Bulletin
FA I R T R A D E R S TA L L S
TRAIDCRAFT WINTER SALE
TRAIDCRAFT PRAYER FOR 2022
T R A I D C R A F T S H O P. C O . U K
JAN 2022
In this issue... 2-3 Intro Pages 4 -5 6
Fairtrader Stalls
T raidcraft Winter Sale
7 Product Update 8 Traidcraft Prayer 9 Traidcraft Exchange Update
Finley
Theo
Welcome to the Traidcraft Family…
A huge congratulations to Traidcraft’s Lizy and Jo, who both welcomed their babies in the run up to Christmas! A note from Lizy – “Finley George Wright made a slightly early arrival on 2nd November weighing 7lb 2oz. He enjoys bumpy walks in his pram and going along the beach and I am enjoying being able to now put my socks on! Luna (our dog) is getting used to her new human brother but keeps a distance when Finely turns into a grumbly monster.” A note from Jo – “Introducing Theodore (Theo) Alexander Lambert, born at speed on 16th December! He’s doing really well, and Max, his big brother, is very taken with him which has been really lovely."
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Letter of the Month
Thank you to Christine and Michael Ward who sent us a letter last month, telling us all about their journey as Fairtraders of 24 years, and their Christmas stall this year which they ran from their conservatory! Their well wishes and thanks meant a lot to us and helped the whole team get through the extremely busy October/November/ December period. Thanks again Christine and Michael – we hope you had a fantastic Christmas break after all of your hard work.
A Look Back Over 2021 Here are just some of our highlights…
Donating to Local Good Causes At Traidcraft, we do sometimes encounter short-shelf life items; still perfectly good to eat and drink, but technically reaching the end of their sellable period. Rather than sell them onto a wholesaler at discount, we often decide to donate them to local causes, helping to fight injustices we here in our community.
Friends, As many of you will be aware I recently took on a new role here at Traidcraft. After six years at the helm Robin decided the time was right to move on. It was a sad time for us on the staff team, we will miss Robin’s calmness and wisdom. In taking up the mantle of CEO, I am aware of the massive shoes I am trying to fill. I am also aware I stand on the shoulders of the giants that have held this role previously. I hope to be able to see you all in early February for a series of ‘town hall’ events to show off the catalogue and hear from shareholders, supporters and Fairtraders first-hand about your hopes and dreams for this amazing organisation. But for now, as we start this new year and a new chapter together. I wonder if you will join me in the following prayer on page 8. Happy fair trading…. Matt
Planting Trees With your help, we boycotted Black Friday 2021. Together, we contributed to climate projects and planted over 23,000 trees in Madagascar, Mozambique and Nicaragua, directly reducing carbon in areas of the earth which suffer greatly due to climate change, yet are often those with the smallest carbon outputs. Since then, collectively we’re almost at 50,000 trees planted in total! Traidcraft ‘On the Road’ Again Although the pandemic stopped our regular roadshows in their tracks, we did still manage to get to Living North, to meet and greet many of you, and spread the fair trade message to many more people in our locality.
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Fairtrader Stalls
Although the team have been super busy here at Traidcraft HQ, we have been keeping an eye on the photos of your vibrant and enticing stalls which you’ve been sending in, or sharing on the Traidcraft Fairtrader Facebook group. We thought we’d share some of our favourites within the Fairtrader community here…
Ch ri st in e M it ch el l
H az el Va le ri e W ar re n
D il y s Co rl et t
E l a in e W il l m o r e
H el en W ai n
Lyndsey Wright 4
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L y n d s e y W r ig h t
Steph Bennell
Sue Howland Su sa n Mo ll
T r a c y M it c h e l l Su z an n e Fl et ch er If you’re not already in the friendly and useful Traidcraft Fairtrader forum on Facebook, you are more than welcome to join the community. Traidcraft Fairtraders private group and a safe space for Traidcraft’s Fairtraders to discuss all things fair trade. It is a great place to gather information, give encouragement, request help or assistance and share news with other Traidcraft Fairtraders
M a r io n H il l
JOIN TRAIDCRAFT FAIRTRADERS FACEBOOK GROUP traidcraftshop.co.uk
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WINTER
Sale
UP TO 60% OFF Stock your stalls for the coming months (or simply treat yourself!) SHOP SALE
As always, our producers and suppliers have been paid in full. These discounts are 100% on us, allowing us to clear surplus stock from our warehouse, to leave room for new spring collections. 6
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Product Update from Kirsty & Helen
Spring New in for
2022
As Bulletin subscribers, you are among the very first to see a sneak preview of our spring/summer 2022 range. Sustainable cards, innovative fashion and fair trade Easter eggs are landing soon. Watch this space!
Price Increases – A Transparent Update
Due to Brexit, COVID pressures and supply issues, as well as recent droughts, coupled with severe frosts due to climate change in Brazil (see p15 of our spring catalogue for more detailed information on this), unfortunately, price increases are going to be unavoidable. We try to hold off any price increases for as long as possible, but in our spring catalogue, landing mid-Feb, you will see costs across products such as Divine chocolate, Cafédirect and Traidcraft own brand coffee, Fou Furnishings, as well as Traidcraft's own brand breakfast cereals and cookies. We thought we’d give you the opportunity to stock up before price increases are implemented. We imagine that you will be seeing these price increases across all ethical brands you shop with, and can only apologise for the inconvenience and hope that you understand. traidcraftshop.co.uk
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DOWNLOAD PRINT-FRIENDLY VERSION
God of Love, We thank you for all the blessings of the Christmas season past. We thank you for being able to provide hope to the many producers we bought from. We thank you for the joy brought to those who purchased their efforts. We thank you for the work of Robin and his dedication to the vision of Traidcraft over the last six years and wish him well in the future. Grant us, Lord, the insight and wisdom to take Traidcraft forward as a Christian response to poverty. Help us we pray, as we continue to put the principles of fair trade into commercial practice. Let us be good stewards of all we have, all the resources we use and all the relationships and partnerships we foster. May all that we do be pleasing to you and empower those facing trade injustice. Amen.
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Takes o nly 15 minu tes! Aerial view of deforestation. Rainforest being removed to make way for palm oil and rubber plantations
Credit: Shutterstock/Richard Whitcombe
This should be illegal Our legal system is fatally flawed, and people are suffering. Almost everything we buy, ffrom clothing to food to technology, is at least partly made overseas. We are huge supporters of international trade – but only when it is just. From mining to fashion to agriculture, people who work in our supply chains are being abused and the businesses responsible, the people profiting from the abuse, are getting away with it. Businesses don’t do anything to stop these abuses from happening because they don’t have to. In the UK, our laws don’t hold businesses accountable for crimes committed in their supply chains and operations overseas. There is no accountability to those they have harmed. Rape, assault, slavery, child labour, environmental destruction and even death, all ignored by our justice system
because they happen abroad. Businesses not only avoid culpability, they profit from these abuses. While companies trying to do the right thing are undercut by these abhorrent practices. But we can change this. Together with trade unions, activists, businesses, investors, and other charities, Traidcraft Exchange is calling for a new law that would put a stop to these practices. The Business, Human Rights and Environment Act will require businesses to prevent abuses from occurring, punish companies if abuses take place, compensate victims and where possible clean up and restore the damage caused. Join us, the Corporate Justice Coalition and a host of other organisations fighting for a new law to hold business and the public sector to account when they fail to prevent supply chain human rights abuses and environmental harms. Sign our petition at traidcraftexchange.org/ business-human-rights-act
Mathew Kaminyoge and family, Tanzania. Traidcraft Exchange/Michael Goima
A gift that lasts By making a gift to Traidcraft Exchange in your will, you can invest in a better future for generations to come, working towards a world where everyone gets a fair share of the profits from trade. The time has never been better to consider leaving a legacy. We have partnered with expert will writers, Guardian Angel, to make leaving this kind of long-lasting impact even easier.
With Guardian Angel you can write your will online for FREE – go to: gawill.uk/traidcraft2022 and follow the stepby-step support. Their team of legal experts check over each online will, which is legally binding when it’s printed and signed by a witness, saving you time and stress. Or if you prefer, they also offer face-to-face or phone service on: 0800 773 4014. traidcraftshop.co.uk
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