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...so Mr Site is celebrating all things ethical!
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Websites of the Month
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To help support World Fair Trade Day, Mr Site has not one, not two... but three ethical trading Websites of the Month.
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Akalico retails contemporary handmade Fair Trade sterling silver jewellery, produced by skilled artisans in economically
developing countries. Founder, Lorraine Booth, even designs some of the pieces herself and the jewellery is created to Buddha
Dharma quality – meaning the ability to bestow timeless and immediate results. Akalico is a twice award-winning business,
supported by the Prince's Trust.
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The Andean Crafts website was founded by market-trader Iain Ramsbottom. Along with his British/Ecuadorian family, Iain purchases
crafts and textiles directly from the indigenous artisans in the Andes Mountains. Andean Crafts are particularly proud of their ethnic
clothing range and specialise in alpaca wool.
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Nobuntu sells products, gifts and accessories all sourced either directly from Fair Trade producers or through other suppliers who follow Fair
Trade guidelines. Products range from homeware and greeting cards to bags, silver jewellery and fine (vegetarian friendly) silk scarves.
The website was set up by 30 year-old Magali Heyberger, who after spending some time in South Africa, was inspired by the beautiful, original and
quality crafts produced within townships.
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For more information about World Fair Trade Day, please visit www.worldfairtradeday09.org
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Competition: Tell us about your charity websites
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This month, Mr Site is calling out to all those charitable souls. Are you fundraising for your favourite cause; running a
marathon, cycling the country or climbing a mountain? Or maybe you have set up a website to support a charity all year-round.
Whatever it is, we want to know about it. We'll feature your story on the Mr Site website and in the next newsletter. Winners
will receive a fabulous luxury hamper, so tell us about yourself and your website by emailing
stories@mrsite.co.uk.
And remember – we're always looking out for interesting stories... so don't stop sending them through.
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Weird and wacky competition winner
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Thank you to everyone who submitted their stories to us. We've seen some great out-of-the-ordinary websites and following this
month's theme, our winner is stamp recycler Laura Wellington:
"Stamp geek came about while I was studying at university – it all began when my very special grandmother left me a very special
collection of stamps in her will and for a long time I didn't know what to do with them. But then I decided to incorporate the collection
into my designing and began to create hats using stamps. I went to university in Leeds and almost immediately the local boutiques showed
an interest, so I started Mr Site website as a cheap and easy way to get my business going.
Roll on three years and now my hats are stocked all over the country. They are a funky, fashionable and comfortable item
that can be worn with almost anything and because the hats are made using real stamps each one is unique, collectable and individual."
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Thinking of starting, improving or expanding your business?
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If you are, here's a note for your diary... the Business Startup show on Thursday 28 May and Friday 29 May. Held at ExCel, London,
UK, it brings together business's brightest and best, including Mr Site, under one roof at the UK's biggest business start up exhibition.
This is the opportunity anyone starting or expanding a business, or simply flirting with the idea, can't afford to miss.
Over 200 experienced and innovative exhibitors will be on hand to advise on all matters entrepreneurial, from accounting and
finance to e-commerce and advertising.
You also have the chance to listen to some of Britain's top business speakers as they relay their anecdotes and advice,
from the pitfalls of start up to the secrets of success. You may even just recognise a few of the names – James 'Dragons' Den'
Caan, David Gold, Rachel Elnaugh and Caprice, along with Mr Site's very own co-founder, Stuart Spice.
For more information and to book your tickets, please visit www.bstartup.com
If you can't make it along but would still like to get some business advice, try logging on to
http://www.startuptube.co.uk/area/mr-site.html
to hear Stuart's hints and tips online!
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Update! Don't forget to change your password!
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When logging into your Mr Site account you might have noticed a prompt to change your password. This has been introduced to
keep your website as secure as possible, so please try to change your password when asked.
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Everyone's a winner
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And finally, we'd like to share some exciting news. Mr Site's co-founder and director, Beatrice Hatherley, has been
shortlisted as a winner at the Real Business, First Women Awards. This honors the most successful female entrepreneurs in
business so Mr Site would like to thank everyone for their ongoing support, which makes such awards possible. Results are
announced on 11 June – good luck Bea!
For more information about the First Women Awards, visit http://fwa.realbusiness.co.uk
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