A YORK shop that has become a favourite for visitors and residents alike is celebrating four decades in the city.
Shared Earth, a fair-trade retailer, is celebrating 40 years in York city centre - offering ethically sourced products from countries around the world
The business began in 1986 after founder Jeremy Piercy was inspired to give back after experiencing the generosity of people whilst visiting India – an experience that made him want to create a business that helped give back to people across the planet.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- 'We are all so happy for her' - North Yorkshire girl achieves scouting feat
- Artwork lost for more than 100 years to return to public view in York
He said: "I came to York as a student in 1972, and before university, I travelled to India.
"It was my first time abroad, and it was a revelation to see how people lived in different parts of the world. I grew up in a middle-class family where there was never any shortage of anything.
"Meeting people who had very little but were incredibly generous was eye-opening. I was invited into people’s homes, and it made me think about how I could repay that in some way.”
Opening the doors on his first Goodramgate shop on November 9, 1986, the shop was originally called One World and brought the concept of fair trade to the city.
Since then, Shared Earth has continued to operate in York city centre (moving once in 1991 to the current Minster Gate location) and opened a second shop in Liverpool – employing 10 staff in each shop and a further 10 who are office based.
There is also a wholesale business supplying thousands of retailers across the UK and overseas, including independent shops, garden centres and museums.
Among this team is James Parsley, who joined the company in 2022 while studying human geography in Liverpool and now works in York office, supplying retailers across the country and overseas as far as the United States.
James said: "It's really nice to work for a company that has such a long history and such strong values – it’s good being in my hometown of York as well.
“This year I was lucky enough to go with Jeremy to India and we went to a trade fair. We met quite a lot of our existing suppliers, looked around their showrooms, and saw the production of lots of handmade products.
"It's amazing to see the real impact that fair trade makes around the world.”
The company sources goods from more than 20 countries, including India, Thailand, Guatemala, and Indonesia – with Jeremy adding that the impact of the company’s fair-trade ethos is very important to the team.
Shared Earth’s current range includes items made from recycled fire buckets, bike chains, artillery shells, and even old tents – with the brand also seeing success from their ‘esoteric’ items, including crystals and incense sticks.
James added: “A lot of independent shops like what we offer because it's different. You go into a lot of shops and see the same old simplistic designs, but our shops are so colourful.
"The shop here is in a really nice spot under the Minster too, which is great for tourists and locals alike. We’ve got a statue of Minerva on the outside, who is the goddess of wisdom and trade – which feels fitting.”
The shop continues to attract a wide range of customers, from tourists and students to children and long-time fans who have visited the shop for decades.
Jeremy said: "A lot of people say where I'm constantly meeting people who say that we're their favourite shop in York and some people are even coming to York, especially to see us.
“Our prices are reasonable and no one else really in York sells the products we sell. We've survived because we have such a big variety of different products and we continue to bring something new.
“We've been able to see through several different recessions during the course of our history. It's never been easy - I know it isn't now - but so many businesses have closed in York and we must be one of the very few businesses that's survived that long.”
Share