Profile of CONTIGO´s partner Calypso

Supply chain

• Trading Partner: Calypso, microenterprise
• Function: Producer
• Structure: Own production, associated workshops
• Tradeway: Direct import CONTIGO

Products

Jewellery made of glass and silver

Location

Santiago de Chile, Chile – distance to Europe: 12,200km

Founded in 1998

History

• 1995: Marcela Cofré Salinas initially a professional landscaper, discovers her passion for making glass jewellery and installs a small production in the backyard of a shoe making workshop
• 1998: After closing down the former production site, Calypso officially registers as a jewellery business and becomes the main family income of Marcela Cofré Salinas and her husband OscarMunoz
• Calypso increases production volume, sells items locally
• Due to weak national economy Calypso starts to export
• 2004: collaboration of Calypso and CONTIGO starts
• 2005: New building for a workshop is acquired
• Since 2009: regular participation in international trade fairs in order to expand customer base
• 2010: Crisis due to earth quake and rising costs
• March 2011: Calypso is restructured and size of workshop is cut in half
• Since 2011: Member of World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO), strong cooperation with other Chilean fair trade organisations
• October 2015: organisation of and participation in Chilean first fair trade exhibition
• 2019: Calypso reduces staff and production, workshop is rented out to Green Glass, company of Marcela Cofre’s son
• 2020: under Covid pandemic workshop is downsized again to only family members. Calypso focuses on promoting Fairtrade in Chile, building up a network of small producers and creating opportunities for them to sell directly on the domestic market
• 2021: Product range is extended by ceramic products (tableware and jewellery)

Cooperation with CONTIGO since 2004

Why does CONTIGO work with Calypso: Calypso is dedicated to the concept of Fairtrade. Te founder Marcela Cofre is president of the Chile association of Fairtrade and built up a nation wide network of artisans and supporters. Contigo appreciates the quality and creativity of Calypso’s glass jewellery.

Structure of the business

The family premises is shared by Calypso and Green Glass (founded by Marcela´s son Oscar). The production facilities are used by both companies.

In 2020 under Covid pandemic Calypso downsized operation drastically. Green Glass rented the complete premises and took over some staff from Calypso. The founder couple Marcela Cofre and her husband Oscar senior as well as Master Miguel Casas (for glass polishing) are still in production, her daughter Paloma (student) assists her parents by building up a webshop for domestic sales.

Number of employees:

• founder couple Marcela Cofre and her husband Oscar (senior)
• part-time employee Master Miguel Casas (for glass polishing)
• Outdoor cooperation:
  • Don Renato Varas (with 1 employee), family workshop for all silver work
  • Two ladies Sonia and Romina (single mother with 2 kids) working from home. For both of them assembling of necklaces is a sideline income
  • Since 2021 cooperation with two external potters Jorge Rosales from Pomaire (ca. 60 km south of Santiago de Chile) and David Gomero, as well as another potter’s assistant

Sales

• Exports (95%) to USA (souvenir shops of cruise lines), Germany, France. In 2020 sales to US cruise lines stopped completely due to Covid.
• 5% domestic sales via webshop and exhibitions in Chile.

Goals

• To promote Fairtrade in Chile
• To empower small producers to market handicrafts in Chile and overseas directly by participating in exhibitions
• To open a permanent Fairtrade outlet for crafters in a renowned city mall

 

Fairtrade classification

FTA = Fairtrade Approved

 

Fairtrade aspects

Calypso complies with the following Fairtrade Principles:

No child labour

No discrimination

No discrimination due to gender, disability, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political orientation, or infection with HIV

Fair wages

• since 2020: only founder couple is working indoor
• outdoor work is paid per piece on mutual agreement

Humane working conditions

Working hours:

• 9 hours/day (8:30am – 5:30pm)
• 1 break (lunch)
• 5 days/week

Social benefits:

• only founder couple is working

Transparency

• SAR (Self Assessment Report) was duly submitted to CONTIGO

Monitoring

• Personal visits in Santiago de Chile (2012)
• Feedback interview during several visits in Germany
• Member of:
  • WFTO (World Fair Trade Organization) since 2011

Country information

See Encyclopaedia Britannica: Chile

Photos

Visiting Calypso

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