Who's who
Founders: Hugh and Rachel Ross
Hugh is a Marketer by training, having worked in various multinationals until 1990,when he set up his own consultancy practice. He was a non-executive director for Traidcraft plc for 6 years in the 1990’s. He has also provided consultancy services to Traidcraft Exchange and Fair Trade Assistance Holland for over 15 years. He is now enjoying the opportunity to extend his experience of Fair Trade into this new area of furniture.
Rachel is a long-time committed environmentalist, who works part-time for Wiltshire Council as their home energy officer. She has also worked in the area of Fair Trade and development for 20 years, running the Harrogate Traidcraft shop in the 90’s, and managing Oxfam shops in Ripon and Salisbury more recently.
Hugh and Rachel opened The Green House shop and Café in Harrogate in 1990, based on a personal commitment to fair trade and environmental principles. This shop (which was sold to the wonderful Bob Fisher in 1994) became a central part of the green and ethical scene of North Yorkshire until it sadly closed in 2008. The Fair Trade Furniture Co Ltd is their second entrepreneurial venture, and so far the signs are good. Please help us to make our dream of a sustainable furniture business into a living reality!!
Design Director: Tord Kjellstrom – see the Design story page to find out more.
Other key players and contributors:
- Production manager – John Brown
- PR – Kristine Nudds of Feelgood PR
- Website – Matt Witt of Good Designer
- Brochure – Cammegh Davies Fleming
- Graphic Design – Helen Wallis and GHP
- Video and photography - Daisy Bees and Chris Zuidyk of Bee Movies
- Accountancy and financial advisor – Mike Brown (Trinity Accountants)
- Warehousing and storage - Westfields (Dinton) www.westfields-storage.co.uk
