Novica Review and Giveaway

I recently had the opportunity to learn more about a business called Novica. They provide an astoundingly beautiful and unique selection of gifts, jewellery, clothing and home decor made by people from impoverished nations around the world. Novica's online store gives underprivileged artists an opportunity to reach out and share their work with the rest of the world. Providing fair prices and loans, Novica has helped many artists and artisans make a comfortable living.

Novica's unique gift section drew me like a magnet. I have always been attracted to fabrics and designs from other countries, probably because they are less common here. From one-of-a-kind carvings and recycled paper baskets, to gorgeous silk scarves and beautiful jewellery, I found it difficult to make a selection. I ended up choosing a beautiful, silk batik scarf made by Uni Kristina in Java and I am wearing it right now. Enough said.

When I was approached by Novica to receive a gift certificate and do a giveaway, I was hesitant at first, and spent some time learning more about the company. I don't give my seal of approval to just anyone, and this company almost seemed too good to be true. My confidence grew after discussing the company with other green bloggers, and the final die was cast when I spoke with my sister who lives in Lima, Peru, and works for a non-profit women's organisation who actually have women selling their products through Novica. Case closed. I am impressed.

Novica does not have a large warehouse holding all these gorgeous goodies. They have become the go-between for these artisans and their customers: you and I. The products are not purchased from the seller until the order has been placed. Consequently, your item comes directly from the country of origin when ordered. So, expect it to take several weeks for your order to arrive. When it does, though, it comes in a simple brown cardboard box, and the gift is (in my case anyway) wrapped in a beautiful draw-string bag with a simple card handwritten by the artist herself. I love it!

Novica also offers an opportunity to become a Novica consultant by hosting home parties. 
Now to put it to the My Healthy Green Family test. Any product we review is put to the same test.

Buyer Appeal: 4/4 Yes yes yes! I could have bought one of everything. The quality of my purchase is fantastic.

Eco Appeal: 3.5/4
The product was shipped simply and certainly not over-packaged. No plastic was used. The only thing I can see that is slightly negative is that each product is shipped from the manufacturing site, item by item. The carbon footprint of this is perhaps greater than it would have been if many of the items had been purchased by Novica and shipped to a warehouse before selling. But since the company doesn't actually purchase the products this is not really applicable.

Charity: 4/4
What does this company have to offer others? Lots by the sound of it. A living! Loans!

Things to be aware of:

• The items take several weeks or more to arrive since they are ordered from the country of origin.
• When I purchased my product with my gift certificate I actually went over the amount given me, and I was emailed a bill to be paid by money order or certified cheque. I expected to pay by credit card and had no interest in these other options. I emailed them back and asked them to give me a paypal option to pay and they responded immediately with a paypal bill. I finished my purchase through paypal. I did not have an option to use a credit card. I do not know if this is because I am Canadian and Novica is based in the USA or whether this is standard procedure.
• The gift certificate is a monetary value and you must consider the cost shipping into the final purchase. The gift certificate works for shipping as well. 

I am a satisfied customer and will shop through Novica again.

Now for the good stuff!

I have been given a gift certificate to the value of $37.50 to give away to a lucky winner!


Win This Gift Certificate:

If you would like an opportunity to win this gift certificate please visit the Novica website and leave a comment at the bottom of this review telling me about something you would like to purchase from Novica. All comments that are not related to the Novica website will be disqualified.

Contest Deadlines: CONTEST IS NOW OVER!  WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED BELOW.

The winner will be drawn based on a number selected by random.org, on Thursday, April 5th 2012 at 9:00pm EST. The winner will be announced on this blog within 24 hours of the contest ending. I will announce that a winner has been selected on facebook and twitter. If the winner does not contact me within 24 hours I will select another winner. Once the winner contacts me I will email him/her the gift certificate code.

Disclaimer:

I was approached by Novica and offered 2 gift certificates with an opportunity to write a review. Nonetheless, the opinions stated in the above article are my own.

We write reviews based on a specific criteria. Click here to see the criteria.

Click here to see our blog and review disclaimer.