CEDAR FALLS - Every time a visitor steps inside World's Window, a doorbell rings.

Friendly sales clerks - all volunteers - greet each customer, then encourage them to browse among shelves of glistening glassware and china, handcrafted gift items, striking woven and fabric bags, scarves and other textiles, pottery, basketry, carved and stone items, children's books and toys and more. At day's end, the volunteers usually leave with their ears ringing because the doorbell sounds so often.

The nonprofit organization is busy fulfilling its mission to sell crafts and help improve the lives of impoverished artisans in countries around the world, said manager Joyce Caley, who lives in Sumner.

"I love telling people who have never been in the store the story of World's Window and stories about the artists," she said.

World's Window began 25 years ago in the trunk of Vonna Yoder's car, her living room and basement. Now living in Colorado, Yoder recalled the store's humble origins at an anniversary celebration in April.

"At our first store on 18th Street, we were open two days a week and Mennonite Church services took place there, so we'd push back the display shelves so the chairs could be set up," she said.

Now located at 214 Main St., World's Window markets fair trade products from artisans representing more than 30 countries, including African; Asian; Central, South and Latin American; and Eastern European countries. These artisans are "often women and poorest of the poor," said longtime volunteer Ellen Miller of Waterloo. "Selling their artwork helps the artists and their families have a better way of life. We hear stories all the time about how it has changed people's lives. They're able to feed themselves and their children, have a place to live, send their children to school because they receive fair income for their crafts."

Manager Caley and assistant manager Beth Delagardelle work with 92 volunteers who unpack, price, stock and sell the merchandise. A nine-member board of directors oversees the business operations. Sales continue to increase, Delagardelle said, as more consumers recognize the "difference between fair trade and free trade." Free trade is trading goods without taxes or trade barriers such as quotas; fair trade is paying fair wages while ensuring environmental and financial sustainability and respecting cultural identity.

"And because some of the artisans work in co-ops, it helps improve the lives in entire communities," said Delagardelle.

The store works with such fair trade suppliers as Ten Thousand Villages and other organizations.

Kathy Linda of Waterloo, who began volunteering at World's Window in the 1980s, believes the store has helped foster appreciation for the crafts and respect for artisans.

"It's helped as a grass-roots effort," she said.

Rhoda Olson of Cedar Falls is active as a board member and on World Window's off-site and education committees, working to further the store's mission.

"Sometimes we're asked to display and sell at conferences and conventions, and it increases the store's sales," she said.

Volunteers also fulfill their own personal missions through their involvement, such as Marcia Street of Cedar Falls. She became involved in 2000.

"It's part of my own mission to help people in underdeveloped countries. I took a mission trip to India and Nepal and was able to see things made there that we sell here. It was exciting, and I'm impressed at how it has empowered women in these countries."