Technology Helps OSU Grad Launch Fair Trade Startup Linking Ugandan-Produced Goods with Worldwide Market

When Halle Butvin completed her educational career at OSU and headed to Washington DC, she never realized how difficult it would be to pursue her passion for international development.  

“I thought there would be jobs waiting for me everywhere in DC; but I was mistaken,” says Butvin. 
In order to break into this competitive field, she was advised she might pursue other routes such as the Peace Corps.  She opted instead for a program called the Global Youth Partnership for Africa, a three-week educational program to introduce students to the concepts of conflict resolution on the war torn continent. 
This led her to Uganda, where she was introduced to the beautiful fabrics and craftsmanship of the local women – women who were exceptionally talented tailors and artists, but who had no market for their wares.  Inspired by the talents and potential of these women, and counting on the link between economic stability and conflict resolution, Butvin decided to launch One Mango Tree.

One Mango Tree is a certified fair trade business that manages the production, export and sales of Ugandan-produced goods and crafts to a worldwide market.  And it is a business that Butvin says could not exist, nor could it be fair trade certified, without the support of technology.

As a fair trade business, One Mango Tree, must adhere to nine guiding principles established by the Fair Trade Federation.   Butvin says adherence to the majority of these principles for One Mango Tree is made possible only through technology. 

For instance, the first principle of fair trade is to “create opportunities for economically and socially marginalized producers” which Butvin does through a virtual online store that promotes the sale of these goods to a worldwide marketplace. 

But the One Mango Tree site goes even further in helping the company adhere to the second principle of fair trade which is “developing transparent and accountable relationships.”  This principle is intended to build awareness within consumers of the actual origin of goods they are considering purchasing so that they feel a connection to the producers of the goods, are aware of the working conditions under which goods are produced and can make informed decisions based on these factors.  Therefore, each good sold by One Mango Tree includes a hang tag with the name of the woman who produced the good.  Consumers can go online to the One Mango Tree site and read about the life, family, living conditions, etc. of the actual woman who created the piece. 

Butvin also uses technology through Barclay’s bank to provide direct deposits of the women’s pay checks and thus adhering to the fifth principle – that of “paying promptly and fairly.” 

After its third year, One Mango Tree is on target to breakeven this year – a milestone that Butvin says is typical of other young companies.  And she says that as a startup, dealing with import/export issues and other concerns of doing business within a third world nation, it’s not all smooth sailing.  But it would be virtually impossible without technology. 

Editor’s Note:  Halle Butvin was the featured speaker at the TechColumbus Women in Technology and Science Forum this week as part of a  new initiative launched by TechColumbus to more fully engage women involved in science, technology, engineering, medicine and other STEM fields for the purposes of networking, education and mentoring.  For more details, contact Laura Coffee at lcoffee@techcolumbus.org

For more on One Mango Tree, visit www.onemangotree.com