From www.Send2Press.com
Retail and Franchise
Ten Thousand Villages Launches New E-commerce Site
Edited by Carly Zander
Mon, 26 Sep 2005, 10:36:00 EDT
AKRON, PA - Sept. 26 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Ten Thousand Villages, based in Akron, Pa., launched a new e-commerce Web site at www.tenthousandvillages.com, August 22. The new site features online shopping with a unique collection of more than 250 fairly traded gift and home decor items including handcrafted baskets, ceramics, furniture, textiles, musical instruments and jewelry.
The site also serves as a fair trade information resource, detailing ways consumers can get involved in the fair trade movement, with links to other alternative trading organizations.
"Clicks and Mortar" Connection
The new site enhances the connections between customers and their local Ten Thousand Villages network. Customers can search for the nearest Ten Thousand Villages retail store or festival sale by simply typing in their ZIP code or state. The site also features individual pages for more than 120 stores in the Ten Thousand Villages network, with up-to-date information about upcoming sales and special events.
An Artisan Story Behind Every Product
Each item available for purchase online includes a photograph and story about the artisan who created it. Additionally, information about the traditional process used to create the product accompanies the product to the customer's door. The Ten Thousand Villages e-commerce site provides a one-of-a-kind online shopping experience by connecting the consumer to the artisan.
Background
Ten Thousand Villages, a non-profit, fair trade organization with more than 120 stores nationwide, promotes environmentally sustainable production, pays fair prices and ensures healthy working conditions for its artisans. Ten Thousand Villages fosters relationships with artisan partners based on dialogue, mutual understanding and respect. Ten Thousand Villages also strives to tell the stories of its artisans in a way that will honor them and enhance the shopping experience for North American customers.
Ten Thousand Villages customers are part of a global community that extends from the North American marketplace to artisans' communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Visit www.tenthousandvillages.com. Shop fair trade. Invest in your world. For more information about the new Ten Thousand Villages e-commerce site, contact Ken Stadden, e-commerce manager, at 717-859-8141.
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