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FAQ
- Care of Textiles
- While we require all our textile designers to ensure that their product is colorfast, we cannot guarantee that bleeding or leeching of color will not take place. For this reason we suggest that all textiles be first washed in cold water.
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- Care of Paper Beads and Beadwork
- Our paper beads are varnished, and thus have a resistance to everyday fluids (such as rain and perspiration), however we do not recommend prolonged submersion in water. As with any paper product, water may eventually damage the beads. We also recommend that paper beads be stored away from direct sunlight.
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- Why do some paper beads smell?
- To ensure durability, beads are varnished. As they are packaged immediately upon drying, they do not always have the opportunity to fully air-out and thus can smell of varnish. This is normal. The smell will dissipate over time. We suggest hanging the beads in a well-ventilated area to expedite the process.
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- How much money actually goes to the Project Partners?
- Akonye Kena is extremely proud of their policies in regards to our Project Partners. We provide up to 100% of operational funds to our Project Partners. We buy all our goods at Fair Market Value on a cash basis. At the end of the fiscal year, we participate in a profit share with the partners.
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- Are you and/or your partners Fair Trade Certified?
- Currently, no. As we work with a variety of project partners, it is up to the partners to earn certification – which can take a few years, and thousands of dollars. We do insist that all project partners follow the guidelines of Fair Trade, and will help them obtain status should they choose to do so.
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- Do you organize trips to see projects in action?
- We are not currently in a position to offer such a program. If enough people were interested, we would definitely look into organizing such a trip. We do know of other organizations with similar goals to ours that do offer such trips to Ghana. If you would like to know more, please contact us.
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- What other products do you carry?
- We are always on the lookout for additional products and project partners. Currently we are investigating recycled paper products (such as diaries, photo frames, etc.) and recycled glass beads. We aim to have these available in 2011.
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- Why do you only accept PayPal?
- Our research showed that PayPal offered the best all-in-one solution for our needs, and that would grow with us. As a small organization we needed a simple, low cost, and effective payment method that was widely accepted by buyers. If you would rather not pay through PayPal, please contact us to make alternative arrangements.
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- How do you Ship?
- Our shipping is via Canada Post, as it is the most cost-effective method available to us at this time. In order to maximize the funds going to our project partners, a nominal shipping charge ($2.50 for most items) is added to your invoice.
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- Why are your Prices in USD?
- While we are a Canadian company, our marketing is world-wide. We have found that by using USD, more customers understand the pricing. To make it easier for our Canadian customers, we include GST in our pricing. If you need an invoice with a separate tax line, please note that on your order.
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- Do you accept returns?
- All items are checked for quality before shipping. If an item is damaged during shipping, simply drop us an email. We will gladly exchange the item for you. If you are unhappy with an item, please contact us.
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- Do you sell Wholesale?
- Yes, we wholesale to qualified buyers. Please contact us directly for a catalogue. Minimum order quantities apply.
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