Ten Thousand Villages Sales In Canada Up 15 PercentMennonite Central Committee Retail sales in Ten Thousand Villages stores and at festival sales across Canada were a healthy $6.78 million Cdn. last year. This represents a 15 per cent increase from the previous year. Ten Thousand Villages also ended the year with a modest surplus of $10,000, up significantly from a loss of $340,000 the year before. Retail sales totaled $5.85 million for the year (which ended February, 2001) while festival sales brought in $930,000. Festival sales are short-term sales held in communities with no permanent Ten Thousand Villages stores.  In part, sales increases can be attributed to new store openings, said Villages accountant Len Rempel. Four new stores opened in Canada near the end of last fiscal year and one store, in Regina, opened this year. But Villages spokespersons also say a positive retail climate, good product lines, and greater public profile helped sales. "I think people are catching on to it. I suspect people want to use their conscience more in their shopping," said Rempel. Ten Thousand Villages provides fair income to Third World artisans by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. There are more than 180 Ten Thousand Villages stores across North America, including ones in every major Canadian city. Sales through North America retail stores and festival sales allowed Ten Thousand Villages to purchase handicrafts from 30 Third World countries, benefitting approximately 60,000 people (both artisans and their families).
For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org |
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