‘Please send an order, we’re hungry:’ popular Nanaimo seasonal fair trade store returns

NANAIMO — A retailer like no other is ready to offer shoppers a unique and powerful shopping experience.

Global Village Nanaimo (GVN), longtime Nanaimo based non-profit fair trade operator, recently opened its seasonal store inside Woodgrove Centre.

Featuring a range of useful household decor items, clothing accessories, jewelry and more from around the world, GVN offers a range of goods that helps hard-working producers in impoverished parts of the world.

GVN executive director Joan Hiemstra said they’ve been busy since their recent opening.

“A lot of people like to know that the money they’re spending is going to a good place, it’s just a feel-good thing. Some of them want to know a little be more about it, some of them are just content that it’s going to a good place.”

Located in the mall between the main centre court and Hudsons Bay, GVN’s temporary space will remain open during regular mall hours through Christmas eve.

GVN is offering a colourful range of products from 14 different countries.

Hiemstra noted some of their producers are in particular need of support.

“We’ve had Bangladesh and India have both sent us pictures of their workshops with 18 inches of mud in the bottom on the floor. It’s definitely been a challenge and we do have orders still en-route to us.”

Hiemstra noted they’ll get a periodic email from fair trade producers insistent on GVN making an order.

“I got a phone call from one of them at four in the morning saying ‘Please send an order, we’re hungry.’”

GVN clients follow key fair trade principles, including fair wages, job advancement assurances, suitable working conditions, as well as environmental provisions and not accepting child labour.

Hiemstra said some shoppers have commented on the fact that they don’t sell tech-based items, stating with pride that they are a battery free store.

“The closest we get to a tech gadget is probably a beautifully quilted phone or tablet case,” Hiemstra said with a smile.

Now in their 27th year operating a physical store in Nanaimo, Hiemstra said they’re pleased to be meeting a lot of new customers.

“We’re getting people from out of town who are stopping in at the mall, especially when they’re visiting family on STAT holidays and they kind of thing. It seems to be a segment that we haven’t seen before.”

Hiemstra said while new inventory is pending from places such as India and Indonesia, she advises to check out their store early before inventory dwindles during the lead-up to the holiday shopping rush.

More information on Global Village Nanaimo, a primarily volunteer driven initiative, is available on its website where online orders can be made.

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