First Day of Work

Today, on this (unfortunate) gloomy morning at 11am was the start of my internship.

When I first walked in I was greeted by Emily. Emily is responsible for researching and coordinating the events TVE attends. Emily showed me the new area TVE has expanded into and helped to get me settled in. She refereed me to the "Intern Packet", introduced me to the other interns, Molly and Kelsie, and reviewed the products TVE carries.

The beginning of my day was mostly spent on walking around the store and learning about the products. TVE has roughly 40 vendors so it will take some time to learn all about the products and their story. When I say "story", I mean how the product is made and who it is made by. Being a fair trade store, each organization/women's group/charity has a unique story behind them. Here is an example:

SHEThailand

The Story

SHE Thailand was started in 2006. SHE (Self Help and Empowerment) is a charity committed to helping women and children at risk in Thailand, many of whom are trapped in the commercial sex trade. SHE is dedicated to providing employment, vocational training, and counseling for women who want to help themselves out of this industry. SHEThailand works with roughly 16 women and their children. Women produce a wide range of artisan handicrafts such as gourmet chocolates, decorative boxes and pearl earrings.

Why The Village Experience is involved

The Village Experience discovered SHEThailand in March of 2009. The women and products they created captured our hearts. The Biddle family, an intergral part of SHEThailand, moved us with their tenacity to see these women find a way to change their lives.

For more information visit: www.shethailand.org

Other than learning about the products, I spent the majority of my day merchandising the new side of the store. The new expansion will focus on home goods. This varies from fair trade coffees, teas, olives oils, tea pots, nesting trays, dry cookie mixes, aprons, bowls, etc. All of which are great and are helping to support impoverished countries!

The new expansion is set to be revealed this upcoming Saturday for our party. Samples of the new products will be able to be taste tested, along with donated food, beer and wine from local Indianapolis companies. The party is open to anyone and will be from 4pm-9pm at TVE store's location 6055 N. College Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46220. I'm already looking forward to the party, meeting the customers and local partners of TVE. Tomorrow I will post pictures of the store and the new expansion!

See you then friends-- xxoo