About Ten Thousand Villages in Salt Lake City, UT
Ten Thousand Villages in Salt Lake City, UT, is a fair trade retailer of artisan-crafted home decor, personal accessories and gift items from across the globe. Featuring products from more than 130 artisan groups in some 38 countries, we are part of a network of over 390 retail outlets throughout the United States selling Ten Thousand Villages products.
As one of the world’s oldest and largest fair trade organizations, Ten Thousand Villages has spent more than 60 years cultivating trading relationships in which artisans receive a fair price for their work and consumers have access to distinctive handcrafted items. We seek to establish long-term buying relationships in places where skilled artisans are under- or unemployed, and in which they lack other opportunities for income. A founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), Ten Thousand Villages sees fair trade as an alternative approach to conventional international trade.
In the fall of 1998, Georgia Baddley and Denise Winslow were on a business trip to Idaho when they walked by a store full of unique gifts from around the world. They entered the store and were amazed at the quality craftsmanship of the items. The store manager shared the mission of Ten Thousand Villages and informed them that as a non-profit organization, these stores depend heavily on volunteer assistance. Ten Thousand Villages is in business to benefit the producers (Third World artisans) not retailers, or wholesalers.
Intrigued by what they learned and desiring to be a part of such a worthy cause, they came back to Utah and began to organize and share their vision of a store in Utah. Over time, friends and like-minded citizens joined them and in the fall of 1999, they formed a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization named "Ten Thousand Villages, Utah." By the first quarter of 2000, they had sold over $17,000 worth of merchandise at local sales. Because of this dedication, Ten Thousand Villages, Utah was selected as a start-up site by the parent organization. With the assistance of a team of professionals from the Ten Thousand Villages National offices, the Salt Lake City store opened for business in the Sugar House business district on August 18, 2000.
Today, Ten Thousand Villages Utah operates as a grassroots, community founded, non-profit with Ten Thousand Villages National as our largest vendor.
Staff Profiles
Neelam Chand
Our Executive Director, Neelam Chand, is a graduate from the University of Utah in Public Relations/ Marketing. Neelam sits on two boards, Ronald McDonald House of Charity Young Professional (Social Chair) and Self Reliance (Development Committee). In her free time, Neelam is very passionate about getting involved with the community, teaching about social justice and social change. Her goal is to be involved with anything promoting equity and eventually leave a legacy behind.
"There is nothing like coming to work everyday knowing you are making a difference in someones life through fair trade, Ten Thousand Villages is truly a phenomenal organization."
Contact: neelamchand@villagesutah.org
Stephanie Lanesey Smart
Our Assistant Director, Stephanie Smart is a graduate of Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT with a degree in International Business and a minor in Marketing. Stephanie is interested in encouraging economic opportunities in developing countries and she is passionate about empowering women and improving education throughout the world. When not at Ten Thousand Villages, she teaches adult English classes in Salt Lake City.
Every aspect of Fair Trade is crucial to eradicating poverty around the world; from protecting children to building sustainable businesses in the most challenging economies. Ten Thousand Villages is an organization where every purchase is a step towards improving another human being's life."
contact: ssmart@villagesutah.org
