In Time for the Holidays: NOVICA.com Brings the World to Your Doorstep at Unbeatable Prices
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (NOVEMBER 15, 1999) - Officially debuting today, NOVICA.com is the first website to offer an extraordinary array of handmade art, crafts, textiles, and furnishings direct from countries around the world. Founded in 1998, NOVICA.com searches developing nations for the best in creative talent, then showcases artists and their wares on http://www.NOVICA.com.
NOVICA.com gives its customers a culturally rich, one-of-a-kind alternative to mass-produced products. It features more than 4,500 items from at least 15 categories and from many geographical regions: the Andes, Bali and Java, Brazil, Central America, Mexico, Southeast Asia, Venezuela, and West Africa. Approximately 50 new products are added daily.
"Our mission is to create a system for artists and artisans in developing nations to access global consumers through the Internet," said founder and CEO Roberto Milk. "We want to move people away from the assembly lines and back to the creation of artistic, cultural, creative works."
To introduce the public to NOVICA.com, the first 1,000 people who register online beginning today will receive a $15 gift certificate and will be entered into a drawing for a $2,500 global shopping spree.
The savings at NOVICA.com are enormous. Balinese sculptures retailing for more than $1,000 sell online for $150. African masks, normally costing $250, sell for $50. All items are authentic, original, first-quality work, ranging in price from less than $10 to several thousand dollars. They are reflective of the region's cultural heritage and made with indigenous materials. Goods are decoratively wrapped and carefully packaged for international shipment.
How can prices be this low? By selling direct over the Internet, NOVICA.com bypasses the high-markup middlemen and retail stores where international art is usually found. NOVICA.com also keeps its margin down to 25%, giving the artists a full 75% of the purchase price. Each artist is a partner in determining prices for his or her work.
NOVICA.com customers include museums, art collectors, interior decorators, and people seeking innovative gifts. Website visitors see beautiful digital pictures of each item, plus text descriptions, dimensions, artist profiles, and details of the creative process.
While public attention is rightly focused on the artists, the company places equal responsibility for its success on its 75-member global team, particularly NOVICA.com's regional directors. Led by Armenia de Oliveira, President of International Operations and former United Nations Human Rights Officer, the regional directors are a critical part of NOVICA.com's efficient global infrastructure.
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Contact:
InterActive Agency, Inc.
Selacia
Wendy Wolf
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InterActive Agency, Inc.
http://www.iagency.com
2701 Ocean Park Boulevard, Suite 201
Santa Monica, CA 90405
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