30 Years of the Fair Trade Federation!
Did you know the Fair Trade Federation is celebrating our 30th anniversary this year?
Established in 1994 by a small group of like minded entrepreneurs, the FTF is now an ethical trade community of over 200 fair trade businesses and organizations evolving the future of our trade landscape.
We celebrated this landmark year in community in Richmond, Virginia – where the FTF was first incorporated! – at our Annual Fair Trade Conference and Expo. With around 200 attendees from over 150 enterprises, the event helped attendees to create authentic business relationships and drive sales and capacity to be successful in an increasingly challenging and competitive marketplace.
Our highly anticipated, sold-out Fair Trade Expo featured 46 verified fair trade wholesalers showcasing products by skilled artisans and farmers, from home decor to fashion to coffee and more. 28 speakers led informative and inspiring plenaries, breakout sessions, and workshops, including those such as: Importing 101, Collaborative Design, Click & Mortar Omnichannel, Quality Control, Retailer Best Practices, and a Living Wage Panel. See the list of all of the breakout sessions here.
The event was also joined by a number of folks from the Museum Store Association, and their Mid-Atlantic Chapter hosted a fun happy hour. Continuing the merriment, attendees had a night out in Carytown with a special reception at Ten Thousand Villages.
We couldn’t have pulled off this successful and revitalizing event without our amazing sponsors! We thank them for their exceptional dedication to the work of the fair trade community.
In addition to the in-person celebrations, the Fair Trade Federation has marked this year with a brand refresh! The new branding and verified fair trade logo underscore members ongoing commitment to fair trade principles and reflect our bold path forward where responsible business is the norm and not the exception. See further details about it here.
Stay tuned to what the rest of our anniversary year has in store by signing up for our monthly newsletter.
