Fair trade shops have transformed trade relations with developing countries ever since they have been founded. Besides creating greater awareness for the environment and for workers’ labor in third world countries, they have largely contributed to a growing change of consumer buying behavior. But what distinguishes fair trade shops from large-scale supermarkets other than their range of products? Their history as well as their commitment to fair trading are essential.
Throughout its history, the fair trade movement has radically changed its look and its influence. The journey of the movement began in the USA in the mid-1940s and originally emanates from religious organizations. The first European fair trade shops were founded in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s. Oxfam shops, as they are called in the UK, primarily sold crafts made by Chinese refugees. The history of German fair trade shops originates in one of Germany’s neighboring countries. “Originally, the idea comes from the Netherlands,” Mrs. Mahlendorff from the fair trade shop in Chemnitz confirms.
From there, it was only a matter of time until the movement reached Germany. Mrs. Mahlendorff said that adolescents from the Protestant and Catholic youth ministry had taken to the streets to fight for better trade relations between producers and the state. Owing to the fact that those relations still have not changed until today, those adolescents had directly bought products in third world countries and had brought them back to Germany in their backpacks to be sold in churches and on markets, Mrs Mahlendorff said. At the very beginning, fair trade shops, which were formerly known as third world shops, mainly focused on selling items typical for the third world (e.g. toys, instruments) and burlap bags. The alternative image of fair trade shops has changed drastically. Nowadays, fair trade shops are directed at all audiences.
Founded in 1995, the fair trade shop in Chemnitz is one of the oldest fair trade shops in the new federal states of Germany. Nine years later, the fair trade shop moved from a less central location to downtown, and can now be found in the Tietz. “There used to be campaigns and there still are, which say that fair trade shops have to be located in the city center, because the producers are supposed to be honored,” adds Mrs. Mahlendorff. Not only did this new location offer a potentially greater clientele due to the more central area, also the shop’s retail space was enlarged, which allowed for a better and greater range of products. “Of course, this has been well received at the beginning. But is has changed within the last years.” Mrs. Mahlendorff mentions less money spent on the Tietz by the city, less public festivals in Chemnitz where the fair trade shop could present itself and mainly not enough drop-in customers to be among the main problems the fair trade shop currently faces. “Big companies advertise their products, but we don’t have the money to do that.”
Throughout its history, the fair trade movement has radically changed its look and its influence. The journey of the movement began in the USA in the mid-1940s and originally emanates from religious organizations. The first European fair trade shops were founded in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s. Oxfam shops, as they are called in the UK, primarily sold crafts made by Chinese refugees. The history of German fair trade shops originates in one of Germany’s neighboring countries. “Originally, the idea comes from the Netherlands,” Mrs. Mahlendorff from the fair trade shop in Chemnitz confirms.
From there, it was only a matter of time until the movement reached Germany. Mrs. Mahlendorff said that adolescents from the Protestant and Catholic youth ministry had taken to the streets to fight for better trade relations between producers and the state. Owing to the fact that those relations still have not changed until today, those adolescents had directly bought products in third world countries and had brought them back to Germany in their backpacks to be sold in churches and on markets, Mrs Mahlendorff said. At the very beginning, fair trade shops, which were formerly known as third world shops, mainly focused on selling items typical for the third world (e.g. toys, instruments) and burlap bags. The alternative image of fair trade shops has changed drastically. Nowadays, fair trade shops are directed at all audiences.
Founded in 1995, the fair trade shop in Chemnitz is one of the oldest fair trade shops in the new federal states of Germany. Nine years later, the fair trade shop moved from a less central location to downtown, and can now be found in the Tietz. “There used to be campaigns and there still are, which say that fair trade shops have to be located in the city center, because the producers are supposed to be honored,” adds Mrs. Mahlendorff. Not only did this new location offer a potentially greater clientele due to the more central area, also the shop’s retail space was enlarged, which allowed for a better and greater range of products. “Of course, this has been well received at the beginning. But is has changed within the last years.” Mrs. Mahlendorff mentions less money spent on the Tietz by the city, less public festivals in Chemnitz where the fair trade shop could present itself and mainly not enough drop-in customers to be among the main problems the fair trade shop currently faces. “Big companies advertise their products, but we don’t have the money to do that.”
The fair trade shop in Chemnitz
Part II of "The World of Fair Trade" will be posted next Monday.