A new way of looking at Fair Trade.

I have so many thoughts about fair trade as I enter the industry still relatively new to it. It is difficult to narrow them all down enough to sound coherent, but here it goes. First this industry has a lot of passion and a lot of that comes from altruistic motives. When I came into the industry I knew very little about the conflicts within and without the fair trade movement. I suppose as I have gained more knowledge I am very happy to join in conversations about fair trade, its present and its future…as I intend to be around! I am a simple man so I will be brief…and really this is not so much a new way of looking at fair trade but it’s just my way and I can’t say anyone else needs to see it like I do.
The Global Fair Trade Shopping Channel has one mission…move more handcraft products than anyone else in the world. Why? Because I know when we do…we will be living out our vision to alleviate the affects of poverty in the world. Simple? Hmmm…Not really. Who we are helping to achieve sustainable income by offering our unique platform has become a challenge…both logistically (expected) and philosophically (unexpected). The Global Fair Trade Shopping Channel is a social enterprise and we exist to make a difference…but who gets the opportunity to be on our show is firstly certified and or can demonstrate a commitment to fair trade principles if not certified.
In general, the cooperatives and organizations that are certified are no less or no more worthy of access to consumer markets than those that may not be certified. But this concern is really more a global north issue. The producers by and large are looking for the same thing that is at the core of our mission…make more products, get the best price for the product and thereby thrive.
I am a marketer by training and always struggle with two minds…my business head says…in order to gain access to a defined market place the producers we chose should be certified because we know this appeals to the consumer that make up the fair trade market. But my heart raises a big red flag…access. It would be a crime to me if anyone was denied access to markets solely on the certification basis. What keeps us from – even if unintentionally- creating a system of industrial apartheid? “Papers please”… Without paper’s you cannot participate? That worries me.
I chose fair trade because it is a defined market area and can provide access to handcraft producers. What is apparent is that Fair Trade is not static but evolving and voices are rising…and now as we work diligently to bring our platform to market we know one thing, The Global Fair Trade Shopping Channel will not limit access to handcraft producers based on certification alone. I think this a disservice to our cause (the heart of it) and really to consumers in the end. I don’t have all the answers but I do know that fair trade principles are just that, principles…guidelines that help us insure access to markets for marginalized producers. Those of us now in the handcraft industry or fair trade movement it’s up to us to come up with new paradigms and new ‘ways and means’ to obtain the goal of fairer trade.
I am all in..how about you?

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