World Shop Vipiteno

In 1999, a committed group of eight people founded the “Eine Welt Laden Sterzing” association. Their vision was to create a place where Fair Trade products could be offered while also raising awareness of global challenges.
The association soon attracted new members, and in March 2000 the shop opened its doors in Bäckergasse. In the years that followed, the association organised Christmas markets in Wiesen and Sterzing, as well as numerous events in the surrounding communities.
These activities were not only aimed at selling Fair Trade products, but also at raising public awareness of the importance of Fair Trade and global justice.
Four years later, in April 2004, the shop moved to Rathausgasse 7.

In November 2010, the members of the association founded the “Eine Welt Laden Sterzing” social cooperative. Since then, the World Shop has been run by the cooperative on a non-profit basis.
The Board of Directors, elected by the members, makes business decisions, approves the admission of new members, and determines the activities of the World Shop.

In August 2021, the Eine Welt Laden moved from its somewhat secluded location in Rathausgasse to a centrally located shop in Sterzing’s historic old town, just a short distance from the Zwölferturm.
At its new location, the shop is popular not only with the local community but also with numerous visitors and is valued as a place for conscious and responsible shopping.
The Board of Directors, elected by the members, makes business decisions, approves the admission of new members, and determines the activities of the World Shop.

All activities are carried out entirely by volunteers. A total of 22 volunteers take turns working in the shop on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Additional tasks – such as ordering products, arranging the shop and window displays, as well as administrative and organisational work – are mainly carried out by the members of the Board of Directors and the chairwoman.
At its new location, the shop is popular not only with the local community but also with numerous visitors and is valued as a place for conscious and responsible shopping.
The Board of Directors, elected by the members, makes business decisions, approves the admission of new members, and determines the activities of the World Shop.