10-10-2007
Internet sales of fair trade products increasing
News from Simply Business - independent providers of shop & retail insurance, business insurance, business finance, landlords insurance, buy-to-let mortgages, commercial mortgages and information for small businesses.
The online retail sector is taking an increasing share of fair trade retail, according to experts.
The British Association for Fair Trade Shops (Bafts) has commented that not only are fair trade goods increasingly being sold online using channels such as eBay, but a business selling solely via the web can lower its overall running costs.
"When you start up a shop you have all your overheads with the rent, and actual physical costs of the shop," said Kate Meakin, a representative for Bafts. "So a lot of the people we get through now just have an online shop," she added.
According to data released by the Fairtrade Foundation, between 2005 and 2006 total sales of products labelled as Fairtrade during this period increased by a total of 59 per cent in terms of volume. The opportunity for retail businesses to do something positive is here - as more Western retailers sell fair trade goods, third world traders will eventually be able to command better prices for their products and help reduce poverty in their countries.
The Fairtrade Foundation is the UK division of the Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International, an organisation established in 1997. Similar organisations exist in a number of different countries, including Australia, Canada and Japan.
Do you have a retail business? Simply Business offers comprehensive business insurance for shops and retailers.
Compare a range of impartial quotes online now ...