ShopSmart Scours the Web for Feel Good Gifts

YONKERS, NY — If you’re dreading those last-minute trips to the mall to buy the same old gloves and neckties, this year opt for gifts you can feel really good about giving—and not just because they cost less than $50 and can be purchased online. The experts at ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, scoured the Web to find 13 sites that offer items that can help save resources, reduce poverty and support artists and crafters here and abroad.

“The holiday season is the perfect time to give back,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief, ShopSmart. “You don’t have to spend a lot and everyone on your list will really flip for these heartwarming presents, from fun jewelry and house wares to tasty chocolates.”

The experts at Consumer Reports' WebWatch, an Internet watchdog group, screened all of these sites. Internet investigators made sure each one complies with guidelines for customer service, privacy and disclosure of important information, including contact information.

Feel-Good Gifts for $50 or Less

Fair-Trade Gifts: These online shops follow fair-trade principles, which means they pay fair wages and ensure good working conditions for the artisans and farmers who create the products in developing nations. Look for the “Fair-Trade Certified” label on agricultural products.

• Originalgood.com supports artisans around the world by selling a big selection of notebooks, jewelry, housewares and other goodies.
• Theochocolate.com buys its cacao direct from farmers and grower cooperatives.  The gift boxes here carry the Fair-Trade Certified label and taste testers gave them the thumbs-up.
• Tenthousandvillages.com is a nonprofit fair-trade group founded in 1946 that markets gifts and home décor products made by artisans in 36 countries.
• Spiralfoundation.org sells cool tableware and home décor items made from reclaimed or recycled materials, and donates all proceeds to humanitarian programs, including those that promote literacy, provide primary health care and award scholarships in Nepal and Vietnam.

Green Gifts: These sites feature fun, eco-friendly gifts for men, women, kids and pets. Lots of the goods are made from recycled or repurposed materials, saving resources and preventing waste.

• Fao.com has an “Earth Friendly Toys” option where you can buy classic stuffed animals and toys made from sustainable materials and natural or nontoxic paint and dyes.
• Btcelements.com specializes in clothing, accessories and home décor for those who are both stylish and eco-conscious. Many of the items are made from recycled or reused materials.
• Westpawdesign.com has well-designed, green gifts for your furry friends, from dog beds made out of recycled plastic bottles to organic catnip toys and reclaimed cotton sweaters.
• Earthtechproducts.com offers lots of gifts that save energy or allow you to cut down on the disposable batteries you use.

Charitable Gifts: Surprise and inspire the picky people on your list who already have everything by giving a donation to a charity of their choice or a loan to an entrepreneur they select. Those make good last-minute gifts, since you can order online until Christmas Eve or even Christmas morning.

• Networkforgood.org/goodcard lets you choose a donation amount ($10, $25, $50 or $100) and the recipient donates the money to the charity of her choice, selecting from more than 1.5 million organizations.
• Kiva.org helps entrepreneurs in developing countries work themselves out of poverty. Certificates start at $25 and the recipient can browse profiles of entrepreneurs, get updates and, when the loan is repaid, lend the money to a different entrepreneur or withdraw it.
• Changingthepresent.org allows you to contribute to a cause close to someone’s heart and create a personalized greeting card to tell her about the donation you made in her name. Donation amounts start at $2 and there are hundreds of nonprofits from which to choose.
• Worldwildlife.org offers a selection of 80 species for adoption. Donations go towards conservation projects and protecting endangered species around the globe. For $25 the recipient will get an adoption certificate and photo; for $50 she’ll also get a plush stuffed animal of the adopted species or can select the species with the WWF Gift Adoption Card.

Handmade Gifts: These gifts are unique, the prices tend to be reasonable and it feels good to support mom-and-pop businesses.

• Etsy.com is like the world’s largest craft fair. The site lets you buy directly from artists and crafters who set up their own online shops, and you can find out how an item was made and sometimes make special requests.

For greener gift wrap and cards, check out Nightowlpapergoods.com, Luckycrow.com and Greenfieldpaper.com.

About ShopSmart magazine:
Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon Consumer Reports' celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. The magazine features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists. ShopSmart is ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. ShopSmart is now available by subscription at www.ShopSmartmag.org.