I needed an eco-friendly, fairly-made fruit bowl, and I got one.
Check it out, left. Pretty, yes? I got it at the Ten Thousand Villages store in Pasadena, when I finally visited it on Saturday.
The bowl’s made of eco-friendly bamboo — and as with everything else at Ten Thousand Villages — is fair trade :) Cost: $24.
On the one hand I sorta have some qualms about Ten Thousand Villages being operated with so much volunteer help. I’m afraid that gives the impression that fair trade isn’t economically sustainable, that fair trade is akin to “charity” work which it’s NOT.
I’d like to think that Ten Thousand Villages would be financially solvent, even without people working for free.
On the other hand, I love the prices at Ten Thousand Villages — and I’m guessing it’s the volunteer help that keeps prices so low. We’re talking hand-crafted, small-boutique stuff that’s pretty and generally remarkably fashionable, at v. reasonable prices.
The jewelry especially is a steal — Gorgeous funky bracelets for like $4, dangly earrings for $8.
Considering quality and uniqueness and such, the stuff at Ten Thousand Villages is really, really competitive in the consumer market, in my opinion. It’s just as cute as the “conventional” stuff — and just as inexpensive too.
And Ten Thousand Villages def. got one thing right: Location. It’s in a prime retail spot on Lake Ave. –
Plus the store has a nice selection of fair trade coffees and cocoas :) I bought a bag of Thanksgiving Coffee’s Mirembe Kawomera blend!
Then I had a lil chat with the volunteer there about apartment decoration issues — He tried to help me find some lil dangly things to hang across a doorless doorway I have.
Still on the search for that one — Wish me decorating luck –
Ten Thousand Villages, Pasadena. 496 S. Lake Ave. Pasadena. 626.229.9892.
October 9th, 2006 at 9:32 am
I’d like to think that Ten Thousand Villages would be financially solvent, even without people working for free.
But would it actually be? As you said it is quiet cheap now. (although a $24 doller (€19) fruit bowl is expensive to me)
But if it had the same over heads as other stores. The bowl would be a lot more expensive. Also I guess with a decent wage they would pay their staff would it be sustainable?
I am not sure but it certainly would be out of the reach of many people on low wages and there is a question that I would be interested in seeing a post on this blog.
Can a person live ethically on minimum wage? Or even considering how low america minimum wage is how about $9.50 an hour.
October 9th, 2006 at 10:51 am
Urth Caffe Question:
Hi! I’m going to Urth Caffe today and was curious about their coffee policy. I found this on their website:
http://www.urthcaffe.com/standards.html
They seem to be conscientious about coffe standards and the environment and living wages, yet they don’t mention fair trade certification. What is you opinion on Urth in particular and this scenario in general?
Thanks for your insight,
Larry
October 9th, 2006 at 11:57 am
That’s nearer a Living Wage you’re talking about, darlin Simon.
The federal minimum wage for covered, nonexempt employees is $5.15 per hour.
For CA, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill on recently that will raise the minimum wage in January to $7.50 an hour and add another 50 cents the following January — making the $8-an-hour minimum wage the highest in the nation.
Of course, my darlin Green Party is for a Living Wage, not a minimum wage at poverty level.
Cheers,
Lisa
October 9th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
I don’t work for TTV, but I do work for a very similarly structured fair trade organisation which also has a large retail network and which also enjoys the (vital) support of many hundreds of volunteers.
Please bear in mind that when we were getting started, there was no money to pay anybody.. in the early years we relied totally on volunteer help and, in some instances, people putting their own assets on the line in order to raise capital.
As our business developed over the years, and we took on greater overheads with the establishment of stores which needed fitting out, and which had rentals to be paid, we continued to rely in many instances totally on volunteers to keep our shops running.
Yes, we would like a situation where we were so financially strong that all our shops could support paid staff (and more and more now do) - but we’re not there yet.
Far from lamenting that TTV shops are not truly sustainable, please celebrate the fact that they’ve come so far with the vital assistance of so many wonderful - and essential - volunteer supporters.
October 10th, 2006 at 1:24 am
That’s nearer a Living Wage you’re talking about, darlin Simon.
It is actually the Irish minimum wage.
October 10th, 2006 at 11:40 am
Does anyone know of any other stores that do this? I’m on the east coast (Boston) and would love to check out a place like this.
Thanks,
Jim
October 13th, 2006 at 8:47 pm
Ok ok. Justin — I’m not saying 10k villages is “bad” for using volunteer help — I’m just saying that I’d like a world in which what 10k villages has to offer would be so popular so as to be totally doin’ great financially, even without volunteer help. “Lamenting” is exaggerating what I said a bit.
simon and Lisa — Yes, our minimum wage really is quite low :( On the upside, at least with the new min wage that’s coming in Cali, we’ve made some progress –
Jim — Ten Thousand Villages are all over the US — I know there’s definitely one in Cambridge. And in fact, there’s so much good stuff happening in Boston! You’re quite lucky :) The easiest to find out all that’s going on might be by joining the Boston Fair Trade Coalition.
October 24th, 2006 at 8:19 am
Siel,
I’ve enjoyed reading the conversation and look forward to being more engaged. Your observations and criticisms are at the heart of what must be done to move fair trade into the spotlight. For-profit, worker owned, social entreprenurialship is where it has to go. We started 10KV with the goal of opening up new trade flows with our friends in Central Amer. and Haiti, get the word out in the community and partner with local non-profits to offer opportunities for internships.
Volunteers are a key at this point, though there are multiple Fair Trade vendors we purchase from like Anti-body, and others that are for profit. One couple in Sonoma County who worked with 10KV for years has started several for profit exclusively fair trade stores, they are called Baksheesh, very well done.
We need to have cocktails for causes after hours at the store….we have party space upstairs!
Erik, co-founder 10KV pasadena
October 24th, 2006 at 10:57 pm
Thanks for dropping by, and for the thoughtful comment, Erik :) I do agree that while for-profit, worker owned, social entreprenurialship is what we should all aim for, the for-profit part takes some time :) I do appreciate what you guys are doing at 10KV, and only wish your store was closer to me!!
So would 10KV Pasadena really be open to a fair trade cocktail party? Cuz most of the stuff I hear ’bout are like “nativity” gatherings and such (I’m not religious) that I and a lot of my friends wouldn’t be interested in. Then again, maybe you’re thinking more ’bout the closer, Pasadena demographic?
If you really would be open to a cocktail thing, I can help arrange it! :)
October 26th, 2006 at 7:49 pm
siel-
Our “nativity” gathering was actually quite the hit…sorry you missed the great cider..wink. Understand we have a broad variety of shoppers and many appreciate nativity scenes. But we have more fun with afterhour wine/cocktail/loudmusik and laughing events.
write me here: eclarke@pasadenavillages.com
e-
October 27th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Yeah — I know some atheists who actually like nativity scenes cuz they’re cute :) Sometimes I forget about all the wine drinking in the bible! After all, it was the first “miracle,” eh? :)
Back to reading Inferno –