Stall-holder Tips from Ace Fair Trade Campaigner Karena Jarvie

Angus Coull • May 15, 2026

Our board member, Karena shares her experience throughout Perth & Kinross

We are very lucky to have Karena Jarvie on our True Origin Foods Board, and we are also very grateful to her for her excellent efforts as a Fair Trade campaigner.

Karena is a regular customer and knows exactly what's needed on church and other fair trade community stalls, particularly in relation to food products.

We asked her if she would share some of her handy hints for others keen to hold a successful stall. Of course she agreed, and here's what she had to say.

I have been involved in Fairtrade stalls for about 35 years. Many of those years were Traidcraft stalls but we always bought Kilombero rice and Meru Herb jars.

Since True Origin stepped into gap left by Traidcraft, I have been delighted that our stall has gone from strength to strength, as our customers love the products and being able to buy ‘Friends’ products has allowed us to make orders that include the other main products on our stall of coffee and chocolate!

"The main things that have helped our stall are:

Selling in 5 local churches weekly or monthly and 2 or 3 other churches on a less regular basis and monthly Farmers’ Markets, this has helped us to reach more people.
The new products have gone down really well, and this was very much helped by letting people see the two short videos from Black Mamba and Sunshine Nuts, which really brought home the difference it makes when we buy the products.
We try and encourage people to think about buying goods as presents, as well as for personal use
We have had several young people over the years helping with the stall as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteering.
If it is possible to run a tasting event this can encourage people to buy. Chutneys on oatcakes and jam on pancakes!
We tell the customers where the products have come from and a little bit about the people who have made them, the new leaflets will help with this".

Thanks Karena for sharing. Remember we have have a range of useful resources on our website that you can order for your stall too, from free producer case study leaflets and our annual report, to promotional items like pens and tote bags. You can order them along with you event supplies: https://trueoriginfoods.co.uk/collections/marketing-materials-point-of-sale

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How to Run a True Origin Fair Trade Stall at Your Church

By Nicola Taylor • July 3, 2026

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.