DISCOVERIES INTERNATION AT ST. NORBERT TEACHES, HELPS CHARITY
By Patti Zarling, [email protected]
Green Bay Press Gazette
e/20081030/GPG0101/810300629/1207/GPG01
Oct 30 2008
WI
Store sells only fair-trade goods
DE PERE — The goal of the Discoveries International Inc. store in
St. Norbert College’s bookstore is to raise money for charity, but it
also gives the college’s international business students experience
running a business.
The group buys fair-trade goods — goods that are a fair price and
meet social and environmental standards — from developing countries,
sells them and donates the profits to programs that benefit those
countries. Items in the nonprofit store, run for 30 years, include
blankets from Mexico, gloves from Pakistan, scarves from Ecuador and
China, and other goods from India, Zambia and other developing nations.
"We have a fair-trade policy," co-president Larisa Ryan said. "We
only work with wholesalers who use that policy."
Senior business students handle all aspects of the business, from
marketing to pricing and ordering goods, and sophomores work at the
store for one semester.
"Every year we have a sales goal, every department has a sales goal,
and every person has a goal," Ryan said. "Personally, I feel DI gives
hands-on experience. I feel like this experience will help me going
into the corporate business world.
The store’s customers are a mix of students and community members. The
students also sell at craft fairs and on campus. Next month, they will
participate in the Women’s Extravaganza at Shopko Hall in Ashwaubenon.
The profits are used for charitable donations that are chosen by the
students. This year, money raised will be go to San Lucas Mission of
Guatemala and Habitat for Humanity Armenia.
The store looks for ways to diversify sales, recently adding fair-trade
chocolate and tea.
"Students are very supportive," said senior Carly LaCosse.