Business Awards Finalist 2005
York Evening Press [17/11/2005]
DARKEST Africa has become a little brighter thanks to a North Yorkshire venture which uses the internet to promote fair trade to furniture manufacturers in Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya.
The Africa House, started last July by Jonathan Knocker in Nidderdale, sells hard and soft furnishings from those countries via www.theafricahouse.com to an increasing selection of retail outlets across Yorkshire.
Now Jonathan, who has an MBA plus 23 years of management experience, is gunning for two titles in the 2005 Evening Press Business Awards – New Business of the Year and E-commerce Business of the Year. He said: “We have purposely identified a selection of suppliers who are working with a fair trade ethos and all have been visited in Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya by The Africa House to ensure that all employees are paid a decent wage and provided with training and education opportunities. We also ensure that no children are working for these suppliers.”
The Africa House managed to get a business grant through Business Link York and North Yorkshire along with professional advice on establishing the website where both retail and wholesale clients can make contact and place orders.
His eight suppliers provide him with stock, air freighting it to Leeds Bradford Airport where it can be cleared through customs then transported to a warehouse near Jonthan’s Nidderdale home.
While most of the firm's customers are in the United Kingdom, there is also demand from Germany, Portugal, Ireland, the United States and Australia.
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