History
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The shop was started in 1982 by George Shand, a Traidcraft representative who believed passionately in justice in trade with Third World countries. George approached St John’s Church, an Episcopal Church in the heart of Edinburgh City centre who agreed to let him run a fair trade stall on the premises. On 2nd Nov 1982 the Traidcraft stall began trading in the small “quiet room” in the undercroft beside the Cornerstone Coffeehouse. Profits went to the Cornerstone and the Peace and Justice Centre which operated nearby.
After that successful first Christmas the Church agreed to let George continue to operate his stall and on 17 Jan 1983 the “One World International Shop” started. It was technically owned by one person: George Shand.
On 18th October 1985 the shop became a limited company with charitable status called One World Shop Ltd. It was run by a Management Committee drawn from the many individuals who supported the shop. It was at this time that the appeal for new premises began. On 31 Dec 1985 the final details were sorted out for the sale of the shop from George, the sole trader to the company. A new larger site for the shop was agreed on by the church in the derelict arches at the end of the terrace. A generous loan to finance the new shop development enabled contracts to go out to transform the building into the present shop.
On 27 Jan 1986 the One World Café opened, taking over from the Cornerstone Coffeehouse. OWS Ltd was now involved in running both shop and café. In Feb 1986 workmen began on the new shop development under the arches. The first day of trading in the new shop was on 17th November 1986. Turnover increased by 50%.
On 5 Feb 1988 the One World Café registered as a workers co-operative and became a separate business.
In 1989 two members of staff, Rachel Farey and Chris Horton travelled to India and Bangladesh to visit Sasha in Calcutta and Aarong in Dhaka, with a view to researching traditional Bengali embroidery for an exhibition.
1990: The Exhibition of Nakshi Kantha was put on in a marquee in the Dormitory garden at St John's Church during the Edinburgh Festival and also at Theatre Workshop in Stockbridge and in the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh during the Spring Fling. It also travelled to Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen.
1992: A small downturn in trading occurred and shop made a deficit of £1800. The Fairtrade Foundation in London was established.
1993. Shop had an increase in trading but the profit margin suffered due to a large increase in freight costs for imports.
1994: The shop signed a new 5 year lease with St John's Church, Edinburgh. The first Fair Trade certified product hit the shelves, Green & Black's Maya Gold Chocolate from Belize.
Cathy Ratcliffe was appointed new Executive Manager of the shop.
1995: Shop suffered a small deficit of £1450.
1997: Surplus for the year of £1300. Cathy left the shop and Rachel Farey was appointed Business Manager in September. FLO (Fairtrade Labelling Organisation) was established in Europe.
1998: Shop surplus increased to £9,600
1999: Shop signed a lease for a further 5 years at St John's.
2000: The Board of trustees made the decision to grow the company, make it more profitable and to expand to a 2nd shop based in Glasgow. The Co-operative made a key decision to expand their fair trade range and change all their bananas to fair trade.
2001: Glasgow shop was found at 100, Byres Road, owned by the Council but lease was assigned from Peckhams. The long administrative delay with the Council in managing the assignation of the lease led to a large quantity of stock bought in advance having to be stored at St Johns. The first Fairtrade Town was set up in Garstang, Lancashire.
On 12 Sep 2002, the One World Shop in Glasgow opened for trading.
2003: One World Shop website launched: www.oneworldshop.co.uk
2004: Wholesale Catalogue launched, focusing on a stylish range of fair trade wallets and purses from India.
On March 12th 2004, Edinburgh became a Fair Trade City. One World Shop took a leading role on the steering group to enable this to happen. Celebrations took place in the Edinburgh Filmhouse with fairtrade cocoa farmer Justino Peck and Cllr Lesley Hinds, Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
March 2006: Glasgow became a Fair Trade City. One World Shop took a leading part on the steering group to enable this to happen. Celebrations in Glasgow Concert Halls involved two women fairtrade cocoa farmers from Ghana, Comfort Kwaasibea and Comfort Kumeah and Lord Provost, Liz Cameron.
In May 2006 we updated our Wholesale Catalogue, adding interesting new products including bead jewellery and silk and cotton scarves.One World Shop Office is moved to St George's West Church basement.
2008: One World Shop receives the Edinburgh Fairtrade City Long Standing Achievement Award from Edinburgh's Lord Provost, George Grubb
2009: In May we sadly closed our Glasgow shop on Byres Road due to an unsustainable increase in rent. We are now searching for a new location in Glasgow and hope to open by the end of 2009. We also moved our office from St George's West Church on Shandwick Place in Edinburgh back to St John's Church on Princes Street in Edinburgh.
November 2009: One World Shop in Glasgow reopens! Now at a new location round the corner on Great Western Road. Bree Van der Hayden is managing the shop.
