2008 Woodie Awards
Travel the World Without Leaving Newport
Ashlee Irons
Issue date: 3/23/06 Section: News
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By purchasing the handcrafted items, consumers spread global awareness and become informed of the particular craftsmen's culture. Cadeaux du Monde is located at 26 Mary Street, in Newport. The distinctive yellow and blue building is as intriguing from the outside as inside and prepares the curious shopper for the unique items offered from around the world.
Dyer and Perkins sell handmade products from artisans in various developing nations including Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Perkins's husband was in the Navy, and the two moved all over the country. Both Perkins and Dyer have been traveling for many years and through experiencing other cultures, have gained a greater appreciation for learning and folk art around the world.
Perkins received a certificate in Business at Peace College in Raleigh and later attended the University of Rhode Island. Dyer graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in theatre arts and a minor in math.
After college she joined the Peace Corps and taught high school math in the Central African Republic for two years. Dyer is also fluent in French and Sango. Both Perkins and Dyer are multicultural education teachers, lecturers and small business consultants.
Q: WHAT DOES CADEAUX DU MONDE MEAN?
Dyer: "It's French, and means gifts of the world or world gifts because artwork is the artists' gift to the world."
Q: HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?
Dyer: "This is our 19th year, we opened in 1987. This is our fourth location we opened the Mary Street store in 2001."
Q: YOUR PAMPHLETS SAID YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THE STORE CAME FROM EXTENSIVE TRAVELS. WHERE DID THEY BEGIN? HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
Perkins: "In 1960, I married a naval officer and we lived all over this country and I joined him overseas in Europe and Katie was in the Peace Core in the Central African Republic."
Q: HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE PEACE CORE?
Dyer: "It was something I'd always wanted to do, go to Africa and travel. College was so self-involved. It lets you focus on other people. I applied my senior year of college. It's a wonderful opportunity. You can defer your student loans while you're there. You live in another country and get to be a part of a new community, culture and language. I lived in two different villages for two years."