Amanda Spooner (pictured with her parents John and Gay) has transformed Garney Spooner into one of New Zealand's top wool shops.
Spinning Yarns at Whanganui's wonderful wool shop
Garney Spooner founded the business in 1931.
27 years later, in 2015, John was on the verge of retirement and decided to sell the dry cleaning business not knowing what to do with the wool side of the business. Out of the blue Amanda suggested that she would like to take the business over. Taking the reins with help from her parents, Garney Spooner Woolshop has grown into one of New Zealand’s top wool shops with a carefully curated range of over 150 lines and 1200 colours.
Amanda credits the secret to the shop’s success is building genuine friendships with the local knitting community. “Using social media has been a big part of that. I’m very grateful that our customers share posts and interact with our page, this has really helped”.
I have kept the monthly instore $50 voucher draw for any wool purchase. “That works two ways creating a nice incentive to keep shopping here, and more importantly it also helps me learn our customers name so I can personalise the service I provide.” Her dad agrees that the personal touch is a big part of her success. “Back when I was running the business, we’d have people coming in for 30 years, and I’d always known them as Mrs Smith. Now I’ll see the same lady come in and Amanda will say ‘hello Mary how are you!’”
Amanda has also always made sure to keep catering for knitters of all means. “We stock high-end luxury blends but it’s also important to have good quality wools for hobby knitters or those knitting for charities”.
“I’ve discovered since running the business is that there are many knitters & crocheters who use their skills to create woollen items to support people in need. It’s very heart-warming to see how much kindness and generosity there is in the Whanganui community”
As well as helping others it is well known that people who do handcrafts can gain a lot of therapeutic benefits. “These days so many people are addicted to devices. Having a creative hobby like knitting or crochet that requires both your hands to be doing something positive (rather that mindlessly scrolling your phone screen) is a great way to relax and unwind.”
Garney Spooner Wool Shop is located at 93 Guyton Street. They also have a wide range of specialty yarns available online at garneyspoonerwool.co.nz
Amanda credits the secret to the shop’s success is building genuine friendships with the local knitting community. “Using social media has been a big part of that. I’m very grateful that our customers share posts and interact with our page, this has really helped”.
I have kept the monthly instore $50 voucher draw for any wool purchase. “That works two ways creating a nice incentive to keep shopping here, and more importantly it also helps me learn our customers name so I can personalise the service I provide.” Her dad agrees that the personal touch is a big part of her success. “Back when I was running the business, we’d have people coming in for 30 years, and I’d always known them as Mrs Smith. Now I’ll see the same lady come in and Amanda will say ‘hello Mary how are you!’”
Amanda has also always made sure to keep catering for knitters of all means. “We stock high-end luxury blends but it’s also important to have good quality wools for hobby knitters or those knitting for charities”.
“I’ve discovered since running the business is that there are many knitters & crocheters who use their skills to create woollen items to support people in need. It’s very heart-warming to see how much kindness and generosity there is in the Whanganui community”
As well as helping others it is well known that people who do handcrafts can gain a lot of therapeutic benefits. “These days so many people are addicted to devices. Having a creative hobby like knitting or crochet that requires both your hands to be doing something positive (rather that mindlessly scrolling your phone screen) is a great way to relax and unwind.”
Garney Spooner Wool Shop is located at 93 Guyton Street. They also have a wide range of specialty yarns available online at garneyspoonerwool.co.nz
Garney Spooner has been a mainstay in Whanganui for 90 years now. First established as a dry-cleaning business in 1931, the family-owned enterprise is still going strong on Guyton Street. However, with the fourth generation of Spooners (Amanda) now at the helm, it’s no longer
dry-cleaning they’re known for. Instead they're now one of New Zealand’s finest purveyors of wools.
When Amanda’s great grandfather Garney first set up the business, dry-cleaning was a big deal. Back then most garments were made from natural fibres that couldn’t be machine-washed, so there was a huge market for dry cleaning. But as the 20th century progressed, natural fibres like wool were increasingly replaced by machine wash-friendly synthetic fibres like polyester and the market for dry-cleaning gradually declined.
It was perhaps ironic that when Amanda’s parents John and Gay decided to diversify their business in 1988, it was a wool shop they chose to open alongside their dry cleaning business. “To be fair, wool wasn’t a huge part of the business back then,” said John. “Dry cleaning was still our bread and butter, and the wool shop was an extra”.
dry-cleaning they’re known for. Instead they're now one of New Zealand’s finest purveyors of wools.
When Amanda’s great grandfather Garney first set up the business, dry-cleaning was a big deal. Back then most garments were made from natural fibres that couldn’t be machine-washed, so there was a huge market for dry cleaning. But as the 20th century progressed, natural fibres like wool were increasingly replaced by machine wash-friendly synthetic fibres like polyester and the market for dry-cleaning gradually declined.
It was perhaps ironic that when Amanda’s parents John and Gay decided to diversify their business in 1988, it was a wool shop they chose to open alongside their dry cleaning business. “To be fair, wool wasn’t a huge part of the business back then,” said John. “Dry cleaning was still our bread and butter, and the wool shop was an extra”.
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