Because Every Handmade Object Has a Life of Meaning Behind It
Ten Thousand Villages is more than a store. It’s a place where you can explore and connect with your global village.
From communities throughout the developing world, every inspired design is crafted with love using local materials (usually natural or recycled) and time-honored skills by makers we have known and worked with for years.
Every purchase improves the lives of makers by supporting their craft and providing a fair, stable income.
We offer a way for you to become part of the story, to shop your values and give gifts with meaning. Because this is bigger than us.
FAQs
When did Ten Thousand Villages in Nashville open?
A group of volunteers donated their time and raised money to open Ten Thousand Villages in Nashville in 2001.
How is Ten Thousand Villages in Nashville rated as a non-profit?
Very well! Please see our details and ratings at Giving Matters
How can I help?
Buy fair-trade! In addition, we welcome donations and volunteers! You can donate at Giving Matters, and volunteer information is on the next tab. Also, we are looking for a couple of new board members with non-profit or leadership experience who have an interest in improving lives through fair-trade! See our contact information at far left to request more details.
What does the name Ten Thousand Villages mean?
Our name was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quote, “India is not to be found in its few cities but in the 700,000 villages. We have hardly ever paused to inquire if these folks get sufficient to eat and clothe themselves with.”
Ten Thousand Villages believes that each community in the world represents a unique, distinctive group of people. Multiply that idea by ten thousand and it represents the large, diverse community that comprises Ten Thousand Villages.
Where can I find more information on fair trade?
http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/about-fair-trade/
We welcome you to join our village of volunteers! As a nonprofit store, volunteers are crucial to our success, helping us to keep our overhead costs lower, which allows us to purchase more from artisans.
Positions: If you enjoy communicating with people and sharing stories, you might enjoy being a Sales Associate. Sales Associates actively engage customers to help them find gifts for any occasion. Associates also explain where crafts originate, how they are made and why buying at Ten Thousand Villages is so important to changing the lives of artisans around the world
If you prefer behind-the-scenes work, you might like to take on essentials such as unpacking and checking in merchandise when it arrives. No matter which role you choose, we provide adequate training to ensure all volunteers are comfortable in their roles.
Details: Volunteers usually work 4-hour shifts and start with 2 shifts per month. We request a commitment of at least three months. Volunteers sign up for shifts themselves, so they can pick times that work best with their schedules. All volunteers receive a 20% discount.
How to Apply: Let us know you're interested by filling out an application in our store. You can also call or email us--you'll find our contact info directly to the left of this page. We welcome volunteers any time of the year and we look forward to hearing from you soon!
Regular Hours
| Monday – Saturday |
10:00 – 6:00 |
| Sunday |
12:00 – 5:00 |
We are closed for the following holidays: New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Holiday Hours
For your shopping convenience, from Thanksgiving Friday through December 24, Ten Thousand Villages Nashville is open late on Thursday and Friday nights. We close at 4 pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
| Mon – Wed |
10:00 – 6:00 |
| Thu – Fri |
10:00 – 8:00 |
| Saturday |
10:00 – 6:00 |
| Sunday |
12:00 – 5:00 |
