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 Dear Friend of Ten Thousand Villages,
As we celebrate World Fair Trade Day on May 10, I want to thank you for shopping at Ten Thousand Villages! Your fair trade purchase helps us provide reliable income for tens of thousands of artisans throughout the world, enabling them to support their families, sustain their businesses and live with dignity.
As one of the world’s largest fair trade retailers, Ten Thousand Villages strives to meet a triple bottom line of social, economic and environmental responsibility. We maintain long-term relationships with artisans, providing a vital source of security during difficult times—which can result from causes ranging from natural disasters to civil unrest. Our cash advances of 50 percent when an order is placed allow artisans to purchase equipment and raw materials without going into debt. We pay a fair price for products, which ensures that artisans are adequately compensated for the time, labor and material resources invested in making each product. As well, our designers help artisans adapt traditional artistic skills to create a product that appeals to U.S. customers.
Ten Thousand Villages is pleased to market handcrafted products from more than 130 artisan groups in 36 countries. Through our nationwide retail network of 81 stores and our comprehensive e-commerce website, we bring sustainably produced giftware, home decor and personal accessories to the American consumer.
Visit tenthousandvillages.com often to find out more about our products, the artisans who make them and about the fair trade principles that support our work.
Craig Schloneger, CEO
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Canada
