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2013 ANNUAL REPORT Dear Friends,
Safe Jobs Save Lives
We are pleased to share with you our 2013 annual report. In spite of a difficult economic environment, our sales increased modestly in 2013 and we reported a small surplus. We were particularly pleased with an 8% increase in our catalog and direct-to-consumer sales. However, we do not measure our success solely by sales revenue. Our true success is in creating opportunity for low-income and marginalized artisans around the globe. The fair trade values we have espoused for over 60 years are increasingly embraced by the mainstream market, providing new opportunities for artisans and small farmers. Yet stronger efforts are necessary to ensure that artisans, farmers, workers, and consumers are treated fairly throughout the global supply chain. We are grateful for the support of our customers and donors as well as our highly dedicated board, staff and volunteers in our own facilities and stores, and in fair trade stores and religious institutions across the country, who go the extra mile to create a more just world.
In the 65 years since our modest beginning, SERRV has supported hundreds of thousands of artisans and their families across the globe. Each person employed by our partners is one fewer who could be exposed to exploitative and dangerous labor practices common in mainstream supply chains. In the spring of 2013, the world was overwhelmed with the tragedy of the Bangladesh garment factory collapse, where over 1,000 people lost their lives and thousands more were injured. The incident prompted many corporations to rethink their business ethics and brought public awareness to the importance of social responsibility, particularly in the fashion industry. Though tragic, the incident acted as a catalyst for change not only in Bangladesh, but in factories around the world. SERRV’s partners in 32 countries are changing the status quo by requiring safe working conditions for their employees. To expand the impact of fair trade, we work diligently to assist our
partners in growing their businesses. For example, we invest heavily in product development so our partners can learn to design for a Western market. Last September SERRV hosted a Design Camp in Madison, Wisconsin (see page 3), and in October held another in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Product Designer Anne Brady traveled with pro bono professional designer Dana Morales to Bangladesh to facilitate the three-day design camp. Despite civil unrest and protests of upcoming elections, participants from all four of our partners in Bangladesh attended safely and the event was a success. Dana shares, “I believe designers like myself should assume the responsibility of making a difference through meaningful design, and become instruments for social change.” Our partners in Bangladesh offer an alternative to dangerous sweatshops by giving artisans, especially women, an opportunity to safely and sustainably lift themselves out of poverty.
Thank you,
Bob Chase President/CEO
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