Women’s Exchange: Helping Women Help Themselves

In honor of Women’s History Month, Scarsdale Patch will be running a series of Q&As every Friday afternoon highlighting the Village's notable women. This week, Scarsdale Patch interviewed Susan Bonsignore, president of the Women’s Exchange in Scarsdale.

The Women’s Exchange has a long and storied history that in many ways reflects the story of women in America. The concept of the Women’s Exchange was formulated around the time that the first wave of feminism broke on America’s shores in the 1830s. The whole notion was dreamed up by a group of so-called “gentlewomen” who found themselves surrounded by other “gentlewomen” who were down on their luck, financially. Since educating women, even economically privileged women, was still considered an aberration, their marketable skills in the early 19^th century were limited, to say the least.

There were certain socially acceptable skills in which almost all women took part, and some excelled, such as needlework, jam-making, baking and the like. And unlike practically all types of paid work outside the home pre-World War II, there was no social stigma attached to Women’s Exchanges. The first Women’s Exchange was created in Philadelphia in 1832, and the Federation of Women’s Exchanges flourished well into the 19^th century. Currently, 25 Exchanges in 11 states are in operation.

“Our Exchange started in Scarsdale in 1931,” Bonsignore said. “It was started by women in the Junior League who felt badly about some of their friends who were really suffering during the Depression. They wanted to find a way to help them earn some extra money without embarrassing them.”

Women’s Exchanges around the country took – and take – pride in empowering women who could easily have turned into charity cases, Bonsignore said. Instead, they became entrepreneurs by selling the fruits of their looms, gardens and nimble hands.

Like the suffragette movement, or the push for equal rights in cultural, social and political arenas, Women’s Exchanges appear, at first glance, like relics that have outgrown their purpose in a world that made room for ambitious, independent women years ago. These days, there are fewer around, and they are less a part of social and cultural consciousness. But the need for the Exchanges is still there, Bonsignore said.

“Unfortunately, volunteerism is not what it used to be, so running the Exchanges can be a challenge,” Bonsignore told Patch. “Most people need two-income households to stay afloat these days. But our biggest problem by far is that no one knows what we are.

"We have some people who come in here, who have lived in Scarsdale for decades, and they’re shocked by all of the great items they find – and subsequently buy," Bonsignore continued. "Most people seem to think, because of the name no doubt, that we’re a second-hand store. The fact is, we are a nonprofit organization that sells fine-quality hand-crafted made-to-order items, from chenille scarves to tea sandwiches, as well as a variety of beautiful gift items that we buy wholesale and can be found in conventional boutiques.”

In many ways, the items available at the Exchange fall into lockstep with the DIY, indie-hipster food and crafts craze currently sweeping the country. Most items are handmade by women who hope to earn a living – or at least a bit of pocket money – by their own wits instead of through more conventional channels. But instead of schlepping to a semi-abandoned warehouse in the grim outskirts of Williamsburg, Brooklyn to purchase their wares, Scarsdale residents can simply skip down to the Exchange to pick up a jar of artisanal jam or an antique English tea cup.

In honor of Women’s History month, Bonsignore give Patch a peek into her perspective:

Patch: What women do you most admire?

Bonsignore: We have some real dynamos here. One of our volunteers is 88 years old, and she’s been with the shop practically from the beginning! It’s inspiring to see her and some of our other volunteers in action; our store manager, Doreen, is also amazing. We literally couldn’t do it without her – her dedication, eye for design and flair are invaluable.

Patch: If you could change one thing about the role of women in Scarsdale or the Exchange, what would it be?

Bonsignore: Scarsdale is a great place for women. We recently got a handful of lovely new volunteers, and we’d love some more! We’re not techies, and we could certainly like to improve in that department and could use some help there. We haven’t launched a website yet, so we’re just depending on word of mouth, which is tough these days.

Patch: Have you ever personally witnessed a major accomplishment for women?

Bonsignore: Countless ones. The Scarsdale Exchange has helped hundreds of women make ends meet for their whole families, especially in the rough economy since 9/11. We see women who have been able to pay the bills with their earnings after getting laid off or seeing their husbands get laid off. One woman was able to keep her mentally-challenged child out of an institution with the earnings she made, and another woman in her 90’s was able to pay her electric bills this winter with our checks.

Patch: What are you most proud of accomplishing in your career?

Bonsignore: I’m working on it. We’ve talked about it for years, but I’d love to see it happen. We would love to partner with an organization, one specific charity. I think it could prove to be symbiotic; the women who are making our products would still get all of the financial benefits they currently get, but extra money that we make from selling gift items that aren’t handmade could go to the charity. Another Exchange in Midland Park, New Jersey, did that, and they were able to donate $250,000 to a social services facility. It helped them get the word out about their Exchange because everyone wants to buy items that benefit others. And in the end, the women who make goods for that Exchange also benefited.

To check out the unexplored goldmine in our back yard, go to the Scarsdale Women’s Exchange, located at 33 Harwood Court. The Exchange can be reached at (914) 723-4728.