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By M As
y Monica S Associate Revy F Pro
y Fair T Products
Fair Trade Is Green
IT’S NO secret that “green” is red hot. You’ve surely noticed the marketing campaigns and retail trends that ap- peal to consumers’ eco-conscience, and small businesses can’t afford to ignore the profi t possibilities. Here’s something else you already know: the big boys have cornered the discount goods market. There’s no way to top the buying power of chain stores without undercutting your own bottom line. Small retailers must set themselves apart in order to survive, and buying the same mass produced and cheaply made mer- chandise as your competition will not achieve that goal. Enter Fair Trade products: items
made in developing countries by artisans treated and paid fairly for their work. Think of it as a step above charity. Instead of just giving money to the needy, Fair Trade provides in- dividuals the means to provide for themselves. Fair Trade is a win-win- win. It’s good for the environment, as items produced are typically made using reclaimed, recycled, and sustainable resources. It’s good for the artisans, who might otherwise struggle to provide for themselves and their families in a harsh global economy. And it’s good for retailers and consumers, who receive high quality, handmade goods, free from the stigma of unfair labor practices associated with mass produced or sweatshop made accessories. My fi rst exposure to Fair Trade
products was all indigenous scarves and rough hewn artifacts; not at all
something you’d fi nd in a high end boutique catering to the eco and fashion conscious. But many of these artisan co-ops have come a long way, now working with design- ers and wholesalers to create lines of jewelry and handbags, for instance, that appeal to American consum- ers, while retaining their uniquely handmade feel. Women who buy Fair Trade jewelry generally want to be stopped on the street for the pur- pose of compliments, not critiques, and producers are responding with
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7500 14th Ave., Suite 16 • Sacramento, CA 95820
a Stein r Trade
SPECIAL $99
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5% Shippping Discount On First Orders
12mm Tricolor Bangles Brass Gold Earrings
Handmade Bone Jewelry
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Factory Direct Pricing on 18kt Indian Gold Filled Bangles
6mm Gold Bangles 6mm Tricolor Bangles
(305) 326-7172
Ph: (916) 739-8488 Fax: (916) 739-8644
www.habibwholesale.com
email:
habibco@sbcglobal.net
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