How to Source Indian Arts & Crafts from HeartfulCraft.com

1. What is HeartfulCraft.com and how does it operate?

HeartfulCraft.com is the official sourcing platform for a network of rural Indian artisans organized under a self-help group model. It enables verified buyers, merchant exporters, and trade professionals to access authentic, handmade, and GI-tagged crafts directly from their place of origin.

Key operational facts:

All products listed are made-to-order and handcrafted using traditional techniques.
Heartful Crafts is not a factory or mass manufacturer. It is a decentralized, artisan-led production ecosystem.
Orders are fulfilled only upon formal confirmation and advance payment.
The platform serves as a coordination interface between artisans and export partners under the governance of ethical trade practices.

All sourcing processes, timelines, and customizations are subject to review and confirmation by the Heartful Crafts coordination team.

2. How can I place a sourcing order through HeartfulCraft.com?

To initiate a sourcing transaction, you must follow a formal inquiry process:

Browse products on the website.
Submit an inquiry or product interest request via the contact form or email.
Heartful Crafts will review your request and respond with:
- Product feasibility confirmation
- Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)
- Production timeline
- Customization possibilities (if applicable)
- Payment terms
If terms are accepted, you will receive a pro forma invoice.
Order production begins strictly after payment confirmation.

Heartful Crafts reserves the right to decline requests that are commercially or operationally unviable.

3. Are products stocked or made-to-order?

All products are made-to-order.

This means:

No ready inventory or pre-manufactured stock is maintained.
Each order is crafted by hand, as per buyer requirement.
Lead times are defined based on production complexity and artisan availability.
Artisans are not expected to begin production without advance payment due to the non-industrial nature of their setup.

Sample pieces, if available, are subject to prior approval and limited in quantity.

4. What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for bulk orders?

The MOQ typically begins at 100 pieces per SKU. However, this is not universal and depends on:

The type of product and materials involved
Availability of artisans skilled in that particular craft
Whether the order involves customization
Time of year and artisan workload

Heartful Crafts has full discretion to approve or decline MOQs below the standard threshold based on internal resource allocation and feasibility.

Buyers must understand that the artisan production model does not support micro-batch manufacturing for resale unless agreed in writing.

5. Can Heartful Crafts offer pricing that ensures competitive reseller/exporter margins?

Yes, pricing is structured using the Ex-Factory Model, where products are priced based on:

Raw material cost
Fair artisan wages
Base packaging
Community support inputs (if applicable)

Exporters and resellers typically build 10–15% profit margins into their pricing structure. However:

Final pricing will be shared only after Heartful Crafts reviews the product inquiry and confirms feasibility.
Additional costs for customization, expedited delivery, packaging upgrades, or compliance certifications must be borne by the buyer/exporter.
Price negotiation is not guaranteed and will be evaluated based on volume, consistency, and overall project viability.

All pricing is at the sole discretion of Heartful Crafts and is subject to change without notice based on market conditions and raw material costs.

6. Can I request custom design or branded packaging?

Yes, but only upon formal review and written acceptance by Heartful Crafts.

Customization is subject to:

Approval of design specifications and materials by artisans
MOQ thresholds being met
Sufficient lead time
Buyer/exporter agreeing to bear the additional cost of sampling, tooling, or packaging development

Important:

Not all products are eligible for customization.
GI-tagged products may lose GI certification status if altered beyond traditional design parameters.
Heartful Crafts will make the final determination on whether a custom request is feasible or not.

No commitments to end buyers should be made by exporters before receiving written confirmation from Heartful Crafts.

7. What is the typical lead time for order fulfillment?

The standard production lead time ranges between 3 to 6 weeks, depending on:

Product type and complexity
Order volume
Artisan availability
Approval status for customization (if applicable)

Heartful Crafts does not guarantee expedited delivery timelines. Any request for urgent fulfillment must be submitted in advance and will be assessed case-by-case. Acceptance is subject to available bandwidth and production readiness.

8. What are the accepted payment terms?

All orders require advance payment, without exception. Heartful Crafts and its artisans do not work on a credit or post-payment basis due to the following:

Artisans require funds to procure raw materials and begin production.
The organization does not operate as a capital-backed enterprise or factory.
Delayed payments expose the artisans to financial risk.

Standard terms:

100% advance for samples or small orders
50% advance / 50% pre-dispatch for larger orders (if approved by the team)

Requests for deferred payments or credit will not be entertained. Payment security is essential to protecting the integrity of the artisan network.

9. Can I inspect the products or production process before dispatch?

Yes, third-party inspections are permitted, but the coordination, cost, and scheduling must be managed by the buyer/exporter.

Inspection policy:

Agencies like SGS, Intertek, etc., may inspect finished goods.
Site visits must be coordinated with Heartful Crafts in advance.
Artisan privacy, production conditions, and local customs must be respected at all times.
Heartful Crafts is not liable for delays arising from external inspection scheduling.

Inspection is entirely optional and is not included in product cost unless explicitly stated.

10. Are Heartful Crafts products certified under Fair Trade or eco-label programs?

As of now, Heartful Crafts does not carry formal certifications such as:

Fair Trade
BSCI
SEDEX
ISO/SA8000

However:

Many products fall under Geographical Indication (GI) certification, issued by the Government of India.
Artisans use traditional, low-impact, non-industrial methods that align with sustainability standards.
Buyers may independently pursue certifications under their own brand or entity after product procurement.

Heartful Crafts may consider group certification in the future, subject to resource availability, audit feasibility, and legal structuring.

11. Can I request exclusivity for products, designs, or markets?

Exclusivity is not granted by default and must be formally proposed for review.

It may be considered only if:

The product is a completely custom-developed item not previously sold through Heartful Crafts.
The buyer/exporter commits to consistent monthly volumes.
A detailed agreement is signed outlining duration, territory, and exclusivity terms.

Heartful Crafts reserves the right to reject exclusivity if it limits the rights or livelihoods of artisans. No verbal or implied exclusivity is considered valid.

12. Can I use my own brand name (white-labelling)?

White-labelling is not available for small or first-time orders. It may be permitted only under strict terms:

MOQ is met (typically 1,000+ pieces).
The buyer/exporter signs a supply continuity agreement.
Heartful Crafts is permitted to review and approve the final branding to ensure accurate representation of product origin.

In absence of a formal agreement, all products are shipped under Heartful Crafts identity or co-branding as per default.

13. Will Heartful Crafts assist with marketing or promotions?

Heartful Crafts does not fund marketing campaigns or paid promotions on behalf of any buyer or partner. However, the following assets are provided:

Product images and catalogs
Artisan process videos (when available)
Brand storytelling guidelines
Pre-approved text for websites or brochures

Joint marketing campaigns (exhibitions, paid ads, collaborative PR) may be considered in the future based on proven performance and aligned goals. No marketing obligation is accepted by Heartful Crafts without a separate agreement.

14. How are disputes or complaints handled?

Disputes are addressed through a structured escalation protocol:

Initial issue is reviewed with the assigned coordinator.
If unresolved, it is escalated to the management of Heartful Crafts.
For post-training participants working under an agreement, disputes fall under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act (India) as per the governing contract.

Legal proceedings are discouraged unless contractually required. In the case of proven fault (e.g., incorrect product or delivery), Heartful Crafts may:

Replace the product
Offer a refund
Withhold future orders to prevent recurrence

All claims must be backed by photographic/video evidence and reported promptly.

15. Can I scale my business using Heartful Crafts as a supplier?

Yes. Heartful Crafts is designed to scale organically, using a decentralized production network. However:

Scaling depends on confirmed order volumes, timely payments, and predictable workflows.
New artisans are onboarded progressively and only when current teams reach full capacity.
No commitment to exclusive supply or fixed output will be made in advance.

Buyers must align production timelines and forecasts with realistic expectations. Heartful Crafts retains full discretion on order acceptance and resource allocation.