This weekend, Zee Bee Market, a boutique featuring Fair Trade and local goods, will open in the South Grand Neighborhood at 3211 South Grand.
A native of Peru, owner Julio Zegarra-Ballon has had a passion for fair-trade products since seeing the conditions of artisans in developing countries first-hand.
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“Local economies don’t often allow artists to sell products at a fair price,” says Zegarra-Ballon, “and being able to export to the U.S. gives them many more opportunities.”
Zegarra-Ballon’s professional retail background and involvement in Partners for Just Trade, a local non-profit that builds partnerships between producers living in extreme poverty and consumers in North America, made for a smooth transition to starting his retail business Zee Bee Market a few years ago.
“I first started selling fair-trade products at farmers’ markets and in an online shop, and I kept getting more and more demand for a retail location,” Zegarra-Ballon explains. “I thought the South Grand neighborhood would be a perfect place. Since it’s always been a great destination for international dining, I thought it would make sense to add a global retail component, and the South Grand Business District was very supportive.”
Zee Bee Market’s retail boutique will feature a variety of fair-trade products, from home goods and art to clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. Zegarra-Ballon says they will also carry fair trade coffee and chocolate, along with products from local artists, such as personalized jewelry maker Donna Fox’s line, Crow Steals Fire.
Before Zee Bee Market opens its doors to the public on Saturday, the shop will host a private grand opening event from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, featuring 20 percent off every purchase for attendees. Tickets are $20 to benefit Partners for Just Trade.
