Norwex in China: Part 4

Norwex in China: Part 4

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Visiting the factory, taking a tour and meeting the staff was certainly the highlight of my entire trip.  As I toured through the factory I gave the staff Canadian ceramic mugs as thank you gifts.  My amazing husband thought I was crazy to pack half of my suitcase filled with heavy cups, but when their eyes lit up with joy to receive a mug, not made in China, covered in red maple leafs… it made it all worth it.  Plus, I was strategic, I had room to bring some specials items back home from China!

2015-06-25 14.24.16Norwex certainly has changed a lot in the past 15 years.  A questions I am regularly asked, “why are your cloths made in China?”

The answer is:

  • Norwex owns their own manufacturing equipment and technology in China where the microfiber is made.
  • Norwex has a close relationship with all of their supplying factories and it is a small group to ensure quality.
  • Norwex has employees on site with our most important suppliers.
  • Norwex owns their own cut and sew factory, which we visited.
  • In 1999, the Norwex cloths were made in Sweden.  At that time, our cloths contained 1.5 million meters of fiber.  This was the highest quality that Sweden could produce. China with their elite training, education and degrees in textiles was able to help Norwex develop a cutting edge cloth with 2.9 million meters of fiber per Enviro Cloth.  That is a lot more “micro”fiber per cloth!
  • This area of China is famous for their textiles, knitting and dying.
  • It is a good location for transportation.
  • The city is clean.
  • It is a global economic development zone.

Factory Tour 1

How does Norwex treat their employees?
  • Norwex is voluntarily apart of the UN Global Compact, that has a commitment to quality working conditions.  There are less than 300 companies operating in China who adhere to all of these standards.
  • Norwex only deals with other factories who comply to all of the UN Global Compact regulation.
  • The factory was air conditioned  – thank goodness – because it was warm and humid!
  • The factory was brightly lit with big windows.
  • The factory was extremely clean, with one employee assigned to dusting the floors constantly.
  • Wages are at least 50% higher than the average factory worker in the area.
    • Employees were offered the option to either earn overtime or for Norwex to hire a second shift.  All of the existing employees choose to work the overtime.
    • They are paid 1.5 times over 8 hours on week days, double time on Saturdays and triple time if they work on Sunday.  Currently the factory is running Monday through Saturday.
    • Employees currently average 2-3 hours overtime per day plus an 8 hour shift on Saturday.
  • Vacation pay starts immediately with 6-10 days per year.
  • Family Day: Norwex takes all of the employees out for a day of fun and team building.
  • A complementary dormitory is available for employees and many go home on the weekend.
  • A catering company provides lunch and dinner with five food groups per meal.
  • Safety Bonuses:  For every 25 work days, a safety bonus is given.  Once an employee reaches 250 days, the bonus is then given in 250-day increments.
  • Employees receive a 15-minute break every 2 hours with no limits on drink or bathroom breaks.  They also receive 30-minute lunch and dinner breaks.
  • The factory runs 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Factory Tour 2

Three managers for the Norwex China Factory: David, Albert and May.
China #4 4
 Norwex has their own team for Research & Development to maintain their high quality control standards.
China #4 5
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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.

 

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The Norwex  Hair Turban: a Must-Have

The Norwex Hair Turban: a Must-Have

Regardless of where my travels take me… the Norwex Hair Turban is always packed.

When my girls were young, I would use the turban to dry their hair after each swimming lesson… in turn, they would all share the same turban as they were being dressed.    It was remarkable how they all left the pool with dry shirts.  Previously, I had used a regular towel to do the job, but it just wasn’t up to the task; their long hair would make their shirts soaking wet.

Now that our daughters are older, it became apparent we each needed our own turban!  Now no one enters the washroom to shower without bringing it along.  It’s become a staple in our home!

Drying your hair can be tiresome and time-consuming, especially on those days when you’re in a hurry.  Over-drying can cause your hair to lose its lustre, form brittle/split ends, or even cause breakage.  Plus, every minute you use your blow dryer increases your utility bill.

Simply wear the Norwex Hair Turban for 10 minutes after bathing and it will absorb almost 70% of the water from your hair.  Saves you time, hair damage and money!

The lightweight turban is quickly wrapped on and will not fall off.   The superior microfiber has Baclock™ agent , which goes to work to self-purify and inhibit odors from bacteria, mold and mildew growth within the cloth.

TIPS:

  • Flip your head upside down.
  • With the turban button at the back, tuck your hair into the turban.
  • Twist and loop over hair & fasten the button.
  • For ultra-shiny hair, once a week apply a deep conditioner to your wet hair.  Wrap it up in your Norwex Turban.  After 20 minutes, remove the turban and rinse out the conditioner.
  • Give the Norwex Turban to your friends or family members with long hair…it is the BEST gift!!

Did you know?  If you use a 1500-watt hair dryer for 10 minutes a day, at 10 cents per kilowatt hour, your utility bill will increase by approximately $9 per year.

One of my hosts commented to me that she was not interested in receiving the Hair Turban as part of her hosting package of free products.  She said she already owned a different brand of hair turban.  I encouraged her to simply give the Turban away as a gift, as that particular portion of the hosting package was predetermined by head office.  About 6 weeks later, it was November, she was attending another show that had been booked as a result of her own party.  Her order that evening consisted of 6 more turbans!  I just had to ask why.  She said that she had used the Norwex Turban she received and felt it should go the on “Oprah’s Must Have List”.  That year all of her friends received one for Christmas!

Yes, it’s that good!!  Try it, you will love it too!

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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.

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How “Micro” is the fiber?

How “Micro” is the fiber?

Getting all of the surfaces in your home as clean as possible, as quickly as possible, can be challenging.  In addition, many of today’s popular cleaners contain harsh chemicals.  One would assume that since they are sold in our local stores that they were tested and are safe to use.

I was shocked to learn that; “About 80,000 new chemicals have been introduced into the environment in the last 50 years.  Sadly, only about 200 of these have ever been assessed for their impact on human health.”   Bjorn Nicolaisen (co-founder of Norwex)

When first introduced to Norwex, I was intrigued and excited, but my husband was the skeptic.   Hearing that Norwex EnviroCloths could clean the surfaces in my home without the need for additional chemical cleaning products was foreign to me. On top of that, the claim that I could clean my home in a quarter of the time seemed too good to be true.  But, I loved a clean home and was more than willing to remove the chemical cleaning products from where I was raising my young family.

My first thoughts included, What’s the difference between Norwex EnviroCloths and the cloths sold at the dollar store?

What differentiates the two is how “micro” the fibers in the Norwex cloth are.  The cloths available at your local store generally have a fiber size of approximately 1/6 the size of a human hair while the EnviroCloth fibers are 1/200th the diameter of a human hair.  It is how “micro” the fibers are that determines the cleaning ability of your cloth.  If we were to completely unravel an EnviroCloth, the 2.9 million meters of microfiber would reach all the way from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada right down to the Gulf of Mexico!

As incredible as that is, there is still more cleaning ability contained within the cloth!  The Envirocloth has BacLock™ in the cloth – micro silver antibacterial agent – that goes to work to self-purify and inhibit odors from bacteria, mold and mildew growth within the cloth.  This self-purification process ensures the cloth is ready to use again within 24 hours.

The Norwex Microfiber has the ability to remove up to 99% of bacteria from a surface when following the proper care and use instructions.  The super-absorbent cloths pick up and trap everything that was on the surface until you rinse it out.

Our family was totally sold on the Norwex product collection when we learned the cloths were already being used to clean hospitals.  It was this simple; if these cloths cleaned to a level high enough to pass the stringent testing required to be used at the hospital, they certainly were good enough for our home!

Key Benefits:

  • Cuts cleaning time by up to 75% by using only water.
  • No need for harmful chemicals.
  • Saves money by using only water.
  • Eliminates the need for paper towels, creating less waste.
  • Used them dry for dusting, it creates static electricity that lifts the smallest particles of dust and dirt up into the cloth and prevents them from resettling on the surfaces.

Did You Know?

  • Norwex Microfiber products are created in state-of-the-art factories with optimal working conditions.  Check out my posts about China.
  • Most paper towels are bleached and then patterned with dyes.  Drying your hands with them can leave your skin rough and cracked.

Warranty:

  • Two Year Warranty
  • 60-Day Money Back Guarantee

As a leader, I was very selective in naming our Team.  My group of consultants are located throughout North America are called:  “The Solution Team.”  Norwex is the solution!  You’ll clean safely, quickly and thoroughly, using super-absorbent EnviroCloths.  You’ll save time, money and the environment by using only water to clean your home.  You will reduce landfill waste, prevent chemicals from getting into our waterways and protect your family’s health as you minimize dust, allergens and chemicals in your home!

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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.

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No Tricks – Norwex is a Treat!

No Tricks – Norwex is a Treat!

With Halloween right around the corner, festive activities are fast approaching. Costume-making, decorating and entertaining at our home are all parts of Halloween enjoyed by the whole family. Cleaning in preparation for these festivities, however…is preferred to be done quickly!

Maybe you have a dog that frequents your windows, or it’s been a while since you’ve have the time to clean, so your front windows are streaky.  Do you want to give them a quick wipe down before the big night?  Try the Norwex Window Cloth  and an EnviroCloth for totally cleaning your dirty windows.

Norwex’s Window cloths are a fast and effective way to get your windows streak-free. In fact, because you use only water with the cloths, your little pirate or ballerina can even help out with cleaning them!

When our girls were little, I’d give them a spray bottle of water and a Window Cloth.  They could clean all of our glass coffee and end tables and they thought it was fun.  Well, now I have teenagers.  They still clean, but the fun factor of helping “Mom” has subsided.  For me, the great thing is, with age has come height; now they can clean the whole window, top to bottom!

In order to get the real-clean, and see the real-gleam of your windows, Norwex’s Basic Package is sold as a pack of two cloths; giving you a ‘washer’ (the EnviroCloth) and a ‘polisher’ (the Window Cloth)!

Don’t forget to check out Norwex’s Kids Window Cloth, perfect for little hands!

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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.

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Fear No More – Halloween Makeup is a Breeze

Fear No More – Halloween Makeup is a Breeze

With Halloween approaching, the stress of coming up with a great costume for your kids (and yourself!) is always a struggle. I know many parents who are hesitant to allow their children to paint their faces for Halloween.  With worries that their makeup will not only wreck clothes and costumes but also prove to be a nightmare to wash off. Fear no more! Norwex’s multitude of body care products will allow your children’s imaginations to run wild, making you the parents of the year.

Norwex Body Pack cloths are a natural way to remove Halloween makeup with ease, using only water! No more makeup remover will be required! These are also FABULOUS for removing all of your own makeup, even dark eye makeup, including waterproof mascara.  I question what ingredients are in makeup remover, but I know one thing for sure…I wouldn’t drink it in a liquid form.  Instead, let the Norwex super-gentle microfiber pamper your skin and cleanse it, by using only water!

TIP: Many people feel the need to scrub hard with a damp cloth to remove their makeup but, with the Norwex Body Pack that is not necessary. Make sure you rub (gently!)  in an upward and outward motion, leaving lots of moisture in the cloth to prevent overworking your skin. Your cloth should feel wet and heavy, and feel nice on your face while in does its job!!

One of my customers is a delightful clown for kids birthday parties!   She only uses the Norwex Body Pack cloths to remove her plethora of makeup!

With Norwex’s Stain Remover, no magician is needed to clean up stains; this product will do the magic! The spray is given a ‘thumbs-up’ for all types of fabrics and stains, so there’s no problem, no matter the costume! Just rub the Stain Remover on the target area, letting it soak for 1-5 minutes. Then, throw your clothes or costumes in the washing machine, like normal, and let the spray do its work. This product also works great on stains from pizza fingers, spaghetti sauce, grease, blood, and red wine – so you can entertain Halloween evening worry-free, too!
This product is also hypoallergenic, containing no dyes or petroleum solvents, keeping everyone’s skin clean and free from irritations.

There are no excuses to not get creative this holiday season; show me your wonderful costumes on my Norwex Facebook Page!

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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.

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