History
How Kingdom Krafts came about?
I was Tearfund Representative for Emmanuel Christian Centre and during June 2001 I received some information about an evening that was being held in Conwy. This would include gifts for sale from Tearfund's Catalogue as well as useful information and a guest speaker from Tearfund who would be sharing news about some of the people they employ to make these gifts and how this has changed their lives. I invited Marian to come along to the meeting with me and afterwards we came away with the thought that we would like to do something more!
Gradually it became clear to us that we should start up a stall selling Tearfund items and include food and drink etc from Traidcraft. Our Church, Emmanuel Christian Centre, at the time was open twice a month serving teas & coffees to visitors and as part of this open day, also had a Christian bookstall and a stall for Operation Christmas Child, so we thought we would also have one selling fair trade goods.
So it started small, Marian and I both putting money in to buy the goods initially, but it soon grew.
By the beginning of September we felt God wanted us to be out in the town available to more customers, so we looked into the possibility of renting a small outlet in the Bodhyfryd Road Market Hall in Llandudno. Around the same time, Peter Caldwell of Mostyn Estates and also a Tearfund Rep, heard of our plans and offered us a shop on Madoc Street at a peppercorn rent for the three months leading up to Christmas, to see what trade would be like.
We'd felt from the Lord that He'd said, "As you go step by step . . .," and this felt like the next step, so we agreed. Of course, we then needed other people to help us run the shop, and this is where Pam volunteered to do a half day. Trade was good and we were able to increase our stock.
Early in 2002, we realised that we were easily outgrowing the shop in Madoc Street, and a bigger shop on the other side of the street was empty and available to rent. We felt the next 'step' would be to grow the Fairtrade sales, add a 'Try before you Buy' Coffee Bar and incorporate a Christian Bookshop, all of which could be done in the larger premises. Mostyn Estates agreed to rent us 30 Madoc Street and a large number of people from Mostyn Estates, Emmanuel Christian Centre and the Presbyterian Church in Llandudno were roped in to fit out the shop using their physical and financial help to get it ready.
During the start of Fairtrade Fortnight in March 2002, Kingdom Krafts had its grand opening.
Jenni Spree