An interesting economic situation..........what next?

This years buying season has been somewhat interesting with prices for raw sheepskin material going up by about 50% to 65%. Needless to say, it has put the challenge on tanneries worldwide to prepare clients for this news. "Interestingly enough our clients understand the economics of this and we now await the impact from consumers. The success of UGG boots has made supply scarce hence pushing prices for raw material up........" says Kerry Greene, Marketing Manager for Bowron Sheepskins. We are announcing our new prices in the New Year, which will apply to our subsidiary companies worldwide. If you have any thoughts on this price shift and what you predict will happen in the future please blog with us......

Mark Griffin, Founder of Play Rugby USA takes home a Goldstar Bowron Sheepskin this Christmas

11th of December 2010: New Zealand Consul General to Los Angeles, John Mataira and his wife hosted the Kiwis in LA Christmas event. Bowron Sheepskins sponsored top end Goldstar Sheepskin rug and world renowned Baby Care comforter for the raffle draw. We are pleased to announce that Mark Griffin, founder of Play Rugby USA won the Goldstar rug and here is what he had to say "I am looking forward to going to New Zealand next year for the Rugby World Cup, and will be headed to Christchurch. The rug feels great and I may just use it on the plane for some extra comfort!". Mark who is originally from Rutland in the UK founded Play Rugby USA. He created this organization to bring educational and developmental benefits of rugby to urban youth in the USA. For more information on Play Rugby USA please go to http://www.playrugbyusa.com/

2010 Holiday Shipping Schedule and Office hours for Bowron USA

Happy holidays to all our customers and friends. For our US/Canada based customers, please note shipping dates for this holiday season - 2010

Thanksgiving:
Nov 25th & 26th - Office Closed - no ground pickup or delivery

Christmas & New Year:
Friday Dec 24th-30th Office Closed - no ground pickup or delivery. Open on January 3rd 2011.

For more information please contact us at 1-800-926-9766

From Russia with Love

Russian born International Top Model, Natasha, makes her debut with Bowron minx throws at the Top Marques show in Shanghai last October 2010.

Shanghai, China: Bowron attends high end "Top Marques"

Shanghai, China's busy and incredibly dynamic city hosted the International Top Marques Show. Rubbing shoulders with top brands such as Mercedes, Maserati, Armani and many more, a delegation of Bowron senior management were very much part of the dazzling and sensational event last October 2010.

"We are a leading brand worldwide and participating at the show was a perfect opportunity to launch our range of luxurious sheepskin items in the China market" says Kerry Greene, Marketing Manager for Bowron Sheepskins.

Bowron has established a strategic Chinese partnership who organised the launch of an assortment of Bowron's finest shearling designer rugs, luxury minx throws and cushions. Many visitors to the Bowron's display at Top Marques were impressed with the quality and Bowron's commitment to eco tanning and consumer safe merchandise.

An inevitable price increase for wool on lambskins

Christchurch, New Zealand


Raw material pricing for wool on lambskins suffers a major price increase across the globe. Raw material pricing has increased between 50%-65% causing sheepskin manufacturers to increase prices for tanned material. The imbalance between demand and supply has driven prices of wool on lambskins to unprecedented levels. This is partly brought about by the tremendous success and international growth plus expansion of the UGG boot and copy cat brands. The UGG brand and boot is an outstanding success story in the USA, with total sales last year worth US$712 million dollars. UGG is now expanding internationally pushing the demand and supply model for wool on lambskins into a whole new dimension. Bowron Sheepskins along with other manufacturers are now faced with communicating this inevitable price increase to our customers' worldwide. "We want our customers to know that we are doing everything we can to minimise the impact of this increase into the market place, we simply have no choice in the matter"says Kerry Greene, Marketing Manager for Bowron Sheepskins.

Bowron Natural Lambskin Comforters

Another area where Bowron Sheepskins has earned an enviable reputation, is in the development and manufacture of Babycare products. The company produces, markets and distributes a range of quality lambskin products for babies around the world. For years, parents have also been discovering the advantages of caring for baby on a Bowron Babycare Lambskin, finding that it provides comfort, security and tactile stimulation for their infants.

Available for use in the crib, play rooms, stroller and car seat.

Bowron Mattress Underlay and Minx Throws

A century old in it's making and success, Bowron has been known worldwide for it's range of beautiful, 100% natural rugs made in New Zealand. Tonight at the opening of Home Fashions Week in New York, the major feature with the bedding sector is the Bowron all natural mattress underlay for beds, and the minx throw.

Key features:
1. Comfort
2. Keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter
3. A long lasting product

If you are looking for a genuine product made to high eco friendly standards, 100% natural, make sure you talk to any of us at Bowron. We will be happy to help you.

Bowron Sponsors Opening Night at Home Fashion Week 12 Sept 2010

A global player in the home textile market, Bowron Sheepskins was a sponsor at tonights opening cocktail event in New York for the Fall Event of Home Fashion Week. Hema Dey, VP for the Americas and Kerry Greene, Marketing Manager from New Zealand were representatives for this event, displaying an array of products. Highlight for the evening was a local New York artist who stepped in as a Bowron team member who drew beautiful caricatures of visitors from around the world. "What a great idea this is, and it is wonderful to go home with such a beautiful momento from New York, thank you Bowron" says VP & Director of one of the major showroom owners for this event.

Tannery Survives Earthquake

A century old, the Bowron tannery survives the latest earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand. "It was a scary experience for us here in Christchurch but I am pleased to report that the tannery is in good shape. It is business as usual and we are grateful for the thoughts from our customers and partners from around the world" says Kerry Greene, Marketing Manager.

The latest earthquakes in Christchurch measured 7.1 with severe after shocks for over a week now. Some residents have lost their homes in areas that were badly hit. More information on the earthquake can be found on http://www.stuff.co.nz/

Bowron announces something special at NYIGF

A SPECIAL INVITATION...

If you have been waiting for something special from Bowron Sheepskins, new products, special promotions and lots more................

Make sure you visit the Bowron stand at the New York International Gift Fair,
Pier 94, Booth 40001.

Blog with us and let us know what you think!

Baby Baby Baby - a personal story from Susan Handwerker, New Hampshire, USA

We bought a NZ lambskin for our newborn baby almost 22 years ago. As soon as we brought him home from the hospital we put him on it, face down (that was back in the day when the AMA recommended tummy sleeping to avoid SIDs). He immediately snuggled his face into it, grasped handfuls of the fleece in his little hands and a beautiful relationship was born! He slept on it at night and it was always under him in the stroller and car seat. It kept him warm in the winter and cool in the summer. By the time he was one year old and walking he would take it out of his crib and carry with him through the house. It became his "lovie", rather like a furry blankie that went everywhere with him. He could not say sheepskin but he could say "sheepie" and that is what we all called it. After that, I swear, the "sheepie" began developing it's own personality. The name and sheepskin eventually morphed into "Meepster". Since it had been laundered and machine dried so frequently (not recommended by the manufacturer) it began to dry out and crack along the natural creases in the skin. Not to worry as now my toddler had portable Sheepies/Meepsters to put into a pocket or backpack and take with him on every outing! "Meepster" had a very distinct personality, mischievous I believe, and my son would live vicariously through it. I can remember long car trips where we would make up all sorts or stories and adventures about "Meepster". If the car got a flat tire we all knew that "Meepster" was somehow behind it. Fast forward to the future. I am the mother of a well adjusted, 22 year old college student. "Meepster" exists in his memories and I have a tiny, worn scrap of it in my keepsake box. My husband and I like to joke that when life gets stressful for our son, he still has a small piece of torn fleece in his pocket that will get him through any situation.

Bowron's Health Report

We are proud to report that the last financial year (2009/2010) resulted in sales growth of 13% for our tannery in New Zealand despite economic conditions and competition from Chinese based suppliers. Bowron continue to defend, protect and nurture our 100 year old heritage in tanning sheepskins in New Zealand. Our pride is in our craftsmanship for all of our products. Our relationships with suppliers of raw material is excellent and we are privileged to access special selections of raw material. This enables us to achieve an output quality that matches precisely with our customer's requirements. We call this "fit for purpose". Our tannery is world class and we are confident that the new financial year will offer another year of growth with the support of our existing customers and our expansion program globally. Our existence today is based on loyal and sincere partnerships we have with our customers and employees globally. We are very grateful to our global customer base, and value all of our customers business. Our employees are creative and dedicated to the success of Bowron. It is with this support, we are continuing to expand.

Kerry Greene

International Sales and Marketing Manager

Bowron Sheepskins, New Zealand

Key Appointment - Bowron USA

The management at Bowron Sheepskins are delighted to announce the appointment of Hema Dey as Vice President Americas. Hema is a “Kiwi girl” who has a strong background in Sales and Marketing developing markets internationally e.g. USA, China, France, and England over the last 16 years for New Zealand base companies. Hema is passionate about New Zealand, brings with her a formidable reputation built around exceptional customer focus, and a Nike type philosophy of “just do it”. Hema is a perfect fit for our team.

Welcome to our World

Please join us in congratulating Denver, USA Sales Manager, Cynthia Summers and her husband Robert, who have recently given birth to baby Victor. It is fantastic that Cynthia now gets to try our famous washable Lambskin Baby Fleece first hand. We wish her happy families and know that she will be a fantastic “working mom”.