Consumer behavior has altered in recent years amid a growing digital influence. Most retail players have developed an online presence for the same reason. Non-profit establishment Ten Thousand Villages has also hopped on the bandwagon by announcing the closure of its brick-and-mortar stores and taking the digital path.
Highlights
- Ten Thousand Villages announced the shutdown of 13 brick-and-mortar stores in different U.S. locations.
- The non-profit retail store switches to an online mode of fair trade business through this development.
- Ten Thousand Villages will partner with other nonprofit collaborators/retailers for a wholesale network of licensed stores.
Ten Thousand Villages Heading for an Operational Revamp
The fair trade retail store, which allows local artisans to showcase their handmade crafts, undergoes an operational revamp after 79 years. With plans to close its brick-and-mortar outlets across the U.S., Ten Thousand Villages is preparing to sustain itself in the current, online marketplace.
The popular non-profit establishment’s new model includes online and wholesale aspects of the fair trade business. With this, Ten Thousand Villages will join hands with other nonprofit organizations that will open their stores. This way, the merchandise of the Pennsylvania-based organization will be stored.
The partner stores of Ten Thousand Villages can also sell other goods.
Reason for Closure
Ten Thousand Villages cited an emphasis on wholesale partnerships and e-commerce progress as the reason for closing offline stores. It stated that the strategized step was to continue supporting local artisans while thriving online through a wholesale network of licensed stores.
In this backdrop, Dan Alonso, the fair trade organization’s CEO, expressed his gratitude to the employees and support staff for managing both artisans and customers. He added that the non-profit organization would help them through the latest transition.
List of Closing Brick-and-Mortar Stores
The stores impacted by the latest closure-related step of Ten Thousand Villages are mentioned below.
- Albany, New York
- Burlington, Vermont
- Charlottesville, Virginia
- Intercourse, Pennsylvania
- Media, Pennsylvania
- Montreat, North Carolina
- Northampton, Massachusetts
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Portsmouth, New Hampshire
- Richmond, Virginia
- San Antonio, Texas
- West Hartford, Connecticut
- Austin, Texas
About Ten Thousand Villages
The non-profit organization markets handcrafted items prepared by 120+ groups of local artisans across 30+ countries. Based in Pennsylvania, the 1946-started fair trade retail shop is driven to offer aesthetic items in low-income communities. Edna Ruth Byler started the organization.
What Lies Ahead for the Nonprofit Fair Trade Establishment?
Ten Thousand Villages’ latest transition hints at a streamlined operational setup. This would allow Ten Thousand Villages to connect with online customers while maintaining its focus on supporting artisans through fair trade.
Removal of 13 brick-and-mortar stores could reduce the non-profit organization’s overhead costs and expand its reach through a digital connection. The association with other nonprofit collaborators/retailers would further broaden the horizons of its artisan products.
