GlobeIn Artisan Subscription Box Review – December 2016
The GlobeIn Artisan Gift Box is a monthly subscription that sends you original crafts by global artisans. Each box contains handcrafted items from around the world and the stories of the artists who made the pieces. This month’s theme is Comfort!
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: The GlobeIn Artisan Gift Box
The Cost: $40 a month
COUPON: Use code MSAWELCOME to save $10 on a 3, 6, or 12-month subscription.
FLASH DEAL: Use coupon code HOLIDAYS16 to save $20 off a 3-month subscription!
The Products: Handcrafted items from around the world.
Ships to: US
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Check out our Artisan Subscription Box Directory for similar boxes!
This box comes with an info booklet – the first page is a letter explaining the theme. Inside each maker and their products are detailed. There’s also details about the fair trade practices, community support initiatives, etc. – it is a feel-good read!
Now, onto the items!
Woven Cotton Throw, India (Retail $30)
This blanket measures 36×60 inches and is 100% cotton.
It’s great for a comfort-themed Winter box, but I think this could work as an oversized beach blanket/towel, too!
Hand-Painted Pyramid Candle Set, South Africa (Retail $16)
These candles are hand painted, and measure about 4 inches high. They are so unique and gorgeous – I think they would make a perfect low-key centerpiece!
Ceramic Cup+ Saucer, India (Retail $12)
Update: Not all subscribers will receive this teacup. Diane shared this email with us from GlobeIn:
When working with small artisan organizations in remote areas of the world, there are frequently unpredictable obstacles with production and shipping. The teacup and saucer are being produced by a cooperative in Khurja, India through The Village Experience. Normally in this region, there is abundant sunshine that allows the artisans to dry the ceramics outside. But during the past month, the climate in Khurja has changed unexpectedly. There has been nothing but fog and cloudy weather, so the ceramics have not had a chance to dry adequately to be shipped in time to the US.
Because of this, we will not be including the teacup and saucer in the Comfort Box as planned for the month of December. Instead, you will find a small hand-painted mug from Le Souk Ceramique inside the box.
Hopefully the weather in Khurja will return to the sunshine they are used to within the next month. If everything goes as planned, then we will make the teacups available as add-ons in January, along with Comfort Boxes with teacups and saucers.
This beautiful teacup set is handpainted, dishwasher safe, and goes perfectly with this next item:
Equal Exchange Rooibos Tea, India/South Africa (Retail $5)
This tea was delicious! It is organic and caffeine free, too.
GlobeIn Greeting Card (Retail $3)
This card seems perfect for the holidays, and it’s blank inside, too.
Handwoven Palm Leaf Basket, Mexico (Retail $12)
Each box comes with a basket, so if you’re a subscriber you’ll build a collection! I use these for storage in just about every room in our house, but now with the holidays coming up, I think these will be great gift containers, too!
Verdict: This box has a value of about $78. I think that’s a great value for a subscription box that focuses on fair trade and giving back. I think this is a really thoughtfully curated box that is very fitting for December. The blanket is my favorite item, but I really like everything in this box.
What do you think of the December 2016 GlobeIn Artisan box?
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Written by Liz Cadman
I loved the December box… it ranks with Hydrate, Cozy, and Savor as my favorites. The blanket is lovely — thankfully, I picked up an extra as an add on. One will go to my chilly office to keep my lap warm, and the other will be sat aside until Spring (when I put the wool afghans away). It will be the perfect weight and a welcome bit of vernal brightness.
I’m not much of a tea drinker, but my staff are… so I’ll put it out for them to enjoy. The candles are lovely — although not something I think I’d purchase on my own, I think they’ll look very pretty on my post-Christmas mantle.
I didn’t get the original tea cup… which is a-okay with me!! I’d had already pegged it as a gift since (although pretty) is must too neutral for my tastes. What I got instead was a handleless cup and saucer in cobalt and bright white. I love it!! It’s bright and beautiful and absolutely perfect for the drinking cacoa I’ve developed a passion for… Sublime and indulgent. ♡
Thanks again to GlobeIn for a wonderful box!
Did anyone try the ARLOOPA video thing from the booklet? It says to watch any video and follow the link at the end to get a free set of Mexican glasses. I watched every video – two didn’t have any link, and the other two had links to the organizations, and there’s nothing there either (not that I expected there to be). Where the heck am I supposed to go?
Guess I’m in the minority, but I loved this month’s box (and I actually preferred my replacement teacup to the one that Liz received).
The replacement mug was awesome!
I received my box tonight. The reason Globein gave for not offering a basket alternative was that they were sending new designs. My basket is absolutely plain, no design, no color, nothing. I guess that’s new. The blanket is cute but sort of a useless size unless you have small children. The candles are nice, and remind me of similar ones we brought back from South Africa. The teacup replacement is awful. It is very small and very ugly, and is chipped on the bottom. It will go straight to the garbage. I wish they had just not bothered, instead of substituting this sad option.
The tiny mug is the Tabarka pattern, btw.
Hi everyone,
Thank you so much for all of your comments and feedback. We love our customers, and we are truly sorry we dropped the ball on this communication and clarity. We want to ensure you have a stellar experience with GlobeIn and all of our items. We definitely welcome feedback to help us make a better experience for you – contact us at [email protected]
I just emailed all our Comfort Box customers explaining the situation with the tea cups and saucers. You can find the full story on our Facebook page: https://goo.gl/nniWsy
Sincerely,
Liza
I ordered the 10.00 box as a gift. ….know what my receiptant received ? An unlabeled bag of salt. Not worth 2.00. I was so embarrassed. Cancelled the next day.
The salt should have come in a handwoven basket tied with a string and bow. Although small, the basket is cute and reuasable. Also, the salt is high quality sea salt with great taste and should have come with a card explaining how it is harvested by hand off an island. I’m not saying it’s the most “impressive” gift, but it’s very practical and should have come presented well with an explanation… It retails for $15 on the GlobeIn site (or 4 for $40) and asin salt is definitely more expensive than your average table salt if you search for it on the internet.
I subscribe to the Club plan and received the salt/basket also. I agree with you about the item sent not being very impressive although mine did have the basket and two cards setting out info about the products. Needless to say, I have not been very happy with the Club Sub even though it is only $10 and cancelled my subscription. I had forgotten I had an add-on of a shirt and at first thought it was shipped separately and the salt was an extra gift. Haha.
I thought there was an option to skip a box with GlobeIn. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a way so I’ll be getting the December offering.
If I get the teacup, I’ll definitely be swapping it if anyone wants to call dibs.
You can skip but you have to email them to do so.
Actually if you click skip a month at the bottom you do not need to email them! hopefully this helps!
Actually, you can skip at the bottom of the page when you click on your subscription now.
I really wish they’d email out to everyone to let them know they’re swapping out an item. How do they decide who gets the few cups and saucers they actually made. This is the first of three months I’m subscribed too. Probably won’t be renewing.
I’d be interested in swapping for the mug that comes as an alternative, given that this is my first box and I don’t have any other Le Souk Ceramique items to match it. I do live in Canada so it may be difficult.
Let me know,
Paloma
The candles are so pretty!
I’m pretty disappointed with this month. Regular subscribers never got an email about the teacups. One person on the forum got an email that they won’t be in Decembers box, they didn’t tell all subbers that though. The teacup is the only thing I was really looking forward to. Last month half the people didn’t get the basket alternative we wanted, this month there wasn’t one. No offense but of course bloggers will get the teacup and the rest of us will get the alternate item.
I’m guessing that if you didn’t receive the email, then you are one of the people who are actually getting the cup and saucer in their box. Since I got an email, I’m pretty sure I won’t be one of the lucky ones getting it.
That makes sense but I’ll be a little disappointed if that’s true. I love LeSouk and have much more use for another one of their mugs than a teacup and saucer set. But I didn’t receive an email so I might get the latter. I’m sure I’m not the only one who would prefer a mug. If they didn’t have enough teacup sets to go around then maybe a better way of figuring out who gets what would have been to let people choose their preference with the stipulation some people may not get their first choice.
I’m wondering if the Le Souk replacement is going to be different than the mugs on the Globein site in previous boxes. The email said “small” and those are usually described as “large.” Wish they’d include a pic too!
I got the email about the substitution a few minutes after I posted the above comment. I wish they had posted a pic of the mug too. That could have happened had they sent MSA the same thing they knew everyone else would get. I thought that’s what the purpose of sending boxes to reviewers was for.
I got a teacup and saucer and will be swapping it.
This is me: https://swap.mysubscriptionaddiction.com/user/528/profile
And this is what it looks like: https://swap.mysubscriptionaddiction.com/item/116195/le-souk-teacup-saucer
That’s really nice. Unfortunately, I got a very small, almost dimitasse sized cup with no saucer. I was really disappointed. And to top it off, this morning I got an email letting me know that I will not be getting the January box that I was expecting and must choose from one of the previous month’s boxes that I intentionally passed on previously. As much as I love the mission and the boxes, I’m getting very frustrated with all of the substitutions. I understand that things happen, but it seems like it’s happening more and more. And I have been a subscriber for 9 months now, but I’m not in line to get the regular January box? This may be my last three-month subscription. 🙁
That doesn’t seem right. Reading the email, they said they wouldn’t offer a box you’d had previously. If you’ve been with GlobeIn for 9 months, surely the Love box is your only option?
This is a great box!