In order to keep costs down and return most of the proceeds to the artisans, Ten Thousand Villages adopt a volunteer-ran business model–volunteers are the lifeblood of the store.
Both Kitty and Polly, our two paid staff, are wonderful at recruiting, training and sustaining our dedicated volunteers.
Behind these numbers, we often get asked, “Why qualifies you as a nonprofit?”
Education is the reason why Ten Thousand Villages is registered as a nonprofit. It is part of our charter to tell the stories of artisans and educate Austinites about the impact of fair trade. (And ultimately, we do hope that you’ll buy our products to support the artisans.)
Education is also why Carolyn, a fellow volunteer board member, heads the Education & Speaker’s Bureau. Send her an e-mail, via Kitty, if you are interested in having us speak at your event.
Every so often, we co-host an event at our store with a local nonprofit. A percentage of that evening’s proceeds goes back to the particular nonprofit’s cause. The “catch” is that the more foot traffic the partner nonprofit brings in (which in turn translates into greater sales) the greater their share of the proceeds.
Drop me a line if you know of a 501c3 that would like to partner with Ten Thousand Villages. (December is booked but Kitty is ready to fill the January and February calendar.)
The Ig Nobel Prize which “honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think,” is a laugh-out-loud parody of the Noble Prize and a salute to the strange and silly in science.
During the ceremony’s 24/7 Lectures segment, a subject matter expert first provides a complete technical description in 24 seconds; and then a clear summary that anyone can understand in seven words. In this spirit, below is an explanation of fair trade –
First, a complete technical description in 24 seconds:
Fair trade is a sustainable system that endeavors to empower disadvantaged producers through payment of a fair price, democratically organized workplaces, technical assistance, social programming, equality for all, transparency, trust and environmental protection. It is a method of creating sustainable economies and new markets in otherwise poor developing countries, while simultaneously preserving traditional customs and practices. (Source: COFTA.)
And now a clear seven word summary that anyone can understand:
Fair payment for skilled but disadvantaged producers.
Story telling is a quintessential part of helping create and sustain a North American marketplace for fairly-traded coffee and handicrafts. Hear a coffee farmer’s tale in the above Transfair USA video (6:18).
Did you know that the World Bank has been blogging since February 2006?
The Private Sector Development Blog (PSD Blog) gathers together news, resources and ideas about the role of private enterprise in fighting poverty.
The PSD Blog is maintained by the World Bank Group’s Rapid Response knowledge service, which specializes in policy advice on business environment reform and privatization policy in developing countries.
New sites that I’ve gleaned from the list include Taraluna (organic, green gifts), Cred Jewellery (fair trade wedding rings), and Novica (an online arts agent, in association with National Geographic, for more than 2,000 artists).
This past Friday, Erin Gorman, CEO of Divine Chocolate USA, sent Kitty an introductory e-mail. Divine Chocolate, the world’s first farmer-owned fair trade chocolate company opened it’s Washington, DC, office on October 31.
First established in the UK in 1998, Divine Chocolate is part owned by the
farmers of Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana with additional investment from Lutheran World Relief and Oikocredit.
The packaging is clean and I love the dark and white chocolate selections. Fair trade foodstuff is positively addictive and, from a retail perspective, always a good add-on to the other non-edible handicrafts in the store. Just like the racks of candy at your grocer’s check out but with a heart. : )
