December 30, 2013

Bloggers: Join the Hearts Should Be Free Charitable Giveaway Event

Would you like to take part in a giveaway event that will help promote your blog AND help earn money for a charity that helps victims of human trafficking?  Then read on!

I am looking for sponsors for a group giveaway for Hearts Should Be Free, an event going on this and next month to raise awareness of modern slavery.  I will be hosting several giveaways during this event, including one where the winner will get to spend their winnings at shops which donate 100% of their profits to help victims of human trafficking.  I am looking for sponsors for this giveaway.  $3 gets you an entry on the rafflecopter form promoting your blog or social media, with $1 for additional rafflecopter entries.  100% of this money goes toward the prize, and since the profits from that prize are donated, that earns money for charity too!  How much will the prize be?  That depends on you!  The more sponsors I get, the bigger the prize.  

Sign Ups Open Til Jan 25



December 28, 2013

Giveaway Laws in the US and Other Countries

Giveaways have become really popular on blogs.  They're a great way for a blog to get more traffic and for shops (both small and large) to promote their products.   But what laws govern giveaways?

OK, lets start by saying that I'm no lawyer, and none of this should count for legal advice.  But here are some resources I found to answer those questions:

These are great articles overviewing both laws in the US and some concerns about international giveaways:

-Givewaways: Official Rules and Legal Stuff
-Is Your Giveaway Legal?


If you want to make your giveaway open in other countries, things get more complex.  The following articles were helpful as a general overview:

Challenges of Running and International Sweepstake:
Part 1: Overview
Part 2: Language & Taxation Issues
Part 3: Fulfillment and Compliance Issues

Basically, you have to research the laws governing giveaways in whatever country you are opening your giveaway to.  I have found some info on a few countries you can start with.



Countries That Require Translation Into Official Language:
Giveaway rules and in some cases related advertisements, websties, and other related materials. must be translated into the official language of these countries to be legal:  Argentina, France, Mexico, and Poland.  I'm not sure what other countries may share this requirement, and the countries listed above may have additional legal restrictions.   (Source)

Countries That Tax Winner of Prize
India, Norway, and the United States all tax winner's prizes.  Other countries may do this as well. So it's important to state that taxes are the responsibility of the winner (unless of course you plan to pay them).  (Source)

Countries That Tax Prize Provider or Giveaway Host
Some countries,  including Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and parts of Australia  impose taxes directly on the marketer and may even require pre-registration with local tax authorities. (Source 1, 2)

THE U.S. Government Has Trade Restrictions With Some Countries
The US government also severely restricts trade with several countries, including Cuba and North Korea...so  you probably could not mail your prize to these countries if you live in the US. You can find a list of countries with special restrictions here and learn more about trade restrictions here

Lack of Adequate Postal System 
Just because someone from an area can access the internet, doesn't mean that they have a viable means to receive physical mail.   There are many places around the world where the postal system is shoddy or non-existent.  (Cambodia is one country I've been told is hard to get mail to people in). 

Basically, that leaves me thinking that truely WW (worldwide) giveaways that are also legal are a myth.  World Wide usually actually means, world-wide with exceptions.  



MORE INFO ON SOME SPECIFIC COUNTRIES

Canada
Canada requires that there be some aspect of skill.  You can ask Canadians a 3 part math question to reach that requirement.  More info here. Unfortunately there are stricter rules for Quebec, including registering and paying a fee up to 10% of the prize value.  More here.

United Kingdom
Giveaways are regulated by the Gambling Act of 2005.  The good news seems to be that if you're giveaway is free you are most likely OK.  You just have to make sure that entries you have won't be seen as having a monetary value.  This conversation helped me out.  It says that according to the Gambling commission in the UK, entries via Twitter, Facebook, etc. are considered free entries.

Austrailia
In some Australian states you need a permit.  In others you just need to notify them.  In others it depends on what type of raffle method you are using.  This post on Crast Test Mummy gives a good overview..


I'd love to learn about how to open my giveaways up in more places.  If you know anything about giveaway laws in other countries, please leave a comment below and share! 






December 18, 2013

Easy Wins: Low Entry Giveaways


The cool thing about blog giveaways is you can usually tell now many people are entered. The less entered, the better your chances to win. Here's some I found with low entries ending TODAY!
If you have a giveaway with less than 60 entries per prize ending in the next 6 day, please submit it here


(Sorry to anyone who's giveaway I missed during vacation...we came home later than expected).



December 20


$50 Novica Gift Card (47 entries)

"Believe Print"  (limited edition, signed) (6 entries) - US, Ends 9:am



December 21



HSBF Buttons

Grab The "Hearts Should Be Free" Event Button for Your Website or Blog
You can find the blog button code below.  (I plan to give extra entries for this in most of the giveaways!)






















December 16, 2013

Upcoming Giveaways for Hearts Should Be Free!

Several lovely shops have already signed up to give away items for the Hearts Should Be Free event to raise awareness of moderns slavery.  Many people still believe slavery died with the civil war, and don't know that around the world there are as many as 27 million people enslaved today.  The giveaways will help raise awareness.

I'm really thankful to these shops for helping with this event.  I wanted to show you a few items they sell so you can check them out before the holidays....and to give you a teaser of what you MIGHT be able to win next month (not all the items shown are being given away...some shops haven't chosen what they are giving so I'm just showing you a sampling of what they have).


27 Bath and Body

4.4 oz Chamomile Freedom Bar - 27BathandBody
4.4 oz Sugared Spruce Freedom Bar - 27BathandBody
Saat Lotion  - 2oz purse friendly size in Black Amber&Lavender and Chamomile - 27BathandBody
4.4 oz Black Amber&Lavender  Freedom Bar - 27BathandBody
This shop is raising money for a project to help girls in cambodia trapped in the commercial sex industry.  


UNBOUND Style

Grassy Knoll Adjustable Bracelet - UNBOUNDstyle
Minimalist Blue Ombre Necklace - UNBOUNDstyle
Black Clay Ruffled Hoops / Silver Plated - UNBOUNDstyle
100% Charity / Tiny Red and Pink Stone Bracelet - UNBOUNDstyle
15% of the all items at UNBOUND Style goes to support Children of the Night to help children in the US find their way off the streets.  She will be creating a line of bracelets named after this event where 100% will go to Children of this night.





Poppy and Pinecone 

United States Love - poppyandpinecone
Texas Love - poppyandpinecone
World Love - poppyandpinecone
India Love - poppyandpinecone
Beautiful watercolor map prints.

Treasury tool by StylishHome.



The Tiny Bee

Red Heart Push Pins, Red Thumbtacks, Red Heart Office Supplies  (set of 5) - TheTinyBee
Light Pink Stud Earrings, Pale Pink Polymer Clay Rose Post Earrings - TheTinyBee
Cosmetic Bag, Bright Pink Zipper Pouch w/ Pale Pink Heart 9x5 - TheTinyBee
Pale Pink Rose Ring, Pastel Pink Cocktail Ring, Polymer Clay Jewelry (one size fits most) - TheTinyBee
Adorable push pins, zippered bags, key chains and jewelery. 


'Zen Custom Jewelry' by scribbleprints

Gifts Under Twenty Dollars Tribal Cowrie Shell Earrings - ZenCustomJewelry
Jasper Cowrie Shell Bracelet , Gemstone Cowrie Shell Bracelet - ZenCustomJewelry
Sale Cheetah Print Earrings - ZenCustomJewelry
Giraffe Tribal Bracelet, African Tribal Bracelet, Beaded  Stretch Bracelet - ZenCustomJewelry



Scribbleprints







Join Us Jan 15 - Feb 15


Want to help out with Hearts Should Be Free?

Easy Wins: Low Entry Giveaways


The cool thing about blog giveaways is you can usually tell now many people are entered. The less entered, the better your chances to win. Here's some I found with low entries ending TODAY!
If you have a giveaway with less than 60 entries per prize ending in the next 6 day, please submit it here


(Sorry to anyone who's giveaway I missed during vacation...we came home later than expected).



Ends December 16


Ends December 17

Togehter Alone E-Book (3 entries) - WW





December 11, 2013

Giveaways 4 Good

I love giving gifts that are fair trade or which raise money for charity.     What a great idea to buy a gift that helps a good cause!  You give TWO gifts with one purchase!  I also love shopping through Giveaways.  I can find out about new products I didn't know about while getting a chance to get them free.  All of the  giveaways below are for products that do some good!  Happy browsing!

They donate $1 to the charity of your choice with all purchases!


Fair Trade Bracelet (12/15) - US

The World Vision shop supports World Vision and their mission to help children in poverty.

ABBREVIATION KEY
WW = Worldwide






December 4, 2013

Easy Wins: Low Entry Giveaways

The cool thing about blog giveaways is you can usually tell now many people are entered. The less entered, the better your chances to win. Here's some I found with low entries ending TODAY!
If you have a giveaway with less than 60 entries per prize ending in the next 6 day, please submit it here


(Sorry to anyone who's giveaway I missed during vacation...we came home later than expected).




Ends Dec 9


Fels Naptha Launtry Bar (35 entries/3 winners = ~10 entries per prize) US




Ends Dec 10


Various Prizes (67 entries)

$50 in Kyleemae Vintage Silverware Jewlerey (158 entries/2 mandatory = 79 real entries)

Paperwhite Bulb Kit (11 entries) - US, CAN, WW*
*Interantional winners must pay their own shipping




Ends Dec 11



Ends Dec 13

Elfprints Floor Stamp (114 entries mandatory = 57 real entries)


~ Means the number was rounded.
I don't like decimals. ;)



(Added to Blog List)