By now, we know that it takes a village to raise a child. But one company with a local presence believes it takes Ten Thousand Villages to support the artisans of developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

Ten Thousand Villages invites us to “discover a world of difference by shopping an extensive selection of authentic handmade pieces that not only look good, but do good.” With the belief that each village in the world has its unique strengths, multiplying by 10,000 brings a dazzling array of handicrafts, along with the opportunity to work toward economic stability. 

• The company was founded more than 60 years ago by a businesswoman who witnessed extreme poverty in Puerto Rico and was inspired to find market-based solutions
• Selling handcrafted products out of her car, the founder discovered a way to support artisans and educate Americans about their lives
• Sales now exceed $20 million annually

From its humble beginnings, Ten Thousand Villages has developed an extensive distribution network with more than 150 stores across the US and Canada. Its Pittsburgh location is staffed by 60 volunteers and features products from nearly 40 developing countries across the world. In addition to the stores, festival sales take place in communities across North America, with nearly 300 events annually, each lasting several days. Merchandise is shipped to sponsoring organizations, who are entitled to up to 10% of the proceeds. 

The online store offers a wide variety of goods: jewelry, home décor, toys and games, stationery and musical instruments are among the listed goods. Budget-conscious shoppers can view selections by price, and those with upcoming special events can take advantage of the gift registry.

Ten Thousand Villages is a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization, which includes more than 350 fair trade organizations in 70 countries. It works with its artisan partners to set a fair price that takes into account the costs of production and the need to earn a living wage. Any surplus earned is used to continue the growth of the network of stores and to fund additional purchases from artisans.

By providing high-quality goods to consumers and a living wage to artisans worldwide, Ten Thousand Villages has created a win-win situation, championing its cause to build economic stability in villages across the world.

Keywords: artisans, crafts, handicrafts, jewelry, Pittsburgh, Ten Thousand Villages, village, World Fair Trade Organization