“Imagine if it became a ‘thing’ that everyone, every year bought a Bethlehem Bauble – we could support thousands of families and make a huge difference to all those communities.”
This is the vision for Bethlehem Baubles, a BAFTS member and Fair Trade company selling beautiful handblown glass Christmas baubles made in Palestine.
In the lead up to Christmas, and with so much instability and horror still playing out in the region, buying a Bethlehem Bauble could make a real difference to artisan communities living in and around Bethlehem.
It felt like an important moment to speak to Ros, founder of Bethlehem Baubles, at this critical time for Fair Trade suppliers.
How did Bethlehem Baubles come about?
I lived in Jerusalem in 2011 for 3 years and saw firsthand some of the complexities of living in the region for many people, beyond the politics, and wanted to provide practical help. It seemed like Christmas was an obvious path to take as Bethlehem is where the story of Christmas came from. And so, Christmas decorations became the focus and Bethlehem Baubles was born.
I Joined BAFTS to endorse our credibility as a company and to expand networking opportunities within UK Fair Trade organisations.
A key part of fair trade is providing stable incomes for artisans, which, given the area you are trading with, is particularly crucial at the moment. How do you do this?
We work with so many artisans, each with their own story. Many of them have extended families in Gaza. BFTA (Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans) manage them individually on our behalf. One of the most important aspects of Bethlehem Baubles is that we have made them collectible by changing the designs every year and adding a dated ribbon. This means they have confidence in getting annual work from us, something that cannot always be guaranteed by charities and NGOs
Let’s talk Christmas…a key time for our BAFTS members. How do you help customers understand that their festive purchases can make a real difference to artisan families around the world?
Whilst Bethlehem Baubles focuses on Christmas decorations and works a lot with Church communities, it’s important to stress that it is not religiously or spiritually motivated. Our aim is simply to keep the artisans working so they can earn a living and support their families.
Imagine if it became a ‘thing’ that everyone every year bought a Bethlehem Bauble – we can support thousands of families and made a huge difference to all those communities by starting a training school and giving the young and the old hope for a better future. I believe that vision is achievable. In the lead up to Christmas we regularly email our customers with news and information about the story behind this project – we make it interesting and personal to make them feel connected.
We are trying to drive people away from mass produced Asian bling and get them focused on more elegant, sustainable, relevant and beautiful baubles and peace lights that are meaningful.
Do you have a favourite product or one that has special significance to you?
We have a simple story and product range. Baubles and peace lights – I love them all but more importantly our customers love them too. This year our glass bells with a white snowflake are the most popular – people love the sound they make.
What are your hopes for the future of Bethlehem Baubles and the wider fair trade movement in the UK?
To sell as many baubles as possible to keep everyone working, fund a training school in Bethlehem and give them hope. This year we have launched in the USA – it is a hard nut to crack but they are likely to become popular out there.
We hope so too!
A final note from Ros: this year we have launched a new wholesale offer of 4 baubles in a box. My aim is to get better margins for the trade and this makes that possible. Wholesale baubles are not available online – only to trade. Further information, send me a message! ros@bethlehembaubles.com
Is this for BAFTS members info only?