Phoenix Traders is so named because it rises like that legendary bird from the ashes of co-owner Jim Phelps' engineering career. There is a second meaning, though, as this phoenix also represents the continuing rebirth of the mid-town district of Rockford. Certainly Phelps and his wife (and co-owner of the company) Janet had that in mind both in the creation and the location of the store. Jim Phelps says that there is a "social prerogative" to both.  He describes it as the fact that "the only way Rockford is going to grow is for people to go out as pioneers and take chances." In the view of this writer, the people of Rockford can help by supporting those pioneers like Phelps by patronizing their businesses.

While part of the vision behind Phoenix Traders is a social consciousness toward the revitalization of Rockford, it doesn't end there. The Phelps' concept includes other forms of business humanization. For one thing they are in the process of setting the store up as an employee owned entity - and currently give all their employees a very open forum to discuss the operations and future of the venture. Looking to a more global viewpoint, though, shows yet another side to Phoenix Traders' social conscience. The vast majority of the wares of the store are made up of Fair Trade commodities. This alone truly sets them apart from the vast majority of corporate retailers out there.

According to Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia, "The fair trade movement, also known as the trade justice movement, promotes international labour, environment and social standards for the production of traded goods and services. The movement focuses in particular on exports from the Third and Second Worlds to the First World." That source further explains that "implicit (and often explicit) in these approaches is a criticism of the current organisation of international trade as being "unfair". When developing countries export to rich country markets, they face tariff barriers that are four times higher than those encountered by rich countries. Poverty campaigners claim that those barriers cost poor countries $100bn a year - twice as much as they receive in aid. Advocates of fair trade practices also hold that the fluctuation of commodity prices does not guarantee a living wage for many producers in developing countries, forcing many into crippling debt. Market prices may not properly reflect the true costs associated with producing the product due to economic externalities such as environmental and social costs." To cut to the chase, Fair Trade suppliers believe in providing a living wage to the people who manufacture their goods, and also in helping those people to establish viable and profitable businesses. They practice working in tandem with suppliers rather than exploitation of those who are dealing from a weaker economic and social position.

Phelps is no stranger to the Fair Trade movement. While Phoenix the store has only been around for about a year, Phelps has been working as a wholesaler of Fair Trade goods for over twice that long. Even when the store carries non-fair trade merchandise, there is a greater good in mind in that practice. Phelps points to hooded jackets that start at 9.99 as just such an example. His thought is that, while the quality of hand made fair trade items is better, they are also more expensive and beyond the reach of the budgets of some customers who simply need something to keep them warm. The store also stocks a good range of items that are purely American in manufacture, and therefore fall outside the definition of "fair trade."

Enough talk of the social philosophies of the store, though - you are probably asking what can I find at Phoenix Traders. Well, there is a lot in store for you when you visit. They have the aforementioned jackets, but also a whole lot more. Their website proclaims that their "product line is an eclectic mix of merchandise from Alpaca sweaters and jackets to bags, scrunchies, ashtrays, to tie-dye and batik apparel, scarves, and hats, and so much more." The site really does a fine job of describing the store by continuing on to say "Phoenix Traders is an imaginatively spirited importer of fine handicrafts and artifacts from planet Earth. We directly support the artisans with the belief that trade is a two-way street. We practice Fair Trade and return a portion of earnings to the international communities that make our business possible. We are constantly seeking products that enrich and improve the quality of life for both the artisans and purchasers of our offerings." I'm sure from those descriptions that visions of certain shops in cities like Madison and Chicago come to mind. Well, you are on the right track there. This is big city cool in Rockford, Illinois.