For the last couple of months, two master’s students from the University of Tartu, Kristel and Jane, have been interning with us. As we are struggling with choosing the Christmas presents, we asked Jane and Kristel to pick gifts for their close ones from our partner stores, so we could steal some of their ideas. So what are their recommendations?
1. Floral Moon earrings / Ehtevabrik
Kristel: This is a good present for a classy lady who likes beautiful jewelry and, once in a while, likes to stand out (=me). And these earrings are making a difference also because they are upcycled and made from plastic bottles. So if you are wearing them, you are also helping nature. And look how cute they are!
2. Firtree 553 hiking boots / Whatshoes
Kristel: For some time, I have looked here and there and have yet to find a pair of hiking boots I like until I saw those... They are nice looking, suitable for the Nordic climate, and what is important to me - they are made in Estonia.
3. TOKU Brussels slippers / Saapavabrik
Jane: Natural wool slippers TOKU BRUSSELS make the perfect gift for the special people in your life. And I know from experience that they are both very comfortable and warm and cozy.
4. Leather Wallet nr 29 / Kotivabrik
Jane: A beautiful handmade leather wallet is a classic accessory for men. Wallet nr 29 looks great, and leather wallets are incredibly durable, making them an excellent long-term investment. So if you want your special person to look fashionable and professional, a leather wallet nr 29 is the perfect Christmas gift.
5. High Aviator Boots / Buutsit
Jane: Look at them, and we all understand why they have been popular holiday gift for years. These stylish red boots are perfect for anyone who wants to stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re shopping for a dear friend or family member, with these red Aviator boots, they will feel like not even the sky is the limit.
6. Annah earrings / Ehtevabrik
Jane: For ladies who are not into floral accessories (like me), pair of Patrick Soome handmade silver earrings, ANNAH, is a great gift. These add a bit of sparkle to any outfit and can be worn for any occasion.
7. Tundra 5531 hiking boots / Nordfors
Kristel: I know my husband well, so as a practical man, he likes practical presents. And I don´t know if it is me or if he likes nature a lot, as he often goes to the woods to gather his thoughts and comes back happy. And he has affected my son also, so they together go in nature to spend father-son time. So I gave them to him. He is more than happy to wear them! So if you have wanderers in your home, this is THE gift!
Kristel: Please, Santa, I have been a good girl, working hard the whole year; I deserve them both! Facet Mini is just so practical. You can wear it with jeans and a T-Shirt on the way to the grocery store or with a dress when going out partying. And This Wine and Dine by Stella Soomlais. So classic, so beautiful, so minimalistic, so me. All good characteristics I care about. And I also add that all bags are handmade, so If you want to customize, it is doable. So yes, please, Santa, I deserve them both!
Kristel: Although I’m not a pilot, I love those aviator shoes. They look good and stand out in the world of black and brown shoes, which I bet we all have in multiple variants. And also, reviews say that they last long. So as a person looking for sustainable options, this is a big plus.
Thank you for your help, Kristel and Jane.
Hertwill is a plug-and-play solution for online stores that enables them to sell products of independent European brands. Our solution includes sourcing, warehousing and order fulfillment. We handle all the logistics of getting the products from brands to the online stores' customers, so the stores can focus on marketing and selling the products.
Hertwill is an Estonian startup founded by former employees of Pipedrive, Single.Earth and Omniva, and is backed by one of the most well-known Finnish VCs. You can read more about our story.
Currently, we are working with more than 50 independent European brands and manufacturers, but new products are added to our catalog daily. We focus on brands that are still relatively unknown but whose products are of excellent quality. None of the products we provide are available on Amazon or Aliexpress. The main categories we focus on at the moment are clothing, shoes, bags, home decor and jewelry. Our special attention is on sustainable goods - for example, we work with a jewelry brand that is upcycling materials left over from aircraft manufacturing.
Our API enables seamless integration with your store, so you don't have to manually insert product information or manage your orders. Currently, we provide plugins for WooCommerce and Shopify.
Hertwill is available for online stores and brands in the European Union.
It's relatively easy. Sign up and choose products from our catalog, sync them to your online store and start selling.
It depends on your area of expertise and ambitions. For example, if you have run an online store before, it might be a couple of hours a week. But if this is your first time and you don't have a digital marketing or e-commerce background, it might be 3-6x more. In general, building an international store requires even more time.
Usually, most work hours are put in at the beginning when trying to get the store up and running. After that, the amount of work usually decreases over time, and ultimately, if you outsource customer support, the store might become a source of passive income. We recommend running the store together with someone as it's more fun, you get things done faster, and you have a higher chance of success.
The average store makes about 40 000€ per year selling our products. The most successful makes about 200 000€, and the least successful has made 400€.
