"Lee Target" and "Target Wools" were trading names names of George Lee & Sons Ltd, Wakefield Yorkshire. The company was established in 1830 and based at Providence Mills, Westgate End, Wakefield. They won a gold medal at an exhibition in Brussels in 1888 and a bronze medal for worsted spinning at the Wakefield Exhibition in 1865.

There was a description of the company in "The Century's Progress – Lancashire" (1892) (A directory published by The London Printing and Engraving Co.):
"George Lee & Sons, Limited, Manufacturers of Scotch Fingering, German Worsted, and Other Yarns.
Works: Wakefield; Warehouses: 31, High Street, and 81, Cannon Street, Manchester.
ONE of the largest English firms engaged in the manufacture of knitting yarns is that of Messrs. George Lee & Sons, Limited, whose immense business was founded in 1830, by Mr. George Lee, at Wakefield, where its industrial operations are still carried on. In the same year a Manchester house was opened in Bridgewater Place, and eventually, in 1870, a move was made to more commodious works at 81, Cannon Street. Subsequently the firm added their second Manchester warehouse, the commanding block numbered 31, 1830, High Street. This gives them great facilities for the conduct of their large trade, and affords the most complete and convenient accommodation for the vast stock held in Scotch Fingering, German Worsted, and Alloa Yams; Fleecy Petticoat, "Victoria," "Britannia," "Eider," "Cable," "Sylvia" (soft finish), "Princess" Knitting Wools; Kendal Worsted, Lamb’s Wool; Merino, Shetland, Andalusian and Berlin Wools, Machine Knittings, &c. These are all specialities of the house, produced at their works at Wakefield, where nearly one thousand hands are employed, and from our survey of the firm’s methods and arrangements we are convinced that there is not a more perfectly organised or more resourceful business in the United Kingdom.

The trade conducted is of great volume, the manufactures of this firm having won favour and secured a large and steady demand in well-nigh every quarter of the globe. In all the varieties of Yarns and Wools with which they have identified their name, Messrs. George Lee & Sons, Limited, produce a class of goods unsurpassed in quality and finish, and their manufactures are received and treated as standard articles in every market into which they find their way. The firm have adopted the word "Leemont" as their cablegram address, and the same word should also be used in addressing telegrams to the house, either at Manchester or at Wakefield."

They were well known manufacturers of knitting yarn, especially "Poodle" wool (a boucle type of yarn) and hinted at expansion in 1955. They became part of the Lister Group of Bradford in the 1960s. As well as knitting wools, they also produced knitting patterns and at least one rug pattern catalogue. Lister-Lee Target became a household name knitting yarn and knitting patterns. As an individual company, "George Lee & Sons Ltd" was incorporated in 1985, last filed accounts in 1996 and was dissolved in 2012.