It’s not often that an email pitch catches my attention, but when Novica got in touch with me, I was immediately drawn to their mission. Novica has partnered with National Geographic to provide a shop that offers artisan made fair trade goods from around the world. From Bali to Thailand to Brazil, Mexico and Eastern Europe, they’ve created a truly global community.
Novica says:
We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe.
We want you to know about who you’re buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it….
The purpose of NOVICA is to create a revolutionary system through which the artists and artisans of the world can display their fine works to a global audience of prospective customers. NOVICA does not charge artists any fees for listing their items on the website. Furthermore, artists remain fully independent–they are free to raise their prices, lower their prices, or remove their items from our website. By cutting out the long strings of middlemen, NOVICA allows both consumers and artisans to get the most out of each and every transaction.
Even the conception of the name Novica was created with the intent that it could be a global name, pronounceable by all languages and owned by all.
A small sampling of the amazing offerings Novica has available (aka some of my favorite things).
It caught my eye that Novica, while providing a global marketplace, is also trying to provide for all needs– from jewelry and clothing to statues, masks, rugs, and more.
When they contacted me, they were trying to promote their new corporate gifts section. Working with high end donors and also serving on my companies Employee Relations Committee, it impresses me to see a company offering thoughtful & beautiful items for the corporate setting. Why buy your client, donor, or colleagues a mass produced & engraved product when you could buy them an international, independently made piece?
Likewise, Novica also offers an incredible selection of eco-friendly products: recycled & reused merchandise, along with garments made from organic & sustainable fabrics.
Needless to say, I think Novica is really offering an unusual and amazing opportunity– both for a world’s worth of artisans and buyers. I don’t think you get to shop more independent than this.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
thanks for the link, Ashe. I sense a global shift toward fair practices in all areas of commerce. And that’s a good thing!
.-= glamspoon´s last blog ..I’m in love with Frida =-.
Thank you for highlighting the value of fair trade. In the sixty years since fair trade came into being, the movement has grown! The fair trade community in America is now reaching out to the First Lady…
Fair Trade the White House is a coalition of fair trade vendors and organizations which is inviting the First Lady to join the fair trade movement and make the White House a “Fair Trade Home.” The purpose of the outreach is to raise greater awareness of fair trade to the American consumer, so each person will choose to “Join the Fair Party,” and integrate more fair trade purchases into their regular buying habits.
Green America, TransFair, Fair Trade Federation, IMO, Fair Trade Resource Network are all involved, as are 81 other fair trade vendors so far. The public invitation to the First Lady is available to sign online at http://www.fairtradewhitehouse.com.
Please consider adding your voice!
Tina, let’s hope so! I love the values of fair trade, and the way that Novica works is just so inspiring. Let’s hope commerce moves quickly on this…