Meet the Owner: Pattye Pece, World Village Fair Trade Market

Welcome to the third installment of Patch's weekly feature, called Meet the Owners. In this feature, Patch will highlight business owners from Westhampton, Hampton Bays and Quogue. 

This week, we sat to chat with , owner of the  in Hampton Bays.

How did you get started? 

Pattye Pece: We began with very little.  I paid the monthly rent/utilities for the first few years from a small job I had at the time as a music director in a church.  We were lucky to find a consignment of fair trade goods from Bridge For Peace, Ed Eckart, who agreed to help us begin putting products on the shelves. Later on we began buying our own inventory.  Some items were donated, such as a credit card machine, store displays, etc.  It was a meager start, but it was with much enthusiasm and hope by all of us who wanted to help very poor people around the world who had nothing at all.  We have never had loans, debts or credit lines and continue to operate from what we sell.

What is the biggest challenge you face in your business? 

Pattye Pece: Getting the word out without having to pay for things because every bit of what we earn is given back to buy more inventory or pay a bill.  How we get people into a store like this is by word of mouth and by using social media, emails or blogs.  Churches learn about us through table sales we have and then they come to the store later.  It is a much slower process, but it's working for us so far after 10 years.  

What do you enjoy most about your job?   

Pattye Pece: It's a joy to know that fair trade continues to grow and people are aware of the extreme poverty conditions around the world.  This was our aim. People know when they shop in the World Village Fair Trade Market, their money is being used in a good way, where people and planet are highly regarded.  We enjoy showing up in our little shop each week, knowing that what we are doing is making a difference and that our fellow Long Islanders are enjoying the products, as well as the mission behind them.  For me personally, I find great joy in knowing that less and less child labor is being used and more families are staying intact, not migrating all over the globe for work.  

What are the trends in your business or what is your most popular item? 

Pattye Pece: We see jewelry and coffee as our stronger products, but to be honest, it's interesting that many people like many things and we continue to sell children's items, home decor, cards, candy, accessories, handbags, musical instruments, etc.  It's like an old-fashioned department store, in a way - a little bit of everything for everyone.

What do you plan to do in retirement?  

Pattye Pece: How can I retire from helping people?  It's a life-long journey to live to the fullest and give what I can while I can.  Retirement for me is defined differently than most people would define it:  it is a transition from one life-style to another life-style, but all the while it means living fully and giving freely until the end of one's life.  I expect to be helping people in some way all the way to the end!  I'd guess that most of the volunteers that work with me would agree, to some degree, with what I said. 

What advice to you have for someone starting a business? 

Pattye Pece: If a person is thinking/dreaming of starting a business, even in this economy, I'd say:  Go for your dream!  You only live once and if a person is dreaming of opening a business, there is never a "best" time.  What you put into it will be repaid in some way - maybe not in huge profits, but in the simple rewards of everyday by opening and closing, meeting new people, being challenged to grow, educating oneself in weaker areas, etc.  A person will be a better person for having walked through the process.  "Defeat is not the worst of failures.  Not to have tried is the true failure."  George Edward Woodberry

Do you have any future plans for your business?  

Pattye Pece: To stay open!  The economy is challenging, and the customer is a little unsure of how to spend his/her money, so trying to keep the business new, trying new trends, exhausting every avenue for inviting new customers, not being afraid to launch out in new ways, is what we are trying to do.  The future looks bleak, to be sure, but our hearts are very hopeful that people will continue to support us for as long as they can.  The future for me, personally, is to one day have our own property where we can do more good right here on Long Island, as well as across the world.  We'd love to have a place to call our own!

What makes your business unique?  

Pattye Pece: This one is easy:  We were the only 100 percent fair trade store on Long Island, until just recently. It doesn't get any more unique than that! Some stores, especially up west, sell some fair trade, but we are the only one doing it 100 percent.  The other store that opened up two years ago is in Stony Brook Village and is called Fair Trade Winds - 100 percent fair trade!

What do you like the least about your business or what would you change if you could?  

Pattye Pece: Possibly the least thing I enjoy is that in-between time when we need a volunteer or two to help us through a tougher time (holidays and such), but there isn't one to be found.  It can be a lonely business running our store, as we are in there 6-7 hours a day and often need a little extra help.  The store is now 10 years old, and probably over 30 people have volunteered over the years, but Gretchen (Thurs); Debbie (Fri); Eileen (Sat); Wendy (Bookkeeper); and Gayle (Wed) have been there for the longest stretch.  Eileen McPhelin, the Store Manager, has been with me since the beginning, volunteering to keep our store organized and managed.  Gretchen Mead, with us about 8 years, is an ex-school teacher, and a great person to talk to about fair trade as her knowledge is very in-depth and she loves to learn from her customers; Debbie, with us 8 years as well, is our "Wonder Woman" in regards to decorating and displaying our products, and rejoicing in the fair trade mission.  Wendy has been there about 5-6 years now, and is a total genius with our Quick Books programs and working the numbers.  Gayle, the newer person of these volunteers, has been shopping since our doors opened in 2003 and is what I like to call, our Fair Trade Amabassador! She brings the message of fair trade out there to her part of the world.  There are a few newer volunteers getting their feet wet, as we speak, but each one brings to the store a special spark and a valued talent.