Holstee is dedicated to design with a conscience. To deliver on this, we hold every design accountable for the impact it has for on all people, our planet and the product's quality. 10% of all Holstee revenue is used to empower entrepreneurs in the developing world through micro lending.
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Let's talk shipping... How much? International? How fast?
What's the story with Returns?
How did you come up with the Holstee pocket concept?
So how much is used for micro-lending?
Let's talk shipping... How much? International? How fast?
All domestic (US) orders over $50 qualify for free shipping (woop woop!). For everything else including international our prices are based on your method of shipping and the product weight - but the rates are always pretty reasonable. USPS First Class takes 3-5 business days (5-10 for international), FedEx and USPS Priority take about 2-3 days. If you have any questions just shoot us an email: friends[at]holstee.com
What's the story with Returns?
Goods bought on Holstee are meant to make you smile, and if they don't we haven't done something right. If you know us, you know that we will do whatever we can (within reason ;-) to make you happy. But in general our return policy goes something like this: Anything you pick up in our shop that you decide you no longer want can be sent back within 14 days of your purchase for a full refund, and within 30 days for an exchange. It would be super if the original packaging remained intact, but in the end, our goal is to make life easier for you. For Designed x Holstee goods we offer a lifetime warranty - if they don't meet your quality standards, let us know and we will fix or replace it. To initiate a return or with any questions email friends[at]holstee.com.
How did you come up with the Holstee pocket concept?
It all started with the pocket. We thought that something had been missing from our lives. We searched far and wide to find meaning, and we realized what was missing in life…it was a holster-positioned pocket strategically placed on our t-shirts. At that moment the world stood still and everything made sense. The meaning of life is now packed into every Holstee pocket before they are sent out.
Micro-lending is the process of lending a very small amount of money to those living in poverty who often do not have access to reasonable forms of credit. We loan directly to individuals through Kiva.org, a leading non-profit micro-lending firm. The concept behind micro-lending leverages the power of multiple small loans to create a huge impact in developing nations. By empowering impoverished entrepreneurs and dreamers with access to the financial resources, we enable them to create change and develop new opportunities for their families and communities. Micro-lending is a bottom-up approach to bootstrapping an economy and it can have a global impact - when implemented properly it is nothing short of inspirational.
So how much is used for micro-lending?
10% of all Holstee sales are lent through micro-lending institutions to entrepreneurs in developing nations. So if you buy something for $40, we take $4 and lend it through Kiva. Our margins aren't huge but we are able to do this because the money usually is paid back within 6-12 months (Kiva micro-loans have an incredible repayment rate - close to 98%). We do not get a return or interest on the micro-loans we make - however depending on the micro-lending partner in the local country there are interest payments that the recipients pay, but they are typically reasonable and reflect the credit/risk level. Kiva.org does a great job of vetting institutions that provide fair loan conditions and we are proud to work with them to find loan recipients.
Nope, we are a for-profit company. We were raised placing a lot of importance on values, and that is how we run our company. There is a saying: “When a company only focuses on the bottom line, they have truly reached the bottom.” As entrepreneurs we appreciate how helpful a small kick-start can be to achieving ones dreams. Holstee is our dream.