Somerset based fair trade furniture and homewares retailer Myakka demonstrates that an ethical approach to business benefits everyone. Despite the recession, the directors have increased the amount of support they are giving, both to Myakka’s suppliers in India and now local communities in Somerset.
“Supporting our suppliers and their local communities is very important to us,” commented Georgie Hopkins, director of Myakka. “When we visited our main furniture suppliers in northern India at the beginning of the year we set a number of community projects in motion. Providing new desks for the children at SKSN school is the second project to be completed so far and represents a collaboration between Myakka and our main supplier.”
Myakka has donated £2,000 towards the cost of materials with their supplier covering the cost of production, enabling SKSN school to receive 70 new desks and benches for students who previously studied sitting on the floor.
As a member of the BAFTS (British Association for Fair Trade Shops) the focus is on supporting suppliers and their local communities. Myakka has chosen to go one step further and join the Somerset Guardian Scheme operated by The Somerset Community Foundation. This allows the directors to support their local communities in Somerset, as well as Myakka’s supplier’s and their communities in India.
The Somerset Community Foundation supports local children, youth groups and older people, those with special needs or disabilities, sports groups, art and drama projects; aiming to build stronger communities for the benefit of everyone in Somerset. As a Patron, all monies pledged are invested as part of the foundation’s endowment fund. The income from the fund is then used to provide a long term sustainable source of grants to address local needs. Currently the Somerset Community Foundation is the only charitable body in Somerset administering the government ‘Grassroots Grants Scheme’ whereby the government will top up funds by 100%. Therefore Myakka’s financial support is worth much more to the Foundation and those it supports in the locality.
Simon Whitehead, director of Myakka commented. “We are proving that operating a business ethically is more profitable for everyone, even in this time of recession. It’s important to us that we support our local community as well as those of our suppliers. The Somerset Community Foundation offers the most accessible method for us to support small-scale, local projects.”
Myakka specialises in solid wood furniture and tailors the designs of each piece for the British market. The furniture is made in northern India by skilled craftsman using the latest German computer controlled machinery ensuring the quality is second to none. With a sophisticated ecommerce website, a Warehouse Outlet in Wincanton, Somerset and a comprehensive mail order catalogue, Myakka has a large database of loyal customers across the UK.
This summer Myakka is celebrating a decade of business with a huge 10th Birthday Summer Sale.
For more information about one of Somerset’s leading ethical businesses visit the Myakka news blog at www.furniture-home.myakka.co.uk or the online shop at www.myakka.co.uk. Select this link for further details on The Somerset Community Foundation: www.somersetcf.org.uk.
