Adam Jordan Weck is currently pursuing a BSBA in International Business with a double major in German from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He has a passion for travel, other cultures, and coffee. Adam is part of the GLOBE Program, allowing him to study business practices in Copenhagen, Denmark and Hong Kong, China.
As the world progresses, we become more connected in many fashions. Fair Trade stores are leading the way with the cause of responsible business practices and are creating tribes that are not onl attractive, but profitable. These businesses operate in a growing number of sectors and industries and range from local boutiques to MNC’s.
Companies like Padgett Station in Chapel Hill advertise very little, but ask anyone what they know about the corner coffee shop and the answer: Fair Trade Organic. Dunkin Donuts’ espresso-based drinks are certified Fair Trade and McDonald’s jumped on the bandwagon in 2005 for its coffee drinks.
Driving a Prius might make a consumer look Earth conscience, but buying Fair Trade Organic shows a love for the Earth and their fellow man. Businesses are creating tribes of dedicated consumers. Having worked in a boutique coffee store, a few times a week I would be queried if the house brew were Fair Trade, or at the very least organic. Answering in the negative produces a shocked look and at least a few minutes of expounding on the courtesy of Fair Trade.
Providing farmers with fair pay and healthy working environments may cost more, but the benefits are an endless stream of cause-driven consumers who feel it their duty to pay an extra 30 cents for a cup of joe that helps more than their caffeine fix. Fair Trade is driving a social cause at a rapid pace. The next time you browse for a bistro, look to see the emergence of the certified Fair Trade stickers on windows and products.
