Logan store promotes fair trade and sustainability

By Carter Ottley NEWS REPORTER

Global Village Gifts is one of the only fair trade stores in Utah. Their mission is to educate the local people on the principles of fair trade and support artisans around the world.

Global Village Gifts has products from artisans representing many countries in Africa, East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. The store supports 29 vendors and has over 1,500 products.

The store commits to paying fair prices for artisan products, and they help artisans create economic success, provide for families and improve their future. Items sold in the store include socks, jewelry, lip balm, calendars and much more.

There is also an emphasis on women artisans since women are the sole support for a quarter of the world’s families and the primary support for another quarter.

Sally Keller created Global Village Gifts when she opened it as a part of Ten Thousand Villages Utah in 2003.

The store currently has over 30 volunteers and a board of directors to help run the store and teach the community about fair trade.

Because the store is run by volunteers, they can sell affordable products and pay artisans a fair price.

Kalli Hull is a USU junior studying environmental studies and the store manager of Global Village Gifts. She got involved at the store about a year and a half ago.

Hull is thankful for all the people who volunteer at the store.

“People who volunteer here are just a different kind of people, like they all are just so passionate about fair trade and giving back to the community,” Hull said. “We really wouldn’t be able to run this place without them.”

Jamie Butikofer, a USU senior majoring in environmental studies and philosophy, recently started volunteering at Global Village Gifts. Her favorite part is interacting with the customers, meeting people interested in fair trade and learning about the artisans and products. “Just come in. As soon as people come into the store, they’ll really enjoy it,” Butikofer said. “We have a lot of cool stuff, and it’s also just a good environment.”

People interested in volunteering can visit the store or find more information at globalvillagegifts.org.

Ariel Snowden, a USU graduate student studying neuroscience, has been to the store multiple times over the last five years and has previously volunteered at a different fair trade store.

“Learning about different cultures through crafts is pretty awesome,” Snowden said. “I just love fair trade, and I think it’s really amazing to learn about other cultures.”

According to Hull, Global Village Gifts only purchases items that follow the guidelines of the Fair Trade Federation. Those guidelines stipulate products cannot use child labor. Additionally, companies must have safe working conditions and pay men and women equally.

“There’s a lot of situations in the world right now where people are taken advantage of for their work,” Hull said.

Hull appreciates how the store lets people buy handmade and unique items without harming the earth as much as other stores. Global Village Gifts also promotes sustainability by offering a piece of chocolate to customers who decline to use a bag at checkout.

The store hosts events to educate and engage with the community.

“Craftivist” Susan Bollinger leads an “Intro to Sustainable Mending” class where people can learn to fix rips, patchwork and repair by weaving. The store will also be a part of “Women’s Night Out” on March 8.

— carter.ottley@usu.edu