An update of a popular blog post from March 2, 2010

I just received a little publication called Made Magazine from the Fair Trade Federation. The organization, which is based in North Carolina, was just fifteen years old when I first wrote about the concept of fair trade in this blog – so this seemed liked a good time to revisit the movement. 

The Fair Trade Federation now represents about 200 different enterprises in North America that have been verified as fair trade. Over 100 of them sell wholesale via Faire, the B2B platform that wasn’t established until 2017. This makes it easier than ever to source fair trade items for our shops. You can also sometimes find special fair trade sections at trade shows. Customers who want to make a difference in the lives of artisans around the world will appreciate you stocking fair trade products.

The phrase “fair trade” is often heard in the gift industry, along with green, handmade, organic, recycled and environmentally friendly.  But what does it really mean? And can any item be called “fair trade”?

“Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers,” according to the International Fair Trade Charter.

A shorter definition, provided by Ten Thousand Villages (an international Fair Trade handcraft organization), is “paying fair, living wages to low income communities.”  The concept of a living wage is that it is the minimum income a full-time worker needs to pay for basic family needs without needing government assistance.

Usually agricultural items are the first to be given the fair trade label, including coffee and chocolate (probably the most common fair trade products) along with tea, sugar, honey, bananas, cotton, wine — and even flowers.  The leading non-agricultural items include textiles, clothing, handicrafts, and home goods.

The success of fair trade products in retail shops is indicative of the fact that many consumers are happy to purchase items that come with a “feel good” message, especially if the price is not much higher than commercially made merchandise.  If you carry fair trade items in your shop, it’s important to find a way to tell the story behind the goods. You might also want a small sign to put on the shelf indicating fair trade certified items.

By presenting fair trade items to your customers, you can help improve the conditions of craftspeople or farmers in other parts of the world.  That’s good for the future of our planet — and good for your business.

Happy Retailing,

Carol “Orange” Schroeder