New Cades wool shop at Riccarton

Press, 17 March 1987, Page 31

New Cades wool shop at Riccarton

After 15 years in the wool retailing business, Mrs Margaret Grofski, the co-owner of the Cade Wool shops, cannot believe she is opening her third wool shop at the new Countdown Centre today.

Owning and running a wool retail shop was taken up as a temporary means of supporting a growing family, but astime progressed, Mrs Grofski said, it became more of a hobby as she eventually began hiring more staff and relaxing enough to enjoy the work. Now, Mrs Grofski enjoys travelling between her three shops at Bells Arcade, New Regent Street and Countdown Centre, organising the

purchasing of stocks and the like.

Mrs Grofski jointly owns the businesses with her husband Peter, who helps her in administration part-time. “It’s very much a family business, and one which we both treasure very much because we built it up from one shop,” she said. The display fixtures in the new shop have been specially designed so that all yarn is colour coordinated. The modern pattern racks provide for easy viewing, and all staff are very 1 experienced in colours and finding the correct yarns for European patterns.

One of the biggest changes over the years, says Mrs Grofski is the

composition of wool. “Blends are used much more extensively now with wool, mohair and acrylic mixtures being very commonplace. These mixtures provide warm and light-to-wear garments that wash well and wear well.”

Whereas the emphasis was once on stitch design during the 19705, as well as garments fitting well, now the emphasis is on colour and the various combinations of colours. Multi-coloured, loosefitting garments are very popular. And uni-sex patterns were currently the trend.

The new shop hopes to cater for all tastes, from the classical to the more radical.