Wales Co-operative Centre
Canolfan Cwdweithredol Cymru

Developing a specialist Fair Trade business

Ethical entrepreneurs

As the Fair Trade market develops and Wales is the world’s first Fair Trade Nation, you may be interested in running a business specialising in Fair Trade or developing a new product for this market.

Specialist Fair Trade businesses could be:

• Shops
• Cafes
• Importers
• Food producers

How can we help?

To help you share ideas and increase your marketing impact we offer networking and learning meetings in North and South Wales. Contact us on 029 2055 4955 or email fairtrade@walescooperative.org

We’d be delighted to help you get your product or service noticed in Wales so keep in touch. We could include your news in our e-news, supplier list, social media updates, link with you at events or introduce you to Fair Trade networks.

Developing your Fair Trade business or product

Research the competition

Find out who else is locally selling ethical products or the same product as you. Try to offer something unique. You could approach similar retailers as critical friends and benefit from their experience. See our map and directory to find suppliers and other specialists.

Target market

Research the likely size of your customer base. It’s crucial to think about delivering the right product to your customers at the right price, time and place. Consider lifestyle stages, georgraphy and gender for each product or service. For more help researching your target market, you could attend one of our marketing courses.

Business advice

Talk to your local business advisor to get help with financial planning. If you are interested in a co-operative or social enterprise structure you may be able to use the Wales Co-operative Centre’s free services. You’ll need to be focussed on creating growth and jobs for social enterprises in the Convergence area of Wales.

Trade bodies and labelling

 Fairtrade labelling

If you intend to use the Fairtrade trademark you’ll need to meet all the Foundation’s criteria and apply for a licence. A percentage of the turnover is paid in licence fees. The benefit of using the licence is that your customers will recognise the Fairtrade mark and have confidence in your product. Check that Fairtrade certification applied to your product. If the product is mixed ingredient, e.g. a cake, then criteria for weight or percentage of ingredients apply.

BAFTS (British Association of Fair Trade Shops)

If you are starting a Fair Trade shop or importing crafts and want to be able to market yourself as trading fairly, becoming a member of BAFTS could be for you. Membership fees are reasonable and if approved you will be able to use their logo. You will need six months accounts but it is important to look at the criteria now as this may need to be worked in to your trading agreement with producer communities.

Retail criteria (external website)

Importer criteria (external website)

World Fair Trade Organisation

This organisation has members who reflect all the goals of trading fairly. Three years accounts are required for membership.