Actuary Magazine article
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Actuaries at Play
FightingPoverty ThroughFair Trade
tasks in crowded factories. They had skills and talent, but the only job they could find was working in factories that supply cheap clothing and accessories to the world. The fashion industry has changed dramatically over the last 10 years; and we stopped questioning why a dress costs as little as $2. The recent factory collapse in Bangladesh brought the issue to the spotlight, but only for a short while. In fact, the Fair Trade movement began in the 1940s, but it has taken many years for the idea to really sink in. There are many Fair Trade shops in the US and Europe, but in Australia the market is still small. I believe that Fair Trade is a sustainable solution to poverty, and I want to be part of the solution. I want to show Australian people that Fair Trade products are not necessarily more expensive, that they are of higher quality, and that they are often handmade with care and hope. By buying fair trade, you are saying ‘yes’ to fair wages and conditions and sustainability, and you are saying ‘no’ to the exploitation of the poor and the environment. something from nothing, and a vision to build Australia’s favourite online Fair Trader.
WHY NOT-FOR-PROFIT?
I have a full time job that pays well (thanks to the profession I chose) and no gambling or other expensive habits; money is definitely not the motivation for spending literally all my free time on starting and running a business. The only motivation is the belief in the positive differences I’m making, in the lives of many people living in poverty. I often think of the humble and extremely hard working people I’ve met on the trips, and their sorrow in not being able to offer their children an education. It breaks my heart.
I
HOW HARD IS IT TO RUN A NOT-FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS?
Very…especially when I also have a challenging full-time job. I had no webbuilding or business experience when I jumped into the deep end. In three weeks I built a website and got featured in two local papers. Sales started to come in, and then went quiet for a few months, during which time I focused on improving the website. I donated the full revenue of the first two months to UXO Lao, an organisation I visited during my trip, which trains people in Laos to clear farm lands affected by undetonated bombs dropped by the Americans during the Vietnam War. I felt so strongly towards these people that I had to do something. Even though the business is still trading at a loss and I’m funding it through a mortgage, I’ve been making regular
wondered for many years where my passion lies (apart from being an actuary). A trip to Southeast Asia in late 2012 made it absolutely clear in my mind that my passion lies in helping the poor in the ‘right way’. I started reading and listening to these people’s stories. I had a burning desire to do something that would actually make a real difference. At the end of my trip, I made a decision to start a Fair Trade e-commerce store in Australia, called Global Handmade.
WHY NOT JUST SUPPORT OXFAM?
I have been a huge fan of Oxfam for many years, and I still love buying things from them. However I felt that there was a growing demand for fair trade products, and I saw so many beautiful things on my trip that I wanted to introduce to the Australian people. I felt that I could make a bigger difference by helping to expand the market for fair trade products. At the same time, I had a burning desire to start
WHY FAIR TRADE?
I have read widely in search for a solution to end poverty and have met people who had dreams of becoming artists but were trapped in working 14 hours a day doing repetitive
30 Actuaries October 2013
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Qing (Qinnie) Wang studied at Macquarie University and has worked at the Australian Government Actuary for the past five years. Apart from Global Handmade, Qinnie is also passionate about microfinance and she is helping the Institute to build a microfinance website. Qinnie has travelled to Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Tibet and Nepal.
Qing Wang [email protected]
donations to charities in Australia and overseas. Recently I’ve been in talks with the Intrepid Foundation about a long-term sponsorship to support its many programs. Starting a retail business at the current economic climate is challenging enough, let alone running it as a not-for-profit. However, I’m confident that Global Handmade will start to generate profits soon, and that I would be able to use the profits to help more people in need.
impressed with the range and quality of some Fair Traders’ products that I placed large orders on the spot. It takes time to complete the orders as they are made by hand. In terms of cost, transport adds a considerable load to the product cost, and it is often more expensive coming out of smaller and poorer countries that desperately need help. This remains an ongoing challenge.
Peppermint, Dumbo Feather, Frankie, and Renegade Collective. I love being inspired.
DOES YOUR WORK KNOW ABOUT GLOBAL HANDMADE?
Yes. My manager and colleagues have known from the beginning, and they have been really supportive. In fact, while I was travelling for two months recently, one of my colleagues minded the business for me. It was really nice of them.
DO YOU TRAVEL OFTEN?
I try to do one big overseas trip a year, and I love visiting less developed parts of the world. I love engaging with the local people, and learning different customs. I love that travelling makes me pause and live in the moment. The trip to Southeast Asia helped me to find my passion. I could never have foreseen that. The most recent trip to Tibet and Nepal not only overthrew my previous political stance on China vs. Tibet, but also presented to me the issue of mass produced souvenirs. Just like the fashion industry, the souvenirs industry in developing countries also exploits cheap labour and the environment. So I will do my bit in pushing for more people to buy fair trade souvenirs. I love that travel always opens up my mind and challenges any prejudices I had.
WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
I have spent the past six months sourcing products and setting up the website. The next challenge is marketing with a small budget. Instead of pouring money into advertising (which I can’t afford); I write to journalists and editors of newspapers and magazines, and building a social media campaign. I have scored two articles in the local papers at the beginning of the year, and the effect has been long lasting. The majority of my sales still come from Canberra, but I really need to expand into other territories. Again, having no marketing experience is a disadvantage; but I try to see it as an advantage because I’m not bound by any assumptions or what’s ‘not possible’. I have decided to incorporate Global Handmade and rebrand it ‘Oz Fair Trade Pty. Ltd.’ It shows my full commitment to Fair Trade and that I’m in it for the long haul. I have also applied to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and the Australian Tax Office for their endorsements as a not-for-profit charity. Soon I will also apply to the Fair Trader of Australia for their endorsement. The experience of the past nine months has given me enough confidence to jump in the deep end. I want to do it right. The new website will be ozfairtrade.org. Please help by spreading the word!
WHERE DO YOU SOURCE YOUR PRODUCTS?
Although the idea of Global Handmade was born during my trip to Southeast Asia, I did not have much opportunity of visiting fair trade shops there. Luckily internet has really taken off in many developing countries, so that I could find contact details of Fair Trade organisations and their member suppliers at my fingertips. For the past nine months, I have built very strong relationships with a number of suppliers, including one in Bolivia and one in Central Asia. I was approached by both of them, which reaffirms my belief that there is so much supply out there and that my efforts are really making a difference. Sometimes I’m approached by suppliers who are desperate but could not offer attractive products. In these cases I do my best in helping them re-design their products to suit the Australian market. I have recently returned from a camping trip to Tibet and Nepal. I was really
WHAT DOES GLOBAL HANDMADE SELL?
The current stock ranges include beautiful hand woven scarves made with silk, wool, cotton or alpaca; organic cotton toys; many cushions (with eco-friendly inserts made in Australia); fashion jewellery and bags; and recycled bombshell/landmine products. Clothing and food are coming soon. There are things suitable for all ages and genders. The shopping cart makes it easy to shop by material, country and product group. There are also useful gift ideas.
WHO INSPIRES YOU?
I am inspired by many fair trade businesses like Oxfam, Ten Thousand Villages, Trade Aid etc. I’m also inspired by Sevenly and Thankyou Water. I think I can learn a lot from the success of these businesses. In my spare time (if any) I love reading magazines like
October 2013 Actuaries 31
FightingPoverty ThroughFair Trade
tasks in crowded factories. They had skills and talent, but the only job they could find was working in factories that supply cheap clothing and accessories to the world. The fashion industry has changed dramatically over the last 10 years; and we stopped questioning why a dress costs as little as $2. The recent factory collapse in Bangladesh brought the issue to the spotlight, but only for a short while. In fact, the Fair Trade movement began in the 1940s, but it has taken many years for the idea to really sink in. There are many Fair Trade shops in the US and Europe, but in Australia the market is still small. I believe that Fair Trade is a sustainable solution to poverty, and I want to be part of the solution. I want to show Australian people that Fair Trade products are not necessarily more expensive, that they are of higher quality, and that they are often handmade with care and hope. By buying fair trade, you are saying ‘yes’ to fair wages and conditions and sustainability, and you are saying ‘no’ to the exploitation of the poor and the environment. something from nothing, and a vision to build Australia’s favourite online Fair Trader.
WHY NOT-FOR-PROFIT?
I have a full time job that pays well (thanks to the profession I chose) and no gambling or other expensive habits; money is definitely not the motivation for spending literally all my free time on starting and running a business. The only motivation is the belief in the positive differences I’m making, in the lives of many people living in poverty. I often think of the humble and extremely hard working people I’ve met on the trips, and their sorrow in not being able to offer their children an education. It breaks my heart.
I
HOW HARD IS IT TO RUN A NOT-FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS?
Very…especially when I also have a challenging full-time job. I had no webbuilding or business experience when I jumped into the deep end. In three weeks I built a website and got featured in two local papers. Sales started to come in, and then went quiet for a few months, during which time I focused on improving the website. I donated the full revenue of the first two months to UXO Lao, an organisation I visited during my trip, which trains people in Laos to clear farm lands affected by undetonated bombs dropped by the Americans during the Vietnam War. I felt so strongly towards these people that I had to do something. Even though the business is still trading at a loss and I’m funding it through a mortgage, I’ve been making regular
wondered for many years where my passion lies (apart from being an actuary). A trip to Southeast Asia in late 2012 made it absolutely clear in my mind that my passion lies in helping the poor in the ‘right way’. I started reading and listening to these people’s stories. I had a burning desire to do something that would actually make a real difference. At the end of my trip, I made a decision to start a Fair Trade e-commerce store in Australia, called Global Handmade.
WHY NOT JUST SUPPORT OXFAM?
I have been a huge fan of Oxfam for many years, and I still love buying things from them. However I felt that there was a growing demand for fair trade products, and I saw so many beautiful things on my trip that I wanted to introduce to the Australian people. I felt that I could make a bigger difference by helping to expand the market for fair trade products. At the same time, I had a burning desire to start
WHY FAIR TRADE?
I have read widely in search for a solution to end poverty and have met people who had dreams of becoming artists but were trapped in working 14 hours a day doing repetitive
30 Actuaries October 2013
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Qing (Qinnie) Wang studied at Macquarie University and has worked at the Australian Government Actuary for the past five years. Apart from Global Handmade, Qinnie is also passionate about microfinance and she is helping the Institute to build a microfinance website. Qinnie has travelled to Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Tibet and Nepal.
Qing Wang [email protected]
donations to charities in Australia and overseas. Recently I’ve been in talks with the Intrepid Foundation about a long-term sponsorship to support its many programs. Starting a retail business at the current economic climate is challenging enough, let alone running it as a not-for-profit. However, I’m confident that Global Handmade will start to generate profits soon, and that I would be able to use the profits to help more people in need.
impressed with the range and quality of some Fair Traders’ products that I placed large orders on the spot. It takes time to complete the orders as they are made by hand. In terms of cost, transport adds a considerable load to the product cost, and it is often more expensive coming out of smaller and poorer countries that desperately need help. This remains an ongoing challenge.
Peppermint, Dumbo Feather, Frankie, and Renegade Collective. I love being inspired.
DOES YOUR WORK KNOW ABOUT GLOBAL HANDMADE?
Yes. My manager and colleagues have known from the beginning, and they have been really supportive. In fact, while I was travelling for two months recently, one of my colleagues minded the business for me. It was really nice of them.
DO YOU TRAVEL OFTEN?
I try to do one big overseas trip a year, and I love visiting less developed parts of the world. I love engaging with the local people, and learning different customs. I love that travelling makes me pause and live in the moment. The trip to Southeast Asia helped me to find my passion. I could never have foreseen that. The most recent trip to Tibet and Nepal not only overthrew my previous political stance on China vs. Tibet, but also presented to me the issue of mass produced souvenirs. Just like the fashion industry, the souvenirs industry in developing countries also exploits cheap labour and the environment. So I will do my bit in pushing for more people to buy fair trade souvenirs. I love that travel always opens up my mind and challenges any prejudices I had.
WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
I have spent the past six months sourcing products and setting up the website. The next challenge is marketing with a small budget. Instead of pouring money into advertising (which I can’t afford); I write to journalists and editors of newspapers and magazines, and building a social media campaign. I have scored two articles in the local papers at the beginning of the year, and the effect has been long lasting. The majority of my sales still come from Canberra, but I really need to expand into other territories. Again, having no marketing experience is a disadvantage; but I try to see it as an advantage because I’m not bound by any assumptions or what’s ‘not possible’. I have decided to incorporate Global Handmade and rebrand it ‘Oz Fair Trade Pty. Ltd.’ It shows my full commitment to Fair Trade and that I’m in it for the long haul. I have also applied to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and the Australian Tax Office for their endorsements as a not-for-profit charity. Soon I will also apply to the Fair Trader of Australia for their endorsement. The experience of the past nine months has given me enough confidence to jump in the deep end. I want to do it right. The new website will be ozfairtrade.org. Please help by spreading the word!
WHERE DO YOU SOURCE YOUR PRODUCTS?
Although the idea of Global Handmade was born during my trip to Southeast Asia, I did not have much opportunity of visiting fair trade shops there. Luckily internet has really taken off in many developing countries, so that I could find contact details of Fair Trade organisations and their member suppliers at my fingertips. For the past nine months, I have built very strong relationships with a number of suppliers, including one in Bolivia and one in Central Asia. I was approached by both of them, which reaffirms my belief that there is so much supply out there and that my efforts are really making a difference. Sometimes I’m approached by suppliers who are desperate but could not offer attractive products. In these cases I do my best in helping them re-design their products to suit the Australian market. I have recently returned from a camping trip to Tibet and Nepal. I was really
WHAT DOES GLOBAL HANDMADE SELL?
The current stock ranges include beautiful hand woven scarves made with silk, wool, cotton or alpaca; organic cotton toys; many cushions (with eco-friendly inserts made in Australia); fashion jewellery and bags; and recycled bombshell/landmine products. Clothing and food are coming soon. There are things suitable for all ages and genders. The shopping cart makes it easy to shop by material, country and product group. There are also useful gift ideas.
WHO INSPIRES YOU?
I am inspired by many fair trade businesses like Oxfam, Ten Thousand Villages, Trade Aid etc. I’m also inspired by Sevenly and Thankyou Water. I think I can learn a lot from the success of these businesses. In my spare time (if any) I love reading magazines like
October 2013 Actuaries 31
