Why” We Are
As a non-profit, fair-trade retail store, Ten Thousand Villages can be a difficult organization to fit into a “category” of sorts. “Retail” and “non-profit” are not generally used to describe the same organization, and “fair trade” is often misunderstood or not understood at all. But at Ten Thousand Villages, they all work well together. And as you read on, you will see why Ten Thousand Villages is in a category all its own.

At Ten Thousand Villages, our mission is to provide vital, fair income to people in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean by marketing their products and telling their stories in North America. These artisans from diverse cultures around the world are the creators of the quality products sold in our store. Their home furnishings, jewelry, fashion accessories, and a range of unique collectibles and gifts reflect and reinforce rich cultural traditions.

The artisans, who otherwise would be unemployed or underemployed, receive fair and livable wages, use environmentally sustainable resources, and work in fair and safe working conditions. Their income helps pay for food, education, health care and housing for themselves, their families and their village communities. The participation of children (if any) in the creation of the products sold at Ten Thousand Villages does not adversely affect their well being, security, educational requirements and need for play, and conforms to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as the law and norms in the local context.

Living and Teaching the Fair Trade Lifestyle
Does it make a difference where we shop? At Ten Thousand Villages, we believe it does. When we conscientiously shop fair trade, we bring our ethics to the marketplace with an understanding of who made the items and who is benefiting from our payment for them. As consumers of fair trade items, we do so much more than assist the artisans to rise above a lifestyle of poverty. Our worlds also are enriched further as we embrace the beauty of other cultures, decorating our living space in an expression of taste and style, perhaps representing our heritage and family traditions, and knowing that the artisans’ lives are enriched because of our purchases.

We believe strongly in what we call the “fair trade lifestyle,” and we appreciate the opportunity to educate students and adults in the community who want to learn more about it. In 2005, we conducted 26 such presentations and reached more than 1,200 students at our store and in local schools. We also reached out to adults in the community, making 10 presentations to over 200 people in church and civic organizations who want to learn more about fair trade and what we do at Ten Thousand Villages.

Volunteers: More Than Half the Story
Our success over the years is due in large part to our volunteer sales associates, who consistently work more than half of the hours at the store. In 2005, volunteers worked a total of 5,494 hours at Ten Thousand Villages of Raleigh. That’s 53 percent of the total 10,310 hours sales associate staff hours. Additionally, our volunteers contributed approximately 700 more hours to check in merchandise, manage the mailing list database, develop and maintain the Web site, and plan and implement the 10th anniversary celebration.

Ten Thousand Villages of Raleigh also is governed by a seven-member, volunteer Board of Directors, which meets bimonthly to plan and approve implementations that will achieve the organization’s mission and to safeguard the assets and future viability of the organization. Board members also contribute their time on various Board sub-committees, giving community presentations and at special events held at the store. These additional volunteer hours are not reflected in the volunteer hours noted above.

2005 Sales Associate Staff Hours
Ten Thousand Villages of Raleigh

Leading Sales in the United States
More than 60,000 artisans in 32 countries are part of the 110 artisan groups from whom Ten Thousand Villages purchases the items for sale in the store. We offer a 50 percent advance as operating capital to artisans and pay in full when an order is shipped to the Ten Thousand Villages headquarters. Our buyers maintain a schedule to ensure regular visits with artisans where they live and work. Continuing orders provide these artisans with stability, self-sufficiency and respect, and room to hope and dream.

As a non-profit retail store, any “profit” beyond operating expenses is used to directly or indirectly to further support the artisans. The funds are used to help start new Ten Thousand Villages stores throughout the United States, which helps artisans by making their products available to more markets. The funds also allow us to purchase more merchandise directly from artisans.

In 2005, Ten Thousand Villages of Raleigh reached $604,000 in total sales – a record for the store and the sixth highest among all 110 Ten Thousand Villages stores and partner stores in the United States. While the majority of the sales were in-store, more than $16,000 of the total sales came from school sales and other off-site sales in the community.

10 Years and Thousands of Artisans
In 2005, Ten Thousand Villages of Raleigh celebrated its 10th Anniversary, which is reason enough for some retail stores to mark the occasion. But for this store, the knowledge that thousands of skilled artisans’ lives improved during that time because of the help the store provided is the true reason to celebrate.

That’s just what Ten Thousand Villages did on September 10, 2005, when it recognized its 10th Anniversary with a daylong festival of dance, music and crafts demonstrations. Within an atmosphere of cultural diversity, the festival featured world beats of Zindagi, as well as performances from Blue Moon Belly Dancers and the Raleigh Drum Circle, while wire artist Jonathan Daniel captivated audiences with an account of his childhood in Zimbabwe where he created his first wire sculpture. Women from the Refugee Resettlement Program of Lutheran Family Services participated, too, with demonstrations of their artistry.

Underlying the festivities was a true sense of pride in all that Ten Thousand Villages of Raleigh has accomplished throughout its 10-year history. And we look forward to many more decades of serving our local and global communities.

Nationally Recognized as Green Business of the Year
It’s always nice to be recognized for what you believe to be good work for a good cause. And in this case, the recognition was more than nice; it was a true honor. In 2005, Akron, Pa., based-Ten Thousand Villages-US, the largest and oldest fair trade home décor and gift retailer in the United States, received Co-op America's People’s Choice Award for Green Business of the Year. The award, announced November 4, 2005, at the San Francisco Green Festival, recognizes Ten Thousand Villages as a leader among businesses across the country committed to social and environmental responsibility.

Ten Thousand Villages was chosen to receive the People’s Choice Award for Green Business of the Year by a popular vote of the general public. Conscientious consumers around the country nominated more than 70 green and fair trade companies that are members of Co-op America’s Business Network for the first People’s Choice Award for Green Business of the Year. Thousands of socially conscious consumers cast their vote on the Co-op America Web site September 15 - October 21, 2005 and at the Washington, D.C., Green Festival in late September.

The award was accepted by Ten Thousand Villages Director of Public Relations Doug Dirks, who did so on behalf of the artisans who, within very difficult circumstances, create the beautiful, handcrafted gifts and home décor our customers find at Ten Thousand Villages stores across the country, as well as on behalf of our many customers who expect Ten Thousand Villages to provide gifts created in a healthy, green manner.

Green businesses operate in ways that solve, rather than cause, both environmental and social problems. These businesses adopt principles, policies, and practices that improve the quality of life for their customers, employees, communities, and the environment.

Ten Thousand Villages-U.S. is a founding member of the International Federation of Alternative Trade (IFAT) and member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), both of which aim to improve the livelihood of disadvantaged people in developing countries and to change unfair structures of international trade. Ten Thousand Villages of Raleigh purchases products only from carefully chosen organizations that are members of the IFAT and FTF.