Reno, NV, March 6, 2008: In July 2007, Beth Casey of Lorna's Laces Hand-Dyed Yarns and Laura Zander of Jimmy Beans Wool joined together to provide yarn enthusiasts with limited-run, exclusive hand-dyed colors. For each of the last eight months, a brand new, never-been-seen before (and never-to-be-seen again) color has been offered through the www.JimmyBeansWool.com website. Sold in 3 different forms (Shepherd Sock, Shepherd Worsted and Lion & Lamb), the color is always launched on the 20th of the month. Less than 500 hanks are dyed and sold... and those hanks go fast!
In the spirit of keeping the colors special, the two companies have committed to turning out only a small batch of each custom color. The amount of Shepherd Sock dyed, for instance, is barely enough for 3 pair of socks per U.S. state.
"We wanted to create something unique, something special for all of the devoted Lorna's Laces fans out there," says Zander, owner of Jimmy Beans Wool. "Limiting the number of hanks produced each month - and vowing to never re-create a color - seemed like the perfect way to accomplish our goal."
Apparently that approach is working. Knowing that this is a one-time opportunity, knitters often gobble up the batch in just a few days - and some even blog about it shortly afterwards. Knitters have started their own "Limited Edition Lorna's Laces" collections and some have gone so far as to call and place their order while they are on vacation - sometimes from out of the country!
"I knew the idea was a good one when Laura and I discussed it originally," says Beth Casey, owner of Lorna's Laces, "but I had no idea that it would take off like this. The response has been overwhelming." Zander echoes the sentiment, "On the 20th of each month, we have to call in additional staff to meet the surge of orders. We've even had to add more phone lines!"
With color names like "Candy Corn," "Autumn Leaves" and "Golden Holidays," it's easy to see why yarnoholics are so crazy for these colors... Each month's color becomes not only part of a knitter's stash, but also a piece of history. For more information on this topic (or just to see the colors), visit www.JimmyBeansWool.com/lornas.
Founded in 2002 by Laura, aka "Jimmy," and Doug Zander, Jimmy Beans Wool is both a bricks and mortar and Internet knitting superstore, offering knitters worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and knitting supplies along with the latest fashion trends. With customers from Los Angeles to South Korea and all points in between, Jimmy Beans Wool has successfully created an international knitting community comparable to that of the local yarn store, and is the resource for knitters looking for inspiration, instructions and project help. Headquartered in Reno, NV, the store was recently the subject of a small business profile in Fortune Small Business (July/August 2007).