior Brand Manager at Aardman added: "We're delighted to be partnering with Little Beau Sheep on this lovely collection of eco-friendly laundry products.
"The collaboration is a perfect match for Shaun the Sheep and goes hand in hand with our One Farm initiative, which actively promotes sustainable living through a planet friendly licensing programme. It's also fantastic to see the collection already nominated for Gift of the Year! Mossy Bottom Farm has never smelled so good!"
Last year, Sarah became a member of The Worshipful Company of Woolmen - one of the oldest livery companies in the City of London, dating back to 1180, due to all the work she does in raising the profile of British wool.
The Shaun the Sheep Little Beau Sheep range is available now - from £12.50.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here