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GOOD BUSINESS June 2000NORFOLK RICKSHAW WALLAHWONDERWORLD has just completed delivery of a delightful cycle rickshaw to our friends at Fantoosh in Norfolk. The red canopied, brightly studded three wheeler is capable of transporting at least twenty carefully arranged children on the sub-continent. In Norfolk the maximum might be two white folks but the rickshaw already caused quite a stir around the town.
FANTOOSH are using the rickshaw to promote their shops and hire it out for special functions like parades and weddings. Some careful negotiations with East Dereham council are underway to see if the vehicle might be used to transport diners home from Dereham curry houses as part of theme evenings. Of course the local press have taken a great interest, especially as the rickshaw has spearheaded a campaign against car parking charges. Cycle-rickshaws are exempt from the proposed byelaw and can be parked with impunity, free of charge. FANCY your own cycle rickshaw? Contact us to discuss the options available. QUESTIONS TO BAFTS THE British Association of Fair Trade Shops - World Shops (BAFTS), has listed WONDERWORLD as a supplier for several years. Recently we received a letter offering us the opportunity to make a submission for inclusion in the next BAFTS directory. There follows an excerpt from that letter ...."In previous directories the main criteria has been "fair trade" as commonly understood. Now that fair practice is starting to become more widely expected of all normal trade, BAFTS members are encouraged to return more precisely to their founding core objectives of supporting socially projects and movements for change, rather than only "fair trade". Socially-based projects exist specifically to make a contribution toward social development and the construction of a more equitable world order. They often have a hard time penetrating overseas markets, and that is why BAFTS shops need to try to help. The new directory will be a list of specialist importers working alongside such schemes. It will therefore be a much slimmer list than before and you may feel that your company is not really part of the refocused definition……". THIS LETTER raised a lot of concerns about BAFTS apparent positions on: the current state of Fair Trade practice, BAFTS engagement with the further development of Fair Trade practice & their vision & objectives for World Shops. We have written to BAFTS putting various questions. The full text of the letter is on the 'Letters' page of this website. IN SUMMARY we ask BAFTS if they recognise how little real progress has been made in establishing any kind of fair trade practice in the mainstream. We express our view that establishing credible Fair Trade practice for mainstream "normal" trade is a "world changing" project in which BAFTS should be a major stakeholder because of their experience, expertise and political awareness. We accept that a clear distinction is drawn between socially based & commercially based suppliers, to encourage consumers and retailers to support "socially based" suppliers. However we challenge BAFTS to recognise that World Shops/Fair Trade shops should be professionally run, high street operations selling both "socially based" and commercially based, credibly fair traded products in a healthy symbiotic relationship. TALKING SHOPOUR DEBATE with BAFTS illustrates that there are many approaches to Fair Trade and much work to do in developing realistic, effective Fair Trade practice. De facto - responsibility for the future of Fair Trade has been devolved from a few big organisations who led the Fair Trade movement to now include dozens of small-scale retailers, wholesalers and importers like WONDERWORLD who have identified themselves with the ideal of Fair Trade. HOWEVER many of us have nowhere even to discuss how to shoulder this responsibility. Dozens of smaller Fair Trade participants operate in relative isolation with no opportunity for dialogue with peers and other parties in the Fair Trade movement. A few organisations provide very limited opportunities for a selected membership to discuss the issues. Many more of us need to take part in discussions open for everyone with an interest in Fair Trade. THEREFORE WONDERWORLD is organising an inclusive one day workshop and networking event with the aims of - exploring the politics & practice of Fair Trade in the UK; sharing expertise, information & experience; identifying realistic goals for individual Fair Trade practice; forging new relationships and alliances to support participants in the development of their Fair Trade practice. THE EVENT will take place on Saturday September 30th 2000 at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre, Selly Oak, Birmingham. We are expecting a good cross section of retailers, wholesalers and other interested parties. Representatives from BAFTS, the International Federation for Alternative Trade, Fair Trade Foundation, Ethical Junction, Traidcraft have indicated they will be present. WE HOPE that people will learn, listen, argue, inspire and influence in a constructive spirit. There is no political agenda and no collective result is expected. There will be plenty of time for discussion and we will use e-mail and websites to promote and document the event. The cost for the day will be £ 17.50 including a vegetarian meal and refreshments. If you want more details contact David Turner direct on 0113 285 3517. SPECIAL OFFERSBeach Wraps SUMMER HOLIDAYS are just around the corner so we are offering lovely quality voile beach wraps at the reduced price of just £ 3.50 each. The beach wraps come in our popular mixed block print selection - a pack of six different designs. The size is a generous 42" by 84". V Necked Cotton Shirts ALSO with the warmer weather in mind we are offering ladies V-Necked Cotton Shirts in free size green or blue at the reduced price of £ 3.90. These attractive pieces have a distinctive triple button fastening. Hand Made Gift Wrap Paper BUY TWO rolls at £ 7.00 each (20 sheets a roll) get one FREE. Available in marigold, aster, bougainvillaea coriander & grass. THESE ITEMS DID NOT MAKE TO OUR CATALOGUE BECAUSE THEY WERE IN SHORT SUPPLY SO ORDER NOW. OLD GREY BEARD Dave Hogg, veteran retailer, with another warning Watch out for dubious premium rate Fax Back services. These include fax polls eliciting your opinion on all manner of subjects from Membership of the E.U. to the minimum wage, cheap flights & wonder diets. These companies deliberately slow down their fax machines so that a fax that should only take a few seconds to transmit instead takes about 3 minutes. A reply could cost you £4 to £5.
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