ARGE world shops
The World Shops Working Group ( ARGE World Shops ) is the umbrella organization and service point for 90 world shops and a world café in Austria and their sponsors / associations. It was founded in 1982 by twelve third world shops with the aim of improving the cooperation between the world shop groups and, above all, of showing their interests to the importers of fairly traded products and to show the public development-political connections.
As a service point for the member shops, it offers further training for world shop employees and advice for world shops on start-ups, relocation and sales. Internal communication, cooperation and networking of the world shops are promoted through the world shop conferences, which take place twice a year, and regional meetings in all federal states.
As the umbrella organization, ARGE Weltladen also awards the Austrian Weltladen logo. The use of this logo is associated with contractually agreed conditions for world shops. The association has a special position in fair trade due to its audit function vis-à-vis the so-called recognized suppliers, which also enables the integration of (art) craft products into fair trade. (The Fairtrade seal of approval is only available for food.)
The ARGE Weltladen co-founded FAIRTRADE Austria and is a member, as well as the World Fair Trade Organization and WFTO Europe.