THE LUTHERAN
WORLD RELIEF
FAIR TRADE HANDCRAFT PROJECT
You can make a world of difference by hosting an LWR Fair Trade Fair in your church 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 SERRV, to offer you a fun and easy way to bring beautifully made handcrafts from around the world right to your church and community.
Choose a pre-selected package of $750 or build you own order from the LWR Handcraft Catalog. Food and select handcrafts are non-returnable (see page 6 of the Step by Step guide for a complete list of non-returnable items).
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: Choose a Date and Location for your LWR Fair Trade Fair.
- Every good sale starts with a team of volunteers—try the church 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 church event, World Fair Trade Day, Mother's Day or participating in a community event to provide greater exposure for Fair Trade and for your congregation.
- 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:
STEP 2: Choose Products to Order
- Preselected Packages: Fast and easy! A Preselected Package is a collection of new and popular handcrafts chosen by our staff based on current trends and historic best sellers. This season, we have a package in the amounts of $750 (retail value). Unsold preselected merchandise may be returned. See the sample preselected package.
- Self-select: Choose your own combination from the handcrafts in the catalog and online. Food and select handcrafts are non-returnable (see page 6 of the Step by Step guide for a complete list of non-returnable items)
STEP 3: Submit Your Forms and Order
- Fill out the Sales Agreement and Account Information Form
- Prepare your order using the catalog and the Order Form – your first order must total at least $300.
- Fax or mail in your Sales Agreement, Account Information and Order Form to SERRV. 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.
STEP 4: Promote Your LWR Fair Trade Fair!
STEP 5: Receive Your Order
- An invoice will be enclosed in your shipment. Unpack the boxes and check off the items on the 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 6: Set Up and Host Your LWR FAIR TRADE FAIR
- Have fun making an attractive display of your items. Be sure to fully unwrap at least one of every item you receive. Consider using solid color tablecloths and putting small boxes beneath them on your table to showcase the handcrafts at different heights.
- Display your Promotional Materials, including gift cards and catalog request cards. Cut out artisan stories on page 8 & 9 of your LWR Fair Trade Fair Booklet, or download from LWR’s website.
- Have people make out all checks to your church or event coordinator. Arrange a cash box, calculator and sufficient start-up cash for making change.
- 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.
- SERRV also makes a contribution to Lutheran World Relief for each purchase.
AFTER YOUR LWR FAIR TRADE FAIR
STEP 7: Wrap up a few details
- Your shipment included a Returns Form that lists all returnable handcrafts. Use this to prepare your returns and your payment due within 10 days of your Fair.
- 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! We suggest that you insure your shipment.
- Consider using any proceeds from your Fair to support a project of your choice. Consider Lutheran World Relief, the ELCA World Hunger Appeal or LCMS World Relief.
STEP 8: Mail One Check for Payment
- 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.
- Your check should be made payable to SERRV and sent in the payment envelope provided with your order.
- 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.
STEP 9: Celebrate!
You’ve made a real difference to lives around the world! Please tell us about your sale. Send in your questionnaire along with any photos you would like to share with us of future hosts. You can also email stories and photos to fairtrade@lwr.org.
DON’T STOP WITH HANDCRAFTS! Your LWR Fair Trade Fair can also include Fair Trade chocolate bars, coffee, tea and hot cocoa mix!
Questions? Email fairtrade@lwr.org to learn more.
