FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT US
Who is Sustainable Wares?
The short answer is, Sustainable Wares is the founder Karen West. But really it is made up of so much more, including the shop dog Forty, friends and family that have been called upon for support, our very dedicated customers, and the amazing brands we partner with.
How did Sustainable Wares come about?
Sustainable Wares has been in operation in Homer, Alaska since 2014. The idea of the store originated from Karen personally changing her shopping habits and starting to question her purchases. She would ask herself 3 questions, do I really need this?, can I buy it locally? , and can I buy it used instead? And more questions were asked, is this fair trade?, is it non-toxic?, is there a more eco friendly alternative? And that lead to a lot of internet research which lead her to getting really excited about not only all the amazing products that companies and artists were producing, but also the way they run their businesses where the bottom line is not always about making a profit. This idea of questioning purchases or “mindful shopping” really stuck and she saw a need and market for that in Homer.
What is your mission statement?
Sustainable Wares provides a full range of mindfully curated earth friendly gifts and necessities. We don’t want to change how you shop, we want to change what you buy and be mindful of your purchases. We are here to promote companies and artists that create products in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. We will show you that shopping in a sustainable, earth friendly manner is as normal, fun and as easy as ever. We want to inspire you to take the steps you need to create a comfortable, enjoyable, happy, fun, beautiful, sustainable, earth friendly life. Besides providing a sustainable shopping experience we want to provide information and community outreach on transitioning to a more sustainable, low waste lifestyle.
What makes your products sustainable?
There are a lot of buzz words that we could list to explain earth friendly and sustainable products. And there is also a lot of greenwashing to watch out for. Luckily, we have done the sometimes confusing and overwhelming research for you to bring together a full range of high quality sustainable products that will best suit your needs and begin shopping more mindfully. These are some of the things we keep in mind when selecting products:
1. What is it made of?
2. How is it made?
3. Who makes it and where?
4. Does it have an end of life?
More detailed information about each of these questions coming soon.
1. What is it made of?
2. How is it made?
3. Who makes it and where?
4. Does it have an end of life?
More detailed information about each of these questions coming soon.
ABOUT ORDERS
Will my order be shipped in an environmentally friendly manner?
We ship all orders in upcycled, reusable, recycled/recyclable, or compostable materials mostly from shipments we have received. All other shipping supplies are proudly purchase from Eco Enclose. We hope to offer a carbon neutral shipping option in the future.
How is the shipping calculated on my order?
We base our shipping and handling charge on the total dollar amount of your order. This is the break down of how shipping is calculated:
$1.00 to $20.00 order = $8.00 shipping charge
$21.00 to $40.00 = $15.00
$41.00 to $100.00 = $20.00
$101.00 and up = $25.00
All shipping is USPS Priority unless otherwise requested. The shipping and handling charges are only estimates. We will be happy to provide a more exact shipping rate if you have any concerns about these charges. If you have any questions about our shipping policy please contact us.
$1.00 to $20.00 order = $8.00 shipping charge
$21.00 to $40.00 = $15.00
$41.00 to $100.00 = $20.00
$101.00 and up = $25.00
All shipping is USPS Priority unless otherwise requested. The shipping and handling charges are only estimates. We will be happy to provide a more exact shipping rate if you have any concerns about these charges. If you have any questions about our shipping policy please contact us.
Why am I being charged sales tax?
Per Kenai Peninsula Borough sales tax codes a 7.85% sales tax will be charged for all orders shipped within the State of Alaska. 7.85% is the local sales tax for Homer, AK, where your order is being shipped from. Online orders that are picked up locally will also be charged the 7.85% sales tax. Thank you for supporting our local economy.
Do you offer international shipping?
No, we currently do not offer international shipping. We hope to offer international shipping in the future.
Do you offer local, in-store pick up?
We do! You can now shop Sustainable Wares 24 hours a day and pick up your items later when we are open. Or, you can make purchases for your Homer friends and family to pick up locally. Just choose "pick up locally" for your shipping method at checkout and follow the rest of the instructions. Although there are no shipping charges for local pick up, you will be charged sales tax which is 7.85% for Homer, AK.
What is your return policy?
All returns will be considered on a case by case basis and with your happiness in mind. All returns must have record of purchase. Full refund within 30 days of in store or online purchase. For in store purchases only, a store credit will be issued after 30 days of purchase or if no receipt is available. No cash or check refunds. No returns on body care products, cosmetics, undergarments, or any used products. Customer must pay shipping for all returns. Please fill out the contact page here or email us at sustainablewares@gmail.com if you need to return a product or have other questions about our return policy.
When will I receive my order?
We will process your order in 1-2 business days. Our standard shipping is USPS Priority which is estimated to be a 1-3 day service. You can expect your order to arrive at its destination in 2-5 business days.
Do you offer gift wrapping?
Yes, we offer free gift wrapping. All of our gift wrapping options come from upcycled materials. We currently have brown packing material saved from our inventory shipments, used or outdated nautical charts, and upcycled fabric. The wrapping will be finished off with hemp twine or fabric and a nautical chart gift tag. Please leave a "Note to Seller" to request a gift wrap option and a message for the gift tag in the Review and Submit Order section of your checkout.
How do I purchase a gift card?
We have two gift card options, an e-gift card to be used for online shopping only and a physical gift card to be used only at our brick and mortar store. Both can be conveniently purchased online here.
Can I place an order by phone or email?
Absolutely! We are in the process of adding all our products to the online store. If you can't find a certain product that you have seen in our brick and mortar store it either has not been added to the website or it is out of stock. You can contact us by phone at 907-235-1030, on the contact page here, or email at sustainablewares@gmail.com. Please do not leave any credit card information on the contact page or email.
OTHER QUESTIONS
I would love to write a review, how do I do that?
There are so many opportunities to write a review. About two weeks after you place an order you will receive an email requesting a review on the items you purchased. You can also find us on Google to write a review and post photos of your experience. Reviews on Facebook are also a great way to show your love. Are you on Instagram? So are we! Show off your wares with #sustainablewares or tag us @sustainablewares. And last but not least, spread the word to your family and friends!
I want to suggest a product for you to sell, how do I do that?
We are always open to suggestions for new products you think would be a good fit for Sustainable Wares. Please leave a message on the Contact Us page or email at sustainablewares@gmail.com
Do you have a brick and mortar I can visit?
We do! We are located in the amazing town of Homer, AK. A very special town full of fishermen, artists, hippies, hunters, environmentalists, boaters, chefs, scientists, and farmers. For more information about Homer click here.
I have more questions, what is the best way to contact you?
Here are the many ways to contact us: on the website Contact Us, email at sustainablewares@gmail.com, we are very responsive to Facebook messages, you could even try Instagram, and of course there is always a phone call at 907-235-1030 or mail (although we really don't like paper mail) to the address below.