| 'Guilt-free
shopping' sets Global Village Gifts apart
By Blaine Adams
May 11,2009 | It's an unusual store with a unique
vision: make fair trade work for everyone, from villages
around the globe to the customers in Logan.
Global Village Gifts, in downtown Logan near Federal
Avenue, is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving
the lives of people around the world, and offering high-quality,
hand-crafted goods as well. The store has volunteers
instead of employees. Pam Riley, professor emeritus
of sociology at Utah State University, and one such
volunteer, gives her time because she believes in the
store's ideals.
"What you get here is going to be unique—one of a
kind," she said. "You're supporting families who may
not have other means of support. [I call it] guilt-free
shopping."
Founder Sally Keller explained how the store operates.
"Global Village Gifts purchases their products from
vendors who purchase from artisan producer groups in
the various countries," said Keller. "The vendor negotiates
a price for a given item by working with the artisans
to determine the cost of materials, time to make the
item, fair wages within the context of the local village
and a small percentage which goes into a fund which
will provide improvements for the community.
"After this price is agreed upon by both the vendor
and the artisans, the vendor pays up to half of the
full contract. When the contract is complete, the remainder
is paid to the artisans by the vendor. Therefore, the
artisans have been paid in full before the items have
reached the distribution centers of the vendors," Keller
said.
Keller said that these vendors sell to other stores
around the country like Global Village Gifts, and approximately
$2,000 in retail sales will support an artisan family
of four for a year. "There is no other store like us
in Logan," Riley said.
But the store isn't exclusively interested in selling
the items. They are also dedicated to educating customers
about what they're purchasing and why fair trade is
important, Riley said. Near almost all products is a
description card detailing the creation process of the
item, as well as the location from which the item was
created. According to Riley, over 35 countries send
their goods to be sold, allowing for a diverse selection.
"Education," said Riley, "is an important part of
what we're about. On gallery night, we showcase different
kinds of art."
The volunteers range from USU students to Logan summer
citizens, and are helpful and informed.
"I can look at the products and know where they're
from," Riley said.
The shop's focus is on fair trade—paying men and women
equally, protecting the environment, and above all else,
insuring the artisans are paid a living wage and able
to support their families. The items sold are truly
unique: earrings made from recycled Coca-Cola cans,
picture frames made of bicycle chains, used teabags
attached to greetings cards, leaves wrapped to create
a journal cover.
It's a unique store with an unusual vision: make the
world better, for all.
"People are always welcome to volunteer," said Riley.
For more information, contact the shop at 435-713-4347.
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