The idea for IN Exchange was sparked in the summer of 2005 when Erica Trani, the Founder and Director of IN Exchange, traveled to Ecuador to work with a fair trade chocolate cooperative called Kallari. Kallari was developed, and is operated by, the Kichwa indigenous people of the Amazon Rainforest.
While in Ecuador, Trani saw first-hand the incredible impact fair trade can have in economically developing areas. She discovered that fair trade across international borders is a compelling system that empowers historically marginalized groups and that can lift people, and communities, out of poverty. By the time Erica returned to the United States she was determined to help build the fledgling United States fair trade market.
Shortly after Erica touched down in the United States, state side Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. Unable to return home to New Orleans, she enrolled for one term at the University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA). It was during her time at UCLA that Erica put together the final pieces for the idea of IN Exchange.
"There were vendors under tents all over the campus – entrepreneurs from the community that made a living selling to UCLA students. At my alma mater, Tulane University, I knew of no space on campus offered to local entrepreneurs to vend to the students," Trani said in an interview. She was confident that with some planning, this style of vending would work to bring the fair trade market to New Orleans and provide a new opportunity to Tulane University students.
Upon returning home to New Orleans, she decided to combine this vision with her aspiration to assist the artisans she worked with in Ecuador. Erica embarked on launching an on-campus enterprise at Tulane University exhibiting both local and global apparel, accessories, art, and food goods – what she felt was the best use of her connections and resources to address the economic needs that so clearly existed in both Ecuador and now in New Orleans, post Katrina.
On October 1, 2007, IN Exchange opened for business and is still going strong thanks to the help of conscious consumers.