FAIR-TRADE

FAIR-TRADE

Fair-Trade is about Fair Trade

The very first idea behind the Green Shop was to put Fairly Traded products on a commercial shop shelf. We were unusual in 1993 (unusual – only in 1993?) in seeing Fair Trade as just as integral a part of being ‘green’ as Organic.

At its simplest: Organic looks after the Earth; Fair Trade, the People.

Fair Trade is where ordinary people in the richer countries can actively help the least fortunate in the poorer communities of the world. Fair Trade isn’t Charity, it’s the opposite. No hand-outs. No gifts. Fair Trade helps the poorest lift themselves out of poverty and clear of oppressive trade and government practices through their own skills, talents and hard work. It’s about Dignity.

Help can be in the form of advances (not loans), assistance with design and marketing or guaranteeing a premium above market rates. What the producer does with their payment is their choice, no-one tells them. Investment in equipment to progress the product or business and investment in community benefits like education or clean water supply are common. Employment, empowering women and breaching poverty are tangible results. Freeing children and enhancing family life become achievable goals. Little-by-little the improvements happen and are permanent.

Fair Trade was begun in 1950s USA by Mennonite Christians. It came to Europe in the 1960s and then to Britain. A special mention here for Traidcraft the longest running UK Fair Trade organisation and one of our absolute favourites. However, it was clear that Fair Trade would fail if “hidden” in church halls or small groups, no matter how dedicated. Fair Trade has to provide products to compete in the open market, head-to-head with the mainstream. By ’95 or ’96 the British Association of Fair Trade Shops (we are not currently members) had become our source of traders’ Fair Trade credentials. That network of verifiable Fair Trade Trading has since expanded greatly. Our tiny contribution is in providing a dedicated outlet for Fair Trade in England’s most northerly town. [ALAS that in 2023 Traidcraft ceased trading. Victims in the end of changing markets and capitalism in all its guises but particularly with its associated trade dominance and including the immediate financial aftermath of Brexit. Waily-waily indeed.]

Fair Trade looks to by-pass normal trading choices including onerous government, business and banking control. Using NGOs (Non-Government Organisations) and direct purchasing, the aim is to keep Fair Trade independent and free from corruption.

Recognising that the practices of Big Business made Fair Trade so very necessary in the first place, we believe that the solution is: Small and Ethical in the Developing World – Small and Ethical Here!

Buying Fair-Trade from a big company is not the answer. Their very reason for existence is the direct opposite to (and reason for) Fair Trade such that over time they can only subvert it, absorb it, corrupt it, make it their own and then destroy it. This is happening now. And that will bring a return to poverty, deprivation, degradation and odious control and corruption such that there will be a need to create a system of trade which by-passes big business, grasping ‘middle-men’, government oppression; which is Just, allows people to trade fairly and…oh…ah.

FAIR-TRADE IS ABOUT FAIR TRADE

SERIOUSLY FAIR TRADE GOODIES IN THE GREEN SHOP INCLUDE:

Teas and Coffees, Jams and Sugars. Chocolate, Sweeties and Snack Bars. Cereals, Juices. Dried Fruits and nuts. All sorts of Food. The odd bottle of (also Organic) Wine and Beer.

Tissues, Notebooks, Wrapping Paper, Musical Instruments. Toys. Rugs and other Floor Coverings. Throws and Bedding. Woodcraft, Carvings, Ceramics, Gifts. Cards. Mirrors. Photo-Frames. Bags and Baskets. Jewellery.

Scarves, Hats and Gloves. Clothing for ladies, gents and children. Jackets. Shirts, Skirts and Dresses.

And all in a small, ethical shop in Berwick. Amazing.

And that very first idea which led to The Green Shop as it is now?

You all know what mail-order is like (or on-line shopping for you youngsters). See the picture, order the product. But it arrives a different colour, size, broken, not at all or it’s damaged, is otherwise unsuitable, etc., etc., blah, blah. Then you have all the hassle of returning it, dealing with refund/credit and all of that.

Well FT catalogues existed back then. We saw the opportunity to get the stuff off the page onto a proper shop shelf where the customer sees it in the real and chooses to buy it or not.

No hassle whatsoever and all Fair Trade.

Genius.

And before you could blink that Fair-Trade element had spread to cover Eco-friendly, Organic and Recycled and for the all same reasons.

The Green Shop was indeed born.