Weekly BCFT Update, Ninth Edition. Adjusting to Pandemic Isolation.

I hope you're all doing well on this gray Monday.  It's been exactly two months since we closed on March 18th.  In some ways, it seems like it's been much longer than that and in others, I feel like I blinked and now it's almost June.

Our first week back open was...slow.  But that was to be expected.  We didn't advertise very much and it's been helpful to ease back into opening.  We averaged almost $250 a day (that's including our online sales) and we'll send out an email about our reopening this week.  With the few customers we had each day, we learned a lot. 

We found that not everyone wore a mask or made use of our hand sanitizing stations.  Some customers wore a mask, but touched their face a lot adjusting it.  We had customers who knew exactly what they wanted and left quickly, while others took their time and browsed for a while.  Overall, it was a good week and we'll take what we learned and make adjustments.

Here's your sales update.  We've made $7686 in May and $17,186 in the last two months.  We're going to add a Shop Durham discount to the online store and do some kind of sale to encourage everyone to take advantage of curbside pickup, delivery, and shipping.

That's all for me.  It looks like a rainy week, so I hope you have a good book and a cup of fair trade tea to keep you company.

Take care!

Katie :)

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Hi Lovely Humans,

It has been a bittersweet week at BCFT. The sense of normalcy I’ve gained back by working in the store has been truly uplifting, but I miss each and every one of you! But, that just means that being reunited will be nothing short of joyous when it finally happens. 

This week, I’d like to take the time to honor one of the few domestic artisan groups that we support, Women’s Bean Project. Based in Denver, Colorado, this nonprofit aims to transform the lives of women by teaching independence and self-sufficiency. Women’s Bean Project (WBP) hires chronically unemployed women to make delicious foods, like their soup mixes, baking mixes, and snacks. Through this transitional employment, these women are able to acquire the skills and tools needed to sustain themselves, their families, and ultimately, their communities. WBP started in 1989 with little more than $500, three dedicated people, and a recipe for 10-bean soup. Today, WBP sees over $2 million in sales, and dozens of women break the cycle of poverty annually. 

As many of you all may already know, sadly, founder Josepha “Jossy” Eyre passed on April 20th from coronavirus complications at the age of 89. To say that Jossy led a full, compassionate, value-driven life would truly be an understatement. As a teenager, she fled Nazi-occupied Holland for the United States, despite speaking little English. Jossy’s true passion for care and service was made evident when she chose to pursue a career in nursing. She also earned her master’s degree in social work. Jossy ultimately saw a need for a “social enterprise” in her community of Denver, Colorado, when she started Women's Bean Project in 1989. Jossy sought to create a system that would instill lasting changes in the lives of impoverished, unemployed, displaced people that she would frequently welcome to her home. She was cited as “extending empathy towards most everyone she knew,” and it’s easy to see how Jossy was able to accrue the support of over 350 volunteers present-day, in addition to the employees WBP hires monthly. By all accounts, Jossy was in constant disbelief of WBP’s success over the years, stating that she was “merely looking for a way to help women gain a sense of empowerment over their circumstances.”

Jossy is survived by her four children, who proudly tell a story of a woman who never lost her fire or endurance. Quite literally- it’s said that she was distance-running and swimming well into her 80’s. You can see WBP’s tribute to Jossy here, as well as read about the organization’s response to the pandemic. WBP has kept all its employees throughout this crisis, and I imagine that’s something Jossy would be proud of.

Thank you all for taking the time to reflect with me on such a beautiful soul. And, thanks to those that shared information with us regarding Jossy’s life and legacy. 

Wishing you love and light,

Cara

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Hi everybody,

I second Cara that it is very strange and bittersweet to be in the store without you all! But, for now, safety first. The many transitions over the past two months have led me to think a lot about community, as I'm sure we all have, now that so much of our in-person community life has gone virtual or otherwise changed. Similar to Jossy Eyre's model of Women's Bean Project as a social enterprise, our store has always strived to be more than just a retail business, but a community hub and a catalyst for change. We had many fun events planned for 2020 that we hoped would draw new folks in and continue to build that community and awareness of fair trade. Along with so many others, this crisis has meant we've had to totally pivot just to stay afloat, but we cannot lose sight of that community that is at the heart of our mission, and our survival.

The nerve-wracking thing about operating a retail store during a pandemic is that none of us have ever done it before, but the reassuring thing is that we're all figuring it out together. I may be a little sick of all those commercials/emails/ads proclaiming "we're all in this together," but they have the right idea. It is clearer than ever that whether in terms of public health or the economy, our fates are tied together and the way we all thrive is by taking care of each other. There is a great sense of community among the businesses in Durham, especially in our neighborhood, that feels even more critical now. As you'll see in the attached PDF, in addition to relying on our neighbors for ideas and inspiration about how to drive sales while keeping everyone safe, we also rely on them for nourishment (now to-go) and entertainment (now at-home). There is also a strong network of fair trade retail stores nationwide that doesn't hesitate to generously share their tips of the trade, and vendors eager to help their retailers succeed. After all, equitable partnership is a main tenet of fair trade for a reason: a deep awareness that artisans, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers all need each other!

Most of all, we are fortunate to be in this community with you. Volunteers have always been integral to our mission, and that remains true even when we've paused in-person volunteer shifts, shifted to a focus on online sales, and are testing the waters of reopening. You share our story, shop with us and other local small businesses, give us ideas and encouragement, and when you can, you take what you've learned about fair trade into the wider world to help you "vote with your dollar" for socially responsible purchases. We hope to share more ways you can help out from home soon, but for now, please know just how much all of these things mean. They are a lifeline!

Sending virtual hugs and appreciation,

Amy"