For my honors thesis research project, I was interested to learn more about why not everyone purchases fair trade products. The goal of this project is to research more about if there is a lack of awareness regarding fair trade products? And if there were more awareness would people seek out fairly traded products? This paper highlights what I learned about fair trade products as well as what I did to educate people in my community on fair trade.

The Clutch Services App is a platform that was imagined with the intent to bridge the gap in the Arizona State student commerce market that exists between student entrepreneurs and consumers. Our thesis validated the gap in the market through intensive research that emphasized student demand and an in-person demonstration of the problem the application would seek to solve. We consistently surveyed the student population testing if there is an existing platform that closes the gap in the market, their awareness of entrepreneurs on campus, interest in supporting student-owned businesses, and overall interest in a platform that would host ASU student-owned businesses. Additionally, we hosted an ASU Student Business Fair, on campus, to physically represent the functionality of the app and its purpose. Through these methods we were able to successfully validate the demand for a platform, exclusively for ASU students, that showcases student-owned businesses to better connect them with the student population.