Minus33 Merino Wool and parent company L.W. Packard have expanded their roots in Ashland, opening a new facility October 27 with a ribbon-cutting led by New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte.
The newly renovated building doubles the family-owned company’s manufacturing footprint as it celebrates 110 years in business, creating room to grow its Ashland team from about two dozen to 40 employees and expanding its line of American-made merino wool products.
The 15,000-square-foot building represents the next chapter for a fifth-generation New Hampshire company that has made wool products in Ashland since 1916. Set to open in early 2027, it will house office space and a new delivery facility, making space for additional manufacturing in their current building to support the launch of American-made merino wool hats and scarves, joining Minus33’s bestselling U.S.-made socks.The expansion keeps jobs, manufacturing and the company’s next generation of products firmly rooted in the town where it began.
“The secret to 110 years in business is making products you’re proud of and hiring great people,” said Lawson Glidden, fifth-generation owner and president of Minus33 Merino Wool. “We’re proud to invest in Ashland and continue to do business here, hire here, and make quality merino wool products. This rich history and our dedicated employees are a clear reason we have posted double-digit sales growth for three consecutive years.”
“Congratulations to the Glidden family, Minus33, and L.W. Packard on 110 years of doing business in New Hampshire,” said Governor Kelly Ayotte. “Manufacturing is an important part of our state’s history and our economy, and family businesses like this one are a big part of what makes New Hampshire special. We’re proud to support businesses that are investing in our communities, creating good-paying jobs, and continuing our proud tradition of making things right here in the Granite State.”
The investment carries deep roots in Ashland’s history. L.W. Packard was once the town’s largest employer, supplying wool broadcloth to Saks Fifth Avenue, L.L.Bean and the U.S. military, and employing roughly 300 people at its peak. Overseas competition drove a sharp decline in the 1990s, at one point reducing the workforce to just three employees. Fourth-generation owner John Glidden revived the company under the Minus33 name, rebuilding it into a nationally recognized merino wool brand, before passing leadership to his son, Lawson Glidden.
Today, Minus33 employs about two dozen people in Ashland and produces roughly 180 products, including base layers, socks, headwear, gloves and blankets, all made with merino wool. The company has posted double-digit sales growth over the past three years, driven by its direct-to-consumer website, Amazon storefront and retailers nationwide.
“110 years of business shows the strength of the founders and our leadership,” said David Piper, operations supervisor at Minus33 who has spent 28 years with the company. “The Glidden’s understanding of the wool business, the intricacies of the fiber and hiring a great crew of people enabled us to weather the changing economy. It has been a privilege to be part of this amazing American story.”
“As a small company ourselves, we love that Minus33 has staying power,” said Shelby Metayer, co-owner of Farm-Way Vermont, a Minus33 retailer for 20 years. “We’ve worked with the same faces and names since the beginning. That’s the best part of working with a small business. You build relationships with people you know well.”
