LATEST NEWS
to Benefit Peacecraft Join us May 25-27, 2012 Click for more information. Peacecraft Needs Your Help to Stay Open - Donate Now! Our Plea: For twenty-one years, Peacecraft has provided the Albuquerque community with a Fair Trade shopping option. The fair trade producers who supply our store have received a fair wage for their work efforts. Peacecraft continues to offer a positive economic change in the lives of our producers and their families. In addition to the direct aid we have given global fair trade communities, many local stores are now offering fair trade products. Our customers have seen us primarily as a gift store, and we are dependent upon strong holiday sales to sustain us through the remainder of the year. The past two years have been especially challenging. As many of you have seen, Peacecraft's inventory has slowly decreased over the past year. We do not have money to purchase the product that we need for the holiday season. This is a dangerous position to be in for a retail store. As we have less to sell, our revenue goes down, leaving less money to buy new product, which in turn results in even fewer sales. We need to break the cycle. Our goal is to keep Peacecraft open, and this past year's economy has shown loss in customers, income and increase in debt. Unless we can raise $60,000.00 in the next two months, we face closure. Our Plan: I have worked with the board on a plan that I have faith will keep Peacecraft open and functional. The plan's success depends on your help. The Peacecraft community has consistently purchased product at the store as well as donated money when needed, and I trust that you will be able to assist Peacecraft at this time. Please consider giving a tax-deductible donation. Finally, a group of business and non-profit experts met in August to create a plan of positive change for the store. We have begun to implement the plan by subletting the back portion of the store to Maple Street Dance Space, and we are now carrying some product on a consignment basis. In addition, we have begun working with experts to update the look and feel of the store. Many of these changes will be easy and inexpensive. I believe that a new look will attract new customers, and with your financial support, Peacecraft will remain open for years to come! Thank you for your continued support! Jim Neustel, Executive Director Earth Hero dba/Peacecraft 3215 Central Ave NE Albuquerque, NM 87106 505-255-5229 www.peacecraft.org Host a Crafts Fair! An Off-Site Event refers to anytime Peacecraft distributes information and/or sells merchandise away from our store. There are two types: Community Outreach and Faith Based Events. Faith Based Off Sites allow us to share our social justice mission with congregations in and around Albuquerque. These events happen primarily around the holidays when many churches invite Peacecraft to participate in Alternative Gift Fairs, which provide the members of their congregation an opportunity to shop responsibly for their holiday purchases. Many congregations offer to host on an Alternative Giving Fair through their Social Justice or Mission Committee, and support the event by providing volunteers to transport, set up and sell the crafts. Other congregations simply open their doors, and Peacecraft provides all the volunteers for their event. Either way, these events provide a crucial means of support for our artisan coops, and we appreciate and enjoy the community involvement! Most importantly, Off Site Events provide a fun opportunity to share our Fair Trade Mission. Peacecraft also attends Community Outreach Events throughout the entire year, from Solar Fiesta to the Folk Music Festival to the Co-op Earth Day, and other arts and crafts fairs, music festivals, and informational forums. Additionally, a Peacecraft Representative can speak to our school or community group about Fair Trade, and we offer in- home hostess parties! To invite Peacecraft to your Community Event or Congregation, e-mail dawni@peacecraft.org. |
