Spread the word about Fair Trade by sharing great coffee with your congregation or office.
1. Determine Your Goals
Perhaps you simply want to serve Fair Trade coffee during fellowship
hour and church events or at your office, school or club. But here are
some additional possibilities:
- Make it easy for your congregation, colleagues or friends to buy
Fair Trade coffee and tea by taking orders, ordering and selling it.
- Sell Fair Trade coffee as a fundraiser.
- Teach people about Fair Trade and economic and social justice by planning a Fair Trade Coffee Tasting event.
- Give baskets of Fair Trade items to welcome new members, acknowledge the work of volunteers, or as Christmas gifts.
2. Getting Started
-
Get seed money to pay for your first order of coffee.
- Recruit people to help coordinate the project.
- Establish a system for keeping records. Ask your church bookkeeper or accountant for guidance.
3. Order
Order here or call 774.776.7340. LWR
Coffee Project customer service representatives can give you expert
advice on what coffees are most popular among Lutherans, how much to
order and instructions for brewing.
4. Build Interest
Educating your congregation about Fair Trade before you begin serving or selling coffee or tea will build anticipation. We have educational resources available online or call us at 800.597.5972.
5. Determine Your Prices
Sell it at cost, round to the nearest quarter or dollar, or include a
markup as a way to raise money. The price is up to you. This quality
coffee retails for $12-15 per bag, so use your best judgment.
6. Set Up Your Display
Create an attractive display for the coffee sales and serving area. LWR
offers attractive table tents, posters, brochures and hand-outs. Be
creative! Think about using Latin American and African fabrics and
handcrafts to add color and interest. Consider using items from the LWR Handcraft Project.
7. Keep it Going
Develop an order form for members who’d like to order coffee for gifts
or home and office use. Ask them to pay in advance so that you have the
funds available to pay at the time of ordering.
Serve Fair Trade coffee every Sunday, have a sales table at regular
intervals during the month, and take special orders. Expand your product
line to include more flavors, and consider adding Divine Chocolate.
