Since Holly Burkhalter created Worldly Goods in 1987 with initial sponsorship from the Ames Mennonite Church, the nonprofit fair-trade store has operated “as a symbol of compassionate consumerism, dedicated to uplifting artisans and fostering cultural appreciation.”
Worldly Goods sells fair-trade products, including self-care items, jewelry, winterwear, and foods like chocolate, coffee, tea, and soup. The business also sells special items unique to individual cultures, ranging from Chilean lucky pigs and Kenyan soapstone frogs, to Peruvian chess boards and Nepalese singing bowls. These handcrafted products from more than 50 countries, across multiple continents including Africa, Asia, and South America, align with the Fair Trade Federation principles and seek to empower marginalized artisans, all the while creating social and economic opportunities for communities.
The business is only one of three in Iowa to be Fair Trade-certified. Director Manu Agnihotri summarized, “We are very unique because we provide this cross-cultural connection between the Ames community and the global artisans.”
Photo Courtesy Worldly Goods
The fair trade process inherently respects and celebrates the cultures that produce these products and supports preservation, always labeling products with the name of the country of origin, while seeking to drive a positive change. Honest and proactive communication between parties leads to transparent and accountable relationships, through which producers are promptly and fairly paid for the true cost of their labor, time, materials, and other inputs. These opportunities and payments help the producers sustain and reinvest in themselves.
At the same time, the fair trade process supports human rights and equity. Fair Trade Federation members do not buy from communities using forced, exploitative, or underpaid labor, and they work to eliminate all discrimination, harassment, and abuse from their supply chains. For example, Soup of Success is produced by women in an intensive 20-week empowerment program that teaches them new life and business skills, and purchases of these packages support the program. Meanwhile, recycled glass Nourish bracelets, handmade by women in India, provide funding for girls’ education or supplies for teachers.
Photo Courtesy Worldly Goods
Worldly Goods’ fair-trade products also support environmental stewardship and resilience. Beyond considering the environmental implications of all decisions and encouraging environmentally sustainable practices throughout their supply chains, Fair Trade Federation members like Worldly Goods also strive to sell products that give back to the environment, as Agnihotri described, “Most of our products are ethically sourced and environmentally sustainable, as well.”
For example, an Ecuadorian nightlight is made from recycled and reclaimed materials, a Sri Lankan boxed stationery set is made from recycled elephant dung, and Guatemalan earrings feature wooden boards made from recycled eucalyptus.
As a result of all this work, the City of Ames recognized Worldly Goods as a Platinum Smart Business in 2024 for its “unique and innovative business strategies that grow our economy while helping the environment.”
Photo Courtesy Worldly Goods
The company also gives back through collaboration with local partners. For example, at a tea-tasting event at the Wheatsfield Community Kitchen, participants sampled flavors that “showcased Guatemala’s rich biodiversity,” while Love & Tea demonstrated how it honors ancestral knowledge and creates economic opportunities for Indigenous women.
Spreading education about fair trade and sustainability is also an important part of its work.
Agnihotri said, “No matter if you’re browsing our products in the store or you want to connect with a volunteer, we just strive to provide a safe space where every person feels uplifted, supported, and loved. We always prioritize people over profit.” In 2020, 90-year-old volunteer Ardis Fincham told Iowa State Daily, “I feel I gain more than I give. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. I’ve met so many people from so many walks of life.”
Photo Courtesy Worldly Goods
