THE LUTHERAN
WORLD RELIEF
FAIR TRADE HANDCRAFT PROJECT

You can make a world of difference by hosting an
LWR Fair Trade Fair in your parish or community
with fairly traded handcrafts from around the
world. Every sale benefits the artisans who create these products — and your parish and community members get high-quality, beautiful crafts.

Lutheran World Relief has partnered with A Greater Gift, the handcraft program of SERRV International, to offer you a fun and easy way to bring beautifully made handcrafts from around the world right to your parish and community.

Host an LWR Fair Trade Fair! Download these helpful resources: Step By Step Guide Parish Agreement Form Parish Account Form Order Forms Promotional Ideas Flyer Promotional Materials Bulletin Insert SPECIAL EASTER SUGGESTIONS View a Pre-Selected Package! $750 Package $1500 Package $2500 Package

There are nearly 300 handcrafts available for consignment. Choose a pre-selected package of $750, $1500, or $2500 or build you own order. Consignment products are marked with an asterisk in the LWR Handcraft Project Catalog and listed on the 2007/2008 Order Form. You can choose to include other handcrafts or food found in the catalog or on the web site, but these items may not be returned. You receive a 10% discount on all items (except Divine Chocolate, which is already offered at a discounted net price), and shipping is free on all orders over $300.

ORGANIZING AN LWR Fair Trade Fair
IS FUN AND EASY!
Set a date, pick a location and find some enthusiastic volunteers. Consider hosting your Fair at a community event to introduce even more people to Fair Trade!
Any Questions? Call 1-888-294-9660.

BEFORE YOUR FAIR TRADE FAIR
STEP 1: Plan your LWR FAIR TRADE FAIR

• Every good sale starts with a team of volunteers—try the parish youth group, global mission or outreach committee, women’s group, men’s group, etc.
  
  
• Select a date and location for your sale. Consider integrating your sale with another parish event, or participating in a community event to provide greater exposure for Fair Trade and for your parish.
  
  
• Decide what kind of order you would like to place. There are several options, or you can place an order that is a combination of options:

  Preselected Packages: Fast and easy! A Preselected Package is a collection of new and popular handcrafts chosen by our staff based on sales analysis. We have packages in the amounts of $750, $1500 and $2500 (retail value). Unsold preselected merchandise may be returned. See the list of sample preselected packages.

  Self-select: Choose from nearly 300 handcrafts that are available for consignment in the catalog and online. These are marked with an asterisk in the catalog description and are listed on the 2007/2008 Order Form. Any of these 300 handcrafts may be returned.

  Nonreturnable Products: You can add additional handcrafts and foods to your order and receive the 10% discount, but these items may not be returned. Write-in your order for these items on the blank spaces on the2007/2008 Order Form. Credit will not be given to your account for returns of these items.
  

STEP 2: Submit your forms and order

• Fill out the enclosed Sales Agreement and Account Information Form
  
  
• Prepare your order using the catalog and the Order Form enclosed in this packet.
  
  
• Fax or mail in your Sales Agreement, Account Information and Order Form to A Greater Gift. We can not ship orders until we have received your completed forms. Your account will be automatically approved, unless otherwise notified.
  
  
• Place your order 4 to 5 weeks before your sale date. Consignment orders will be shipped 2 to 3 weeks before your sale from our warehouse in Maryland. If we are experiencing a heavy volume of orders, we may need to refuse your order if it is not placed at least 4 weeks before your sale date.
  
  
• Don’t forget to order your promotional materials when you order handcrafts!

STEP 3: Advertise your Fair early!

• Refer to the Promotional Ideas flier for suggestions and order promotional material.
  
  
• For additional resources, visit lwr.org/handcraft, or call 1-800-LWR-LWR2.

STEP 4: Receive your order from A Greater Gift

• Unpack the boxes and check off the items from the enclosed invoice to ensure your order was complete. If there are any missing, extra or damaged items, complete and return the Adjustment Form before your sale.
  
  
• Keep the bubble wrap and boxes to wrap purchases and to safely pack any unsold, returnable handcrafts after your sale.
  
  
• Please do not remove the price tags. It is very costly for us to reattach them if items are returned and we will charge a restocking fee of 5% of the returned value of products with tags removed.

STEP 5: Set up your LWR FAIR TRADE FAIR

• Make an attractive display of your items. Be sure to fully unwrap at least one of every item you receive. Consider using tablecloths and put small boxes beneath them on your table to showcase the handcrafts at different levels.
  
  
• Arrange a cash box, calculator and sufficient start-up cash for making change. At the Fair, all checks must be made out to your parish or coordinator.
  
  
• Use your Promotional Materials, including gift cards and catalog request cards.
  
  
• Have a catalog handy for reference if questions arise. If a customer has seen something in the catalog that is not at your sale, you can collect orders or encourage them to order directly.
  
  
• We recommend at least 3 volunteers to help at the sale—one to answer questions, one to box up purchases and one to collect money. You’ll need more for a larger sale!
  
  
• Set a goal to sell 80% of the merchandise you order. The more you sell, the more our artisan and farmer partners benefit and the lower our costs are.
  
  
• A Greater Gift also makes a contribution to Lutheran World Relief for each purchase.

AFTER YOUR LWR FAIR TRADE FAIR
STEP 6: Wrap up a few details

• Your shipment included a Consignment Returns Worksheet that lists all returnable handcrafts. Use this to prepare your returns and your payment due within 10 days of your Fair. Only items that are listed on this worksheet can be returned and credited to your account.
  
  
• Sending your returns promptly enables us to replenish our stock for waiting customers and to have accurate stock counts when planning future orders for our partners. You are responsible for paying return shipping costs and for the quality of the products until they are received back at our warehouse. Pack with care!
  
  
• After you tally the unsold handcrafts on the Consignment Returns Worksheet, you will be able to calculate the Value of Goods Returned. Subtract this figure from the original invoice and submit payment for the balance. Mail one check, made payable to A Greater Gift, in the envelope provided in your shipment. If your calculation varies from our total after your returns are processed in our warehouse, your account will be billed or credited for the difference. For prepaid orders, your credit card will be credited when your returns are processed.
  
  
• We mail monthly statements showing your account balance. If you’ve sent in your returns and payment but the credit does not appear on your statement, please disregard the statements until credit is shown. It may take up to 8 weeks to process your returns.
  
  
• Consider using any proceeds from your Fair to support a project of your choice. Consider Lutheran World Relief, the ELCA World Hunger Appeal of LCMS World Relief.
  
  
• Share your story by emailing fairtrade@lwr.org. Your photos and stories may be shared to help other parishes plan a successful LWR FAIR TRADE FAIR.
  
  
• Celebrate! You’ve made a difference in peoples’ lives around the world.

DON’T STOP WITH HANDCRAFTS! Your LWR Fair Trade Fair can also include fair trade chocolate bars, coffee, tea and hot cocoa mix!

• The LWR Chocolate Project features Divine chocolate bars in milk, white, dark and milk hazelnut. Click here or call 1-800-LWR-LWR-2 for a free brochure.
  
  
• The LWR Coffee Project features a variety of fair trade coffees, teas and hot cocoa mix. Click here or call 1-800-LWR-LWR-2 for a free brochure.

Questions? Email fairtrade@lwr.org to learn more.

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