Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box Sarah Williams

Once a year, thousands of people join me for a one-of-a-kind subscription box coaching experience. Subscription Box Week is coming soon… and I can’t wait!   
Several years ago, I had started my coaching membership Launch Your Box and it was growing. Slowly. I wanted to put some gas on it and grow more rapidly. A conversation with my mentor, Stu McLaren, led to the realization that letting people spend a week with me as a teacher and coach was the best way to show them what I offer and why it’s right for them. 
Subscription Box Coaching Week came out of that casual conversation. I launched it for the first time in the fall of 2020. Thousands of people signed up - which blew me away and kind of freaked me out. 🙂 The first night I went LIVE I had more than 1,000 people with me! 
That week was incredible. I showed up, served (overserved, actually), and engaged. At the end of that week, 43% of the people who joined me for Subscription Box Coaching Week signed up for Launch Your Box. 43%! 
I’ve been doing it ever since. Every year, thousands of people join me for Subscription Box Week (formerly called Coaching Week). It’s the best way to showcase who I am as a coach, the knowledge I have, and what it’s like inside my incredible Launch Your Box community. 
It’s happening again - in just a couple of weeks! And it’s FULL of so much great content, including: 

The Post-It Note Challenge - where you’ll plan six months of boxes. 

Brand New Training - How to Curate an Experience for Your Subscribers - because it’s not about the “stuff,” it’s about how you make your subscribers feel. 

Member Box Openings - where I open members’ subscription boxes for the first time and offer feedback. 

Special LIVE Q&A - where you can get ALL your questions answered. 

A chance to be part of the subscription box community: 

Get to know my members who are at all stages and sizes of business. 

Get to know my team as they work around the clock to answer questions and provide resources. 

Interact with me LIVE every day. 

Understand what’s possible when I interview my students - get ready to be inspired! 

My team and I have packed a month’s worth of content into one week for this special event! 
For only $15, get this jam-packed week that’s all about subscription boxes! 

Are you brand new and thinking about starting a subscription box - this week is for you. 

Are you already selling products and ready to build recurring revenue into your business - this week is for you. 

Do you already have a subscription box but feel like you don’t know what you don’t know to grow your business - this week is for you. 

I do this every day - manage a multi-million dollar subscription box business. And I share it all with you during Subscription Box Week. 

If you’ve been thinking about starting a subscription box, but you’ve been putting it off or feeling stuck, this is your special invitation to join me at SubscriptionBoxWeek.com starting June 23rd for one amazing week! 
What if one week could change everything? Join me for this episode and learn all about Subscription Week. It’s one week filled with endless possibilities. 
SubscriptionBoxWeek.com 
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Are you ready for Launch Your Box? Our complete training program walks you step by step through how to start, launch, and grow your subscription box business. Join today! 

Do you get excited thinking about starting a subscription box but worry about what it will cost to get started? A subscription box is an eCommerce business which means there are start-up costs involved just like with any other online business. These costs can vary depending on what you want to do. 
You can be profitable from month one, but you have to understand your costs. Understanding them helps you: 

Price your subscription box

Market your subscription box

Stay on budget

Stay profitable from 

What are these costs? 
There are five categories of costs you need to consider. 
1 - Product Costs -  Product cost is the actual expense of goods for each item you will put in your subscription box each month. Whether you make the items yourself, buy them wholesale, or source them from overseas, these costs will make up the highest percentage of your box costs. 
When calculating product costs, make sure to include the shipping costs to you. This can have a big impact on your overall product cost and needs to be tracked and planned for.
2 - Packaging Costs - There are so many variables when it comes to packaging costs. You can ship your subscription box in a basic box, custom box, or go without a box and use a poly mailer.
Packaging isn’t just about the outside of the box. You also need to consider the cost of stickers, shreds, tissue paper, inserts, tape, etc. - anything you use to get your boxes ready to ship.
3 - Fulfillment Costs - Your fulfillment costs are made up of packing and shipping costs. Both can be difficult to figure out when you’re first starting out. Packing costs include the labor it takes to package each subscription box. Third-party fulfillment companies pack and ship your boxes for you. 
Shipping makes up the other part of your fulfillment costs. Shipping can be VERY expensive and shipping costs vary widely depending on the destination.
4 - Tech Costs - A subscription box is an eCommerce business. In other words, you need tech in order to run your business. Before you can even get your subscription box up and running, there are several tech pieces you need to have in place.

Website

Payment Processor

Shipping Software 

Email CRM 

5 - Advertising Costs - I always want you to focus on generating organic traffic, but there comes a time when you’ll want to add paid advertising to your marketing plan. Advertising costs range from printed flyers to online ads. These costs need to be factored into your initial and ongoing costs for your subscription box business.
Start simple. Scale gradually. Manage your costs. You can start a subscription box and stay profitable… from the beginning. 
Wondering about the costs of starting a subscription box? Join me for this episode to learn about the 5 main categories so you can confidently price your box and be profitable in month one. 
Episode 61 - What Can a Fulfillment Center Do for My Subscription Box Business?

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Are you ready for Launch Your Box? Our complete training program walks you step by step through how to start, launch, and grow your subscription box business. Join today! 

You can turn on the news and see what’s happening with our economy. Big box retailers are closing, small businesses are shutting their doors. Yet I’m here to tell you NOW is the right time to start a subscription box. Why? 
The answer is simple. 
People are buying. I see it every day in my own business. I saw it during my recent very successful launch. And I have the honor of working every day with subscription box owners who are launching and growing their subscription box businesses. 
Adding a recurring revenue stream to your business adds a layer of stability, predictability, and security that most businesses don’t have. 
The subscription box industry reached $22.7 billion by the end of 2021 and is expected to more than triple that number by 2027! Inside those numbers, the most popular types of subscriptions were replenishment subscriptions (think dog food or shaving supplies) and curation subscriptions (like my Monogram Box™).
In a recent Wall Street Journal article, I read that 25% of online shoppers have subscribed to one or more subscription services to receive products on a recurring basis. 25% of shoppers! The article cited niche markets as one of the biggest areas of opportunity and emphasized the importance of providing high-quality experiences to retain subscribers. 
To recap, this article showed me: 

The subscription box market is still growing - rapidly. It’s time to get in! 

¼ of all online shippers have had a subscription - they understand this model. 

It’s all about convenience and the experience - it’s not about the stuff. 

The riches are in the niches. (I know you’ve heard me say that before!)

So, why should you start a subscription right now? 

You don’t have to constantly sell. 

If you have a physical shop and don’t open, you don’t make any income.

You’re able to create raving fans. 

Your subscribers will be your biggest fans, buying almost anything you sell. 

The product you are investing in is already sold. 

Relieve the stress and pressure of buying products you might have to mark down later. 

You get to create a box and experience you are passionate about. 

Being passionate about your business helps you show up. 

You get to love what you do and treat people to a carefully curated experience. 

You get consistent revenue hitting your bank account. 

It’s not too late to get in the game. Not by a long shot. Have you listened to episode 158 yet? In it, Launch Your Box member Bev of Bless-ed Be Boutique talks about how she retired, got bored, then six months later started her subscription box, selling out her first launch. Or episode 147 where you’ll meet Megan. She thought about starting a box for a long time. It wasn’t until she bought my book, One Box at a Time, and read it cover to cover in just a couple of days that she took action. Megan launched her subscription box three weeks later - and sold out! 
Your time is now. Stop waiting, stop wishing, and start building a business you can make an income from. 
Have you been sitting on your subscription box idea for too long? Join me for this episode for 5 reasons to get it started right now. It’s time to stop sitting on the sidelines and start taking action.  

Episode 158 - It’s NEVER Too Late to Start
Episode 147 - From Idea to Sold-Out Launch in 3 Weeks
One Box at a Time

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Launch Your Box with Sarah Website 


Are you ready for Launch Your Box? Our complete training program walks you step by step through how to start, launch, and grow your subscription box business. Join today! 

Do you have a product-based business? Are you selling products via an Etsy store, in a pop-up shop or a retail store? Are you selling one-off products online? Adding a subscription box to your existing business is a no-brainer and can offer you so many benefits! 
Adding a subscription box provides: 

A stable, predictable revenue stream - recurring payments benefit your business in so many ways, including stabilizing your cash flow.  

Customer loyalty - subscribers have committed to regularly purchasing products from you. 

Increased lifetime value (LTV) - do you know the LTV of your customers? My subscribers stay for an average of 18 months, generating thousands of dollars of revenue each. 

Opportunities for cross-selling and upselling - pair your box items with additional one-off items from your shop. 

Scalability - packing and shipping 500 of the same thing is much more efficient than 500 different orders. 

Have I convinced you to add a subscription box to your business?  I have 5 simple steps to follow to make it happen. 

Identify your best customers:

Who are they? 

How often do they shop with you? 

Take a look at your top 20 customers and dial into who they are. 

Identify your best-sellers:

What categories are your best sellers? 

What do people buy from you repeatedly? 

What are people asking for more of? 

Set your pricing structure:

What is your average order value (AOV)?

What is the AOV of your top 100 customers? 

Price your subscription box in that range. 

Create exclusivity and scarcity: 

What are the benefits of being a subscriber? 

Make items only available in the box. 

Make them only available by subscription. 

Create FOMO with your customer base - make them want to be part of something exclusive.  

Create a great user experience: 

Are your website and the checkout process clear and easy to follow?  

Make it easy for people to update or cancel their subscriptions. 

Provide a higher level of customer service - remember your subscribers are the VIPs of your business. 

A bonus piece of advice, which is really the best piece of advice, is to talk about your subscription box a LOT. If you want to create a business that is 75% recurring revenue instead of depending on one-off sales, you’ve got to make it the main thing in your business. And that means talking about it… a lot! 
Join me for this episode to learn how having a subscription box can change the game for your business. Predictable inventory, better cash flow, monthly recurring revenue, and more. Follow 5 simple steps to get started today! 

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Are you ready for Launch Your Box? Our complete training program walks you step by step through how to start, launch, and grow your subscription box business. Join today!

Let’s start this year with a better plan, a plan to help you move forward because… It’s Time to Start Your Subscription Box! 
 
Now is the time to get started the right way. 
 
See, it’s hard to take steps forward with starting your subscription box if you can’t visualize who that box is for - your ideal customer. And if you already have a subscription box and you’re struggling with marketing, gaining subscribers, or retaining the subscribers you do have, take a closer look at your ideal customer. 
 
I want you to describe your ideal customer in 3-5 words. 

Are they a man or a woman? 

Are they an adult or a child? 

How old are they? 

Where do they live? 

Do they belong to a certain profession or faith group? 

Do they have a specific hobby or love for something? 

 
Answering these questions allows you to visualize that person. My ideal customer for my monogram box is a “Southern Busy Mom.” Can you picture her? I can! I curate subscription boxes for her every month. 
 
Ask yourself what your ideal customer is thinking, feeling, and doing each month of the year. It’s this knowledge that will help you plan themes for your boxes before you ever start looking for products. 
 
Once you’re able to visualize your ideal customer, it’s time to decide what kind of box to create. You have choices: 

Monthly

Quarterly

Bimonthly

One Thing of the Month

 
There are pros and cons to each type of box. Monthly boxes are easier to market and bring in regular, recurring revenue. They are also a LOT more work. Quarterly boxes can make marketing challenging but give you time to catch your breath between boxes and may allow you to curate a more expensive, luxurious box. 
 
A “One Thing of the Month” box is a great place to start! You’re simply providing one item each month. I have members inside Launch Your Box who have been very successful with their “one things.” T-shirts, candles, beef jerky, washi tape, door hangers, and more.
 
Once you’ve decided who your ideal customer is and the type of box you’re going to offer, it’s time to curate some boxes! Join me for my FREE 6 in 60 Workshop where we’ll plan six months’ worth of subscription boxes in only an hour! 
 
Join me for this episode as I talk about how now IS the time to start your subscription box and go over the first TWO steps forward, helping you discover who your box is for and what kind of subscription box is the best choice for your business. 
Important Links: 
6 in 60 Workshop
 
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Are you ready for Launch Your Box? Our complete training program walks you step by step through how to start, launch, and grow your subscription box business. Join the waitlist today! 

When you don’t know where to start, it’s easy to start in the wrong place. 
 
You have an idea. A dream. You want to start a subscription box. But you don’t know how. So you do what everyone does. You google. It. And you find out there are all kinds of people wanting to sell you all kinds of things to help you run your subscription box business. Software, packaging, marketing tools, and more. 
 
In the beginning, before you even get started, you don’t need any of those things. What you need is to Start The Right Way! 
 
If you’re just starting your subscription box journey, this episode is for you! Avoid the overwhelm and start where you need to start… the beginning. 
 
I call this first stage The Hopeful Entrepreneur because you’re full of hopes and dreams… and so many questions. There are things you need to do during this stage to start your subscription box journey off right. 
 

Complete the 6 in 60 Workshop (Post-It Note Challenge) - identify your ideal customer and plan out your first six boxes. 

Contact your local Small Business Adminstration Office - fulfill local requirements to legally set up your business. 

Establish social media pages for your business - focus audience building efforts on one platform to start. 

Secure a domain for your website - this will be your url. 

Explore options for your website - we recommend Shopify or WordPress/WooCommerce. 

 
Getting your subscription box business off the ground takes a lot of work. Following a step-by-step process helps you stay on track. 
 
Join me for this episode as I walk you through this first stage of your subscription box journey, sharing tips, strategies, and resources to help you get a strong start. Don’t miss my tips about naming your business - and your subscription box. It matters!   
Important Links: 

Subscription Box Blueprint eBook 

FREE 6 in 60 Workshop

 
Join me in all the places: 

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Launch Your Box with Sarah Website 


Are you ready for Launch Your Box? Our complete training program walks you step by step through how to start, launch, and grow your subscription box business. Join the waitlist today!