How to Run a True Origin Fair Trade Stall at Your Church
A Fair Trade stall is about so much more than selling tea, coffee and chocolate. Every purchase supports smallholder farmers and producers who are working incredibly hard to build sustainable livelihoods in the face of climate change, rising fuel costs and an unpredictable global market. For many of the communities we work with, having reliable customers is essential. By running a True Origin stall at your church, you become part of that support network, helping to create regular demand for products that often aren't available in supermarkets or high street shops. Whether your church is passionate about global justice, caring for creation or simply making a practical difference, a Fair Trade stall is a simple but powerful way to turn those values into action.
Start Small
You don't need a huge team or a large budget to get started. Begin by talking with your church leaders about the idea. Many churches are happy to provide a small loan or donation to purchase initial stock, particularly if it can be repaid gradually as sales grow. Remember that most of the income from a stall is best reinvested into buying more stock rather than raising money for church funds. This helps keep the stall sustainable and ensures producers continue to receive orders.
If you're new to running a stall, don't worry, you won't be on your own. The True Origin team and experienced Fair Traders are always happy to share advice and practical tips.
Make Your Stall Welcoming
A successful stall doesn't need to be elaborate. A table in a visible space, a colourful tablecloth, clear price labels and plenty of change are often all you need to get started. If possible, having a card reader makes purchasing even easier. People are much more likely to buy when they understand the story behind the products. Share information about the producers, display our producer leaflets, and use our short videos to show how every purchase makes a real difference. Church notices, newsletters and magazines are also great places to promote the stall. Why not include recipes using our products, stories from producers or customer recommendations? Hearing how someone enjoyed a particular jam or sauce often encourages others to give it a try.
Build a Team
Like many church activities, a Fair Trade stall works best when it's shared. You might have volunteers who enjoy ordering stock, welcoming customers, pricing products, keeping accounts or helping at church events. Young people from Junior Church or Duke of Edinburgh programmes can also enjoy getting involved. Some churches even work together, sharing stock and supporting stalls across several congregations. Ordering together often makes financial sense and helps reach more customers. Our True Origin WhatsApp group is another wonderful source of encouragement, practical advice and shared experience. We also encourage volunteers to attend our True Origin Live events, where you can hear directly from the producers whose lives are being changed through Fair Trade.
What Should You Sell?
If you're just starting out, tea, coffee and chocolate are always popular choices. As your customers become more familiar with True Origin, you can introduce our range of delicious jams, marmalades, chutneys and savoury sauces. Mixed cases are a great way to discover local favourites, and customer feedback will help guide future orders. If possible, aim for orders of around £300. This qualifies for a 10% discount, helping you either earn a small margin to reinvest in the stall or offer occasional promotions. Ordering full cases can also reduce costs. Offering samples at church coffee mornings or events is another excellent way to introduce people to new products. Many customers also enjoy buying True Origin products as thoughtful gifts instead of the usual supermarket chocolates or biscuits.
Keep Going
Some weeks will be busier than others, and that's completely normal. The most successful stalls are the ones that become a regular part of church life. Weekly stalls provide the greatest opportunity for people to buy, but many churches successfully run theirs once a month or at community events, coffee mornings and church fairs. Regular presence helps build awareness, encourages repeat customers and creates ongoing support for our producers. As one of our experienced True Origin Fair Traders says: "Don't be discouraged if some weeks you sell very little—just keep being there!" Every conversation, every purchase and every regular customer helps create lasting change for farming communities around the world. If your church would like to start a True Origin Fair Trade stall, we'd love to help. Get in touch with us for advice, resources and encouragement as you begin your journey supporting producers through Fair Trade.
