Quick Conservation with Allen Bell, Director of Rio Grande, The Bell Group

MJSA Supports Fair Trade. Allen supports the idea of a fair trade conference.

Rio Grande is one of the top three wholesale suppliers to the jewelry industry. Located in Albuquerque NM, they have an excellent reputation in the community and the trade. Allen is chairman of the company. We spoke for a few minutes recently about some of the issues advocated on this site.

The first thing he mentioned was that he is on the board of directors of MJSA. The Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers is a jewelry trade resource and an advocacy group, lobbying on behalf of American jewelry manufacturers. According to Allen, it has recently taken a stand in support of Fair Trade.

I asked about Rio’s stance on fair trade and eco jewelry. Interestingly enough, already some products in these catalogs are manufactured on a fair trade basis, but they are not differentiated as so in their catalog.

He said that the Bell Group was in the process of “cleaning our own house first.” They are consolidating suppliers and working toward companies that support fair trade. He also mentioned an interest in supporting a fair trade jewelry conference.

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