The Board of Directors of Unique World Gifts has made the devastating decision to close the beloved 32-year-old non-profit fair-trade store. The vote has come despite positive sales and cash in the bank. It also left its executive director of 11 years, Lana Ruffini, searching for a new position during the holiday season. Tina Dao, president of the board, announced the decision to volunteers on December 3. 

Supporters and dedicated volunteers of the store, along with former board president, Elizabeth Glynn, offered to form a new board and take over the governance of the store, but in a 3-2 decision, the board refused. 

Unique World Gifts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 1992 by the Hickory Mennonite Church and local citizens, led by Rosemary King. Its mission is to support artisans and farmers in developing countries by creating an opportunity to earn a fair, sustainable income by bringing their products to our community. The store has been a fixture in its 127 N location for nearly 25 years. It offers pop-up stores to area churches around the holidays and has a booth at the Hickory Farmer’s Market six times a year. ED Lana Ruffini has been recognized by the HDR as a Notable Neighbor. 

Volunteers are reeling from this decision and have received no explanation as to why the board will not consider their offer take over the governance of the non-profit store. The organization is solvent, even thriving through the pandemic and its aftermath. Retail trends indicate that shoppers are disillusioned with online shopping and enjoy special shopping experiences like Unique World Gifts offers. The closure of the store will mean that fair trade shoppers will have to drive to Asheville to shop for fair trade products. With so many big box stores, it's a tragedy to lose a successful local store that's also a non-profit and does so much good for people in the US and around the world. 

Please sign this petition and let the current board know you want Unique World Gifts to remain open under leadership that understands the importance of this store and fair trade in our community.