‘Hair’, hairdressing salon, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex swapped to Fairtrade tea and coffee as part of the town’s Fairtrade campaign. We spoke to its owner, Terry Abbott.

What have you swapped?

We switched all of our coffee to Fairtrade over three years ago. Over 200 clients have their hair cut by us each week and everybody is offered a complimentary cup of Fairtrade coffee. In September 2008 we became the first salon to join the ‘Fair Cut Campaign,’ launched to encourage more hairdressers and beauticians in the Borough of Southend to go Fairtrade.

What inspired you to get swapping?

I didn’t buy anything from South Africa during apartheid because it wasn’t fair. Buying Fairtrade is the same thing to me. I like the fact that the profits are properly distributed rather than one big company taking them all.

Why does Fairtrade matter?

If it helps impoverished farmers, then it helps everybody. If it makes a business work where there is not a lot of business, then it is worth doing.

What’s next?

I always buy Fairtrade when I’m out and about. If there were Fairtrade products for hair then I would use them as well.

What is your message to British shoppers?

Just buy Fairtrade!



© Spring 2010 Fair Comment