Business Resources

Expected Practices

The Fair Trade Federation Code of Practice outlines how retailers, wholesalers of handmade goods, wholesalers of agricultural-based goods, and cafes can live FTF's nine Principles.

For inspiration, visit the Federation's Case Study Gallery to see real world examples of how members live each Principle. and consult the Fair Trade Federation University's Fair Trade Federation 101 course.

Opening a Fair Trade Business

FTF members are often willing to share their experiences with aspiring entrepreneurs. Their advice includes:

• Fair Trade Federation 101 - This free on-line course will help you identify the distinctive requirements for different FTF membership categories, as well as deepen your knowledge of how to live the FTF Principles
  
• Glossary of Fair Trade and General Business Terms by Maile Smith, Fair Trade Federation
  
• How To Get Retail Buyers on Your Side by Tex Dworkin (taken from the Fair Trade Resource Network Business Blog)
  
• Incorporating as a Non-Profit Retail Store by Jim Goetsch, Manager, Third World Shoppe of Fort Wayne
  
• Introduction to Importing to Canada by Janice Dotti, Fair Trade Federation
  
• Introduction to Importing to the United States by Janice Dotti, Fair Trade Federation
• Starting an Internet-based Fair Trade Business by Megy Karydes, Founder, World-Shoppe.com
• Six Keys to Starting a Fair Trade Retail Store by Brian Smucker, Co-Founder, Baksheesh 
• Incorporating your new Fair Trade organization - for-profit or non-profit?  by Scott James, Founder, Fair Trade Sports, and Nathan George, Co-Founder, Trade as One
• To Drop Ship or Not to Drop Ship: Advice for Wholesalers by Kevin Ward, President, Global Crafts
• Growing a Wholesale Business with Integrity by Bob Chase of SERRV International and Kevin Ward of Global Crafts
• Strengthening a New Retail Operation by Brian Smucker of Baksheesh and Tony Hall of Hall-Wray Consulting
• Leading the Media to Your Business by Megy Karydes of Karydes Consulting

The Fair Trade Resource Network's Guide to Starting Successful Retail Business also offers insight into the elements of creating a fair trade retail operation and includes examples, such as a start-up budget.

Find Suppliers

Businesses can:

• Source from members of FTF,
• Work directly with producer groups,
  
• Purchase from Fairtrade Certified farms, or
• Find producers from IFAT - the World Fair Trade Organization.

Consultants and Advisers

Some firms specialize in helping Fair Trade Businesses begin and thrive, including:

• Economic Development Impacts - A strategic advisory firm that works with clients to deliver both financial and mission-driven results.
  
• Hall Wray Consultants - Consultants on all aspects of Fair Trade, Ethical Business, and Social Entrepreneurship, working in the South and North.
• Have questions you would like answered? Visit the Ask the Experts section or contact FTF.
  

• Franchise a Ten Thousand Villages Store - Learn about joining the oldest and largest chain of fair trade stores in North America
• Jolica Fair Trade Consultant - Jolica home-based fair trade businesses offer individuals a chance to earn income and support artisans at the same time.
• Pacha World Fair Trade Consultant - Make the commitment to spread the word about fair trade, while earning commissions from your total sales.
• Visit the Fair Trade Job Board to see what fair traders are hiring.

Plan Your Organization

Starting a fair trade organization requires the same skills as opening any business. Visit the following general resources for advice:

• IRS' Checklist for Starting a Business
  
• Small Business Association's Small Business Planner
• Introduction to Starting a Business  or 501(c) 3 from the Internal Revenue Service, including Top Seven Tips for Taxpayers Starting a New Business
• Cooperative Development Institute's Guide to Starting a Cooperative
  
• USDA - How to Start a Cooperative - The process of organizing and financing a cooperative business.
• Roasting 101 - a basic foundation of coffee roasting knowledge.
  
• JumpUp.com - Advice to get a new businesses up and running.
• Small-Medium Sized Enterprise Toolkit from the International Finance Corporation
  
• BBC's Advice on How to Write a Business Plan
• How to Prepare Your Business Plan from UNCTAD
  
• Entrepreneur.com's How To Start a Business - Advice on starting your own business
• Basic Importing and Exporting Guidelines from the US Department of Customs and the Canadian Border Services Agency
  
• USAID Small Business Resource Center from the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and Minority Resource Center
  
• SCORE Advice on Starting your Business -from the Small Business Association's SCORE network
  
• Center for Non-Profit Advancement - Tips on starting a nonprofit for organizations
  
• The Nonprofit FAQ from Idealist.org - an indexed collection of answers to Frequently Asked Questions about nonprofit organizations.
  
• Management Library - Library of 650+ topics on the leadership and management of for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations.
• AllBusiness.com - Resources, articles, example forms, contracts and agreements, expert advice, blogs, business news, business directory listings, product comparisons, business guides, and more.
• The Crafts Report asks 18 Questions to help you decide between wholesale and retail