Monday 30 March 2009

Easter Holidays


By choosing Fairtrade this Easter, people can share and enjoy these sweet treats with family and friends while helping to ensure cocoa farmers and their families in developing nations are getting a fair deal.

Buying Fairtrade chocolate also helps tackle the issues of child trafficking and labour - both major problems resulting from cocoa production which are sure to leave a bitter taste in any chocolate lover’s mouth.

More and more local people are coming to the Small World to buy Fairtrade products, including chocolate, because they know it is a practical way to purchase great tasting, sustainably produced goods that provide a better deal and stable livelihoods for the world's poorest producers.

The last day of trading before the shop closes for Easter will be Thursday 12th April (10-12 & 2-4). The Small World Shop will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, reopening on Tuesday 17th at 10 a.m.

Friday 27 March 2009

No frill refills


You can now refill your empty bottles of Ecover washing up liquid and laundry liquid.

This saves you money as well as plastic resources - your bottle can be re-filled up to 50 times before you need to replace it!

If you decide to refill your empty bottle just wash it out and bring it along to the shop.

Refill is available for:

* Washing Up Liquid £2 for 1 litre
* Laundry Liquid £5 for 1.5litres

Thursday 26 March 2009

Spotlight on...BANGLADESH

Today marks the anniversary of independence of Bangladesh.

Following the war for independence, it has endured famines, natural disasters and widespread poverty, as well as political turmoil and military coups.

Saidpur Enterprises was set up to create jobs for Bihari women who receive fair wages and have improved socio-economic conditions with better access to essentials such as food, education, housing, and healthcare.

Bangladesh is the world's largest grower of jute - a hardwearing, biodegradable and eco-friendly alternative to plastic.

The Small World shop carries a number of Saidpur Enterprise products include shopping bags, gardener's carry bag and twine.

Another Bangladesh organisation whose handicrafts we stock is Swajan. Traditional techniques such as applique, embroidery, patchwork and mirror work are used to produce the exquisite greetings cards and purses which are so popular with our customers.

Saturday 21 March 2009

Washing up gloves - definately not a wash out!


We have just started stocking the first ever fairly traded rubber gloves.

The natural rubber used to make these gloves is harvested by farmers who tap the trees in the early morning to get the best yields. They receive regular and fair payments as well as technical support and help with equipment.

At the time of writing they have flown off the shelves and we are awaiting new stock from Traidcraft (where they have also sold out).

Mother's Day gifts from the Mai Handicraft range


All mums are special and, at The Small World, all mums are catered for: the DIY-loving mum (cat tape measure); office working mums (dragonfly paperweights); eco-warrier mums (recycled shopping bag); gardening mums (plant pots) and glamour-loving mums (mirror inlaid trinket boxes) with gifts from the Mai Handicraft range – a project particularly aimed at promoting self-reliance among disadvantaged communities in Southern Vietnam.

Mai Handicrafts aims to find work for neglected families by selling Vietnamese fair trade Handicraft products to local and export markets, to customers that care about a fair wage & working conditions. Mai is an income generating and educational project for disadvantaged family and its members, particularly women and children.

Mai works not only to provide viable employment and/or effective training but also aims to promote self-reliance among disadvantaged families and ethnic minority communities in Southern Vietnam.

Other than the necessary re-investing cost, the profits from sales of these fair trade handicrafts are used to fund various social work activities. In the development context, Mai is exploring a model of social development in which social service should lead to economic self-reliance. The people involved: Single parent families and other disadvantaged families and their children. Individual young adults starting off in life.