Please see more information about speakers and sessions below. We are very excited for each topic and look forward to connecting with you to help shape the future of the fair trade movement!
Plenary
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 | 9:00 to 10:00 am
Joy McBrien
Joy McBrien – Founder, Fair Anita and Chair of the Fair Trade Federation Board of Directors
Regenerate + Rekindle
Thursday, March 30, 2023 | 9:00 to 10:00 am
Zellipah Githui
Zellipah Githui – President, Gitzell Fair Trade
My Immigration Journey to Fair Trade Business
Zellipah shares her immigration journey: Accompanied with two suitcases, Zellipah Githui left her home country of Kenya to study at a Kansas university. Nothing looked or seemed familiar in the cold winter season of 1998. She knew no one. She turned to her one suitcase that had gifts and souvenirs and started showcasing to the students and staff at Pittsburg University.
Roopa Mehta
Roopa Mehta – President, WFTO
Fair Trade: Changing the Rules
Fair trade (FT) evolution, impact and relevance. FT place in the new economy. Growing community of conscious consumers. Promoting fair trade enterprises through strong collaborative efforts. Adopting best business practices for agility and long term sustainability. Envisioning the future of the fair trade.
Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Arewa
Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Arewa – Murray H. Shusterman Professor of Transactional and Business Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law
Trade, Fairness, and Decolonization
This session will be an introduction to the continuing impact of colonialism in trading and other contexts.
Breakout Sessions
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 | 10:30 to 11:45 am
Colvin English
Kelly Weinberger
Michelle Karol
Katie Leighton
Manish Gupta
Sarah Wilson
Colvin English – Co-Founder, ByHand Consulting; Katie Leighton – Head of Brand Success, Faire; Kelly Weinberger – Founder, WorldFinds; Manish Gupta – Founder, Matr Boomie; Michelle Karol – Director of Tradeshow Sales, International Market Centers; Sarah Wilson – Group Show Director, Emerald X
Market Access Workshop: Gift Shows, Wholesale Buyer Platforms, and Online Marketplaces
Join FTF Wholesale Members alongside industry professionals in a timely and important panel discussion about market access opportunities (current and future) for fair trade handmade products. The discussion will include (but not be limited to) in-person trade shows (NY NOW, AmericasMart, Vegas Market), online wholesale platforms (Faire, Powered by People), as well as the impact of Amazon and Etsy.
Manpreet Kalra
Manpreet Kalra – Social Impact + Equity Advisor, Art of Citizenry and Chief of Impact + Communication, MINNA
Ethical Storytelling: Crafting Your Brand Story
Having a clearly defined brand is core to any successful business and marketing strategy. Discover how to responsibly talk about your do-good retail brand while staying true to your mission. This session is designed to help you workshop branding your fair trade business through a justice-driven lens using best practices, so you can effectively convey your brand story, nurture more authentic relationships, and build community.
Ana Cris Medina
Shelley Tennyson
Hala Scandar
Zellipah Githui
Ana Cris Medina – Production Manager, MZ Made; Hala Scandar – Founder and CEO, Dandarah; Shelley Tennyson – Founder and CEO, MZ Made; and Zellipah Githui – President, Gitzell Fair Trade
Success! Collaboration with Producers in a Fair Trade World
Shelley Tennyson moderates a panel of 3 FTF members who have worked directly with producers/artisans from Mexico, Egypt, Kenya, and other countries in Africa for years. Ana Cris Medina, Hala Scandar, and Zellipah Githui will tell their stories about how they learned to work with producers more effectively over time, including decision making inclusiveness, order accuracy and efficiency, and reduction of uncertainty. They will also discuss collaboration in the product design process. There will be time at the end for questions and discussion with workshop participants.
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 | 1:00 to 2:15 pm
Elizabeth Price
Mary Lind Muhmad
Leisa Johnson
Michelle Bourdon
Elizabeth Price – Executive Director, Museum Store Association (MSA); Leisa Johnson – Merchandise Specialist, Catalina Museum For Art & History; Mary Lind Mahmud – Director of Sales, Fair Anita; Michelle Bourdon – Store & Visitor Services Manager at USC Museums
Practical Tips on How to Work with Museum and other Non-Profit Cultural Institution Stores
Learn directly from the institution buyer! This panel will share practical as well as un-specifiable tips on identifying and fostering relationships with museum stores. The Executive Director of the Museum Store Association (MSA), Elizabeth Price, will ask panelists Michelle Bourdon, Store & Visitor Services Manager at USC Museums, Leisa Johnson the Merchandise Specialist at Catalina Museum and one of our own Fair Trade Federation Members, Mary Lind Mahmud, questions aimed directly at best practices when selling your fair trade products to museums. Members from the MSA support fair trade, eco-friendly and DEAI practices, which makes this relationship one worth exploring.
Janine Mulone
Janine Mulone – Founder, Feel Good Retail and host of the Retail For The Rest Of Us podcast
Don’t Fear The Data: Using Key Metrics To Grow Your Shop
In this session, we will dive into the 3 “magic” numbers that can help you pinpoint opportunity, hone your marketing approach and become super strategic when growing your retail sales.
Colvin English
Colvin English – Co-Founder, ByHand Consulting
Importing 101
In this session we will discuss both the reasons to import and the basic logistics of importing products into the US market.
Thursday, March 30, 2023 | 10:30 to 11:45 am
Manpreet Kalra
Manpreet Kalra – Social Impact + Equity Advisor, Art of Citizenry and Chief of Impact + Communication, MINNA
Ethical Storytelling: Crafting Your Brand Story
Having a clearly defined brand is core to any successful business and marketing strategy. Discover how to responsibly talk about your do-good retail brand while staying true to your mission. This session is designed to help you workshop branding your fair trade business through a justice-driven lens using best practices, so you can effectively convey your brand story, nurture more authentic relationships, and build community.
Janine Mulone
Janine Mulone – Founder, Feel Good Retail and host of the Retail For The Rest Of Us podcast
Don’t Fear The Data: Using Key Metrics To Grow Your Shop
In this session, we will dive into the 3 “magic” numbers that can help you pinpoint opportunity, hone your marketing approach and become super strategic when growing your retail sales.
Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Arewa
Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Arewa – Murray H. Shusterman Professor of Transactional and Business Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law
Trade, Fairness, and Decolonization
This breakout session will take a deeper dive into the continuing impact of colonialism in trading and other contexts. It will also consider what patterns of exclusion and marginalization in colonial contexts in Africa tell us about the importance of inclusion in structuring relationships and institutions today. Q&A will take place at the end of the session, followed by a book signing immediately afterwards. Disrupting Africa.
Thursday, March 30, 2023 | 1:00 to 2:15 pm
Kamarah Short
Kamarah Short – Marketing Coordinator, Fair Anita
Growing the Fair Trade Market: The Importance of Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion
In this session, we will go over the importance of diversity and inclusion in marketing and some ways to display that within your business.
Elisha Chan
Teresa Baxter
Elisha Chan – Executive Director, Fair Trade LA; Teresa Baxter – Co-Founder and Operations Coordinator, Fair Trade Long Beach
Fair Trade Town Campaigns
Join the movement!
Questions? Email us at conference@fairtradefederation.org.
See here for our refund policy.