More people are getting into the spirit of helping others this Christmas by buying fair trade gifts, according to international aid agency Oxfam Australia.
From December 1-12, Oxfam sold 18,500 more fair trade products (up 17.4%) and served 8.6% more customers through its 23 shops around Australia compared to the same period last year.
This pattern is echoed through the rest of the year, with Australians buying 8.8% more fair trade products through Oxfam’s Shops overall in 2010 so far, compared to the same point in 2009.
“It is heartening that more people are thinking about helping others by buying fair trade this Christmas, especially in this tough retail climate,” said Oxfam’s Director of Trading, Nadine Silverberg.
“In addition, people are buying more products each time they shop with us compared to a year ago, which greatly assists the producers we work with in developing countries around the world.
“In particular, we’ve seen a huge jump in sales of our Christmas decorations this year, as well as big increases in sales of our fair trade kitchenware and hand-crafted gifts,” Ms Silverberg said.
Top-selling products in Oxfam’s shops last week included:
•A charming mouse-shaped cheese knife, which is hand-forged in Northern India
•A unique wooden “big nose” spectacle stand – never lose your glasses again!
•Coasters made out of recycled magazine paper in Vietnam, and
•A number of unique, hand-made Christmas decorations from around the world
Oxfam’s shops sell fair trade products from around the world, which assist communities in developing countries through improved market access and stable and regular income. Oxfam works with more than 60 fair trade producer groups in around 30 countries, helping to improve the livelihoods of thousands of producers and their communities.
Our shops are run on a not-for‐profit basis to assist producers in developing countries and raise awareness of fair trade. Any profits support the work of Oxfam Australia in combating poverty and injustice worldwide. More information about Oxfam’s shops and fair trade products is available at www.oxfamshop.org.au
For more information, or to arrange an interview with Nadine Silverberg,
please contact Raina Hunter on 0402 145 820.
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