Fairgift offers hundreds of fairly-traded, beautiful, original and high quality items for your home and garden. These are predominantly handmade, manufactured in small quantities by over 40 skilled producer groups across Africa, Asia and South America.

Fairgift enables customers to buy gifts and have a wedding gift list with a difference. It provides an opportunity for people in Europe to share the joy of a special occasion with marginalised communities from around the world, whilst also enjoying beautiful gifts.

Fair trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, which seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions and securing the rights of marginalized producers and workers.

Business vision

Fairgift is a social enterprise, where people come before profits.

Profits are reinvested back into growing sales for the producers and the remainder is donated to the development charity, Traidcraft Exchange.

Through every product purchased, Fairgift is able to advance the fight against poverty by ensuring sustainable income and good working conditions for producers. Every transaction is an investment in the lives & communities of producers, because it seeks a higher ethical standard of manufacturing & trading than one based primarily on cost.

Business aims

To offer beautiful, original, fair trade items for the home.

To provide a high quality gift & gift list service.

To provide market access to Fair Trade producers from Africa, Asia & South America.

Business philosophies and beliefs

We believe that fair trade is beneficial for producers in the developing world. By having fair access to markets, producers can have a brighter future for themselves, their families & communities.

Consumers in the UK, by choosing fair trade for their gifts & wedding lists, have all the quality, originality & style that comes from these remarkable producers.

Business Values

1. Optimism. Choosing fair trade products every time we shop is an effective way to help reduce poverty. It is a practical action towards building a better world.

2. Quality. All products are made by skilled artisans from Africa, Asia and Latin America, that have a real stake in what they are doing, that's why customers can be sure of superior quality.

3. Sustainability. Everything is produced in an environmentally conscious way. Most of our products are made with creative and expert use of natural, organic or recycled materials.

Business mission

The mission of Fairgift is to move fair trade out of it's traditional areas of commodity 'ingredients', like coffee, tea & bananas, and into new, added-value categories across homeware - and then to promote & distribute these products to consumers across Europe.

Business Information

Date established:: 2007
Contact details: Brian Walmsley Managing Director brian@fairgift.co.uk T 0870 803 3226
Business structure Help Basic business structures under UK law include: sole trader, partnership, private company limited by shares, private company limited by guarantee, community interest company, public limited company, private unlimited company, and franchise.: Company limited by shares
Address of company headquarters: Fairgift Ltd Long Rock Penzance Cornwall TR93 0FG
Countries of operations: UK
Countries where goods and/or services are sold: Europe-wide
Size of workforce: Director only, volunteers help at events
Financial year Help The 12 months used as a company's accounting period. This may or may not be a calendar year.: 1 April to 31 March
Market capitalisation Help The market value of a public company's issued share capital, i.e. the number of shares multiplied by the current price of those shares on the stock market. For private companies, 'company value', estimated by the book value of all assets or by using comparable companies, is a more appropriate term. This information is not compulsory.: n/a
Turnover (last financial year) Help Income that the business receives from its normal business activities, usually from the sale of goods and services to customers. Also known as total revenue, total sales or the top line.: GBP 50,000
Profit (last financial year) Help Gross profit is the total turnover minus cost of sales. Net profit is the turnover minus all expenses, including payroll and tax. Businesses are asked to state gross profit, net profit or both. This field can be left blank.: GBP 0
Details of owners: Currently shared by 12 high net worth individuals in the UK & South Africa, with an AGM each July to present accounts and review plans. Discussions are under way with 2 producers for them to own a stake in the business and input directly into strategy & plans.
Directors' other business interests Help Businesses are asked to list other directorships held by their directors and company secretary: n/a

Goods and Services

Fairgift is an on-line e-commerce store that offers:

1. Beautiful, original, fair trade housewares and accessories. The items are predominantly handmade and manufactured in small quantities and range from furniture & dining ware to bed linen & dressing gowns.

2. Market access for fair trade producers in Africa, Asia and South America. The website provides photos & information about the producers and meaning behind the products.

3. A wedding & gift list service with a difference. Couples-to-be and their friends and relatives can order wedding gifts from a product range that is 100% fair trade.

Business Responses

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Human Rights

If your company operates in a conflict area, does it take steps to ensure that business operations do not contribute to tensions?

Question developed with Peace Direct

Rationale for question

Conflict is not limited to situations of open warfare. Abuses such as discrimination, destruction of homes and critical infrastructure, expulsion of populations, abduction and indiscriminate killings may occur in areas where an actual 'war' has not been declared. Incidents that may take place during conflict situations include riots, insurrection, mass civil unrest, and guerrilla attacks. (See defining terms for a specific description of conflict.)

In conflict areas, domestic and international businesses have the potential to exacerbate tensions or promote measures that prevent or alleviate hostilities. For example, companies can promote tolerance and ensure that they do not favour one party to the conflict over another by maintaining a diverse workforce. They can also avoid entering into any business agreement with a group or faction that would require it to win and maintain control over other groups or factions in order to perform under the agreement, thus providing an incentive for violence.

Although governments still have the primary responsibility for protecting their citizens, there are compelling reasons for businesses to respond to conflict situations in ways which minimise their negative impacts and maximise their positive contributions. One motivation is the fact that conflict is costly for companies, including the costs of managing risks, litigation, reputational harm (if the company is found complicit in abuses or unconcerned as to the impacts of its operations), and damage or injury to property or personnel. Governmental and non-governmental organisations also encourage private sector involvement because economic development can play a key role in helping countries escape from cycles of conflict. At the grassroots level, business ventures not only allow people to earn a livelihood, but they can also bring together previously fragmented sections of the community.

No single approach to whether and how to operate in conflict areas is appropriate in all situations. The approach depends on the nature of the business operations and on the particular circumstances in each region. Examples of good practice when seeking to make a positive impact include:

consulting with a range stakeholders;
investing in civil society, e.g. local organisations;
maintaining a diverse, local workforce; and
promoting the equitable distribution of wealth.

Please see the 'Resources' section for further detail on factors affecting each situation, key considerations in determining whether and how to maintain a presence, and potential contributions of companies.

Defining Terms

A 'conflict' is generally considered to be a state of ongoing hostility between two or more groups of people; however, this definition is too broad for the purposes of this question. The Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research (HIIK) identifies various conflict intensities, including crisis, severe crisis and war. For this question, all three will be considered 'conflicts'. The definitions are the following:

'Crisis' is a tense situation in which at least one of the parties uses violent force in sporadic incidents.
'Severe crisis' is a conflict in which violent force is repeatedly used in an organised way.
'War' is a type of violent conflict in which violent force is used with a certain continuity in an organised and systematic way. The conflict parties exercise extensive measures, depending on the situation. The extent of destruction is massive and of long duration.

Primary and Secondary answer requirements

ANSWERING YES

Companies must:

state the conflict(s) area(s) in which they operate;
describe the impact assessment(s) they have undertaken to evaluate the effects of their business on the conflict (including the actions of suppliers and contractors); and
describe policies and practices they have in place to manage this impact.

Companies may:

describe the measures they undertake to tackle the triggers or root causes of conflict.

ANSWERING NO

Companies must:

state the conflict(s) area(s) in which they operate; and
explain why they do not meet the requirements to answer YES to the question, listing the business reasons, any mitigating circumstances or other reasons that apply.

Companies may:

describe any impact assessment(s) they have undertaken to evaluate the effects of their business on the conflict (including the actions of suppliers and contractors);
indicate any relevant practices and policies, even if they do not fully address the specifications for answering YES; and
mention any future intentions regarding this issue.

ANSWERING NOT APPLICABLE

Companies must:

confirm that they do not operate in a conflict area as defined above.

Companies may:

describe any efforts to promote initiatives that tackle the triggers or root causes of conflict; and
comment on the practices of their suppliers to the extent that they are able, including whether they are aware of suppliers operating in conflict areas and the impact these suppliers have had on conflicts.

DON'T KNOW is not a permissible answer to this question.

NO ANSWER YET is only permissible under extraordinary circumstances and then for only a limited period.

Fairgift

Not Applicable

Fairgift does not operate in any conflict areas.

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