Welcome to
Ten Thousand Villages of Huron Valley

To promote dignity, hope and a living wage for artisans around the world by selling their handicrafts, by telling their stories, and by educating locally about Fair Trade.

Ten Thousand Villages of Huron Valley opened its doors on Main Street in Ann Arbor in October, 2004, becoming the first Fair Trade, non-profit handicraft retail store in the city. Two years earlier, a local group of committed individuals came together to form a Board of Directors, and organizers held off site sales and fundraisers to turn their vision of a Ten Thousand Villages store into a reality. Given its diverse, cosmopolitan population and conscious community, Ann Arbor seemed like an ideal place for a non profit and Fair Trade store. And in less than a year since it opened its doors, the Ann Arbor store is proud to rank as one of the most successful stores in a chain of over 200 stores in the U.S. and Canada.

For many of the store’s patrons, Fair Trade is the driving force behind their purchases. The objectives of Fair Trade are to empower low-income artisans and farmers around the globe to better their conditions and to promote understanding and opportunities for artisans, many of whom would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. Ten Thousand Villages works to ensure that the people who make the products we buy are paid fairly for their work. Knowing that each purchase makes a difference in the lives of the artisans encourages our customers to return, and our store has become a favorite shopping destination for townies and tourists alike.

Our trained volunteer staff of over 100 dedicated individuals ranges from 16 to 85 years of age. Working in the store is educational and exciting, and many friendships and shared stories have created a true Villages family right on Main Street. We offer educational programming, community outreach presentations and live music for special events we host in our store. In June, 2005 we were honored to host a three day visit from two of our basket weavers from Uganda who demonstrated their craft and spoke of their homeland to an enthusiastic group of customers and volunteers. This occasion is but one example of why Ten Thousand Villages has become such a popular destination for the public in a very short time.

Come visit us at 303 South Main Street soon and enjoy the world music, fair trade coffee samples and upbeat atmosphere that attracts so many to our store. We love to talk about our mission to promote dignity, hope, and a living wage for artisans around the world by selling their handicrafts, by telling their stories, and by educating locally about fair trade. We can comfortably promise that you will find our unique, handcrafted, and reasonably priced merchandise a real ‘find’. Whether you are furnishing your home, looking for that perfect piece of jewelry, or buying a gift, let us help you discover the wonder of Ten Thousand Villages. We’d love to become your store of choice, as we have for so many other dedicated customers from near and afar.

YOUR PURCHASE MAKES A DIFFERENCE!