Carol Martin is founder of Farmhouse Yarns, a Connecticut company that sells yarn wholesale to some 450 yarn shops across the country.
Connecticut Yarn & Wool is a yarn shop in Haddam and the only store in the northeast where all lines of her sought-after artisan quality yarns can be found under one roof. A shoreline shop in Madison (25 Boston Post Road) serves as an outlet location and offers deep discounts on yarns.
Martin, a member of Connecticut Sheep Breeders Association, has a degree in finance and accounting. She did well in the corporate world, selling precision fabricated steel for a living, worked for Parson's Company in Durham, then for Metal-Pro in Niantic while establishing a farm.
"It was not a conscious decision to get into the yarn business, it was a series of opportunities that evolved," she said. Martin was smart enough to recognize the opportunities. She was not afraid to take a risk, not afraid to fail, and those qualities have evolved into a half a million dollar business.
She worked five years full time while growing a business part time.
"Because I was traveling on the road in sales, traveling from Boston to New York City and throughout New England, I was fortunate," she explained. "After a day's work, I could research and find suppliers of wool and customers for my yarn throughout New England."
The corporate world experience helps build her business now.
Bursting With Color, Quality
Farmhouse Yarns is a wholesale company. The hand-dyed yarns and sold to more than 450 stores around the county. Connecticut Yarn & Wool is one customer. The store is managed and staffed by family and friends; Martin helped start it and remains involved, but it is a standalone business.
Martin raises her own sheep in East Haddam, a small flock that began by chance when she purchased two lambs, more or less on a whim and a gut feeling.
Today there are five mills that supply Farmhouse Yarns. One in Massachusetts, the Twist of Fate Spinnery in Connecticut, two mills in Pennsylvania, and another in Canada.
"Next I want to ensure the opportunities for all of the people who work with me," she said. "That each task and job is able to be accomplished by more than one person, and replace myself, so that if someone wants a vacation, gets sick, that the job still gets done.
"I do love it. There are days I have doubts, yes, some days are hard. But I love caring for the animals, the lambs and the mommas and hanging the freshly dyed wool. I just love that."
