Gift Focus - Jan/Feb 2018 (Issue 105)

As 2017 draws to a close we’re looking back on a very successful year here at BAFTS. As well as our usual events and jam-packed annual conference in May, we’ve taken a new approach to promoting fair trade gift shopping in the lead up to Christmas as an alternative to cheap Black Friday deals. Shop members and other retailers have had the opportunity to meet many of our supplier members and view their wares at a wide range of trade fairs. Our suppliers continue to exhibit and promote their amazing fair trade products ranging from gifts, to clothes, to accessories, to gardenalia introducing new products to retailers every year. As well as proudly showcasing their bestsellers, they just keep on coming up with ingenious new products to wow retailers, coupling clever design skills with sustainable ideas (for example, recycled aluminium enamelled giftware by Azeti Interiors, or toys and puzzles made from Sri Lankan spent rubberwood like Lanka Kade, pictured). They really have thought of some sure-fire ways to bring exciting new products to the eye of buyers and retailers! Annual conference May saw the highlight of our year: the BAFTS’ Annual Conference held in the historic Northern English city of York. The conference is a must for members and non-members alike, and this year as always we had knowledgeable speakers from across the fair trade world, a wide range of in situ supplier stalls, workshops covering a variety of topics on the fair trade radar, and an unparalleled opportunity to network. Emilie Schulze, from Traidcraft Exchange, treated us to an insightful explanation of the complexities of laying the right foundations for international Trade Deals with developing countries post-Brexit, whilst we heard inspirational campaign stories from none other than the Father of Fairtrade himself, Bruce Crowther MBE, who was responsible for spearheading the first ever Fair Trade Town in Garstang back in 2001. Suppliers gave honest, challenging accounts of working with marginalised producers through natural disasters and practical issues, balancing training and quality control in the country itself with managing their businesses in the UK. Shop members joined forces to give an extremely effective and well-received presentation on window dressing and optimum shop display and layout. There was such a buzz from the sheer enthusiasm and brainstorming, which continued into the evening. WFTO Biennial Conference Early November saw the WFTO Biennial Conference taking place in Delhi, India and we were delighted to have BAFTS represented there. Hazel Dobson, Manager of one of our longstanding retail members, Gateway World Shop in Durham, travelled there with Rachel Farey of Edinburgh’s One World Shop to attend the conference and also to visit some producers beforehand. Whilst we await the full report from the Conference, it appears to have been full of prominent speakers and very engaging topics. Social media This year for the first time, we decided to pursue a social media campaign promoting “Top Tips for a fair trade Christmas,” which was scheduled throughout all of November. Daily social media posts in December on our Fair Trade Advent Calendar will follow. These posts will showcase some of the quality, beautifully-made products that are available from our supplier members via shops and to remind the public that, in the lead-up to the spending frenzy of Black Friday through until Christmas Eve, someone somewhere – usually an overworked, underpaid sweatshop worker labouring in appalling conditions – always pays the hidden cost for our cheap deals. Fair trade combats this by working long-term with producers, offering advance payments, adaptable hours and healthcare, school or creche facilities to help families. Looking ahead As we look ahead to 2018, we see on the horizon our annual conference gradually taking shape in May in London. We seek out different venues around the country every year so that as many members and interested parties can attend. BAFTS is the British Association of Fair Trade Shops and Suppliers, a national member organisation offering advice to, and providing a community for fair trade shops and wholesale suppliers who trade fairly with the developing world. The company currently has just over 140 members and this figure is increasing all the time. For further information, please visit bafts.org.uk BAFTS, the British Association of Fair Trade Shops and Suppliers, brings you the latest news in fair trade retailing BAFTS news Lanka Kade Kathryn Sygrove giftfocus 199 fair trade