Emporium conjures a world of the exotic
AS YOU climb the small winding staircase to the first floor of 68 High Street in Fort William, you begin to register faint exotic scents that conjure up far away lands and colourful market places.
The term ‘shop’ does not really do Sasha McKinlay’s new Fairtrade business justice and that is why she christened it with the magnificent moniker of The Emporium of Worldly Goods.
The business sells everything from clothing and incense to homewares and jewellery from around the globe, with recycled products a speciality.
There is even a zero waste toiletries section where customers have a choice of vegan, cruelty-free shampoo and conditioner refills, biodegradable and sustainable personal care products, and unwrapped soaps.
As to how the Emporium of Wordly Goods came into being, it was thanks to Sasha and husband Rob’s shared love of travel and experiences from living in various places around the world.
‘That’s what inspired us to bring all the things we love to the community in Fort William. We believe that one of the best ways to reduce poverty globally is through Fairtrade, and supporting our producers generates sustainable income for families and communities,’ Sasha told the Lochaber Times.
‘Regular orders from our producers ensure that workers are able to maintain a steady, fair income.’
Sasha, who worked in senior HR management for 15 years prior to opening the Emporium, explained: ‘Moving here was a no-brainer as we wanted to maintain an outdoor lifestyle, away from the city.
‘As for why this kind of shop, it’s to do with where I grew up, my experiences travelling in particular, living on Sumatra when I was a teenager, as well as studying anthropology at university – all of that has really influenced my world view.
‘I’ve always loved and appreciated crafts, jewellery and clothing from other countries, but it’s obvious in many cases that what is available is not being produced with workers’ rights or economic stability in mind.
‘The more I started researching and supporting Fairtrade and zero waste, the more I realised that I might be able to create a business that I could feel good about, that could help cut down on environmental pollution, and that could potentially create jobs in our community in addition to supporting good standards of living in the global community, particularly for women and children.’
As for future plans, Sasha says a larger shop is an ambition. ‘I’d love a bigger shop to incorporate a wider variety of stock than I’m able to now, as well as expand our zero waste offerings.
‘I’d love to work with some other local businesses to create a co-op at some point ... living the hippie dream!
‘And, if all goes well, I’d like to be able to work on sourcing products directly, travelling out to places like Nepal, India, Vietnam, Tibet, Mexico and Peru, and meeting makers in order to expand the opportunities for those individuals and build relationships with them.’
The Emporium is open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.