“Fair Trade” in Lake Country Wisconsin
As a Realtor®, for Shorewest in the Lake Country area, transferees often ask me about the “Lake Country Lifestyle”. “What are the schools like? How is the shopping? Where can we find interesting and unique things to do relative to the arts and entertainment?” Of course, all of Southeastern Wisconsin enjoys the beautiful attributes of Greater Milwaukee. In addition to the shops and restaurants in Milwaukee County, Waukesha County offers many wonderful and diverse places to eat, recreate, and shop.
One of my newfound favorites is a fair trade shop, called “Trails to Bridges”, in Hartland. Starting as a home-based business, the owner eventually went to a small retail space, and ultimately, the storefront shop she just opened. She, and her husband, personally visit and become familiar with the people behind the items she sells. I was first introduced to their unique items via a visit the owner made to my local church, in Oconomowoc. She effectively turned our fellowship area into a “smorgasbord” of wonderful and exotic hand-made articles from around the world.
A member of the Fair Trade Federation, “Trails to Bridges” assists in lifting families from some of the world’s poorest locations, out of a lifestyle of poverty, by supplying a fair and equitable business system in which to market their wares. The Realtor® in me finds this especially honorable. In spite of challenging economic times, Wisconsin residents enjoy a very high standard of living, as compared to the world at large. I have the unique pleasure of sharing this wonderful and prosperous lifestyle of Lake Country with my clients and customers. It’s nice to know that by patronizing a local merchant, we can all do a small part in passing along some economic success to those whose challenges far outweigh our own.
So, next time you may be out looking for something unique and special, check out “Trails to Bridges” on E Capitol, in downtown Hartland.
Posted by:
Karen Trepton
