Score: 78%
, 37 votes,
Feasibility 82%
Originality 70%
Humour 50% The Problem
Small traders in the Third World have to sell their goods at ridiculous prices, on which their benefit is often very low. Even with Fair Trade products, there is still a need for a "middle-man" to market the products abroad. With this concept, they will not need a middle-man and can get the benefits of their work in a more ethical manner.The Social Invention
The concept would consist in creating a website or websites, allowing trained traders in the Third World to market their products and sell them to a Western customer-base directly without having to go through a "middle-man", through the internet only. The benefits would go straight to the traders.It would be a form of aid which is sustainable, as once someone is trained to market his/her products on the internet, no help is needed anymore from any organisation. One issue might be the unavailability of internet and computer access as well as illiteracy, however, one local person who has these qualities and who would be provided with the materials could be in charge of administering all that in such a way that local traders do not lose in the exchange.
Western and other customers would receive high-quality products at the same price as they would pay in their local shop, but knowing that the benefits would go to the person who has made/sold the product in the first place.
The concept already exists partly, but can generally be found on some unknown/obscure website and the idea would be to coordinate all these ideas in order to create a viable network, also allowing smalltraders all over the world to exchange their ideas.
The Author
| Maryline David (enyliram) | Authors Comments |
Rate This Idea
Your Comments (16)
fooligan | 27 Oct '06 15:37
Subject: fantastic idea
this is a fantastic idea, and fits in very very well with the fun revolution philosophy. the fun revolution will become a "global brand" website, and when it does we'd love to promote this idea as part of our website.
Subject: fantastic idea
this is a fantastic idea, and fits in very very well with the fun revolution philosophy. the fun revolution will become a "global brand" website, and when it does we'd love to promote this idea as part of our website.
fooligan | 27 Oct '06 15:39
Subject: in the meantime
good luck with establishing it yourself, and contact me at thegenie@thefunrevolution.com if theres anything that i can do right now to help you get this started. cheers the genie
Subject: in the meantime
good luck with establishing it yourself, and contact me at thegenie@thefunrevolution.com if theres anything that i can do right now to help you get this started. cheers the genie
Jeff.Mowatt | 31 Dec '06 10:02
Subject: Somewhere to start
David, You may be interested in taking this to Omidyar.net where there's a lot of international collaborative effort going on. I'd recommend checking out the NED philanthropic franchise if you do.
Subject: Somewhere to start
David, You may be interested in taking this to Omidyar.net where there's a lot of international collaborative effort going on. I'd recommend checking out the NED philanthropic franchise if you do.
mja1906 | 06 Apr '07 20:21
Subject: Great idea
This idea is so feasible, this is actually something I wanted to do myself. Its all a question of how to make it happen. I would love to work with you on this so get in touch!
Subject: Great idea
This idea is so feasible, this is actually something I wanted to do myself. Its all a question of how to make it happen. I would love to work with you on this so get in touch!
Joey | 04 Jul '07 10:20
Subject: I had a similar idea for a fair trade exchange
i have details for producer relations director at Fair Trade. Director www.enviu.org interested + has relevant contacts. "buy side" log in with post code and add bids till min order sum is met. Get the 250 fair trade towns on the exchange as a start
POST COMMENT | SEE ALL COMMENTS | REPORT A COMMENT
Subject: I had a similar idea for a fair trade exchange
i have details for producer relations director at Fair Trade. Director www.enviu.org interested + has relevant contacts. "buy side" log in with post code and add bids till min order sum is met. Get the 250 fair trade towns on the exchange as a start