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	POLICY & PEOPLE

Fair Enough's Trading Policy is to...

...ADOPT FAIRTRADE PRINCIPLES.

Fair Enough adopts the principles of fair trade as outlined in the FINE Declaration.

FINE is a network of organisations promoting fair trade in Europe:

Fairtrade Labelling Organisations (FLO international)
International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT)
Network of European World Shops (NEWS)
European Fair Trade Assosciation (EFTA)

They jointly agreed the following:

Fair trade is an alternative approach to conventional international trade. It is a trading partnership which aims at sustainable development for excluded and disadvantaged producers. It seeks to do this by providing better trading conditions, by raising awareness and by campaigning. The goals of Fair Trade are:

To improve the livelihoods and well-being of producers by improving market access, strengthening producer organisations, paying a better price and providing continuity in the trading relationship.
To promote development opportunities for disadvantaged producers, especially women and indigenous people, and to protect children from exploitation in the production process.
To raise awareness among consumers of the negative effects on producers of international trade so that they exercise their purchasing power positively.
To set an example of partnership in trade through dialogue, transparency and respect.
To campaign for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.
To protect human rights by promoting social justice, sound environmental practices and economic security.

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...TO BE OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED AS A FAIRTRADE SHOP THROUGH THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF FAIRTRADE SHOPS

Fair Enough is officially recognised through BAFTS (British Association of Fairtrade Shops) as a member of the growing network of British and European 'Fairtrade Shops'. See www.bafts.org.uk. In line with membership requirements, Fair Enough therefore sells, in the main, products from Southern (Third World) producers who meet the Fairtrade criteria above. We also promote fair trade in a variety of ways: by raising the profile of fair trade retailing on the High Street, by supplying information, giving talks and campaigning for a change in the unfair rules for international trade.

...USE A MAJORITY OF FAIRTRADE SUPPLIERS

Fair Enough's products come from suppliers who meet fair trade criteria. Sometimes sourcing from ethical but not necessarily fair trade suppliers will be needed to ensure profitability or appropriate product range. As required by BAFTS, this forms less than 25% of turnover and will be monitored when drawing up annual accounts. Suppliers will be selected from:

British Association of Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS) approved lists of fair trade suppliers.
Producers who are members of a recognised fair trade organisation, such as those represented by FINE (above).
Product lines carrying a recognised FLO fair trade label.

In deciding whether to use suppliers who do not meet the above criteria, Fair Enough will consider how 'ethical' these suppliers are through consideration of:

The supplier's closeness to FINE criteria.
Any trading policies published by the supplier, which will be specifically requested.
The supplier's emphasis on benefits going back to the original producer and their communities in a way that reflects an adequate return on their input of skill, labour and resources.
The opinion of other fair trade organisations with whom we are in communication concerning the supplier.
Ongoing experiences and review of non-approved suppliers we use.

The shop must be financially viable, ensure an attractive variety of appealing product ranges while maximising benefits to disadvantaged producers. Supplying products which are agreed by the Fair Enough management team as 'ethically' (although not necessarily fairly) traded helps assist the most disadvantaged on the road to self-sustainability through cross-subsidisation and wealth redistribution.

It will not be possible to individually vet all suppliers who are not formally recognised as 'Fairtrade'. If significant doubts arise about a supplier, Fair Enough will no longer continue to sell their products. We believe it is better to trade successfully and to risk sometimes getting it wrong than to deprive disadvantaged suppliers by not trading at all.

...OPERATE ON A NOT FOR PROFIT BASIS

Fair Enough re-invests profits into the running of the shop. If profits exceed these requirements, the money is re-invested into trade justice more generally through support of the work of charities and non-governmental organisations like those listed here.

...ACT CO-OPERATIVELY

Fair Enough is a company limited by guarantee. Although not officially registered as a Co-operative, it acts co-operatively, at a community level, in a number of ways:

it was started as a project shared by a variety of local stakeholders such as representatives from the local economic development unit, the Fairtrade Network and various churches.
it is run on a voluntary basis, with approximately 50 volunteers of many different ages, backgrounds and situations.
Although the board of directors oversee the operations of the shop, they are accountable for the shop manager (the only part time paid position) and accountable to an Advisory Group which represents local Fairtrade interest groups.
The co-operative links are international, working on behalf of traceable producers and farmers in the South.
The core income to the shop is generated from a wide range of churches and other organisations who bulk buy on a regular basis.

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