PRODUCTS
Baksheesh retails handcrafted gifts from about 35 countries in Africa,
Asia and Latin America. Most items are available year-round, but there
are always some on their way from halfway around the world. A few of our
favorites: recycled newspaper hotmats from the Philippines, ceramic bird
water whistles from Cameroon, ceramic pig salsa dishes from Chile, leather
cute kitty purses from India, bronze singing bowls from Nepal.
All three stores carry many of the same popular items. But each store
also adds and drops items and product lines according to local demand.
Baksheesh features personal accessories (bags, purses, scarves, sarongs,
jewelry), home décor (baskets, table linens, wall hangings, statues,
candleholders, picture frames), plant and garden items (pots, planters,
birdbaths, windchimes), children’s items (toys, games, puzzles,
a little clothing, finger puppets), holiday (nativities, ornaments, garlands),
cards and journals, unusual musical instruments and more.
Our stock changes regularly, as we bring in new items every month and
discontinue whatever is not selling. Every piece is handmade, so even
with a standard item like a necklace or an onyx candleholder, each piece
is a little different than its neighbors.
We sell fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate made by Equal Exchange and
certified by TransFair USA.
We buy bean soup mixes from Women's Bean Project, a Denver organization
established to help poor working women earn a living. We sell books and
CDs that promote cross-cultural understanding.
SERVICES
Baksheesh is primarily a retailer for people who live in or visit Wine
Country and the Bay Area. Our stores are on the plazas in Sonoma and Healdsburg
and on Main Street in St. Helena.
Whether you shop in person or via the phone with a credit card, we can
ship most purchases anywhere in the US. You pay only our actual shipping
cost.
We mail postcards anywhere in the US four times a year. To sign up for
our mailing list, mail or email us your mailing address.
Guarantee: We want everyone to be happy with their purchases
or gifts. If you are unhappy for any reason, simply return the item for
store credit, exchange or a refund.
Fundraisers: Call, write or email for a copy of our benefit
shopping night packet.
Elephant days: We celebrate Elephant Appreciation Days
every year. The official day is September 22, but we usually celebrate
all weekend.
OUR TOWNS
Sonoma, Healdsburg and St. Helena are known for their wines, natural beauty
and mild Mediterranean climate. Sonoma lies in the heart of the Sonoma
Valley. Healdsburg lies at the junction of the Russian River, Dry Creek
Valley and Alexander Valley. St. Helena is in the heart of the famed Napa
Valley. In addition to award-winning wineries, all three towns feature
more than our fair share of wonderful restaurants. Each has its own unique
array of features and special events. And, of course, all are great places
to shop.
To explore Sonoma online, we like the following sites: Sonoma
Valley Visitors Bureau covers the area, with links to lots of local
sites. When you get to Sonoma, you'll find it occupying the rehabbed old
Carnegie Library, a yellow brick building in the Plaza on First Street
East. There are public restrooms on the west (Plaza) side of the building.
Sonoma Index-Tribune. The local
newspaper has a site with its own news, links to many attractions, and
current weather conditions. Our friendly local ISP, www.vom.com,
also has a lot of good links.
For Healdsburg, the Chamber
of Commerce & Visitors Bureau covers the area well. You'll find
lots of listings, with links. Physically, it is at 217 Healdsburg Avenue,
a short walk south of the plaza.
For St. Helena, there are at least two good choices. The Napa
Valley Conference and Visitors Bureau covers the entire valley and
offers a full array of information and services. The St.
Helena Chamber of Commerce can tell you more about local companies.
FABRICS
HANDMADE BASKETS |BOWLS | PLATES
JEWELRY
BOOKS | RECORDS | TOYS
SCARVES | HATS
HAND PUPPETS
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