FAQ

About Immigrant Love

What is Immigrant Love?

Immigrant Love is a social enterprise that showcases immigrant, refugee, and first-gen-crafted products from small businesses across America. Our vision is to help create a nation in which immigrants and refugees are both supported in their pursuits + celebrated for their dignity, creativity, and community impact.

What is the story behind Immigrant Love?

Immigrant Love was founded at Stanford University in 2021, as the nation began its recovery from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was launched with two goals at heart:

+Support for Small Businesses: Small businesses in the U.S. were hit overwhelmingly hard by the pandemic, with steep drops in revenue and limited avenues to access critical capital. Immigrant and refugee-led small businesses suffered particularly significantly, as language, trust, and discriminatory barriers that often keep them from forming strong relationships with banks now kept them from securing federal PPP relief funding. Technology barriers, especially among older immigrants and refugee entrepreneurs, also made the sharp transition to a more virtual economy a tough one. Immigrants and refugees start businesses at 2x the average rate and employ millions of people, so supporting them means supporting families depending on them across the nation. In short, Immigrant Love sought to find a way to support immigrant and refugee-led small businesses as they began to rebound from the pandemic. 

+Greater Unity + Mutual Understanding Across America: At the same time, immigration has been a topic of constant coverage in the media – but often in a divisive, dehumanizing way. Immigrants and refugees are frequently portrayed one-dimensionally, as either “victims” (e.g., mere charity cases) or as “villains” (e.g., taking our jobs, criminals). We don’t generally get to hear the more authentic, beautiful stories of immigrants and refugees sharing joy, love, and opportunity in their communities. This creates a barrier to mutual understanding across the U.S., and deprives people of the opportunity to get to know and welcome families from other countries. In short, Immigrant Love sought to celebrate immigrants and refugees and help ensure they are portrayed with the dignity they deserve.

Combining these goals, ImmigrantLove came about as a way to work toward both supporting immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs and creating greater mutual understanding and unity in America. Our hope is that by supporting our small business partners with bulk orders and well-targeted marketing to potential new customers, we provide a boost to immigrant and refugee-crafted brands across the country. And our hope is that by sharing boxes of the creations of entrepreneurs from around the world now living across the country – including those from many different cultures within the same box – and by telling their stories, we can begin to create a closer-knit American community that celebrates our cultural diversity and honors the newest members of our nation. For a longer and a bit more poetic statement of who we are, you can read our Purpose statement here!

About Our Small Business Partners

How do you select the small business partners whose products are showcased in the boxes?

The center of our work is our entrepreneur partners! We are constantly on the lookout for inspiring immigrant, refugee, and first-generation entrepreneur-led small businesses with products that can be featured in our boxes. We also accept submissions from entrepreneurs (click here if you are an entrepreneur who would like to partner with us) and love to receive them! We work together with each prospective entrepreneur to identify a fitting product for our box; for now, our focus is on coffee and surrounding products, but we hope to expand eventually. To make sure we are supporting the businesses that would be most advanced by this new revenue source and marketing boost, we ensure that our partner entrepreneurs run small businesses (we define that as 5 or fewer employees). Beyond this requirement, we look for passion, top product quality and uniqueness, sustainability of farming practices, and the community impact of the small business.

How do you support the small businesses you partner with?

Our aim is to support our partner entrepreneurs in three ways: First and most simply, we generate a bulk order of their products, providing a guaranteed one-time order that will hopefully be a major boost in revenue for the year. Second, by showcasing their products, we provide marketing to an already-well-targeted group of customers; those who purchase ImmigrantLove boxes (hopefully you!) are more likely to be excited about intercultural experiences, supportive of small businesses, and valuing of highly curated, handmade, authentically sourced items. Toward this goal, we include Story Notes from each of our entrepreneurs so that as many ImmigrantLove customers as possible also become recurring customers of the component businesses. And as part of our ongoing storytelling, we hope to remind customers of the amazing entrepreneurs behind the boxes that they just received or will receive in the future. Third, we partner with the microlending non-profit Kiva U.S. and social initiative DreamxAmerica to connect our entrepreneurs with zero-interest, zero-fee loans of up to $15,000, if that is a need for them. This is in addition to our impact initiative, which contributes to zero-interest lending to immigrant, refugee, and first-gen entrepreneurs across America, beyond those partnering with us on our boxes.

I am an immigrant, refugee, or first-generation small business owner. How can I partner with you?

First, thank you for the work you are doing in your community. Second, we’d love to explore a potential partnership with you! Please fill out this brief form to tell us about you and your business, and we will reach out as soon as possible! And feel free to email us at hello@immigrantlove.co if you have any questions!

About Our Box

What comes in the box?

Each box will spotlight a new nation and an inspiring immigrant, refugee, or first-generation coffee entrepreneur serving her local community. It will include whole or ground coffee beans (generally sustainably farmed in the entrepreneur's home country, and roasted by the entrepreneur in America), a handwritten note from the entrepreneur, and complementary foods or other products to help you get to know the culture better. You can always see our upcoming box and its contents on the home page, and you can read more about our small business partners and selection process under About Our Small Business Partners” in this FAQ. As part of the storytelling element of ImmigrantLove, all products also include Story Notes from our coffee entrepreneurs sharing more about their businesses, backgrounds, and passions, and you'll get more exclusive storytelling on that in digital form throughout your subscription period. There are also a few surprises in the box and beyond, so stay tuned : )

Can I purchase individual products from the boxes?

Yes, you can! You can buy individual products, either the same ones that you found in our box or something similar, from our entrepreneurs’ websites. Some entrepreneurs may provide a note with coupons or discount codes in the box!  

Do you have any past boxes I can buy?

For now, we do not, but we may add this element in the future. Stay tuned! If you are desiring to "test out" ImmigrantLove and see if you like it, we encourage you to select the Monthly Membership subscription. Once you receive the first box, you can either cancel if it didn't meet your expectations or continue with the subscription if it did!

Can you accommodate food allergies?

Unfortunately, for now we are not able to individually customize our boxes. The ingredients of each food item (e.g., spices and sauces) are listed within its packaging. If you are prevented from enjoying such an item because of an allergy, we hope you can give it as a gift to a loved one!

About Our Subscription

Help me understand the two subscription options.

Of course! The two subscription types are fundamentally the same: you get one Immigrant Love box each season (once in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn). The difference is in the price, billing, and cancellation:

+Pay-As-You-Go Membership: Our most flexible option is the Pay-As-You-Go Membership. With this subscription, you will be billed at checkout for your first box and then every quarter on the Recurring Billing Date of each box (see table below). You can cancel any time after your first box; just cancel before the next Recurring Billing Date, and you will not be billed for any future boxes.

+1-Year Pre-Paid Membership: Our most cost-effective (and favorite for gifting) option is the 1-Year Pre-Paid Membership. With this subscription, you will be billed at checkout for one year's worth of boxes (4 boxes) at a discounted rate. You can cancel any time after your 4th box; just cancel before your next Recurring Billing Date, and you will not be billed for any future boxes.

Please read the FAQs on billing and cancellation for more details.  

Note that we are currently doing pre-orders for the December 2021 box, our inaugural box, so all customers purchasing until November 30, 2021 will receive their first box in December.

 

Box

Recurring Billing Date  

Shipment Month

Winter Box

December 1

December

Spring Box

March 1

March

Summer Box

June 1

June

Autumn Box

September 1

September

 

I subscribed! When will I (or my loved one) receive my first box?

Wonderful – we are so thankful for your subscription and have no doubt you’ll love the ImmigrantLove experience! Our boxes are curated, designed, and distributed seasonally (every three months) – so each year we deliver four boxes. These boxes will be shipped in December (Winter Box), March (Spring Box), June (Summer Box), and September (Autumn Box).

As for when you will receive your first seasonal box after subscribing and when you will receive ongoing boxes if applicable, see the tables below for a helpful guide based on your date of subscription. Note that these are aspirational target dates for shipping and will vary depending on Immigrant Love's operations of the given month. We’ll send you an email to let you know when we’ve shipped each box, and that email will contain your tracking information. At checkout, you will also have the option to get text message updates about your delivery.

Note that we are currently doing pre-orders for the December 2021 box, our inaugural box, so all customers purchasing until November 30, 2021 will receive their first box in December.

Your First Box:

Date You Subscribed

Your First Box

Shipment Month

Between September 1 and November 30

Winter Box

December

Between December 1 and February 28/29

Spring Box

March

Between March 1 and May 31

Summer Box

June

Between June 1 and August 31

Autumn Box

September

Your Ongoing Boxes:

Box

Recurring Billing Date  

Shipment Month

Winter Box

December 1

December

Spring Box

March 1

March

Summer Box

June 1

June

Autumn Box

September 1

September

 

 

When will I be billed for my subscription?

Your first billing will be conducted immediately upon checking out. Recurring billings will occur on the Recurring Billing Dates shown below. You can always check your next billing date by logging into your subscription account (you can access your account by clicking here and having an invite sent to you).

Remember that you can cancel your subscription at any time with no cancellation fee, but that all billings, including the first one, are nonrefundable -- so be sure to cancel before your next recurring billing date if you decide you no longer want to receive ImmigrantLove boxes. You can read more details in the cancellations section of the FAQs.

Note that we are currently doing pre-orders for the December 2021 box, our inaugural box, so all customers purchasing until November 30, 2021 will receive their first box in December.

Box

Recurring Billing Date  

Shipment Month

Winter Box

December 1

December

Spring Box

March 1

March

Summer Box

June 1

June

Autumn Box

September 1

September

 

How do I know next season's theme, and can I skip it if I don't love it?

About one month before the release of each box, we will send an email announcing the theme of the upcoming box (e.g., The Haitian Warmth Box by Frentz). You will have the time between the announcement and the 1st day of the month of delivery (i.e., the Recurring Billing Date) to decide whether you want to "skip" this box. Skipping a box simply means that your subscription will continue, but that you will not be charged for or receive that season's box. The subscription will continue as usual for the next box. 

To skip a box, simply log into your subscription account (you can access your account by clicking here and having an invite sent to you). Once you are logged in, click "Subscriptions" on the upper menu, click on your subscription (where you will see your next billing date), scroll down, and select "Skip this order." You will then see a prompt to confirm, noting the new upcoming billing date (3 months later than the old one).

I would like to cancel my subscription. How do I do that, and can I get a refund?

We will be sorry to see you go, but we want to make it as easy as possible to cancel your subscription if that is your wish! Simply log into your subscription account to unsubscribe (you can access your account by clicking here and having an invite sent to you). Once you are logged in, click "Subscriptions" on the upper menu, click on your subscription, scroll down, and select "Cancel subscription." If you are having any trouble at all, feel free to email hello@immigrantlove.co and we will assist you quickly. 

There is no cancellation fee, but all billings, including the first one, are nonrefundable -- so it is important to ensure you cancel your subscriptions before your Renewal Billing Date (see the table below). Note that if you cancel your subscription when there are still pre-paid boxes remaining on your account, we will still deliver those boxes unless you email us to let us know you do not want any more deliveries.

As always, if you have any issues, don’t hesitate to send us an email at hello@immigrantlove.co and we will respond promptly!

Can I upgrade my subscription type?

Yes, once a cycle of your subscription has completed (i.e., after one season for the Seasonal Membership or one year for the Annual Membership). Some customers, for example, select the Seasonal Membership at first, love the box, and then switch to the Annual Membership to take advantage of that subscription type's discounts. If you'd like to upgrade your subscription, simply go through checkout again with the new subscription type or email us at hello@immigrantlove.co.

I would like to return a box.

Unfortunately, like most other subscription boxes, we do not allow for returns because of the many layers of operations it takes to curate and join together products from around the country. Please send us an email at hello@immigrantlove.co, however, if you have received a box that is damaged and we will make it right!

I have another issue and I need to speak with someone who can help.

Certainly. Email us at hello@immigrantlove.co and we will respond ASAP!

About Delivery

How do I track my delivery?

Once your order has been shipped, you’ll receive an email that will contain your tracking number. At checkout, you can also opt in to receive text message updates about your delivery.

I should have received a delivery this month but did not – what do I do?

Not okay! We will make this right ASAP! Email us at hello@immigrantlove.co and we will respond ASAP!

I need to change the address for delivery.

No problem! You can update this by logging into your subscription account (you can access your account by clicking here and having an invite sent to you), selecting "Shipping Addresses" on the upper menu, selecting your address, and editing the address... or simply emailing hello@immigrantlove.co. Note that all address changes must be made before the Renewal Billing Date of the given season's month to be effective for that season.

About Our Impact Initiative

Tell me more about your impact partnership with Kiva U.S.!

Beyond the impact we strive to make on our partner small businesses, Immigrantlove contributes 5 percent of our profits to zero-interest loans for immigrant, refugee, and first-generation entrepreneurs across the U.S. in partnership with Kiva U.S. Kiva is an acclaimed crowdlending non-profit that has provided more than $1 billion in small-business loans around the world. We love working with Kiva U.S. in particular because its loans are as pure as they get: they are $1,000 to $15,000 zero-interest, zero-fee loans with incredibly inclusive policies (e.g., no minimum credit score). Immigrant Love contributes to immigrant, refugee, and first-gen entrepreneurs who are fundraising loans on Kiva, helping them reach their funding targets and reach them more quickly. To read more about Kiva’s work in the U.S., click here.

Need Something Else?

Contact us @ hello@immigrantlove.co !

We are here to help! : )