CAMBRIDGE — By this time next year, the Cambridge YWCA hopes to have a gift shop running downtown.

After the success of several sales of jewelry and gifts over the last year, the women’s support agency sees a fundraising future in selling the works of female artists and artisans from around the world, said executive director Kim Decker

“We need to look long-term at revenue generation. This ties close to our mission.”

The store is also intended to offer a hands-on job-training opportunity for women in YWCA life-skills training programs.

In the meantime, another three-day gift gallery is planned this week at the Cambridge-North Dumfries Social Planning Council, 55 Dickson Street. It’s across the street from Historic City Hall.

Sales are planned Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The YWCA is moving from its utilitarian home of 24 years on Industrial Road. The Y’s daycare centre in that building is moving to the nearby Ryerson Public school in the fall. The YWCA won the daycare contract in the new school.

The plan is to find space in downtown Cambridge by fall, with enough space for offices, meeting rooms and a storefront. A location hasn’t been chosen, but the search is underway.

The Cambridge YWCA got the idea of gift sales from the St. Thomas YWCA, near London. That agency runs a successful a gift store in the Lake Erie tourist spot of Port Stanley, Decker said.

“In the second year they were already turning a profit,” she said.

The Cambridge YWCA has run gift sales several times over the last year.

“What we found is was more positive than we ever expected,” Decker said.

Jewelry and gifts are made by female artists and artisans, across Canada and in developing countries. The goal is to promote “fair trade” that allows women to earn more money and supporting their local economies.

At the same time, the YWCA will raise money to run child care, summer camp and counselling programs to help women recover from violent relationships in Cambridge.

It’s not all about making money, Decker said. A prominent location downtown will boost the YWCA’s ability to offer more programs to more women before the store ever turns a profit.

“Right now, it’s a project. One day it will be a revenue-generating project. And will give us visibility.”