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Novica – Review and $75 Giveaway

April 1, 2014 by Kathryn

Do you remember when I became obsessed with only buying fair trade items?

Dan does. It was the year I told him exactly what I wanted for Mother’s Day but said I only wanted it if he could find it made of recycled glass by people in fair working conditions or previously-owned. He spent hours with the kids in an antique store finding me the perfect glass pitcher. I bought him a bathrobe and called the company to verify the working conditions of the textile workers. I wanted to know they had air conditioning, a fair wage.

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Yeah. We got tired and lazy and we just started buying stuff again, trying not to think about where it came from or how it was made. But I still think about it, a bit. It just takes work to know what you’re buying.

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That’s why I love Novica. It’s a website that partners with National Geographic to bring fair trade items from artisans around the world to consumers worldwide. Each of the items offered for sale comes with an artist bio and information about where and how it’s made. You can view these profiles online as you’re browsing and feel secure that you’re helping small businesses flourish, often in impoverished countries.

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Novica also partners with Kiva.org to provide microcredit loans to their artisans, allowing them to start or grow businesses, employ others, and preserve ancient artistic techniques. You can offer a zero interest loan to an artisan through their website.

To give me an experience to blog about, Novica offered me a $150 gift card, which I spent $75 of and I’m giving the other $75 to you.

There are a ton of great products to choose from. It took me days, and sadly, by the time I made my mind up, the item I wanted had sold. I’ll have to check back later. Stock varies from day to day as artists sell out and get back to work creating. So, if you find something you love, snatch it up right away. It’s a great way to buy gifts and feel good about what you’re purchasing.

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I went with this great Ica Traveler cotton handbag with leather accents. It is big enough without being enormous and has great organization with pen holders, cell phone pocket and two zipper pockets. It’s really pretty and well-made and I’m enjoying carrying it around.

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It came quickly, considering it made its journey all the way from the Andes in Peru. When I placed my order, the website was glitching so I called the number on the screen and they completed my purchase over the phone.

A few other items I like that are still there are:
Leather Wristband Bracelet
Family Love Elephant Necklace
Soapstone Candle Holders
Brown Leather Messenger Bag

They also have leather handbags, jewelry boxes, sterling silver necklaces, Mother’s Day gift suggestions, blue drinking glasses, and much more.

Leave a comment if you love shopping fair trade and want to do it for free. I’ll use a random number generator to choose a winner at 10pm PST on Thursday, April 3rd, 2014. Good luck!

novica-006

Filed Under: Poser in Granolaville, Reviews and Giveaways

Previous Post: « Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands
Next Post: FOOD FOR GOOD in Seattle »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Colleen says

    April 1, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    I think it’s awesome that you are a fair trade supporter! I have a friend that is obsessed with fair trade and some has worn off on me. Halley and I always visit and purchase something from the fair trade store when we visit Leavenworth! My family and I are big supporters of Heifer International.

  2. Melissa L. says

    April 1, 2014 at 11:17 pm

    Cute bag! I love the color. Thanks for the giveaway also! DamianMom at yahoo dot com

  3. NaDell says

    April 1, 2014 at 11:34 pm

    I’ve hardly even thought about that much due to budget constraints, but I should. Maybe this will help me out. =)

  4. Dedra says

    April 1, 2014 at 11:50 pm

    Thanks for the opportunity! I love your blog.

  5. chanel says

    April 2, 2014 at 12:09 am

    This is AWESOME! YOU are AWESOME! Fair Trade is the AWESOMEST! Way to make a difference, and way to be super generous and share your GC! Seriously, amazing.

  6. Awesomemom says

    April 2, 2014 at 12:22 am

    Cute bag! I have been trying to work more fair trade stuff into my life too.

  7. Kelly D says

    April 2, 2014 at 4:20 am

    I love the jewelry at Novica. Thank you!

  8. Betty says

    April 2, 2014 at 5:13 am

    I love your blog! I’ve been trying to get back to basics and go for the fair trade items in my life. Glad to see this opportunity to do so, even if I don’t win (which I hope I do!)

  9. julia says

    April 2, 2014 at 5:32 am

    What a great way to find unique items and help and encourage artisans. I will have to check that out.

  10. Allison says

    April 2, 2014 at 6:21 am

    I am slowly trying to be more conscious of where the things I buy come from. I’ll have to spend some time browsing Novica, but I’m already in love with that bag!

  11. Tabitha says

    April 2, 2014 at 6:34 am

    Love to support Fair Trade! Off to check out their website right now.

  12. Chrystle Gillies says

    April 2, 2014 at 6:49 am

    love the bag! Good for you, not everyone is so aware.

  13. Jennifer Mitchell says

    April 2, 2014 at 6:50 am

    What a cute bag! Love that you support fair trade businesses!

  14. Kate says

    April 2, 2014 at 7:03 am

    I love this idea! I need to be better about buying free-trade. Thanks for the reminder!

  15. Anna Lamb says

    April 2, 2014 at 7:10 am

    You’ve given me something new to research and ponder about. I must confess that I haven’t heard of Fair Trade or have thought about where the products I buy come from.

  16. Stephanie says

    April 2, 2014 at 7:28 am

    Cute bag. Not surprised you bought a purse!

  17. Tay says

    April 2, 2014 at 8:31 am

    I love this! Thank you for sharing.

  18. AnneMarie says

    April 2, 2014 at 8:44 am

    Would love to start doing more with fair trade items and this would give me the chance! Love your bag 🙂

  19. Alisha says

    April 2, 2014 at 9:15 am

    Love this idea!

  20. Heidi says

    April 2, 2014 at 10:12 am

    Fabulous! I’d love to win.

  21. mo says

    April 2, 2014 at 10:56 am

    I hope for the day when fair trade is just good business in general. Thank you for supporting artist/entrepreneurs.

  22. nancy says

    April 2, 2014 at 11:22 am

    Love it! Thanks for the info, I want to check out that site now….which will be really fun if I win the credit there!

  23. Mother of the Wild Boys says

    April 2, 2014 at 11:24 am

    LOVE that bag. Pick me Random Number Generator!!

  24. AmyRyb says

    April 2, 2014 at 11:46 am

    Never done it, but would love to try 🙂

  25. Holly B says

    April 2, 2014 at 7:31 pm

    Ooh, such a neat website!

  26. Kristen says

    April 2, 2014 at 7:55 pm

    I love fair trade shop in person and online! I have my eye on their Blue Trinity Ring for myself…or this would make a great mother’s day gift!

  27. Gale says

    April 2, 2014 at 8:24 pm

    I do love shopping fair trade…and would love to do it for free.
    Shared this giveaway here: http://suchfuntogive.blogspot.com/2014/04/giveaways-4-good.html
    If you have any other fair trade giveaways or other giveaways helping good causes in the future, I’d love to help you share them…so just leave me a note about them on the submit giveaway link on the sidebar if you’d like me to do that.

  28. Tina says

    April 2, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    I am trying to do more free-trade. Sadly, kids don’t care as much about that–but most adult gifts I try to get now are either local crafters or free trade. TRY. Yeah, its hard to keep it up.

  29. Emily says

    April 3, 2014 at 6:46 am

    I would love to get some of their stuff. It looks amazing. Pick me!

  30. Tammy Woodall says

    April 3, 2014 at 7:47 am

    I love the concept of Novica. I like the fact that Novica partnered with National Geographic. The story of you and your husband buying gifts for each other and making sure that the products were from fair working conditions is inspiring.

  31. Danielle Taj says

    April 3, 2014 at 10:18 am

    i love fair trade stuff – i have purchased a vase from novica before – i love everything about them!

  32. emily says

    April 3, 2014 at 12:23 pm

    I love Novica — they have such beautiful jewelry there, too!

  33. Vera K says

    April 3, 2014 at 2:57 pm

    Of course I love shopping fair trade. Our local farmer’s market in the summer has fair trade items.

  34. Carrie says

    April 3, 2014 at 3:08 pm

    I love fair trade items. The best is buying them in country. 🙂 second best is over the Internet!

  35. Lisa says

    April 3, 2014 at 3:50 pm

    Wow they have a great selection – would love to win!

  36. laurie steiner says

    April 3, 2014 at 6:51 pm

    I love that you support fair trade! I try to buy some items for the holidays, and often buy fair trade coffee as well 🙂

  37. Britnee says

    April 3, 2014 at 8:20 pm

    Being a handmade artist myself I always try to buy fair trade!

  38. Dale says

    April 4, 2014 at 6:38 am

    Shopping fair trade is so important to me!

  39. Becky says

    April 7, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    Cool giveaway idea!

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