“Behold the turtle! He makes progress only when his neck is out.”
It’s not your typical mission statement for a high street shop, but then again, Rainbow Turtle isn’t your typical retailer. Perched in Paisley with that very quote emblazoned on their window, this colourful fair trade shop is all about sticking their neck out.
Your Paisley shop looks great! Why is having a physical space important?
Rainbow Turtle was set up to promote and educate about fair trade. We felt we could not do this effectively without a physical presence and wanted a place to sell, but also showcase, fair trade products from all over the world. The shop acts as a focus for our activities but also allows us to discuss fair trade with any of the customers who wander in.
It’s wonderful to meet members of the public and explain to them about the products, but also being able to explain Fair Trade and what they can do to help and make a difference. We also got a local coffee roaster to start buying Fairtrade coffee beans. We stock Eco refills, which are a pain for the staff, but loved by our customers!
What does working with your artisan partners actually look like day-to-day?
Most of our dealings at Rainbow Turtle are mainly one step removed from the producers, so we don’t often have direct contact with them. However when they do visit Scotland we are proud to host them in the shop. We ran a recent event with producers from ASIGE from Ghana. It was very well attended and showcased their beautiful baskets.
What does Fair Trade mean to you at Rainbow Turtle, beyond the official definitions?
Our shop has a paid part-time manager and otherwise is run by volunteers of all ages. Working in the shop allows us to share an aim to improve the world and do something positive in collaboration with people from the Global South. It shows how we can personally subvert the global capitalist system.
Pick a product you love and tell us its story!
The Sari Fold-out Bag. These beautiful little bags are made out of recycled saris from Nepal. They are very pretty, fit in your pocket and are useful as shopping bags, saving on plastic, great for the environment. All profits go back to the Nepalese women who make them.
What’s coming up for Rainbow Turtles?
We are hoping to reinvigorate the Scottish Government to give Fair Trade a higher profile. Paisley is twinned with Furth in Germany, where the German central government strongly supports a thriving Fair Trade movement. We will be attending an event with Columbian Fairtrade Fruit Growers in the Scottish parliament.
Between hosting Ghanaian basket weavers, converting local coffee roasters, and preparing for that Scottish Parliament event, Rainbow Turtle proves that one small shop can create some pretty big ripples. Find them in Paisley, or here – where progress happens, one brave step at a time.
Find out more about being a BAFTS member here.
Is this for BAFTS members info only?