Crown Lane Studio

How did you make the decision to buy Fairtrade?

As a family run business which is part of a local business partnership, we have set up the steering group for our borough to become a Fairtrade Borough. The business has a charity working with children in Zimbabwe and has a strong ethical policy across all areas of how our business is run.

What were the main factors for switching to Fairtrade products?

Staff demand, Organisation's Social Responsibility Policy

What were the biggest challenges in introducing Fairtrade?

As tea and coffee are provided free of charge to anyone visiting the studio we have had very little challenge to this provision!

Have you faced any challenges in procuring Fairtrade goods? If so, how have you tackled them?

We source our goods from our adjacent FairTrade Coffee House, Tariro, so can get pretty much anything we need.

How has the transition to Fairtrade been communicated internally and/or externally?

We have posters up within the building explaining our policies, especially that of Fairtrade.

Would you consider there to have been any benefits since using Fairtrade products?

Many people comment upon how genuine our business is at all levels and that we don't make sacrifices where others would to save money.

What was the reaction to the switch from your employees and external stakeholders?

We are always pushing to become more ecologically and ethically minded, which is something our customers have come to expect.

What advice do you have for a workplace wishing to switch to Fairtrade?

Use the material on this website to put forward a case (I used this method in my previous workplace) and produce the promotional adverts and other material around your buildings so subliminally everyone knows and understands why there has been the necessary switch.

Photo of colleagues enjoying Fairtrade products at work.