Ethical Trade Co

Ownership

Ethical Trade Co was founded by Manuel Ramminger and James Ferrett, and it is a nonprofit based in Madison, Wisconsin. This is Madison-resident owned and operated.

Local Sourcing

Ethical Trade Co works directly with artisan groups, farmers, and cooperatives in vulnerable communities, but the products sourced are from artisans worldwide. Very limited local Wisconsin sourcing is evident; most supply chain is national/international rather than regional.

Community Involvement

Ethical Trade Co is visible within the community conversation about local fundraising and school events, positioning it as a natural partner for organizations. They actively engage with Madison's nonprofit and community sector, though evidence of specific major sponsorships is limited.

Local Workforce

Customer reviews consistently praise staff friendliness and customer service. The staff believes strongly in supporting artisans and fundraises for their salaries. While direct information about local wages is limited, the nonprofit model and positive customer feedback suggest good workforce practices.

Revenue Retention

As a donor-funded nonprofit, every dollar spent in their store creates a maximum return for partners. As a nonprofit, revenue is reinvested in mission rather than extracted, but global supply chains mean significant value flows out of Madison.

Local Presence

The website displays strong corporate signals including a location selector, cookie-cutter template navigation, and generic boilerplate product descriptions. While it includes a Madison phone number and local address, the text lacks any owner/staff names, Madison references, personality-driven copy, or local supplier focus beyond generic fair-trade sourcing language.