Think Inside the Box

When I began researching this article, I had no idea how many subscription services were out there. I discovered that there are more than 600 different subscription box services, and that number is continuing to grow!  Numerous websites, YouTube videos, blogs and discussion boards are dedicated to listing, reviewing and rating the various services. I also learned a new word, curation, which in this field means the choosing, gathering, organizing and presenting of a collection of products.

Why are these services becoming so popular? The theories abound.  You might remember the old school “book/fruit/wine/cheese/CD of the month” clubs that all but disappeared. One theory is that no one gets anything fun in the mail anymore. When was the last time you received a surprise package or even a handwritten birthday card?  Retail brick and mortar stores are disappearing because so many shoppers choose the convenience of on-line shopping. Individuals without access to major retail outlets can have a high-end personal shopper experience via the post office. People are busy—too busy even to shop. Subscribing and forgetting about it is so easy. More and more consumers are practicing “retail awareness,” conscious consumption of local, handmade, ecologically responsible products, and numerous subscription service options cater to this ideal. Still other subscribers cite value for the appeal of the subscriptions. You can receive items valued at 2-5 times the price of the subscription. Plus, having someone else narrow choices down for you can be a welcome change of pace.

One local mom says that she enjoys Birchbox, a popular beauty sample subscription service, because it lets her try products she wouldn’t know about otherwise without paying for a full-size item. In fact, Birchbox is credited with pioneering the subscription box trend in 2010, and it still remains in the top as far as popularity, up there with other beauty and lifestyle sample subscription services Ipsy and POPSUGAR. Target and Wal-mart have even joined in the trend with monthly box offers.

The most popular women’s clothing service is Stitch Fix, which our KC Parent editor, Margaret Sarver, looks forward to each month. It charges a $20.00 styling fee, which is credited toward your purchase if you choose to keep any of the items. You receive a 20 percent discount if you keep all the items in your “fix.” You indicate your style and size preferences, then receive a package of clothing and accessories to try on at home. Expect to pay $30.00-80.00 per clothing item on the low/medium price range. Users love that an information card comes with each item telling you what pairs best with it. Other clothing/accessory services for women include Fabletics (fitness clothing), Golden Tote, Rent the Runway, Wantable Accessories and Wantable Intimates. There are also niche services for maternity wear such as Preggonista.

Babies and kids are an important demographic for subscription services. For children’s clothing, FabKids is the most popular. You take a style quiz and receive a two-piece outfit for $29.95. Jessica Alba’s The Honest Company provides environmentally friendly diapers and baby supplies. Diaper Dabbler is a great gift for new parents that provides a sampling of a variety of diaper brands. Citrus Lane sends age-specific products such as toys for ages 0-5. Little Passports offer a glimpse into foreign cultures, and Kiwi Crate provides seasonal arts and crafts supplies. Other ideas for kids:  Little Pnut (toys), Koala Crate (hands-on learning activities for preschoolers), Tinker Crate (STEM activities for ages 9-14), Doodle Crate (DIY projects for ages 9 and up) and Pokecrate (for the Pokemon aficionado).  

Food and snack boxes are understandably also very popular. If you love to cook but don’t like grocery shopping, services such as Blue Apron, Plated and Hello Fresh will deliver recipes and fresh ingredients. While not inexpensive, these services provide innovative meals that are usually a bargain compared to eating out, and they can definitely save you money if you head to the store to purchase ingredients for one meal and end up with a cart full of miscellany by the time you check out. Graze, Nature Box (lets you choose the items you want) and GrEAT Kids Snack Box (healthy snacks for kids) all offer tasty looking options.

Some of the more specific boxes I found were Phone Case of the Month, GoodMouth (toothbrushes), BlackSocks Sockscription (men’s dress socks), Mexican Candy Box, Think Soap and Tackle Grab (fishing lures).

Don’t like what you received?  Swap it!  There are websites similar to eBay where you can swap subscription box products that didn’t work out. [Products offered in lots and items with the packaging intact will swap better].

Before committing to joining a service, search for coupons and special offers. Most services offer discounts with a longer subscription period. Also, be sure to search for user reviews of the service. Common complaints include a long waitlist to join, difficulty in unsubscribing or returning items and that boxes have frequent repeats or too many lower-end items. The best way to determine whether you will like a subscription is to see what has been included in previous boxes.

Now, if there were just a service that would come and remove a box of carefully chosen stuff from my house on a regular basis!  If you find yourself in need of the opposite of a subscription box service, check out Donation Town, which connects you with local charities that offer free pickup service. Pickup Please will come collect items for donation to Vietnam Veterans of America. Locally, try KC Donation Pickup.

Laura Miller McEachen is a part-time attorney and full-time mommy. She enjoys shopping too much to let anyone else do it for her.