The woollen mill shop owned by the former QualitYarns in Milton has been saved from closure after it was bought by a Christchurch knitwear company this week.
Shalimar Knitwear managing director John Stevens said his company wanted to keep an outlet for the mill's products open in the town.
"It's an opportunity to keep products being sold in Milton, and it was a good opportunity for Shalimar Knitwear to have an outlet for its stock - we suffered losses in the earthquakes."
Shalimar Knitwear makes wool and wool-nylon clothing for the tourism and rural sectors.
The shop will remain at its present site next to the mill, and its two full-time staff have been re-employed by Shalimar. It is open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday.
Mr Stevens, who is also managing director of Bruce Woollen Mill Ltd, which took over the former QualitYarns mill, said the mill's future was looking good.
"We're making good progress and we intend to expand the products we have available. It's an interesting project."
In April, Christchurch-based Wool Equities Ltd, as part of a consortium of New Zealand businesses, completed the purchase of the plant of QualitYarns Ltd in Milton, renaming the company Bruce Woollen Mill Ltd.
The original Bruce Woollen Mill was established in 1897, to scour, card and spin and weave wool into yarn, blankets, rugs and clothing fabric.
