Dedham Exchange is NOW ONLINE!

The Dedham Exchange is a gem of a gift shop located in Dedham Square and it has just launched an exciting new website with online shopping. https://dedhamexchange.org This is all thanks to a grant from the Neponset River Regional Chamber of Commerce, expert outside help and the hard work of its volunteers and staff. The Dedham Exchange could not be more thrilled. Robyn Garth, President of the Dedham Exchange said 'We are very grateful to everyone who has helped the Dedham exchange leap forward with this beautiful new website'.

The Dedham Exchange is an artisan, non-profit gift shop offering unique gift ideas for every occasion. People are still discovering the Dedham Exchange for the first time even though they have been located in Dedham Square for decades. Their story dates back to 1914 when the Contentment Tea Room and Women's Exchange opened in two rooms of a private home at 82 Court street in Dedham, Massachusetts. It was comprised of a tearoom, food shop and handiwork shop and provided a source of income for women for whom jobs were scarce or not considered appropriate. After several moves over the years, the Dedham Exchange moved in 1948 to its current location at 445 Washington Street, in a small barn which it later purchased in 1953.

On the surface, the Dedham Exchange may look like other gift shops, but it isn't. The Dedham Exchange is a non-profit gift shop run by volunteers assisted by talented staff. Its mission is to support artisans and educational and philanthropic organizations in the local community. Today the Dedham Exchange represents about 200 artisans who handcraft everything from ceramics, glassware, woven textiles and woodwork, to hand sewn and hand knitted baby items and much more. They carry a beautifully curated mix of quality handcrafted and commercial gifts for every occasion.

Every volunteer and staff at the Dedham Exchange takes pride and joy in giving back to the community. The proceeds of the Dedham Exchange are donated to a number of philanthropic and service organizations in the community focused on the needs of children and challenged adults, and college scholarships have been granted to local high school students. A purchase of a handcrafted product also directly benefits the artisan who choose to be represented at the Dedham Exchange.

The Dedham Exchange is a member of the National Federation of Woman's Exchanges, an organization of Woman's Exchanges across the country which help women achieve economic stability through representation and sale of fine quality handmade items. The founding of the first Woman's Exchange in Philadelphia in 1832 marked the beginning of what is the oldest continuously operating Woman's Exchange Movement in the country.

The COVID pandemic made 2020- 2021 an extremely challenging period for the Dedham Exchange when it had to close the shop in the initial seven months. This left the artisans who depended on representation and income from the shop in limbo and much reduced revenue to support community programs at a time when there was greater need than ever. The grant from the Neponset River Regional Chamber of Commerce enabled the Dedham Exchange to develop an online shop to help expand its presence and a means to keep operating in the future should the need arise. The second aim of the new website was to inform and educate the community of what the Dedham Exchange is all about.

Come and see what we are all about! Check out the Dedham Exchange at 445Washington Street Dedham. Consider volunteering.