Jane Lauber needed to import products for profit
Farm Valais stud principal Jane Lauber faced “astronomical costs” when pursuing Australian made products. Now, she is calling for action.
Yarrambat woolgrower Jane Lauber is calling on further support for wool processing and manufacturing facilities in Australia, to help producers achieve domestically-made products.
The Farm Valais stud principal said she hoped to create sheep mascots with her own Valais Blacknose wool as a secondary business.
She sells mascot sheep, key rings, badges, jewellery, tote bags, pens, note books, T-shirts made in China with synthetic materials, sourced through an agent.
Ms Lauber said she contacted more than 10 separate businesses at the wool stage for processing, but would need at least two bales to then have products manufactured in Australia.
“These mascots that would cost me $120 each (to produce in Australia), I’m selling at $29.95 and making a profit,” she said.
“I said I would make 5000 (in China) if they could bring the price down to a viable price, and that’s exactly what I’ve done.”
Ms Lauber first imported embryos to begin her stud four years ago as the second Australian breeder, and now has 38 Valais Blacknose in her flock. She is one of four importers, with about 250-300 Valais Blacknose sheep now in Australia.
She said the breeders could combine to get it processed, but still faced “astronomical costs”.
“That was the merry-go-round I got on, you just cannot get it done in Australia,” Ms Lauber said.
“There are no manufacturers (in Australia), nearly none, and as far as agricultural help there just isn’t any.”
A small number of spinners and weavers were her major wool buyers, after she gave the wool away to her shearer in her first year.
Ms Lauber said there had been large demand in her internationally-made products, with inquiries about whether there would be products using her own wool.
“People do want to support Australian and want to buy Australian, but you cannot afford to do it,” she said.
Ms Lauber said there should be more help from the state and federal governments to ensure Australian processing was more accessible.
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