The World Shop: 1992 – 2007
After 15 years, The World Shop ‘shut up shop’ on 22nd December 2007. Described as a wonderful Aladdin's cave of ethical goodies
by Norfolk Magazine, The World Shop was ahead of its time — the first, and for a long time, the only BAFTS-registered Fair Trade outlet in Norfolk.
The World Shop: trading ethically in Norwich
The World Shop illustrated fair trade in practice, and gave local people the opportunity to buy fairly-traded goods.
Fair trade guarantees a better deal to producers in countries of the developing world. There is increasing awareness of the power of fair trade to change the lives of people living in poverty.
NEAD’s World Shop opened in 1992 and was Norfolk’s longest established Fair Trade shop. Accredited by the British Association of Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS), we bought only from carefully chosen suppliers who guarantee a fair price and decent working conditions for the artists and producers making the goods. Stable prices allow money to be reinvested in the community.
Fair trade in practice
The World Shop was staffed mainly by volunteers and was run by NEAD as an example of Fair Trade in practice. The shop offered a range of fairly traded goods from around the world available on your doorstep. All profits from the shop were used to help fund the educational work of NEAD.
Chocolate… coffee… tea… music… books… teaching resources… clothing… shoes… accessories… jewellery… crafts… paper… cards… notepads… photo albums… toys… baskets… textiles… musical instruments… religious artefacts… and much more…
Some of our suppliers:
- Khadi — Supporting WaterAid and social projects in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Thailand
- Tilnar Art — Providing stable employment for artists in Zimbabwe
- Traidcraft — Supporting producers and building partnerships around the world
- Tumi — Working in partnership with individual craftsmen and women of Latin America providing financial independence and personal integrity
- New Overseas Traders — Working in India with small businesses, cooperatives and family firms
- Bishopston Trading — Profits support the South Indian Rural Development Trust
An educational role
The World Shop stocked books and educational resources on development and environmental issues, including a wide selection of children’s books. We also ran workshops on free and fair trade.
