FREQUENTLY asked QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY asked QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY asked QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY asked QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY asked QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY asked QUESTIONS

GENERAL QUESTIONS:

HOW CAN I STAY UP TO DATE ON NEWS REGARDING THE LITTLE MARKET?

Follow us on social!

You can also subscribe to our e-newsletter at the bottom of our site, or visit our blog.

DO YOU HAVE A BRICK-AND-MORTAR LOCATION?

We have made the difficult decision to close our storefront in the Pacific Palisades, CA. Our last day will be Sunday, January 8, 2023. We would love to see you before we close our doors. You can also continue to follow us at thelittlemarket.com and on Instagram @thelittlemarket. For more information, please visit our Store Page.

IS THE LITTLE MARKET A FAIR TRADE BUSINESS?

The Little Market is a member of The Fair Trade Federation and the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise. While many of the artisan groups that we source from are members of fair trade organizations, we seek out and prioritize working with artisan groups in underserved communities. Therefore, not every group has the means to become a member. In order to make sure that every group we source from meets fair trade standards, we have a vetting process to determine that each group is following fair trade practices, including paying fair wages, providing a safe environment, and not using forced or child labor.

HOW DOES THE LITTLE MARKET SELECT ARTISAN GROUPS?

We are committed to building relationships with artisan co-ops, community-based organizations, and social enterprises that adhere to fair trade standards in developing high-quality, handmade products. We prioritize working with groups that are women-centered, encourage empowerment through economic development, and promote basic human rights. We work with artisan groups that support local leadership, provide skill training, and focus on the most under-resourced communities. It is important to us that the artisan groups and social enterprises are committed to environmentally sustainable practices, exercise transparency in all stages of production, and support community development. If you are interested in selling your handmade items at The Little Market, click here.

WHY DOES THE LITTLE MARKET PRIORITIZE ARTISAN WOMEN?

At The Little Market, we choose to invest in women. The United Nations found that when women work, they invest 90 percent of their income back into their families, compared with 35 percent for men.* The Little Market proudly sources from some of the most underserved populations, including indigenous artisan women, artisans with disabilities, young mothers, single mothers, and widows, because we recognize that investing in women means investing in their children and communities.


*Clinton Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative: Empowering Girls and Women, accessed December 2019 via UN.org.

How can The Little Market be both a fair trade shop and a nonprofit?

At The Little Market, we believe that conscious, ethical purchases can change the world. Rather than solely accepting monetary donations like many other nonprofits, our model relies on product purchases. Instead of donating dollars, we source handmade products from artisan and producer groups around the world to support dignified income opportunities and women’s economic autonomy. This helps them invest the money into their families and their communities at-large.

Do you offer any discount or promotions?

Check out our most up to date promotions here.

Are there any restrictions on what I can request on a personalized or custom candle

Customers are free to be creative with their personalization and customizations, whether that is a message, phrase, artwork, or logo.
 
Please kindly note that we reserve the right to cancel any personalized or custom candle orders if we determine, in our sole discretion, that the requested personalization or customization is inappropriate or otherwise inconsistent with the exercise of good judgment.

SHIPPING QUESTIONS:

CAN I EDIT MY SHIPPING INFORMATION after I placed an order?

Please reach out to us at concierge@thelittlemarket.com with your request and include the updated shipping address and order number.

 

We are only able to update shipping addresses if the order is still in our fulfillment center. Once an order has been dispatched or is in “pre-shipment,” we are unable to revise or alter the shipping address. We encourage you to review the tracking details and reach out to the mail carrier directly so they can assist you with your package.

 

Please kindly note that the shipping address can only be updated to an address within the original country of destination.

Where can i find shipping + Tracking information?

For all questions about shipping, please refer to our Shipping + Tracking page.

COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THE BREAKDOWN OF SHIPPING COSTS?

This 2022 holiday season, we will provide free standard ground shipping for orders at a minimum of $250 before taxes. No coupon code is necessary. Free shipping will automatically be reflected at checkout for mailing addresses within the contiguous United States. This excludes carbon-neutral shipping fees, and the offer cannot be applied to previous purchases or email or phone orders. No cash value. Subject to modifications or termination at any time.  

 

Please note that as a nonprofit, fair trade shop, we are currenlty unable to offer free return shipping. Thank you for your support and understanding.

RETURNS, EXCHANGES, CANCELLATIONS + REFUNDS:

Where can i find YOUR RETURN POLICY?

For all questions about returns, exchanges and cancellations please refer to our Return Policy.

DO YOU PRICE MATCH?

Large retailers are able to sell products at lower costs often due to the large quantities they purchase from the original seller. The Little Market ethically sources handmade goods that are generally made in small batches. Additionally, as a nonprofit organization and member of the Fair Trade Federation, we are committed to fair trade practices, ensuring that artisans receive living wages. Therefore, we are not able to compete with higher discounts, promotions from other websites, or listed prices from third parties such as gift registries and we are unable to provide price matching.

REturn To Sender

Please note that occasionally, we receive Return to Sender packages in our Fulfilment Center due to reasons including an incorrect mailing address, an addressee not present at the address upon delivery after moving or an unknown reason, mail unclaimed, or mail refused by the recipient at the time of delivery. In the event that a package is returned to us as undeliverable, we will issue a full refund with shipping charges included and do our best to notify you via email. We are not able to reship these items and encourage you to please place a new order on our site.

WHOLESALE:

Where can i find INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR WHOLESALE PROGRAM?

For all questions about shipping, please refer to our Wholesale FAQ.

ORDERING, PAYMENT + DISCOUNT CODES:

HOW DO I USE MY GIFT CARD, PROMOTIONAL CARD OR DISCOUNT CODE?

When applying a gift card or discount code of any kind make sure to use exact spelling and punctuation. Our checkout process will prompt you to apply the code after you have entered your shipping information. If you do not see this section during your check-out experience please contact our Concierge at (800) 404-3300 or concierge@thelittlemarket.com before you apply your payment.

 

Please make sure that before you complete your order that you verify if your discount was applied to your total purchase. This code will not be able to be applied at a later time.

 

Multiple discount codes cannot be applied to your order.

 

Promotional offers and discount codes cannot be applied to gift cards, donations, or carbon neutral payments

Which payment methods do you accept?

Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, Elo, Shop Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

ARE THERE ANY EXCLUSIONS TO E-COMMERCE DISCOUNT CODES?

Please note that we are not able to apply e-commerce discount codes or free shipping to larger bulk gifting or wholesale orders carried out with our Sales Team. In addition, free shipping cannot be applied to orders being drop-shipped to multiple locations.

PRODUCT QUESTIONS:

WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDED CARE INSTRUCTIONS?

Please navigate to the respective product page. In the Details section, you will find care instructions. If you have any questions please contact Concierge at (800) 404-3300 or concierge@thelittlemarket.com.

WHY ARE MY ITEMS NOT THE SAME SIZE/Color AS ADVERTISED?

We guarantee the quality and individuality of all our fair trade products. As a result of the handcrafted nature of our products, many items will vary in color and/or size.

 

If you purchase two of the same basket, you might notice size variations. We do our best to make sure each basket is within the parameters of the size we advertise on our site. We hold our handmade products in the most high esteem and we hope that you enjoy these variations as much as we do.

WHY DOES MY CANDLE HAVE BUBBLES AROUND THE EDGES?

Each candle is hand-poured in small batches using a clean-burning mixture of GMO and phthalate-free, all-natural coconut and soy wax blend. When these candles are exposed to changes in temperature, sometimes the wax will pull away from the glass, while in other spots, it continues to adhere. This is commonly referred to as wax spots.

 

All waxes are affected by temperature, expanding when warmed and contracting when cold. The wax spots (or bubbles) most likely form when a shipment of candles travels in a cool shipping truck or a plane or is stored in a cool warehouse. Other companies hide these spots by adding ingredients that increase adhesion, whereas others mask the spots by using colored glass, opaque containers, or full-coverage labels. Since The Little Market's candles come in clear glass jars, these spots are even more visible. Once the candles have the opportunity to be lit, the wax will become warm and fully set into the glass jar again.

HOW OFTEN ARE ITEMS RESTOCKED?

We ethically source unique, handmade products from artisans in underserved and remote communities around the world. Due to the nature of handmade goods, restock times will vary. Items are often made in workshops in small batches, and many products are made with locally sourced materials including natural grasses and organic fabric. Restocking can be affected by a number of factors such as weather, production time, shipping and customs, the group’s scale and structure, seasonality, limited access to Internet and communication resources, and the availability of raw materials.

 

We inform our customers as frequently as possible with back-in-stock updates. If a product is currently not available, we encourage you to check back in for our webpage and sign up for the waitlist on the respective product page to receive an email notification when it becomes available. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

 


If an item is sold out, please email us at concierge@thelittlemarket.com to speak to our Support Team for similar options.

HOW IS YOUR ETCHED GLASSWARE MADE?

Our glassware that is handmade and hand-etched in Mexico is compliant with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's regulations and California law requirements. It contains no more than 4.0 ppm lead and 0.4 ppm cadmium.