Ten Thousand Villages

For the China-Africa Cooperation project which aims to reduce the digital divide in African rural areas, see Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages.
Ten Thousand Villages
Company typeNon-profit organization
Founded1946 (1946)
FounderEdna Ruth Byler
HeadquartersAkron, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Key people
Dan Alonso, CEO,
Ed Diller, Chair of the Board
ProductsHome Décor, Jewelry, Personal Accessories, Tabletop, Plant and Garden, Baskets, Personal Care, Global Treasures, Stationery, Toys and Games, Musical Instruments, Nativities and Festive Decor
RevenueN/A
N/A
Websitetenthousandvillages.com

Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit fair trade organization that markets handcrafted products from artisans in more than 35 countries.[1] It is an early participant in the fair trade movement,[2] and facilitates the sale of gifts, accessories, and home décor sourced from fair trade supply chains. It is a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and a certified member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF).[1][3]

History

Logo of SELFHELP Crafts of the World, later to become Ten Thousand Villages.

Edna Ruth Byler founded the organization in 1946 following a trip to Puerto Rico.[4][5][6] With support from the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), she began selling handcrafted products from her car. By 1958, she expanded to a storefront called Self Help Crafts.[4][6][7] Her goal was to create a marketplace for artisan products to generate income for people in developing countries. The organization's early philosophy was based on Mennonite values such as compassion, service, mutual aid, and peacemaking.[8]

In the 1970s, the project moved out of Byler's basement and became SELFHELP Crafts of the World, an official MCC program. In 1994, the company became a member of the FTF.[3] In 1996, the name was changed to Ten Thousand Villages, inspired by a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “India is not to be found in its few cities, but in the 700,000 villages.”[8]

From 2006 to 2007, the company increased its purchases from artisans by more than USD 1 million. In 2007, Ten Thousand Villages redesigned its stores to minimize environmental impact and meet its "triple bottom line" of economic, environmental, and social sustainability. By 2008, the company's sales surpassed 25.5 million USD, with one-third paid directly to artisans and the other two-thirds covering importing, storage, marketing, retail costs, and administration.[8]

In 2012, Ten Thousand Villages and the MCC entered into a partnership agreement.[9] Ten Thousand Villages is no longer wholly owned by the MCC. In 2019, Gordon Zook became the company's CEO.[9]

Ten Thousand Villages Canada closed corporate operations in June 2020, after which four stores remained open due to a licensing agreement and a few others rebranded to continue operating independently.[10] In May 2022, Dan Alonso was appointed as the new CEO.[11]

In January 2025, the organization announced the closure of its 13 company-owned US retail locations, leaving 21 independent, local board-run stores as their brick-and-mortar channel. Ten Thousand Villages will continue e-commerce retailing and wholesaling to its fair-trade affiliates.[12][13]

Artisan partners

Ten Thousand Villages provides guidance to artisans on employing environmentally sustainable production methods and using recycled or natural materials.[14]

The organization establishes long-term trade relationships with groups representing craftspeople who lack access to traditional markets and produce goods suitable for North American retail.[15] Most of these groups are located in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. The organization frequently partners with groups that provide training and employment to individuals facing barriers in the mainstream labor market, such as those disadvantaged because of disability or gender.

Artisans are paid 50% of the agreed-upon price up front to cover the cost of raw materials, with the remaining 50% paid upon product completion.[16] This full payment is issued before the products are shipped to North America, regardless of whether the items are eventually sold.[16]

Marketing Director Doug Dirks estimated that market prices abroad can be up to five times the amount paid to the artisan. He said that the company accepts the associated financial risks because it is important to their mission. Most artisans in these countries cannot obtain business loans from local banks.[15][14]

Operations

Ten Thousand Villages store in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

The Ten Thousand Villages USA headquarters is currently located in Akron, Pennsylvania.[17] The organization operates as both a wholesaler and a retailer, which sells various home goods and baked items.

Media

In 2005, Ten Thousand Villages released a DVD titled The Power of Trading Fairly, discussing artisan partners from Bangladesh, Guatemala, and Kenya.

In 2006, the organization released Make Trade Fair, a compilation CD created to support of Ten Thousand Villages.

Impact

The fair trade practices of Ten Thousand Villages directly support tens of thousands of artisans around the world.[17] In 2009, the company conducted their “One Reason Why” campaign which showcased some of these anecdotal stories. The campaign revolved around printed and digital materials (such as bookmarks and DVDs) that presented artisans’ “one reason why” fair trade had made a difference in their lives.[18] Some of the generally small artisan groups or families have transformed into full-fledged businesses that employ hundreds to thousands of people.[8] However, little research has been conducted to determine the quantitative impact of Ten Thousand Villages and its worldwide fair trade partnerships.[18]

International impact on pop culture

During the early-to-mid 2020s, Ten Thousand Villages has been closed to the public in Steinbach, Manitoba and replacing it to the new Gifts of Happiness store. It sells pop culture icons and cartoons including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, who represents The Walt Disney Company, Tom and Jerry which represents Warner Bros. Pictures, Doraemon, Lilo & Stitch characters, Anime characters, and Nintendo characters including Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.: The Movie which was released few years ago. Evrett Penner, who posted this video on YouTube, which was released two years ago in 2024 to promote happiness in selling Donald Duck themed merchandise in any Mennonite community.[19]

References

  • Garriga, Maria. New Haven, Conn., fair trade shop owners pay Third World artisans fairly. Knight Ridder Tribune Business News. Washington: 2004-12-26.
  • "Our History". Ten Thousand Villages. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  1. ^ a b "Ten Thousand Villages, the Oldest Fair Trade Organization in the U.S., Automates and Streamlines eCommerce Channels with Channel Sales Manager" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-09-29.
  2. ^ "Harvard Business Publishing Education". hbsp.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  3. ^ a b "Ten Thousand Villages USA". Fair Trade Federation. Retrieved 2025-02-11.
  4. ^ a b Mora, Gia (16 January 2023). "What Is Fair Trade? Overview and Consumer Tips". Treehugger. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  5. ^ Gill, Dana (2021-11-04). "Ten Thousand Villages: Maker-to-Market Works to End Poverty". BORGEN. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  6. ^ a b Binda, Larry (2020-03-31). "A World of Good: Retailer Ten Thousand Villages has been a pioneer in fair trade, ethical practices". TheBurg. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  7. ^ "It takes Ten Thousand Villages to raise hope". WCPO 9 Cincinnati. 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  8. ^ a b c d Wolfer, Terry & del Pila, Katrina (2008). "Ten Thousand Villages: Partnering with Artisans to Overcome Poverty". Social Work & Christianity.
  9. ^ a b Danziger, Pamela N. "Ten Thousand Villages Appoints New CEO As It Doubles Down On 'People And Planet First' Retail Mission". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  10. ^ "Ten Thousand Villages Canada". archive.ph. 2022-03-12. Archived from the original on 2022-03-12. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  11. ^ "Ten Thousand Villages names new chief executive". Anabaptist World. 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  12. ^ Huber, Tim (May 21, 2025). "Ten Thousand Villages closes 13 stores, pivots to online, wholesale strategy". Anabaptist World. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  13. ^ "Fair-trade gift shop Ten Thousand Villages closing in Northampton, 12 other sites". MassLive. 2025-01-09.
  14. ^ a b "Fair Trade". Ten Thousand Villages. Archived from the original on 2011-12-08. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
  15. ^ a b Sarika, Dani (2005). "Nontraditional Strategies". Chain Store Age.
  16. ^ a b Cineas, Fabiola (2019-12-27). "How Ten Thousand Villages Is Surviving the Retail Apocalypse". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  17. ^ a b Mary Conway; Joyce, Marry & Manolis, Chris (2006). "Creating Effective Customer Relationships in Not-for-profit Retailing: the Ten Thousand Villages example". International Journal of Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Marketing.
  18. ^ a b Kitchen, Jane (2009). " "Ten Thousand Villages". Gifts & Decorative Accessories.
  19. ^ Anna Nurmela (2021-04-20). "Good Morning! Good Day! Good Afternoon! Good Evening! Good Night!". doi.org. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
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