Sarah Kermalli contributed to this post, which originally appeared on the eShipper blog.
To put it bluntly, the subscription box is a powerful ecommerce product. Customers fall in love with them, and businesses do too. Why? Well, here are a few reasons.
A Win for Businesses
Subscription boxes provide businesses with recurring revenue – a source of reliable income, which allows these businesses to plan further into the future. If you are planning to run a successful marketing contest in three months, for example, it’s useful to know that you have $X in promised revenue to set off those costs.
Subscription boxes can be assembled and shipped with little overhead, especially if you own a small business. With a superior website design that allows your customers to order and pay, and a small warehouse-like space, you are set up for a modest launch.
You don’t have to invest in marketing that is focused on retaining your subscription box customers, because the subscription box itself – with your product quality and curation – is doing that work for you. You can invest more heavily in product development as opposed to nurturing loyal customers.
A Win for Customers
A customer only has to sign up for a subscription box. That’s it. In a world that feels unnecessarily complicated, receiving something you really want can offer sublime relief. When the effort required to get it is minimal, all the better.
Also, consider the element of surprise! Most of us love a surprise…. not to mention receiving mail. Knowing that we’ll get a subscription box that has, say, scrumptious, locally-sourced baked goods in it, does not mean that we know about the white chocolate cookie infused with wild blackberries.
Lastly, subscription boxes offer convenience. If you have young children and can’t remember the last time you had an uninterrupted shower, companies that do things for you are invaluable. Imagine opening up a box of clothing in your sweet daughter’s current size every month. Who needs the mall?
While both businesses and customers benefit from the subscription box business model, it is important to note that customers will expect consistency, quality, and a “wow” factor. (Yes, in every box.) Oh, and customers like it when their subscription box looks fabulous. After all, it’s all part of the atmosphere surrounding at-home delivery of desired goods.
eShipper stands ready to provide you with practical, low-cost shipping solutions for your subscription box business. Why not contact them today? eShipper’s hassle-free systems allow you to process your shipments using just one application. With eShipper and Cratejoy, your subscription boxes will arrive on your customer’s doorstep on time – and looking beautiful.
