[3][4][5] Byler, with the help of the Mennonite Central Committee, began selling handcrafted products from the boot of her car, eventually expanding to a storefront called Self Help Crafts in 1958.
The original philosophy of Ten Thousand Villages was inspired by Mennonite values including compassion, service, mutual aid, and peacemaking.
[7] Over the past 30 years, Byler has worked to connect individual entrepreneurs in developing countries with market opportunities in North America.
In the 1970s, the small project moved out of Byler's basement to become SELFHELP Crafts of the World, an official program of the Mennonite Central Committee.
[10] In January 2025, it was announced that company-owned US retail locations would be closed, leaving independent non-profit board run stores as their brick and mortar channel.
[11] Ten Thousand Villages encourages artisans to employ production methods that are environmentally sustainable and to use recycled and natural materials whenever possible.
These groups provide tools and sustainable sources of income for small artisan workshops to develop their infrastructure and build business capacity.
Ten Thousand Villages offers handmade home décor and gifts from around the world, including baskets, sculptures, jewelry, instruments, toys, tableware, planters, linens, stationery, various holiday items and other accessories.
Most Ten Thousand Villages stores also sell fair trade food items such as chocolate, tea, rice, dried fruit, and coffee.
The campaign revolved around printed and digital materials (such as bookmarks and DVDs) that presented artisans’ “one reason why” fair trade had made a difference in their lives.