Ten Thousand Villages

A nonprofit project of the Mennonite Central Committee, Ten Thousand Villages has been around since 1946, carrying handcrafted goods by artisans from around the world and providing them with good incomes for their work. That's an approach that's especially appreciated in Northampton, says store manager M. Karen Dietert, who likens the store to a museum where an enthusiastic staff, including "invaluable" volunteers, provides customers with the stories of the people and places behind their products. "People love that connection," Dietert says.