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We buy all of our furniture directly from the
manufacturers in Northern India. We make regular
visits to the production units both to monitor
business activities and work with our suppliers in
developing new ranges and continuously improving
quality. By developing a long term relationship with
our suppliers, we can work together to provide:
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Fair wages for all employees
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Equal opportunities for both men and women
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Good working conditions
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Protection against the employment or
exploitation of minors
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Sustainable sourcing of all wood products
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Increased environmental awareness and
responsibility
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Ongoing orders with the timely payment for
all goods providing stability and security
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The mutual opportunity to grow and
develop our businesses
Our key furniture supplier is a philanthropic family, actively involved in
charity projects within Jodhpur, specifically being the sole benefactor of
Vidhyashram International School within the city, providing education for
children from the age of 4 to 16. Construction of a second school is nearly
complete which allows for better facilities for the growing number of students.
Once the move has been fully completed, the original school premises will be
dedicated to pre-school and infant education.
Independently, we are developing our connection with SKSN – a co-ed residential
school providing education and care for physically challenged children which is
based on the outskirts of Jodhpur. Our ‘You buy – We donate’ promotion during
Fair Trade Fortnight 2008 will raise funds to help towards the maintenance
costs of the school’s dairy, which provides the students with milk &
yoghurt, essential for improving their health and providing a balanced diet.
During the similar promotion in 2007, we raised over £1,100 for the purchase of
sporting equipment at Vidhyashram School and we hope that we can beat this
target in 2008.
Further to our visit to the school in January 2008, we are working with the
staff of SKSN to establish a long-term trade connection, providing vocational
carpentry training at our supplier’s factory where the furniture is produced
and establishing a production unit within the school for soft furnishing
products. Both of these projects will offer students with essential vocational
training and enable them to develop financial self-sufficiency for their
future. It will take a number of months to prepare the final textile products
(cushions, curtains, tableware, etc) for sale here in the UK, but we will
clearly mark on our website when these products are available.
We are also working to affiliate the two schools through the IMAGE programme
(Indian Mixed Ability Group Events) which is already run by SKSN. This is a
programme which brings together both disabled and able-bodied children and
encourages them to compete with each other through a variety of different
sports. Working to their common goal, the children interact socially which
helps to develop tolerance and boosts the confidence & understanding of all
individuals involved.
Visit the SKSN School website for more information on their great work –
www.sksn.org.
With regards to our textile products, we work
closely with a UK-based importer for the supply
of the majority of our soft furnishing lines.
This company has been adhering to a strict Fair
Trade policy since they began trading over ten
years ago and works directly with many primary
producers having built up long-lasting business
relationships over this period. This importer is
also accredited by the British Association of
Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS) and is listed in the
BAFTS Importers Directory.
With regards to the UK side of our operation, we
concentrate on :
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Minimising our waste and recycling as much
as is reasonably possible, including all
cardboard and supporting our local Community
Resource Centre.
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Using recycled packaging materials wherever
possible.
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Providing a comfortable and enjoyable
working environment for our colleagues.
To summarise, we’re running an expanding
business and while we’re not perfect, we are
committed to continuously improving our
environmental and ethical practices.We feel strongly that the sale of our products through Myakka should
directly benefit the producers and the surrounding communities and this is a
goal which we are fully dedicated to. Should you
wish to discuss our Fair Trade policy further –
do just give us a call on 0870 350 3122 and ask
to speak to Simon.
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