Global Village Nanaimo's seasonal fair trade store is welcoming customers at Nanaimo North Town Centre near the old Sears department store. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Fair trade store

Popular Nanaimo fair trade store has unique, socially conscious holiday shopping solutions

Nov 27, 2025 | 5:34 AM

NANAIMO — Despite an increasingly challenging retail landscape, a valued Nanaimo-based non-profit organization is offering something completely different is thriving.

Global Village Nanaimo (GVN), a well-established seasonal fair-trade store, has been open for the past several weeks at its temporary storefront at the south end of Nanaimo North Town Centre near the old Sears location.

The organization offers a wide range of household decor, clothing accessories, jewelry, and much more in support of fair-trade producers from around the world.

GVN executive director Joan Hiemstra said their regular shoppers and some new ones are making the effort to find their “tucked away” location.

Pottery from Guatemala on display at Global Village Nanaimo (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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“What hits everyone is the colour, the colours and the textures in the store this year are stronger than ever,” Hiemstra told NanaimoNewsNOW.

GVN, in its 29th year of operating a retail location in Nanaimo, currently has about 15 different countries and 20 to 25 supplier groups represented in-store.

Stating their support has in some cases been “life-changing,” Hiemstra said a collection of their suppliers has expanded to mainstream entities in their respective countries.

‘Which means they’re not just in boutiques, they’re becoming bigger and stronger and learning the western marketplace — that’s what we’re all about, that’s what we’re here to do.”

GVN Nanaimo abides by 10 fair trade principles, which their partner cooperatives and individuals must also follow, including no child and forced labour, transparency and accountability, and respecting the environment.

Dull and mundane are terms that don’t apply to Global Village Nanaimo (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Hiemstra said their products are carefully selected and practical items, often with vibrant colours and unique features.

She said GVN is truly a unique shopping experience.

“When you walk into our store, no one is trying to make a sale, but they are there to give you information if you want it. Information about where these products are from and how it might be used, because the products aren’t typical.”

GVN will be open daily at Nanaimo North Town Centre up until Christmas Eve.

Two pop-up stores are offered annually by GVN (spring and fall/winter) in different locations throughout Nanaimo.

More information on GVN, which includes an online store, is available here.

Slippers from Nepal are one of numerous products available from the Asian country. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Mittens, gloves and many other practical clothing accessories are available at Global Village Nanaimo (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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