Rowan Yarns Digital Magazine Rowan Spring Summer Newsletter 2019 | Page 30

RETAILER FOCUS
WO O LW I N D E R S
Annapolis and Rockville, Maryland.
In 2016, Janet Tate, a former urban planner with three children
in college, was thinking of starting a business. Janet was also a
long-time knitter, who had recently felt a loss when her local
yarn store closed. Thus, when Woolwinders, an established
yarn shop in Rockville, Maryland, appeared for sale, Janet and
her husband, Mark, quickly saw the potential of owning a yarn
store. The Tates decided to purchase the business together,
with Janet in charge of daily operations and merchandising of
the shop and Mark responsible for the financial and online
presence of the business.
Soon after refurbishing the Rockville store, Janet and Mark
decided to add a second store, this time closer to their home
in historic Annapolis, Maryland. With an hour drive between
the two, the Tates were able to satisfy the demands of area
knitters with wonderful natural-fibre based knitting yarns and
accessories.
Moreover, each Woolwinders store offers a large selection
of knitting classes, starting with Knitting 101. From the
beginning, students are encouraged to work on projects to
increase their skill levels and stay excited about knitting and
crochet. Classes change quarterly and new ones are often based
on current trends, as interpreted in projects by the instructors,
so that everyone can keep up with the latest in knit and
crochet designs. Also popular are their Safari group knitting
classes, where everyone can explore new skills by working on
the project of their choice. With an instructor at the table
for help, attendees observe different techniques within the
class, which often influences their future projects and knitting
adventures!
FLAGSHIP STORE
FLAGSHIP STORE