Schoppel

What Schoppel does

Schoppel Wolle (legal entity Hohenloher Wolle GmbH) is a privately held German handcraft yarn manufacturer founded in 1948, headquartered in Wallhausen, in the Hohenlohe region of southern Germany. The company designs, produces, and sells hand knitting and crochet yarns across wool, cotton, linen, alpaca, hemp, silk, and cashmere fiber lines, serving individual handcraft enthusiasts worldwide. Its product portfolio is anchored by the patented Zauberball® gradient yarn family (including Zauberball Cotton and Zauberball Crazy), complemented by signature lines such as El Linio (French linen), Cotton Ball (Greek cotton), the Alb Zauber / Alb Lino series sourced from regional German wool, and GOTS-certified organic lines (Bio Merinos, Uni Perle). The company is led by Managing Director Gerhard Schoppel and operates with a 30-person team.

Name

Schoppel

Legal name

Hohenloher Wolle GmbH

Website

https://schoppel-wolle.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Schoppel Wolle is a privately held German yarn manufacturer founded in 1948, producing hand knitting and crochet yarns across wool, cotton, linen, and specialty fibers for individual handcraft enthusiasts worldwide via DTC e-commerce, retail, and specialist wholesalers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Handcraft Yarns / Textile Manufacturing

NAICS

Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills (313110), Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (459130)

SIC

Textile Mill Products (2200), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Textured & Specialty Yarn Manufacturing (Textured/Chenille/Bouclé) (IMAOAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Yarn, Knitting & Crochet Supplies Retail (CRALACAF), Threads, Yarns & Sewing Notions (Sewing Thread/Embroidery Thread/Bobbins/Needles) (IMAOALAE)

Keywords

• Hand knitting yarns
• Gradient yarn products
• Sustainable textile manufacturing
• Ethical wool sourcing
• Handcraft fiber production

Headquarters

HQ city

Wallhausen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Yarn and Handcraft Products Sales: Schoppel generates revenue through the direct sale of handcraft yarns (wool, cotton, linen, alpaca blends) and accessories (knitting magazines, bags, cardboard organizers) via its e-commerce platform and physical retail store. The company sells individual skeins/balls with specific color variants and quality compositions. Pricing is per unit (50g or 100g skeins), with no subscription model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Schoppel Wolle (Hohenloher Wolle GmbH) manufactures and sells hand knitting yarns (wool, cotton, linen, alpaca, hemp and blends) and accessories (knitting magazines, felting supplies), with its signature patented Zauberball® gradient yarn family and proprietary Shadow/Crazy Colorits dyeing. The company sells per-unit skeins (50g/100g) via its own e-commerce site, a company retail store in Wallhausen, and specialist retailers (Fachhändler), shipping worldwide. The portfolio emphasizes transparent, ethical, and sustainable sourcing — mulesing-free wool from the Schwäbische Alb and Patagonia, GOTS-certified organic lines, French linen, and Greek cotton — reinforced with biodegradable Amni Soul Eco polyamide in sock yarns since 2020.

Product overview

Schoppel Wolle is a German yarn manufacturer based in Hohenlohe, producing high-quality handcraft yarns for over 75 years. The company operates a 30-person team and manufactures yarn with origins guaranteed, emphasizing sustainability, ethical standards, and ecological production. The product portfolio centers on the patented Zauberball® gradient yarn family (including Zauberball® Cotton, Zauberball®Crazy), complemented by premium fiber lines such as El Linio (French linen), Cotton Ball (Greek cotton), and the Alb Lino/Alb Zauber series using German Swabian Alb wool. Additional offerings include specialty yarns like Alpaka Story, Hanf Perle, Life Style, Senior/Seniorita, and Bio Merinos (GOTS-certified). The Pro Quality label signifies commitment to transparent supply chains, environmental protection, and animal welfare, while products without Superwash finish represent their sustainability values. Accessories (Zubehör), knitting magazines (Knit the Cat), and felting products round out the portfolio. The company uses biodegradable polyamide Amni Soul Eco® in sock yarns since 2020.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Knit the Cat: Magazine and website with knitting patterns, as colorful and inspiring as the company's yarns
• Zauberball
• Pro Quality
• Cotton of Greece
• Line of France

Products and services

• Zauberball® Schoppel's patented gradient yarn featuring parallel winding that showcases all color nuances; the signature product of the company with unique color transitions, for hand knitters and crocheters.
• Zauberball® Cotton Cotton variant of Zauberball featuring the characteristic gradient color transitions in a soft, breathable cotton base; for crafters preferring plant-based fibers.
• Zauberball®Crazy Robust sock yarn reinforced with biodegradable polyamide (Amni Soul Eco), designed for durable, everyday items with unique color play.
• El Linio 100% linen yarn from French cultivation, finely combed and soft when knitted as ribbing; made with the Shadow Painted technique and becomes softer with each wash.
• Cotton Ball European cotton yarn from Greek cultivation with water- and resource-efficient production in the EU; features Shadow Colorits and comes in 420m/100g skeins.
• Crazy Cotton Sustainable cotton yarn made from pure cotton with unique gradient colorations and creative color plays.
• Alb Zauber Sock yarn spun from wool from the Schwäbische Alb (Germany), reinforced with biodegradable polyamide for durable favorite pieces.
• Alb Zauber Crazy Double-twisted yarn from German wool with biodegradable polyamide, in Crazy Colorits, creating lively, mottled stitch patterns.
• Alb Lino + Albmerino Wool from the Schwäbische Alb (Schäferei Stotz) blended with linen from French cultivation; combines the warming properties of wool with the strength and elegant character of linen.
• Alpaka Story Alpaca yarn combining fine Merino wool with soft alpaca fibers; linen gives the yarn a tweed-like structure, creating a light yet warm yarn.
• Hanf Perle Merino wool from Patagonia with hemp addition, matching the color transitions of Zauberperle Hanf; combines softness with robust hemp structure.
• Life Style Extra-fine Merino yarn with a particularly soft touch and smooth structure suitable for demanding knitting and crochet work with excellent stitch definition.
• Senior Versatile wool yarn from Patagonian sheep's wool; voluminous and traditional with subtle melange colors, made using the worsted spinning process.
• Seniorita Worsted-spun yarn from Patagonian Merino with the Shadow technique on a white base yarn; combines well with Senior as a lighter color variant.
• Bio Merinos GOTS-certified organic Merino yarn meeting the highest criteria for transparency, environmental and social compatibility.
• Woll-Schwestern New family members with combinable color gradients in 50g skeins; all sisters have 'friends' for creating brilliant ton-in-ton color transitions.
• Zubehör und Strickhefte (Accessories and Knitting Magazines) Accessories and knitting magazines offered alongside yarn, including Karton (cardboard organizers), Strickhefte (knitting booklets), Taschen (bags), and Werbeartikel (promotional items).
• Knit the Cat (Magazine and Website) Magazine and website (knit-the-cat.com) publishing knitting patterns, tutorials, and creative inspiration in multiple languages, serving as the brand's content ecosystem for handcraft enthusiasts.
• Filzen (Felting Products) Felting products including Filzpapier (felt paper) and Kammzug (combed wool roving) for handcraft felting projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• All sock yarns use biodegradable polyamide (Amni Soul Eco) since 2020, decomposing within 5 years in landfill vs. 50+ years for conventional synthetics.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wanderschäferei StotzcoreOthersSchoppel sources mulesing-free wool from Wanderschäferei Stotz in Münsingen on the Schwäbische Alb. This family sheep farm maintains the juniper heaths of the biosphere reserve (Biosphärengebiet Schwäbische Alb) and fulfills an important ecological function. The partnership enables short transport distances and supports local shepherds in preparing wool for textile use. Schoppel's 'Alb Zauber', 'ALB Lino', and 'albmerino' product lines are spun from this wool.
• Ecocert GreenlifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcocert Greenlife is the certification body that issues Schoppel's GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification (Licence No. 151933) for the company's 'Bio Merinos' and 'Uni Perle' organic yarn lines. The certification is renewed annually and validates Schoppel's sustainability claims.
• Vier Pfoten (Four Paws)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe animal welfare organization Vier Pfoten awarded Schoppel the Goldstandard for animal-friendly knitting wool, recognizing the company's sourcing of wool from mulesing-free regions (Schwäbische Alb and Patagonia) where sheep live freely on large pasture areas.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lang Yarns: Swiss/German premium yarn manufacturer with a broad portfolio of hand knitting yarns (wool, cotton, alpaca, specialty blends) sold through specialist retailers globally. Closely comparable to Schoppel on yarn manufacturing, DACH origin, specialty fiber focus, and Fachhandel distribution.
• Drops (Garnstudio): Norwegian yarn manufacturer selling a broad range of hand knitting yarns (wool, alpaca, cotton, linen) directly to consumers and specialist retailers worldwide. Direct peer to Schoppel on product category, target customer (handcraft enthusiasts), and DTC-plus-Fachhandel distribution model.
• Sirdar: Long-established UK hand knitting yarn manufacturer (founded 1880) producing wool, cotton, and acrylic yarns for hobbyists worldwide. Comparable to Schoppel as a heritage, broad-line specialty yarn maker serving handcraft consumers through specialty retail and DTC.
• Cascade Yarns: US-based hand knitting yarn manufacturer offering wool, cotton, and specialty fiber yarns distributed globally through DTC and specialty retailers. Comparable to Schoppel on product category, target market, and broad fiber portfolio with heritage brand positioning.
• Rowan Yarns: UK-based designer yarn brand offering premium hand knitting yarns with strong design-led patterns and color stories. Directly comparable to Schoppel as a heritage, design-led specialty yarn maker selling to handcraft consumers via specialist retailers and DTC.
• Debbie Bliss: UK designer-led hand knitting yarn brand producing premium yarns and pattern collections for handcraft consumers. Directly comparable to Schoppel on premium positioning, pattern-led content strategy, and handcraft enthusiast target market.
• Tahki Yarns: US heritage yarn brand offering premium hand knitting yarns with designer-led collections. Comparable to Schoppel as a design-focused, specialty yarn maker targeting the same handcraft enthusiast customer base.
• West Yorkshire Spinners: UK-based hand knitting yarn manufacturer producing British-sourced wool and specialty fiber yarns for hobbyists. Comparable to Schoppel on yarn manufacturing, traceable regional wool sourcing, and Fachhandel-plus-DTC distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Lion Brand Yarn: Large US-based yarn manufacturer (founded 1878) with a broad portfolio of hand knitting yarns sold through mass retail, craft chains, and DTC. Comparable to Schoppel on core product (hand knitting yarn) and end customer, but operates at vastly greater scale with broader fiber range and distribution.
• Regia (Schachenmayr): German hand and machine knitting yarn brand under the Schachenmayr/Meinema group, offering a broad yarn portfolio including the well-known Regia sock yarn line. Comparable to Schoppel as a DACH-origin handcraft yarn maker with sock-yarn focus and specialist retail distribution, but operating at a substantially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hohenloher-wolle-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schoppel