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.
In the spirit of the Internet, let us bring you together.
NOVICA. The World is Your Market.
"Before working with Novica, I sold my work at our local art market, with only a few months of good sales per year. There, buyers didn't seem interested in knowing about the artist. They just bargained for a souvenir - for a memory of Bali, at the cheapest price. At that time, my main concern was just to earn enough to support my family. Everything began to change when I joined Novica. Now, I'm directly connected to interested customers around the world. They know my name, and they read my biography. I now enjoy reading compliments written by my customers, especially those who explain how certain of my carvings carry important meanings for them. Now Novica accounts for half of my income and the respect Novica has brought me, as an artist, is priceless."
"It is like a dream come true to be part of Novica, a place where I am appreciated and positioned at the same level as other international artists. Previously, with my father, brother, wife, and a son, we were living very simply, sharing two rooms in such a small house. Financially we had nothing, but we never gave up hope. Now, I employ five artisans to help me carve for Novica. One of my helpers had been working at a gas station before. He is so happy to put his skills as a carver to use. Slowly but surely our economic situations are getting better. I am now building a larger house, more appropriate for my family. Novica is such a blessing from God, for me and my family."
"Novica has created a much better life for me. Before, I could hardly afford to live in a single room home. Now I live in a house with three rooms, and have my own car. Most importantly, I now support many other artisans who work with me. My family and I live a much better life, and five other families now benefit directly from my Novica sales. I am also able to help my relatives, especially the younger children, who now have shoes, clothes, and an education that they couldn't have before. Since joining Novica, I have also grown in my realization of how we as Balinese fit into the whole world picture. Before, I was like a lot of fellow Balinese in that my thinking was centered on Bali only, as if Bali was the world! Now I realize more how we are just a piece of the puzzle. When I read customers' comments about my products, I'm filled with a great sense of well being and pride, to be able to create something that others value. After all, in Bali we are a mere spot in a vast ocean, and I realize this now when I see customer responses from all over the world! Often I look on a map or a globe to see where my customers live. It's amazing that my carvings are now in so many various places, and I am here. It is almost as if part of me has traveled to those other places and is now residing there."
"People may say money is not everything, but in reality, where eating three times a day is a privilege, it is necessary to earn a living. It was heartbreaking to see my family worried to welcome tomorrow. Relying on twice-yearly orders for my living was terrible. At my shop, I would often have no sales for a month at a time. Unexpectedly, Novica came into my life like a bright light, shining over my dark life. Now I earn a steady income, and I'm able to provide a better life for my family. Novica is such a perfect place for a small artist like myself to be appreciated by people around the world. Before, people bought my masks, paid for them, and that was it. It never came into my mind that customers would thank me, and write wonderful testimonials for me, but now they do that too."
"Novica has changed my life, and the lives of other families in my small village, in a remote part of Central Java. Most of the men in our village are fisherman, while most of the women make batik fabrics, bike-riding every day 14 kilometers to another town, to the workshop of 'juragan batik,' meaning boss of batik. Since I turned 16 years old, I journeyed with my mother every day to made batik, to help improve our family's income. Several years later, when I married, my husband began helping me sell my own batiks from store to store. Now, after less than two years with Novica, my life has changed, and so have the lives of many neighbors who now work with me. My husband and I opened a batik workshop in my village, and we now have 15 people working with us permanently. Our helpers earn more than they received elsewhere, and during lunchtime they can easily go home and visit their children and family nearby. Thank you to our Novica customers for all your reviews - this has given us so much happiness and support. I wish my workshop to continue growing, making it possible for us to provide better well being to all our employees."
"Times were so hard before I joined Novica. I couldn't afford to pay the hospital for my wife giving birth to our daughter. I had to give up my motorbike, the only thing we had left, to pay the hospital and take my wife and daughter back home. God answered my prayer, and here I am now living happily with my wife, a daughter, and a son. Regular income from Novica means so much to the life of my family, and the lives of other carvers in our village - I am now working with 20 carvers! We started with nothing. Now we have savings, and are building houses. My place is full of statues we're working on for Novica customers. It feels as though the Novica office is my own office, yet I don't have to pay for Novica, or Novica's employees, or any packaging or shipping expenses. I just get 24 hours of promotion every day, internationally."
"These seven years with Novica have brought so many changes to my life. Now I have something to be proud of, including the fact that the international world appreciates me as an artist - a silversmith from Bali. I was only selling my jewelry door-to-door before, and my life was in the hands of shop owners. With Novica I am now able to create my own life, and to earn a consistent income. There are now five people working with me. One by one they came to my place asking for work. They are happy to work with me, for almost five years now, each also happy to be a part of Novica's success -- and happy to earn more money than they received before."
"Before Novica, I was only selling my masks to a man I called 'tengkulak.' Tengkulak is a person who has capital and buys from small artists and artisans, paying a very low price. Novica is the other way round. Like the other Novica artists and artisans, I set my own fair price for each product. This way I earn more money, yet customers still can buy at a reasonable price. From my Novica income I've been able to pay for my children's school expenses, and to buy a house with credit. I really thank God and Novica for all the good things that have happened. Novica has changed my life and family for the better."
"Novica is a great phenomenon with its mission to help small artists be appreciated by people around the world. The Novica mission 'Artisans earn more and customers pay less' is a real thing, which has proved itself. I no longer have to walk from one door to another to offer my statues, but now only need to focus on how to carve beautiful art and let Novica do the marketing. It was amazing to receive the first payment from Novica - that is when the door opened for a better future for my family and me. Before, it never crossed my mind that I would be able to provide a better education for my two children. Today, I'm sharing my small success with four relatives who work with me. We are all part of Novica's big family."
"My dreams came true with Novica. I'm happy to be part of this organization. I thank Novica for their confidence and their support; this has been a great step forward for me. The biggest achievement of my life has been to give a good education to my four children. All my children have studied in the university, in part thanks to Novica. That is my biggest pride. Novica has also encouraged me to read more about Peruvian history and culture, which has helped increase my own education. Also, I have been able to hire an assistant, and I enjoy the appreciation of many new customers. Novica is like a cover letter. Many times I just need to say that I work with Novica, and I receive respect straight away. I pray to God for good luck for Novica, that it will continue working with the same objectives and goals, always supporting us artisans, because we need that support."
"Novica has brought about a great change in my life, economically, of course, and personally as well, because I really value their recognition of my work. They make me feel good about myself, and encourage me to keep moving ahead. The testimonials my customers post make me happy. In my humble opinion, it seems like foreigners appreciate our handicrafts more than we Peruvians do. This kind of work won't make anyone rich, and making a living through art isn't easy, but, thanks to Novica, I can live without worries because I know I'll always have work. My workshop now provides employment to five fulltime helpers. When I receive large orders, as many as 17 people join me. Thanks to Novica, I can offer work to these people, including women with limited economic resources. This makes me feel useful. My income has doubled since I joined Novica. For me, Novica is something very special. People are surprised when I tell them I can't attend to their order requests, that I have too much work to do for my business. I talk about Novica as though it were my own business, and let other things go. For me, Novica comes first."
"Novica is the change of my life, especially as a human being. Before Novica, I sold my products at a local indigenous market. I never received a big order, or constant orders, until Novica. I was planning to move to Cuzco with my looms and family, to try my luck with the tourist market there. But those plans stopped when I met Novica. In just a few months my income increased so much that I couldn't believe it. By 2002, I was Novica's top-selling artisan. After eight years with Novica, I have now been able to pay for my three kids' education, easily. The baby girl is now at the University! To be able to give my family a better lifestyle and security pleases me. Novica recognizes and values my art, respects a fair price, and promotes me as an individual. Thanks to Novica, people now know me worldwide. This has opened up many opportunities I never expected. Twenty-five fellow artisans now assist me with my orders, and I have been training them to become as well known as myself. My Novica income has made it possible for me to finance the purchase of 15 lands for them, where they are able to build their own workshops. Their loyalty and trust make me so happy. I have been able to greatly improve my own workshop, to purchase a new house for my family, to purchase a computer and to get connected to the Internet, and to buy the first car anyone in this family has ever owned."
"I give thanks to Novica for the significant change it has made in my life. Before, we were living with a mattress on the floor, and now we have a comfortable and pleasant new home. I'm very happy to have been able to pay for the schooling of my three children and the comfort of my family. Previously, I sold my work on the street. Now, my income has increased three times. I am doing the job I always dreamed of doing, and I love it."
"I owe my recognition and growth to Novica, who adopted me at a time when I couldn't see the horizon. Today I have all the work I can do. I know where I'm going and have no doubt I'll continue to grow. It's not difficult to support yourself through Novica, because we are in constant communication. It's like being at home. We're good friends. I'm always informed about the market, as far as prices and sizes, and this gives me the opportunity to adapt perfectly. Before Novica, I was going through a very difficult economic situation, with some people who took advantage of me. My job was to produce artwork for foreign clients, but I never saw the fruits of my labor. Once on my own, I wasn't sure how to get started again, without the funds for materials. I invested the little I had to create a few pieces. This is when I discovered Novica. I could hardly believe how, almost overnight, my name, biography, and photo were being promoted all over the world."
"I am proud to be part of Novica. Novica has made it possible for our ceramic-making family to become known around the world. We have even completed our house and been able to dress it up, thanks to Novica. I'm grateful from the depths of my heart. To us, Novica is a family that protects and helps us. Novica helps keep our ceramic tradition alive and prospering. Art is in our blood. This tradition has been handed down to us from through many generations of our forefathers. My family all works together, myself and my husband, three professionally educated children who now assist us with larger orders, plus uncles, nephews, and cousins all working together here as a team, telling stories together, listening to nice music while we work, and really enjoying our lives together. My son is always reading me the reviews that our customers send us through Novica, and this moves me greatly. I've cried, in fact, so thankful that my family and our work are recognized. This makes me feel honored."
"Finding Novica has been a big opportunity for me. I left my hometown during the Shining Path terrorism in the 1980s. For income, I sold my patchwork art in a local market. Occasionally I exported through traders. At one point I felt desperate, but I didn't lose faith. After joining Novica, suddenly one day they called me and said they wanted to give me a surprise - they told me that I had sold everything! I got $1,400 that day, and with that first payment I was able to visit my parents in Ayacucho, my hometown. It had been so long since I had seen them. Nowadays my income is triple what it was, and I have been able to build my own workshop, to invest money in new materials, and to employ seven women to help me. I feel so happy that I can help other needy women. I am grateful for Novica's assistance, and for the support of my customers at Novica. These excellent people recognize my work and speak to me at the same level. That is very important. I am also able to afford the education of my four children. I am very proud that they have a good life, and that the future is open for them."
"My family and I joined Novica when it first began. We have been growing up together. It is like we walk together holding hands, and we have learned many things together. Previously we sold our ceramics in a local market, and to exporters who bought from us in batches, but without continuity. In general, we are worried that, besides Novica, true support for artisans doesn't seem to exist. We don't have as many craft markets here or exporters now. But thanks to Novica my family still lives calmly and well, and we have been able to save enough to purchase the house we were renting."
"Novica came into my life at a time when needed it most. For a while, I thought I might not be able to make my dreams come true, and to provide for my little son. My son is now seven, and it has been seven years since I joined Novica - seven years since I realized that dreams can be more than just dreams. Today I have my own home, and my own workshop. My family is doing well, and I have the energy to continue exploring my creativity because I'm sure that Novica will be there to protect us. When I joined Novica, I lived in a rented house with just one loom, my wife, and our newborn baby. Today, I have three looms and have hired other weavers to help weave my designs. Best of all, I can provide for my son the way I dreamed of doing so when he was born."
"I am very thankful to Novica. These six years have brought great changes to my life. Today I have a third child, Gerardo, who is two, and I can now provide him, Vanessa, Sandro, and my wife Celsa, with good food and a better future. I don't worry as much as I used to about how to support my family. We have more conveniences now, and I'm confident that my family will get ahead in life. I have been able to invest part of my income in my workshop, including the purchase of three new looms. My brothers and cousins now work with me, fulfilling my Novica orders. My entire family is grateful for this, and our image has improved greatly within our social circle. When I return to the village of my birth the neighbors say, 'You are selling really well! You are doing great, Zosimo.' This fills me with pride and satisfaction. I am now producing 40 percent more than before, and my profit margin is much higher with Novica. My growth hasn't been limited to money, either. I've also grown as an artist. My designs were previously becoming stagnant, and limited to traditional motifs. Thanks to Novica, I now work hard to develop my own designs, too, and I've greatly improved the quality of my work. I'm proud of my new creations."
"There has been a significant change in my life since I began bringing my carvings to Novica. Before I joined Novica, I sold my products at a small shop in Aburi, in the eastern region of Ghana. My shop was always full of carvings, not because business was good, but because, for days at a time, I could not sell anything. I could only sell when tourists visited us. My joy for carving had almost disappeared. Since joining Novica, I have been able to rent an apartment of my own, rather than stay with friends. I have been able to buy my own furniture, refrigerator, television set, and a bed. I have been able to marry. I have been able to help open a hairdressing salon for my wife. I am no longer under financial hardship. Novica has been able to sustain my business and my life."
"I am among the first artisans who started with Novica. Novica has done a lot for me, and has caused great changes in my life. Through Novica, I have been able to look after eight children, and send them to school. One of them is now at the senior high level. As I speak, I have been able to buy a plot of land. My consistent income gives me confidence in my life, as I am able to plan ahead. Also, some time ago I suffered an ectopic pregnancy. Had I not earned savings from my Novica sales, I would have died. So I can say that Novica bought my life for me. Novica has also provided a stable income for my husband. Before we married, he was a talented carpenter. Now he creates cultural art for Novica, which he enjoys. Through Novica, I've changed my former belief that foreigners would always take advantage of us. And I do not think that I could ever truly enjoy selling my work as much through another organization."
"Novica has greatly improved my living conditions by increasing my income three fold. It has also motivated my art, because so many people now appreciate my work. And it has helped me to continue my education. The community here has noticed these great and sudden changes, and they now say I am a successful painter. The result is that I serve as a role model and motivator to my siblings. All this has improved my self-confidence. I also enjoy receiving interesting and encouraging emails from my international customers. Before, I was a local artist. Through Novica, I have become an international person. A very big thanks to Novica."
"Until I found Novica, I was finding it difficult to sell my art, so I was forced to sell it cheaper than I wanted to. Since I came to Novica, to my surprise, I have been able to sell at desirable prices, while also selling many more paintings. Novica has improved my life in many ways. I am able to help my big sister to look after our three younger siblings, by paying their school fees and buying them uniforms and other clothing. I now provide funds for our daily meals. I've been able to purchase a refrigerator, television, music system, and a set of living room furniture. At one point my mother had an accident and was hospitalized. I went to the bank and came back with a $6,000 loan to help her, granted because of my steady income. I felt very proud when my mother said thank you. As I am talking, I am now looking for a two-bedroom apartment, and will soon move from my small room in our family's house. My association with Novica has given me confidence and encouragement. I always feel relaxed now, knowing that Novica will always sell my art."
"My family has woven and sold kente cloth in Ghana since 1821, helping maintain an ancient Ghanaian tradition dating back to the 11th Century. Novica has gone far, in more recent years, to expose our quality kente to the international market, helping bring increased success to Gobah Tengey-Seddoh, our family business. We now receive accolades from far distant customers, and Novica's prompt remittances and open access to their office and smiling staff have given us great encouragement, and an understanding of e-commerce, which was hitherto unheard of in Ghana. We have learned much from Novica, and are inspired to continue working very hard to produce the finest kente cloth possible."
"I owe much to Novica. Today I am constantly busy making my art, to the surprise of friends and relatives who once thought I wouldn't amount to anything. I have gained a good image in my family. I am no longer looked down upon. I no longer struggle with my finances. There is constant money flowing in to help maintain my family. Formerly, no money was assured. Now I have been able to put my children through school, comfortably, without worrying about how to pay their fees. It is a relief to work with Novica."
"Novica has changed my life in many ways. Through Novica I received an invitation to visit Europe. This gave me the opportunity to understand the culture of the Czech Republic, while visiting as an honored guest, there to speak about my culture's traditions and my art form. What excited me most was when I saw my own handworks in one of the museums there. It is as a result of the good works of Novica that my name has gone that far. I joined Novica in year 2000. Early on, I earned enough from Novica to purchase two cars, one for my family's personal use, and one for a transport business. Since then, the payments I earn through Novica, and through my transportation business, allow me to take great care of my children and home. Through Novica I have been able to educate my four children. My first child Peter Wiafe will graduate from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in July this year in Social Science. The second child Collins Bempah has completed an Art course at the College of Arts in Kumasi and is now working as an artist for a station also in Kumasi. Lydia Frimpoma my only daughter is now at Juaben Training College, and my lastborn, Enock Oti Twumasi is in his second year in senior high school."
"Novica has provided me with a means to keep my home and to take proper care of my children. The payments I earn through Novica help sustain my family and pay school fees. There has never been a day I have been idle since I joined Novica. I am now always busy at work. Our local market for carvings is restricted, based on the tourist season. With Novica, I'm now assured of continual orders. I like the way Novica deals directly with artists. This cannot be found elsewhere, where there are normally various middlemen, and the value the artist quotes for an item isn't what he eventually receives. But with Novica, artists receive what is due them, and this makes me so happy to be part of this family. I also like the way Novica orients artists about the pricing of their art, to help them earn more, while at the same time helping them avoid overpricing, which can slow sales. I have learned much working with Novica. At first, I wasn't conversant with the concept of the Internet, but when I quickly received payment for my Internet sales I realized Novica could deliver as they promised. I thank Novica for helping preserve my culture, and for striving to help preserve other cultures here in Africa."
"Novica has really changed my life in so many ways. Before Novica, I had a weak financial background. Now, although I cannot say I am rich, I can confidently say that I am not poor. One thing I am very proud of is that Novica has enabled me to rent a room of my own. I used to live with friends. We were four boys living in one room. I have also been able to buy my own set of furniture, refrigerator, television set, and a bed for myself. I can now boast of a bank account, which I was encouraged to open through the checks I collect from Novica. I get a lot of encouragement and motivation from the sales that I make from Novica. I have also engaged two apprentices to assist me with my work."
"My wife and I are Huichol indigenous people. We were selling our items on the street of Tlaquepaque when someone told us about Novica. We went to visit Novica's offices and began to work with them, though we continued selling on the streets. Sometimes the money we made from the streets would hardly recuperate what we had invested in materials. However, thanks to our sales from Novica, we were able to invest in more materials. Everything was working well until three years ago, when the government changed the rules and forbade us from selling on the streets. We were very worried. Every day, for months, we would go and ask the government when we could resume our local sales. My wife and I realized that the only thing that kept us afloat was our sales through Novica. Novica has helped us during harsh times, including the debts we sometimes incur when we must buy school uniforms and books every year. Sometimes my wife and I ask ourselves, 'What would we have done if it hadn't been for Novica?' We appreciate Novica's help, and we are very happy to see our work go to faraway lands that we do not know of, and may never get to visit - but something from us will. In this way, we are helping to preserve our Huichol roots and legacy."
"By selling our ceramics at the street markets, we had a tough time making ends meet, and sometimes had to borrow money to pay rent or buy food. It seems like only yesterday when on a rainy Thursday afternoon, we learned about Novica and how they could help us. In no time we began to sell and sell. When someone from another country buys one of our ceramics, they are not only receiving something from our roots, they are also receiving the love and faith that is shared by this family. A few months ago, one of our daughters got sick and needed an operation. If it hadn't been for our sales through Novica, and the help Novica offered, we never would have been able to pay for her operation and medicines. The people at Novica are always ready to help, and we really feel their support. They are part of our family. They even attend our children's birthdays and bring gifts."
"Nothing could be better for me than Novica. Now, I focus on creating, rather than selling, or paying rent for a store, or packing and shipping. As a Hill Tribe artisan, I cannot imagine myself doing any of those aspects, anyway! I love to tell my friends about Novica, and to recommend that they, too, work with Novica. I tell everyone I know that it can't get better than this!"
"I love that Novica isn't interested in getting the lowest price from us. Novica allows us to earn good prices, and, in exchange, we provide Novica with our finest materials and most careful work. This arrangement makes me very happy. Previously, I made handbags just for the local market, where the lowest price was all that seemed to matter. Also, whenever we receive an especially large order from Novica, we enjoy sharing this work among quite a few people in our village. This is good for us all, because otherwise we don't have another way to earn income after the rice harvest is done. By making crafts in our spare time, we can earn a living without leaving our village. This allows us to continue participating in important village activities: marriages, funerals, housewarmings, and so forth. Villagers who leave here to work in a factory cannot return home for such important occasions. I'm thankful that through Novica, my family, my neighbors, and myself are able to continue living our traditional lifestyle here."
"I'm getting old and know that I don't have much time left in life. I don't want to see all the techniques of my work pass away with me, the day I no longer breathe. Since my international sales began with Novica, I've gained new happiness and confidence. I never thought that I would be able to reach people so far away. Now I can finally visualize a better future for the heritage of my work, and this has motivated me to teach and train younger people, to continue this tradition."
"Before, I created a handicraft that I could only try to sell in the streets, where it was not valued. Now, everything is different. People of different backgrounds know me all over the world, thanks to Novica. Novica is a great satisfaction for me, and I am glad to help the environment by making art from recycled paper. Discarded paper that next becomes a jewel - isn't that great? I am not just making necklaces or bracelets. Each of my creations expresses social and cultural answers. This year, with my sales at Novica increasing, I can afford to return to something I truly love - volunteering at a local shelter. There, I am now teaching mentally troubled people to make objects of value using recycled materials. I love helping people. Another great occurrence that has happened since joining Novica is that last September I finally returned to my birthplace, here in Brazil. For 30 years I could not afford to travel there. It was fantastic. I still cannot believe it. I met all my family and relatives, and they were so happy to see me again after such a long time."
"Novica changed my life. I am very proud to work with Novica, because I am working with people who share an ideological affinity, who helped me organize my work better, and who show my creations all over the world. Novica is my perfect partner. Now I earn a living each month, whereas before I could just sell my work during Carnival here, or during exhibitions. Through Novica I can sell everywhere, every day of the year. This is great. Even my family far away in the state of Ceara can see my masks online, and they are very proud of me. I am glad to be able to help exhibit our Brazilian culture all over the world. One customer sent a message after purchasing one of my masks, and his words expressed exactly what I had thought while making that particular mask. I was astonished that so far away in the world I could encounter someone who understood me, and thought like me. Novica is my window to the world."
"I could never have expected that my life would change in this way! Everything started because of Novica. In addition to the economic improvement, Novica has made several other dreams come true. Before Novica, I could only sell at local fairs. Through Novica, even Hollywood stars have become interested in my recycled handbags - and several have been pictured in magazines carrying them. I could never have expected this! But the best thing that happened to me was an invitation to appear on a famous Brazilian television show. That invitation occurred after some little angels at a primary school in California became interested in my recycling work. Those students made a book of personal messages for me, and sent it to me through Novica. I was so emotionally touched that I cried with happiness. Shortly after that, I was invited to appear on television, here in Brazil, to tell my story. Now many people recognize me here, and stop me in the streets. My husband came with me to the show, where he was invited to perform one of his songs. Now, many people stop him on the street as well. It is wonderful to earn a living by recycling, helping the environment while at the same time gaining recognition as an artist. Thank you Novica."
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