Ten Thousand Villages, Richmond

Ten Thousand Villages in Richmond is a prominent fair trade retailer, specializing in artisan-crafted home decor, personal accessories, and gift items from around the world. Located on West Cary Street in the historic Carytown district, the store offers a unique array of products sourced from over 130 artisan groups in approximately 38 countries. This Richmond outlet is part of a larger network of over 390 retail outlets across the United States that sell products under the Ten Thousand Villages brand.

Founded over 60 years ago, Ten Thousand Villages is one of the oldest and largest fair trade organizations globally. The organization aims to provide fair pricing to artisans, many of whom are in regions with high underemployment or lack other income opportunities.

The Richmond store originally opened its doors in August 1995 under the name Selfhelp Crafts of the World, situated near the Byrd Theatre. It was initially staffed by a Store Manager and a handful of volunteers. Following a successful growth period, the store was rebranded as Ten Thousand Villages in 1997, a change meant to highlight the significance of the village as a symbol of family, tradition, and culture for many artisans.

In June 2001, the store moved to its current location on West Cary Street. Several renovations have taken place since then, including relocating the store offices from upstairs to the basement in February 2006 to accommodate a larger display area for merchandise. The store has also seen a significant increase in the number of volunteers and currently has four full-time staff and one seasonal staff member.