We were lucky to catch up with Katherine Bissell Córdova recently and have shared our conversation below.

Katherine , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

In my late 30s and into my 40s, I had two kids. When my kids were little, I decided to change careers. I had worked for 20+ years in the nonprofit sector in some intense roles-working torture survivors here in Chicago and as a human rights defender in Guatemala. As a mom with small kids, I needed something less all-consuming, yet I wanted something meaningful. In 2007, the opportunity arose to open the first fair trade store in Chicago. This was a big risk-I had zero experience in retail and fair trade was a little-known business model then. It’s a risk I’m glad I took and put me on the path to where I am today-the Executive Director of Chicago Fair Trade.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Going into my first retail job, I already had a strong understanding of the importance of human rights and how intricately linked they are to economic opportunities. In Guatemala, I spent a lot of time working with farmers whose lives were at risk due to land rights disputes. Many of their wives were extraordinary weavers, using skills that had been passed down for generations. They were desperate to sell their beautiful work to be able to put food on the table, but there was no market aside from the occasional tourist who purchased their weavings at way less than they were worth. Meanwhile, a growing number of consumers in the U.S. want their purchases to count; more and more people not only want beautiful handmade objects, but want to make a difference with their dollars.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I opened the fair trade shop, Greenheart, in 2007, I was thrilled to learn of Chicago Fair Trade (CFT). CFT was started in 2006 by Oxfam, an anti-poverty organization. Greenheart joined as a business member and soon thereafter I started serving on Chicago Fair Trade’s board. In 2014, Nancy Jones, the founding director of Chicago Fair Trade, stepped down and I was hired to replace her. One of my first moves as Executive Director was to start a fair trade holiday pop-up shop. Twenty of CFT’s thirty business members participated in this collective effort. The pop-up quickly became a fan favorite and an important revenue stream for our organization and business members and has become an annual event.

In November and December 2022, we rented a big beautiful retail space for our 9th annual pop-up shop. The landlords were so pleased with our reactivation of their long-empty retail that they wanted us to stay. Chicago Fair Trade’s main focus is on educating consumers about fair trade, so running a retail shop year-round wasn’t feasible, yet the space was beautiful and the landlords offered us a great deal. We decided to open the world’s first Fair Trade Museum and Store. We’d originally conceived of the Museum as a six-month-long project, but it proved so successful we are about to sign a lease on a new space and run it year round.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

One of Chicago Fair Trade’s biggest strengths is our ability to build community. While fair trade tackles some big issues, from child labor to the extractive use of natural resources, we provide an alternative. We strive to be welcoming and inclusive and give people the opportunity to be a part of the solution, rather than feeling overwhelmed by the state of the global economy.

We are transparent, sharing the challenges we face as well as our successes. We are conveners, bringing together a network of over 60 locally-owned fair trade businesses. Our business network is wonderful, with business owners openly sharing information and resources and supporting one another.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chicagofairtrade.org/
• Instagram: @chicagofairtrade.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoFairTrade

Image Credits
Credit photo to Chicago Fair Trade