FAIR TRADE-ETHICAL POLICY

HIPPY BUDDYS MOTTO:  ”BUY FOR A FAIR PRICE- SELL FOR A FAIR PRICE”

COMMENTS ABOUT FAIR TRADE FROM OUR SUPPLIERS:
GRINGO, WORLD PLAYGROUND, THE INDIAN CONNECTION & NAMASTE.

Gringo’s motto is “Aid Through Trade”

By helping these proud people in the developing world to sell their products, we can help their families to get out of the poverty trap, improve their standard of living and quality of life and appreciate all the hard work that goes into each individual item.

We only buy directly from small scale producers, such as family businesses and co-operatives, who we have visited in person and checked they meet our Fair Trade criteria.

This ensures our products are fairly sourced, as by cutting out the middle men, the profit goes directly to the suppliers.

We also try to keep a continuation of supply by buying from the same suppliers, which gives the families and their workers confidence to have some control over their lives, without the threat of unemployment and poverty.

In Bali alone we produce with over 30 small family run businesses, and some of these we have been working with for more than 15 years, and a strong bond of trust and partnership has evolved between us.

Through this bond, and by always visiting all the suppliers personally at least twice a year, we have helped them install better conditions for their workers. These include paying the workers a fair wage, a clean and safe working environment, sufficient lighting, adequate breaks, never using child labour and breaks for religious holidays and festivals.

Our suppliers have come to realise that when their workers are happy everyone benefits.

Gringo always pay their suppliers a minimum 30% deposit when the order is placed, then the balance prior to the goods being shipped.

Many recycled fabrics are also used in our designs and production, plus we always try to source local materials and fabrics and keep environmental pollution to a minimum.

We believe all have a right to better our lives.
“Aid Through Trade”

World Playground

Whilst we do not hold the Fair Trade Stamp, all our activities are Fair Trade. We work with Local businesses in the Country of origin and try and improve their business focus. We pay a Fair Price for all items and ensure all working conditions and salaries for all employees are of an ethical standard.
We firmly believe in and embrace the ethics of Fair Trade and endeavour to reduce our carbon footprint through the use of ethical and sustainable materials wherever possible.

 All of our goods are imported direct from India where we have a policy of buying only from small scale producers who we have visited personally. We visit at least twice a year. We believe in the policy of fair trade always paying a fair price for goods rather than forcing prices artificially low!!

We also feel very passionate about recycling and the use of unnecessary packaging, therefore unlike some wholesalers we do not use fancy packaging to sell a product, where ever possible all of our packing material has either been reused or recycled.  We wholesale to every area in the UK as well as Ireland and Europe and very recently to the USA and Australia. As we also have a retail outlet it enables us to keep up with the needs of customers as well as the latest trends.