Companies That Give Back: Be Sweet Review and Lipstick Clutch Giveaway

Who knew being socially conscious could be so sweet and stylish?  I didn’t until I came across a company called Be Sweet.  They are  a “creative company with a conscious” and specialize in charming knit products such as hats, scarves and my favorite- superbly cool bags!  If you are the creative type and enjoy knitting you can also purchase their amazing organic yarns and patterns to make your own items.

courtesy of Be Sweet

Be Sweet, created by Nadine Curtis,  is a company founded on the principle of being kind to others.  Nadine was visiting Cape Town, South Africa when she encountered  women who were trying to make a living by creating beautiful knit products. Nadine had an idea and started working with these amazing artisans. She wanted to share these products with the rest of the world. By organizing job creation programs in South Africa she helped these artisans gain the confidence and means to support their families. The group has grown to include over 200 artisans, mostly female, in and around Cape Town, South Africa.  The job creation program enables them to earn fair wages, learn new skills and most of all, enjoy their work.  Be Sweet also donates a portion of it’s profits to support educational development in South Africa. Be Sweet’s products can now be found in over 200 boutique stores in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Sweden, Austria and Japan.

Nadine sent me a lipstick clutch to review. The handmade clutch measures 9 X 5’  with a zipper closure and retails for $40. It is the perfect size for everyday use. I have been toting all of my smaller items in it ever since it arrived. When I need a bigger bag I can just throw this right inside! The colors are varying shades of blue with two hearts pictured on it. It is a really fun piece and I have received many compliments on it! Each product comes with a tag telling you who handmade your item!

The bags range is sizes from a coin purse which retails for $30 to the Shelly Big Bag which retails for $290.  All of the products are handmade using all recycled materials. These products would make great gifts for Mother’s Day and by purchasing these items you would be helping other moms in a less privileged society.

GIVEAWAY: Be Sweet is kindly offering One (1) That’s IT Mommy Reader a handmade Lipstick Clutch (color may vary) of their own (retail value $40). Ends midnight (PST) 4/10/11

REQUIRED ENTRY: Visit their http://besweetproducts.com/ and leave a comment below on what other item you like

Remember if this MAIN ENTRY is not followed then no other entries will count

Optional Bonus Entries – Each entry MUST BE in a separate comment and are worth one point unless otherwise noted.

• Subscribe to our e-newsletter (or tell us that you already do)
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• Leave a comment on a non giveaway post (let us know which one) (Comment #1, #2)
• Feel free to enter any of our other current giveaways that interest you, but you will receive a maximum of three extra entries only, no matter how many of our other giveaways you enter (Comment #1, #2, #3)
• Tweet about this giveaway (Copy – I entered to #WIN a handmade Be Sweet Lipstick Clutch via @ThatsITMommy http://thatsitmommy.com/?p=10546) back daily and leave us the link to the tweet (1 extra)

THIS GIVEAWAY WILL RUN THROUGH MIDNIGHT ON APRIL 10, 2011 (PST). WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN USING RANDOM.ORG FROM ALL VALID ENTRIES AND NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. WINNER WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO CONTACT US BEFORE ANOTHER WINNER IS CHOSEN. GIVEAWAY IS OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY (18+).

*WE DID NOT RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR THIS POST. WE DID RECEIVE THE ITEMS MENTIONED IN THIS POST IN ORDER TO FACILITATE OUR REVIEW. THIS WILL IN NO WAY SWAY OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCTS OR SERVICE. OUR OPINIONS ARE IN OUR OWN WORDS AND YOUR OPINIONS OR THOUGHTS MAY DIFFER.