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Jeff
Publicity Opportunities for Partners While Supporting Fair Trade
As FTRN increases consumer awareness of Fair Trade, and facilitates discussion about Fair Trade, we rely on collaborations with partners. To achieve our organization’s goals, generate income to sustain our programs, and help partners advance their own interests, we are offering several publicity opportunities for you to engage with us.
During this financially challenging year, we wish to help you assess the value of FTRN opportunities compared with others you have. So, we list all of our current options below, with key details. Please look over the following opportunities, and let us know if you have questions, interest, or other ideas in working with us.
For further information, please contact Jeff Goldman, Executive Director at info@ftrn.org, or 917-464-5558.
Sponsoring World Fair Trade Day 2010 campaign
$3300 for major sponsors, $825 for regular sponsors
10% off before November 30; final deadline March 30
By starting campaign planning earlier (September), simplifying the messages, and expanding outreach beyond core audiences, we intend to make N. America’s largest FT event even bigger and more effective. This past May the campaign grew to 456 events, 65,020 participants, and 101 media placements. You can publicize your organization in print and online, and help shape the campaign messages and activities.
Sponsoring the 5th edition of Conscious Consumer
$2000
Deadline November 30
Over 60,000 booklets have been distributed to date. Sponsorship includes a customized, branded 1st page for your pre-ordered copies. Sponsorship also includes publicizing your organization in print and online, getting 200 free booklets, and chances to edit the booklet. By January 2010, we will update the content, reduce the # of pages from 34 to around 10, and offer complementary Power Point and PDF files to go with the hardcopy of this key document for introducing people to FT.
Scholarships for FT Producers or Students for a Fair Trade Futures Conference
$250 per producer; $100 per student; travel optional
Deadline July 31
For a N. American FT Futures conference of around 750 attendees next September in Boston, you can sponsor the admission fees of students and FT producers (who you may select). Additional option to sponsor their travel expenses. It will be 5 years since the previous conference, N. America’s largest FT meeting, so this opportunity may not come again soon. More details coming soon. Other organizations will sell sponsorship and advertising for the conference itself.
Sponsoring or advertising in the 2010 Fair Trade Calendar
$500 sponsorship; $50 ad
Deadline September 7
We are aiming to print 2,500 calendars initially and if pre-sales exceed that number, more may calendars may be printed in order to meet demand. Sponsors not only receive sole exposure for a whole month, you’ll also gain additional visibility and benefit from calendar outreach and promotional efforts. Advertisers get your business listed in the “Where to Buy Fair Trade” section of this inaugural first edition printed calendar.
Sponsoring a children’s book about FT (possible)
Estimated: $2500 major sponsor; $1000 minor sponsor
Deadline tbd
A final draft of this book for elementary school kids should be available by spring 2010. While we cannot accept sponsorships at this early stage, we want you to be aware of this prospective opportunity.
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Jeff
10 leading FT organizations in N. America are organizing a Fair Trade Futures conference, scheduled for September 10-12, 2010, that will bring together at least 751 current and prospective Fair Trade entrepreneurs, students, academics, interested non-governmental organizations, media representatives, producers, consumers, and activists. The first such conference, hosted in Chicago in 2005, attracted 750 attendees.
The aims of the upcoming meeting are to have participants:
- Acquire and build their knowledge base as appropriate to their various roles (i.e. consumer, entrepreneur, student, development professional, etc.)
- Leave with a clear and inspired understanding of how they can implement and increase their commitment to-and perhaps their passion for– to Fair Trade
- Pledge to fulfill that commitment to change in large and small ways in their communities.
The organizers have contracted the Fair Trade Federation, and FTRN, to plan and host the event. Organizers will announce further details soon. For now, save the date: September 10-12, 2010!
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Jeff
Canada, Australia and New Zealand commit to certifying Cadbury Dairy Milk as Fairtrade by early 2010
Combined with Britain and Ireland, the five markets will quadruple Fairtrade benefits for cocoa farmers under Fairtrade terms
Today, Cadbury extends its commitment to Fairtrade by confirming that three more markets are to receive Fairtrade certification for the flagship Cadbury Dairy Milk brand by early 2010. This move in Canada, Australia and New Zealand will bring the independent FAIRTRADE Mark into millions more homes in five of Cadbury’s key chocolate markets.
Read Cadbury’s full press release.
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Jeff
In the September 7, 2009, issue of Forbes Magazine, FT pioneer Ten Thousand Villages and its store in Center City Philadelphia are reported on. The article says that “Ten Thousand Villages has mastered the art of nurturing affluent customers as well as impoverished craftsmen.” Check out the full story at: http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0907/creative-giving-ten-thousand-villages-grows-with-fair-trade.html
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Jeff
 We, on the Fair Trade Calendar Committee are pleased to announce the winners of the first annual Fair Trade Photo Competition conducted by Fair Trade Federation and Fair Trade Resource Network. From the 60+ photos submitted and the thousands of votes cast on Competico.com, producer groups, student activists, and a wide array of fair trade supporters participated over the three week competition. While anyone could vote, photo entries were restricted to students, activists, wholesalers, retailers and others who had a direct affiliation with FTF, FTRN TransFair or WFTO.
The 12 photos with the most votes will each appear as a monthly photo in the inaugural edition of the Fair Trade Calendar, and smaller versions of other photo contest submissions will also appear throughout the calendar. The 2010 Fair Trade Calendar will be printed on environmentally friendly New Leaf paper by Consolidated Printing and designed by worker-owned collective Design Action.
And…without further adieu, the winners are…(drum roll please…)
1. “Beads to Bricks” Bead for Life
2. “Weaver” Equal Exchange
3. “Ghanaian Seamstresses” Village Exchange International
4. ‘Intense Focus” Indego Africa
5. “Hands of “Indego Africa
6.”Master Trainer of Poda Pakistan” Global Goods Partners
7. “Yauli Knitter” Partners for Justice
8. “Beautiful Hands in Guatemala” Shanti Boutique
9. “Coffee Producer” Equal Exchange
10. “Two Women Beading Necklaces” Dunitz Co
11. “Beading at Lake Atitlan” Dunitz Co
12. “Pierre Youpa With His Papaya Tree” Partners for Just Trade
View the photos on Facebook.
Calendars will be available for sale at retail and wholesale rates on http://www.fairtraderesource.org/learn-up/buy-ftrn-publications/ in early September.
To place an ad or sponsor the calendar, contact FTRN before September 8.
For further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact any one of us on the calendar committee:
Fair Trade Calendar Committee
Tex Dworkin (tex@globalexchange.org) or Cecilia Dinio Durkin (admin@womensworkbw.com)
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Jeff
In late July, EE FT bananas came to store shelves, trying to compete with 5 companies that sell 96% of the non-FT bananas bought in the U.S. EE became part owner of the first FT banana company in the United States, Oké USA. EE wanted to offer consumers a choice within FT besides Dole’s FT certified brand. See more reasons at Equal Exchange’s blog.
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Jeff
Visit a bar in the near future and you may be able to try a drink entitled Fairspresso. This cocktail combines Fair Trade coffee, sugar and one of Fair Trade’s newest products, Fair Vodka. Inspired by Bolivian quinoa harvesters, Fair Vodka founder Jean- Francois Daniel used quinoa to distill the first Fair Trade certified vodka. Fair Vodka is already winning awards, such as a gong for Best Unflavored Vodka 2009 New York, NY. On September 1st, Fair Vodka will be available for sale from top-end retailers, some bars and their website. Check out more details.
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Jeff
These days, it is increasingly difficult for conscious consumers to know which products and certifications to trust, whereas socially responsible businesses are have a harder time determining which certifications to associate with their products. The Montreal NGO, Equiterre, attempted to address this issue through a panel discussion called “Fair Trade: what are the guarantees?” In this conference, six panelists, including representatives from the Fair Trade Mark and the Fair Trade Federation, explained the various certifications. To read more, check out details of the panel.
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Jeff
The price of Fair Trade bananas may increase in the near future, easing some of the heightened stress put on Farmers as the cost of production has been steadily on the rise, while the minimum sale price has not been reviewed since 2005. Fair Trade producer organizations from throughout Latin America and the Caribbean held a two-day meeting in Santa Maria, Colombia. This meeting concluded with the signed Declaration of Santa Maria, which called for an increase in the minimum price paid for Fair Trade bananas. This declaration has been sent to a standard committee, which will make recommendations to the Fairtrade Labeling Organization’s Board at the end of August. A September meeting between producers, importers, exporters, retailers, Fairtrade National Initiatives and the FLO will determine the new prices for Fair Trade bananas. Find more details at Dominican News Online.
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Jeff
On September 12th, the Sixth Annual New England Culture Fest will bring together world music and culture, film, fashion and Fair Trade Advocacy to Lowell, Massachusetts Arts District. This festival includes a world class lineup of music from around the globe, the 2009 Fashionable Fair Runway Show, a Salsa Dance Party, the NECF’s Ethical Art & Biz Expo, The Second World Fair Trade Stories Film Archive, NECF Art Fence, Dance Crews and so much more. While enjoying the sights and sounds of this annual event, your involvement will also help raise funds for global Fair Trade economic empowerment projects. Find more information at Sixth Annual New England Culture Fest, Lowell MA Arts District, Middle St, September 12, 2009 2-10 pm.
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