HumanKind Fair Trade store is expanding and relocating to a nearby space that’s twice as large to help propel its growth.
The move to the former Ascendo Coffee site at 974 Monterey St. in downtown San Luis Obispo is expected to occur mid-August. A grand opening will be held August 28.
“As a nonprofit, it is our mission to purchase handcrafted goods from artisans around the world,” said HumanKind Manager LynAnne Wiest. “We know that the more we grow our shop, the more we can continue to purchase and provide sustainable income for these talented makers. Many of them rely on fair trade shops like ours for continued orders and consistent income.”
Expanding the space will allow the store to provide a better selection of goods; already it has placed orders with eight new artisan groups in South Africa, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia and Thailand.
The expansion also will allow the store to grow online sales, extending its reach beyond local customers, Wiest said.
HumanKind, founded 12 years ago, works with a wide range of artisan groups from about 40 countries. It sells handcrafted men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, jewelry, home décor items, greeting cards and children’s toys and games, as well as food such as chocolate, coffee and tea. Its collection of home goods, specifically baskets and bedding, has “really grown over the past year, but we have needed more space to offer a wider selection,” Wiest said. Blankets and pillows made from recycled Indian saris have been some of the store’s recent best sellers.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, HumanKind closed its doors for three months, focusing on building its online shop. That, as well as the support of loyal customers and Covid-19 assistance for small businesses, enabled the nonprofit to end the year in a better-than-expected financial position, Wiest said.
When the Ascendo coffee location two doors down became available Weist said, “it felt like the right time to take the next step to grow our organization.” The new space is 2,000 square feet, twice its current size. It also enables the nonprofit to remain in San Luis Obispo’s vibrant downtown.
“We’ve found a successful retail home on iconic Monterey Street, and it just makes sense to stay on this block,” said HumanKind Board President Laura Mullen.
This will be the second time that the store has enlarged its space. In 2015, it added 200 square feet to its storefront by taking on some neighboring space in its building.
“We’ve seen how greater street visibility and front windows can bring in customers,” Wiest said, adding that this next move will give the store an even greater presence on the block.
Besides Wiest, the store employs two full-time staff and plans to hire two part-time staffers. It also relies on about 15-20 volunteers.