Global Gifts is unexpectedly interesting and filled with exquisite artisan gifts and goods that are guaranteed fair trade. The shop is a hidden gem in a tiny strip mall in Nora. We stopped by after visiting a neighboring restaurant. The clerk was part of a volunteer staff and was friendly and welcoming. She told us about the sourcing of the merchandise. She also reminded me of their second location on Mass Ave. Several things caught my eye, especially the hand crafted "quilled" greeting cards. The handmade dresses and shirts are colorful and lovely. Handmade baskets, carvings and stuffed animals were among the merchandise. Prices are reasonable. I snagged a dark chocolate candy bar before leaving and have my eye on a pair of earrings. There's plenty of parking in the strip mall lot. Worth a visit. read more

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In a weird way, I've grown up with Global Gifts. Global Gifts is an Indy-based fair trade and ethically made gift shop. It's a non-profit organization that has grown since it's first location opened in 1988 on north Michigan Road. At the time, I was a fumbling and bumbling adult and the manager, Julie, was a kind-hearted soul who welcomed my presence even though my income at the time meant I hardly ever spent anything. Global Gifts now has multiple locations and the Michigan Road spot is long gone. I now live in Lawrence and this spot is likely my closest option. I believe the other two locations still open are Mass Avenue here in Indy and a spot in Bloomington, IN. Global Gifts began in the 1980's as a project of First Mennonite Church with a commitment to Fair Trade products. 30 years later, Global Gifts continues its strong commitment to fair trade - this means the products you buy at Global Gifts support fair wages, gender equity, and dignified working conditions. They work with some familiar names, such as Equal Exchange, while also including lots of other individual and organizational vendors from around the world in offering products that are reasonably priced and free of a lot of the ethical concerns so often associated with coffee, jewelry, and other products from around the world. As a non-profit, a good number of the folks you encounter in the stores in each location are volunteers with a few paid staff that work across the organization and manage the retail centers. As I noted, this particular shop relocated recently from a spot in in the same strip center as Whole Foods. Due to some decisions by Kite Realty, several of the longtime vendors have departed and Global Gifts found this spot in a small strip center just south of East 86th Street on Westfield Boulevard. They are directly next to the new Illumine Coffee. Global Gifts is at the north end of the Strip Center. There's a ramp right at the end of the building and it's better to use than the south end (though the south end is more visible, I noticed multiple obstacles to access on the strip center's sidewalk. It's an older strip center and the sidewalk is somewhat narrow). Global Gifts noted during my visit that they'd already noticed a problem with accessibility when their door is open due to the narrow sidewalk. It's nice visiting businesses who are aware. This location is a bit longer than its predecessor. However, it's a tad more narrow. That said, I found this location MUCH more wheelchair friendly. No comparison. It may be how products are placed, but I was amazed how much it felt like I could wheel around without being concerned about hitting anything. The store itself is usually packed with a wide variety of goods made from around the world. While you can certainly spend a decent chunk of cash here, the prices are easily below many retail outlets in most cases and, again, you're supporting indie artisans and a non-profit organization. There's a strong "craft" vibe here with items ranging from jewelry to paper goods to home interiors to coffees, teas, and candies to children's toys to books and much more. I'm not quite ready to say that Global Gifts is 100% Fair Trade, given that they do support and carry some items from local people (especially in books) but I can easily say the vast majority would qualify as Fair Trade and I know the shop itself is certified as Fair Trade. There's a progressive spirit here - for example, their book options nearly always celebrate banned books and indie publishers. There's only a few books here, however, they're always great ones. While I'm a lot less bumbling than I used to be, I still love the staff and volunteers here. I learned today that the assistant manager actually drives from Lafayette to work here. That's commitment. A word of caution to the "quick" shopper. As most of those staffing the store and the cash registers (there are two) are volunteers, you may not necessarily get the hyper-speed of your usual retail outlet. Sometimes, volunteers have questions or have something happen they don't quite understand. It's helpful to have just a little bit of patience here. I've never reached the point of frustration myself here, but those more geared toward quick in-and-out visits may want to lower expectations a notch. They also have a rewards program that is worth signing up for. You can also order an awful lot online. Overall, Global Gifts remains one of my favorite places to shop for just about any occasion and for myself. The shop is small, but the mission is large and with a 30+ year history they've clearly succeeded in building something special here. If you're in the area, give them a try and now that they're next to an awesome coffeeshop this is just a great corner to visit. read more

Global Gifts - Interior of new location. Definitely more wheelchair friendly. - Gift Shops Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Nice people, great selection of interesting goods and helps people. The prices are reasonable. It's a fun place to buy gifts and stocking stuffers. read more

Great little shop. Love the fair trade aspect of the business. So many unique items from all over the world. Extremely friendly volunteers working there. It was a little busy when we went, but the regulate the flow of people so it is not over crowded. Reasonable prices on everything. I bought gifts for others and will definitely be back to buy something for myself. Plus I feel better knowing my money is going for good causes. read more

After having such a pleasant experience at the Mass Avenue store where we made some purchases, my wife and I made a point of exploring the Nora shop to see what else we might find. Sadly, this store doesn't have nearly the diversity of items that the other store has. And though there were three staff working (two were behind the counter without customers) and one was doing inventory), it wasn't until we were getting ready to leave that the one doing inventory greeted us. So unlike the store on Mass Avenue where they asked if we had shopped their before and took the time to explain the fair wage system that they use, we could have come in and never known anything about the items on display. I will stick to the Mass Ave store. Review #2051 read more

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AMAZEMENT!!! Is the best word to describe this little gem. I only wish I took more pictures to share- but I was so captivated by all the amazing offerings, you have to see for yourself. No longer will I shop in big name stores for gifts. I'd much rather support a non-for-profit, fair trade shop to support our fellow humans across the world. The store has: clothing, ornaments, jewelry, candles, soaps, dream catchers, bird feeders, incense, perfume, baby items, toys, salt lamps and special items like singing bowls and rain catchers-my personal favorite. The ladies were so kind, informative and willing to be so helpful! They have a point system for coupons and I also learned you can volunteer and receive perks for your time. I will definitely be back and share this store with everyone I know. read more

Global Gifts - Global Gifts - Gift Shops Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

If you believe in the Fair Trade movement and scads of reasonably-priced, unique and captivating gifts to give - or keep - then what are you waiting for? Take a ride over to Global Gifts! My first five minutes in this store had me thinking about how I couldn't believe I had not been in here to shop before. Well, better late than never, right? I found lots of things @ Global Gifts that I really loved, most of them I snapped for this review. The selection here is so diverse and one of my favorite sections was the jewelry....lots and lots to choose from, some very affordable, some a bit more expensive, but all of it with that handcrafted ethnic appeal I adore! Manager Robin and I spent a few minutes chatting and this was also a highlight of my visit...she really did a good job of explaining the Global Gifts concept of working with artisans from around the world who represent over 35 countries to find one-of-a-kind treasures for us here in Indy while supporting the creators of the goods through fair trade practices. I could go into great length describing the beautiful, whimsical and even practical things at Global Gifts, but I don't think I could do them justice....they must be appreciated in person. read more

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Did you go to Guatemala and forgot to purchase your mother a souvenir? Don't fret! There's Global Gifts! I'm totally kidding. That would be lying, and you don't lie to your mother. :) Global Gifts is my go-to shop for presents for my girlfriends. Over the years I have purchased earrings, scarves, greeting cards, gift bags, candles, incense holder, etc. The gift recipients are always very happy with their unique gift, and I think they enjoy knowing that someone in a foreign land handmade the item. It's really like giving two gifts at once. My heart gets big warm fuzzies. I am writing a review about the north side location (normally shop downtown) because I was super impressed with the ladies working in there. They were so, so helpful the three times I have visited. I wish I could remember their names. Also this store seems less busy than downtown (we need to fix this Yelpers!), so that may explain the attentiveness. But still... a lady pointed out a few items I missed such as a very soft baby blanket. Then she pointed out the adult version. Oh, I will be back for you bright colored blanket! Another reason I shop here for gifts is because they offer complimentary gift wrapping. They let you choose ribbon in one or a few colors to your preference. To add to what is already awesome... they have a frequent shopper card (helping along my already addicted self!). You get 20% off any single item when you buy five items from different countries. Right now I have one that is full from items purchased in Nepal, the Philippines, India, Bangladesh and Chile. I'm thinking a new blanket, 20% off, is in order very soon. read more

I found this small gift shop in Nora Plaza while stoping in for some yummy bagels next door at the Bagel Fair. So happy to have found this treasure! Indianapolis' own fair trade store. This store is full of awesome artisan made jewelry, gifts, coffee, and chocolate from around the world. Found some great gifts and a few things for myself. read more

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What I didn't know the first time I shopped at Global Gifts is that it's a nonprofit that has been around for almost 30 years and it's mostly run by volunteers who are passionate about fair trade and human rights around the world. What I did know the second I walked in was that it was unique. If you're looking for an affordable, out-of-the-ordinary gift, that supports hard-working artisans in developing countries, you'll find it at Global Gifts. I found fair trade coffee, pottery, dishes, blankets, chocolate, toys, decor, clocks, garden items, tea, food mixes, spices, robes, scarves, purses, stationery, jewelry, journals and much more. read more

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A true treasure trove! This location has a great selection of apparel and accessories, food items, knick knacks, handicrafts and self care items. I always go to Global Gifts first when a birthday or Christmas is coming up. The staff is always so pleasant and ready to help you find what you need. My favorite items to buy here are coffee, earrings, incense and scarves. read more

Everything in here is Fab (including the staff) & goes to a good cause, the day i was in there i t spent around $20 & they said i had feed a family with that purchase, actually i was at Target across the Plaza & kept seeing made in china & i thought i need to go over there & find something unique & that has a good cause .............. how many & was that?? haha oh if you Love woven bowls or even Bigger ones (like a tamed cobra would come out of, i'd rater throw magazines or linen in there ) big & very reasonably priced read more

This store is a jewel box of fairly traded goodness. It's almost like visiting a museum, or at least a museum gift shop. They have everything from jewelry to apparel to children's items to music to art to edible goods. Plus, your purchase helps artisans from all corners of the globe - Guatemala, India, Kenya, Nepal, Guyana, Chile - the list goes on and on. It's a perfect place to find a unique gift or conversation piece for your home. Add in reasonable prices and friendly staff (who are volunteers), and Global Gifts is a winning combination. Please consider making a stop here before visiting nearby chain stores. read more

Global Gifts - Gorgeous jewelry - Gift Shops Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

My favorite things about stores such as Global Gifts is that they allow me to mind travel to any country I please. And for that, I'm grateful. They have some of the most unique products for sale, with many of the profits going toward fantastic and meaningful causes. If you're looking for a gift for someone that truly withholds a strong meaning, check out this store. At this particular location, I was greeted with warm and friendly faces - which happened to be the ladies working at the time. They immediately offered me free coffee when I walked in the door. So sweet! And how did they know I was in need of coffee at exactly that moment? I wasn't pressured to buy anything and they were more than happy to talk about the intricate details of each product. When I said, "I'll be back to buy Christmas gifts,"I wasn't lying. I will, in fact, go back to Christmas shop. Maybe I'll buy something originating from Germany. I've been meaning to visit that fine country ... read more

Great customer service! Only so many peeps in the store at a time. Attention to detail. Ordered something for a gift and got back to me when it arrived for pick up! All are friendly and make it easy to shop! read more

I have found wonderful art here. Also, this place is great for gifting. It is wonderful to be able to buy unique objects that are beautiful and support people trying to work for a fair wage and working conditions. Also, try their chocolate - amazing! read more

I always stop at Global Gifts for unique gifts or something awesome for myself! Quality made products from artisans all over the globe. I love that there are always new items each time I'm there. I recommend Global Gifts to all of my friends. And it's great to shop fair trade! read more

I love Global Gifts because I enjoy wearing jewelry, especially earrings, that aren't something you can find at any old store! My favorite earrings that I have ever owned actually came from this store! They came from Kenya and they are dangly and made from beer can tabs and small rings of metal to connect two tabs together on each earring! I also have another pair that are made of colorful glass from Chile! They also have various decorations for your home and some beverages for you to try. read more

Amazing unique gifts! Staff is superb and very knowledgeable about the products and the various countries they are from! If you need a meaningful unique gift this is the place!!!! read more

I am not a shopper, but going into global gifts was a treat. I admit I am a world traveler, so I was intrigued by the number of countries involved. Plus I am cheap, and could find something for a few bucks. Really cool gifts. I found this eye glass holder which looks like the statues at Easter Island. It is so cool! Please go check it out. read more

This is the best place to buy gifts for friends and family, and this store has a way of making anyone who comes through the door feel like they are at home. Instead of heading to the larger corporate stores when looking for gifts or decorating materials, why not head into Global Gifts and purchase something which was handmade, and provides fair wages to those who made these products in third world countries? From beautiful quilted blankets, to dishware and cookware, to awesome jewelry, world music, and other types of home décor, they have so much to look at and admire! read more

I live near Nora and I work in the area, so I have passed by this store - literally over a hundred times. Why, oh why I hadn't been there before now is beyond me! Global Gifts is a 501c3 operation that sells thoroughly vetted, fair trade items from around the world. That's right - they are non-profit! Their staff consists of a few people who are employees, but is made up primarily of volunteers - around 45 folks who take shifts manning the counter. I happened to stop in when the manager was there yesterday. Kelly told me about who they are and what they do - and her passion and caring for this place is so evident when speaking with her. I just fell in love with the place right away! I took my time and looked around the entire store - twice! There is a large range of prices here - so there's something for everyone's budget. And when you think about the fact that most of these items are handcrafted, for me at least, it justifies the few extra dollars you pay. There are some wonderfully talented people in the world, and some of them are lucky enough to actually have the chance to earn a wage making handcrafted items and selling them. If you want a completely unique, hand made, beautiful, memorable gift item, then this is the store for you. I will definitely be returning to Global Gifts! read more

Great store, great people, great gifts. And all Fair Trade! This is definitely my "go to" place for gifts for my family and friends. They have items appropriate for all ages (including infants) most occasions. I recommend it highly! read more

Anytime I need a gift for someone this is my go-to stop. I love that everything is handmade, and there's always a story behind the gift. They'll tell you that you are helping people sustain a living because their items are made by people in developing countries. I also love to shop local, and it's a local store! read more

This place is filled with amazing things that i can never find in any other common store. Perfect place for buying gifts that are unique and beautiful. I am assisted with really nice people who help me get what i need. They have different things available at the store for different occasions. This place is beautiful, friendly and fun to shop at. read more