Jeremy Piercy, founder of Shared Earth explains his ambitions and vision for the future and why Fair Trade is important to him.

“As the owner of Shared Earth, my ambition is very different from most of the people you see on tv on programmes like Dragon’s Den. I want to make a living for myself and be secure, but beyond that, I’m not too bothered. I know that after you’ve got your basic needs met, you don’t become happier no matter how much money you have. Happiness increases when your attitude to life and your relationships with people are healthy. Caring about the people we buy from gives everyone who works at Shared Earth a boost - we have fantastically motivated staff and I’m sure they’re happier people through knowing that their work is serving others as well as themselves.

Apart from the growth of Fair Trade, I would like to see a change in our society away from its materialistic attitudes to life. I’d like people, especially young people, to understand that it’s what you do and the way you work that matters, not just how much you earn. If people actually started to realise that caring about other people makes YOU more happy, as well as those other people, then attitudes might change and society could only be the better for it.”

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Shared Earth held its first ‘Discovery Day’ on Thursday 15 November, to introduce potential franchisees to Shared Earth and explain what is involved in its franchise package. Seven people attended from a variety of locations around the country and feedback was positive, with almost everyone wanting to progress to the next stage of undertaking detailed interviews and searches for specific suitable properties.

“We have always aimed to address the imbalance of wealth, working together with people from different cultures while earning a decent living and, because we make good profits, we are able to offer our suppliers a good and fair price for their products,” explains Jeremy Piercy founder of Shared Earth.

Jeremy has been delighted at the huge initial response to the publicity about the franchise opportunity. The franchise has attracted national press interest from newspapers such as the Daily Mail and the Daily Express as well as a host of enquiries through online channels.

We are looking for individuals with the right qualities who want to own an ethical, profitable business. We are only looking for a small number of franchisees initially so that they receive an excellent level of care,” adds Jeremy.

The next Discovery Day is planned for 12th February 2008, interested individuals can book onto the day by emailing franchising@sharedearth.co.uk

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Making Money, November 2007

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York-based franchisor Shared Earth launched its franchise operation recently, offering serious entrepreneurs, with an eye for a solid profitable business model, the opportunity to become part of the first Fair Trade franchising opportunity in the UK.

Established in 1986, Shared Earth has led the Far Trade industry for over two decades, focusing on delivering products that consumers want by managing design and development in-house. Sales are buoyant across all of its retail outlets, showing significant opportunity and demand UK wide. (more…)

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Progressive Gifts, November 2007

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Shared Earth Looks To Open New Outlets

Having spent over 20 years retailing and wholesaling fair trade gifts and cards, Jeremy Piercy, founder and MD of Shared Earth, will be opening 15-20 franchised, Shared Earth outlets over the next five years, making it the first fair trade franchise operation in the UK.Having given a seminar at the recent Autumn Fair, he will be advertising for franchisees in the national press.‘We are looking for individuals with the right qualities who want to own an ethical, profitable business. (more…)

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New Consumer, November 2007

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Shared Earth Franchise Out

With 20 new Shared Earth Fair Trade shops planned within the next 5 years, the UK can expect to see a huge increase in the sale of non-food fairly traded products. With average sales from a fair trade shop being around £75,000 per annum, Jeremy Piercy’s Shared Earth seven retail shops currently generate an average of £300,000. (more…)

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