Shop Local Winners

We had some exciting news last week! Fairplay was chosen as one of the winners of the 2022 2degrees Shop Local Awards - a campaign that gives businesses the chance to win a helping hand with marketing and advertising packages. I still can't quite believe it!

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world ~ Anne Frank

Fairplay is run entirely by me (Mandy) and my husband Andy. We started brainstorming a way to generate some additional income so I could stay home and have flexible hours while our kids were young (at that time, it was 2 under 2!). We also wanted to start a business that would make a meaningful contribution to our wider global community. I think there is probably never a 'right' time to jump into these sorts of things, though there has certainly been a lot of "what the heck am I doing" moments along the way. 

Since we began in 2019 we have supported over 40 artisan partners from 12 countries around the world with fair wages and safe employment. We started with just 30 products from 4 artisans (with stock stored in our garage - now we have moved into a warehouse space just down the road!). Thousands of our fair trade products have been purchased and loved in homes and educational centres around the country.

As a small start up that launched right before Covid struck, we have done everything on a shoestring. We don't have any employees and are as hands on in all areas as we can be - from building the website to product sourcing, customer service, dispatching and social media. With a lot of hard work (and late nights!) we have built Fairplay into what you see today.

This win feels like an amazing validation of what we have worked so hard on. All those hours working after the kids were in bed has been worth it. We are so grateful to 2degrees for selecting us and can't wait to see how we can grow with this incredible opportunity we have been given.

I also want to thank YOU - our amazing supporters and customers. Without you, we wouldn't be where we are. Up to this point, we have had no budget for advertising - our growth is completely due to social media and word of mouth. These two things only work because of each person who has generously shared their purchases with others over instagram and facebook, taken the time to review us and to referred others to our online store. From the bottom of my heart, thank you 🙏

Mahatma Gandhi once said, 'In a gentle way, you can shake the world'. I don't think any of us should ever underestimate the little things we can do that make a big difference. One fair trade purchase makes more of an impact that you might think. 

This is only the beginning!

Mandy x