Ten Thousand Villages is an Inaugural Seller on WorldofGood.com by eBay

Fair trade retailer among first to participate in new online marketplace to promote ethical businesses and products

Ten Thousand Villages U.S. is making it easier for North American consumers to buy fairly traded products by becoming one of the inaugural sellers on the newly created WorldofGood.com by eBay.  This announcement comes on the heels of Ten Thousand Villages U.S. being named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” by the Ethisphere Institute and Forbes Magazine.

“This is an exciting time for our organization as we grow and expand the presence of fair trade in the U.S. marketplace,” said Craig Schloneger, CEO of Ten Thousand Villages U.S.  “As the oldest nonprofit fair trade retailer, we are proud to be one of the first organizations to participate in a new collaboration between eBay, Inc. and World of Good, Inc. that will empower consumers and improve access to the U.S. marketplace for artisans in developing countries.”

The new WorldofGood.com by eBay online marketplace to convenes thousands of products that positively impact people and the planet all in one place, empowering consumers to shop in ways that align with their personal values.

WorldofGood.com by eBay will feature more than 250 Ten Thousand Villages products produced in over 37 developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.  The site, which also serves as an online community with social networking features, launched on September 3.

Ten Thousand Villages will be represented at an eBay media event next week in New York City to share more details about the new marketplace.  Iqbal Hossain, Job Creation Administrator of Mennonite Central Committee Bangladesh, will also attend the event on behalf of Ten Thousand Villages to provide first-hand testimonials about the impact of fair trade on artisans in Bangladesh.  Hossain represents several artisans whose products are sold by Ten Thousand Villages and will be available on WorldofGood.com by eBay. 

 “eBay Inc.’s drive to foster human connections through commerce is just one of the many reasons we as a company are proud to be a part of this new initiative,” Schloneger said.  “Our shared goal of connecting the North American consumer with quality products that are sourced through ethical business practices made this an ideal opportunity for Ten Thousand Villages.”

Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade retailer of artisan-crafted home decor, personal accessories and gift items from across the globe. Featuring products from more than 130 artisan groups in some 37 countries, we are part of a network of more than 155 retail outlets throughout the United States selling Ten Thousand Villages products. For more than 60 years, Ten Thousand Villages has been establishing long-term buying relationships in places where skilled artisans lack opportunities for stable income. All artisans are fairly paid for their products.  Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit program of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). 

For more information about Ten Thousand Villages, please contact Kristen Jenkins, Media Relations, at 717.859.8150.  For more information on an extraordinarily rewarding shopping experience, or to find the store location nearest you, visit www.tenthousandvillages.com .