Ten Thousand Villages

Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit fair trade organization that markets handcrafted products from artisans in over 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]

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.^[10] 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.^[11] In May 2022, Dan Alonso was appointed as the new CEO.^[12]

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 continued e-commerce retailing and wholesaling to its fair-trade affiliates.^[13][14]

Ten Thousand Villages provides guidance to artisans on employing environmentally sustainable production methods and using recycled or natural materials.^[15]

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.^[16] 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.^[17] This full payment is issued before the products are shipped to North America, regardless of whether the items are eventually sold.^[17]

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.^[16][15]

The Ten Thousand Villages USA headquarters is currently located in Akron, Pennsylvania.^[18] operating both a wholesaler and a retailer, selling various home goods and baked items.

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.

The fair trade practices of Ten Thousand Villages directly support tens of thousands of artisans around the world.^[18] 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.^[19] Some of the 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.^[19]

• Official US site.
• Official Canadian site.
• Ten Thousand Villages at Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online