Business as Unusual

by Nandini Murali

Sivakasi Times November-2007

What is the connection between Tirumangalam, a village 24 kms south of Madurai, and The Body Shop, the global chain of 2000 skincare and cosmetics stores in 50 countries? Teddy Exports, of course! The ISO: 9001: 2000 certified Export Company, an affiliate of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), and winner of the Worldaware Business Award for Small Business (1999), has been supplying a range of hand crafted wooden, sisal, and textile products to The Body Shop for the past 17 years. From just five employees, Teddy Exports and its allied units today has 1000 employees, 65 percent of whom are women.

Established in 1990 by Irish-born Amanda Murphy, Teddy Exports is a successful enterprise with an annual turnover of 12 crores and the first community trade initiative of the Body Shop. Based on the principle of 'trade not aid,' the community trade initiative is a trade partnership with communities in need, and gives them a fair price for their products. In this instance, a local population skilled in wood work and tailoring and the locally abundant nitrogen fixing Acacia nilotica tree (babul) that underscores the Body Shop's commitment to business that is profitable and responsible based on traditional skills and local resources.

"Business presents the answer I believe to many of the world's problems and it is time we stood up and looked at what we can do seriously. If we all sat back and do nothing, the world will delete itself. I hope for anyone who has seen me today it will give them courage to take that first step, however small, to put that first idea into practice," says. Amanda Murphy (48), Founder, Teddy Trust, and Managing Director, Teddy Exports.

All it takes to make a difference is passion and compassion.

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Summary
November 2007 Issue