Shared Earth began as a small shop in Goodramgate, York in October 1986. Its founder, Jeremy Piercy, travelled to India after leaving school and wanted to do something to help redress the imbalance of wealth in the world, work together with people from different cultures, and at the same time earn a living. Fair Trade was the obvious answer and the original shop contained a wide mix of products from Asia, Africa and South America.

Also high on the agenda was addressing environmental problems and the shop was an excellent way of making recycled and sustainable products available and publicising the issues.

Shared Earth have now expanded their geographical range of suppliers, to include products from Bali and the Philippines, and have become a true worldwide fairtrade supplier.