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

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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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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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!

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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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! 

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! 

Do you think you’re too old to start a business? Do you worry it’s too late to pivot and do something you’re truly passionate about? Something that could make a huge difference in the lives of you and your family? 
It’s not too late. It’s never too late. I say it often, but sometimes it takes hearing it from somebody else before it really sinks in. 
Get ready to be inspired as I introduce you to Bev Schweigert, owner of Blessed Be Boutique and member of Launch Your Box. 
Bev “retired” more than six years ago and spent six months wondering what to do next. Her Christian faith is central to her life and part of living that for Bev was going on a mission trip to Peru. Bev needed to raise some money to fund that trip and ended up selling Christian jewelry to do so. Soon after, the pandemic hit and Bev’s online jewelry sales skyrocketed. But, once life started to get back to normal, sales started to slow way down. 
Bev knew that if she wanted to keep growing her business, she needed to find ways to bring more of her target customers into her world - that meant attracting more Christian women. Bev had been journaling and started a Facebook group for women to reflect on scripture and journal along with her. She went Live in the group 5 days a week and just spent time serving her audience. Soon they started asking her to sell the products she was using - her journal and journaling supplies. 
Bev did even more. She developed a creative devotional that includes crafts, poetry, songs to listen to, and more. She turned the idea of a devotional or journal into a true experience for Christian women. And it was a hit! 
Soon, Bev started creating one-time devotional boxes - the first was inspired by her memories of summer camp. It included crafts to go along with the devotionals and all the supplies her customers needed to complete them. These boxes sold very well, inspiring Bev to create additional one-time boxes for holidays. 
Before long, Bev started thinking about starting a subscription box. A friend and fellow business owner happened to be a member of Launch Your Box and encouraged Bev to join. 
The results? Bev sold out her first launch with 80 subscribers! And when she opened back up in time for the next box, she sold out again, adding 45 more subscribers for a total of 130. That’s right - Bev passed the 100 subscriber mark on only her second box! She’ll open back up for box number three very soon and hopes to add 45 more subscribers. 
There is so much about Bev’s story that inspired me and will inspire you. And part of that is her age. See, Bev is 61. She started her business when she was 55. A lot of people think they’re “too old” to start a subscription box business or any type of small business. If that sounds like you, Bev has a message for you. “It’s never too late to get started!” 
Bev has big goals for 2024. She wants to double what she did last year in sales, and she’s already off to a strong start. Bev is having so much fun with her business - including her subscription box - that she can’t imagine not working. Which is a good thing, since her husband hopes to retire soon thanks to the success of Blessed Be! 
It doesn’t matter if you are in your 30s, 40s, 50s, or beyond….it’s never too late to start your subscription box business.  This episode is going to inspire the heck out of you.  

Find and follow Bev: 

Blessed Be Boutique on Facebook

Blessed Intentions Facebook Group


Blessed Be Boutique on Instagram  

Blessed Be Boutique Website


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 today!