Author: Ronny Henry Nov 27, 2019 7 Min READ

Top 17 Subscription Brands: The Ultimate DTC Subscription Box Directory

7 Min READ
Top 17 Subscription Brands: The Ultimate DTC Subscription Box Directory

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According to the Subscription Trade Association (SUBTA), 75% of direct-to-consumer (DTC) organizations will offer subscription services by 2023. This trend should come as no surprise – brands are quickly picking up on the popularity of boxes like BirchBox and FabFitFun and finding ways to bring that revenue back to their companies.

“Subscriptions have become more appealing for brands for many reasons. Most importantly they allow the consumer to engage in a relationship with the brands. In many cases, they also save the consumer money; subscriptions can bring value and a lower cost monthly versus a one-time larger payment.” - Chris George, co-founder of SUBTA (Multichannel Merchant)

Drive DTC results with ExtensivHowever, though there are numerous benefits of offering subscription services, establishing your own subscription service offering isn't easy. If you don't have a committed customer base and an established brand presence it becomes extremely difficult to grow your subscriber list and sustain the momentum needed to generate more customers.

To test the waters, many brands will turn to existing subscription box services – direct-to-consumer brands whose primary offering is to provide their subscribers with new products each month or quarter. These are typically called discovery boxes, which involve hand-picking items based on quizzes or assessments to expose consumers to a new or niche product.

For the consumers, the benefit is in the perceived discount for the product, the excitement of trying something new, and the potential to find a new product or brand to add to their favorites. For ecommerce brands, the benefit is in the increased exposure and opportunity to convert subscription box subscribers to new customers. Many of these brands use unique direct marketing tactics to target millenials and other prized demographics. 

There are also many operational benefits to leveraging a subscription box strategy:

  • Subscriptions streamline inventory forecasting and reordering due to committed orders during each subscription period
  • Committed inventory quantities for subscription box partnerships become a huge bargaining tool with manufacturers to negotiate lower rates
  • Subscription box companies handle the consumer shipping logistics, taking that off the brand's hands and requiring that they only ship products in bulk in time for the monthly distribution

A core strategy for subscription boxes is to ensure they carve out a niche audience. The more specific the audience, the better the products will resonate with the subscriber base. However, this level of specificity has led to several different subscription box companies to pop up over the years. With so many options, how can you tell which subscription box service is the right one to partner with?

 

To make your search easier, we’ve pulled together a directory of some leading subscription box companies, their estimated subscriber base, product categories, and application questions.

It’s important to note that this list isn’t ranked in any order. You’ll need to analyze your needs and review which subscription box is right for you. Not sure if featuring your product in a subscription box is the right strategy? Check out our quick primer on subscription services so you can determine if this approach can help you grow your customer base and see some examples of effective brand subscription strategies.

Top 17 DTC Subscription Brands

Make sure to bookmark this page and visit often - we'll be updating it with more boxes regularly!

1. BirchBox

Description:

Birchbox is a New York City-based online monthly subscription box service that sends its subscribers a box of four to five selected samples of makeup, or other beauty-related products. The products include skincare items, perfumes, organic-based products, and various other cosmetics.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

2.5 million

Product Category:

Beauty and Grooming

Application Link:

Be Prepared to Answer These Questions:

What differentiates your brands from others on the market?
Where is your brand currently distributed? Please specify any future expansion plans.
How many SKUs are in your current assortment?
What is the average price point of your assortment?
What is your current sampling strategy? Have you participated in other subscription boxes?

2. BarkBox

Description:

BarkBox is a monthly subscription box service providing dog products, services, and experiences. Each box tells a different story with themed toys, treats, and photo-worthy props. Each box includes two toys, two treats, and one chew toy, but they can be tailored to meet each subscriber's needs.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

600,000

Product Category:

Pet Supplies

Application Link:

Be Prepared to Answer These Questions:

Tell us where you currently sell your products?
What volume of products are you capable of producing in 30-60 days?
What volume are you comfortable producing in 60-90 days plus shipping?
What is your product Category?

3. FabFitFun

Description:

FabFitFun is a quarterly subscription box service that delivers a selection of 8-10 full-size premium products to your front door. Each box includes the latest in beauty, fashion, fitness, and wellness curated by Giuliana Rancic and the FabFitFun team.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

1 million

Product Category:

Beauty and Grooming

Application Link:

Be Prepared to Answer These Questions:

What level of partnership would you like? (box, sponsorship, non-profit, etc.)
What is your company name?
Please provide a brief description of your company (max 255 characters)
What is/are your product name(s)?
What category/sub-categories do your products fall within?

4. Trunk Club

Description:

Trunk Club is a personalized mid- to high-end men's and women's clothing subscription box service based in Chicago. Each customer works with a specialist who chooses items for their box, which is then shipped to their home; the customer can purchase the clothes outright or send them back to Trunk Club.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

200,000

Product Category:

Clothing

Application Link:

No registration; Trunk Club is owned by Nordstrom and exclusively includes products that partners with the retailer

5. SnackNation

Description:

SnackNation is the leading healthy snack subscription box experience that fuels high performing companies and empowers healthy lifestyles across the U.S. SnackNation exists to inspire more conscious food decisions. They do this by connecting healthier brands with engaged consumers through a smart marketplace.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

500,000

Product Category:

Food Supplies

Application Link:

6. BeautyFIX

Description:

BeautyFIX is Dermstore’s contribution to the skincare and beauty realm of subscription boxes. Curated by skin care experts, each monthly BeautyFIX includes six or more products. In each box, subscribers can expect to see a healthy mix of full-size and deluxe-travel-size products—including skincare, haircare, and cosmetics handpicked by beauty experts.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

Undisclosed; Dermstore (the company that distributes BeautyFIX) has an Instagram follower base of 61.3K followers

Product Category:

Beauty and Grooming

Application Link:

Be Prepared to Answer These Questions:

How many years have you been selling?
What is your annual gross revenue?
What industry do you fall within?
What best describes your business type?
What is your brand name?"

7. GlossyBox

Description:

GlossyBox is a subscription box service that assembles a bespoke box of 5-6 luxury-sized cosmetic and wellness samples hand-picked by beauty experts and mailed directly to subscribers. Each box comes wrapped in a specially designed box for each season.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

200,000

Product Category:

Beauty and Grooming

Application Link:

8. Loot Crate

Description:

Loot Crate was founded in 2012 around a simple idea: put the awesomeness of Comic-Con in a box. Loot Crate is a subscription box service that provides monthly boxes of gaming-related merchandise, pop-culture collectibles, and accessories to a subscriber base in the hundreds of thousands, making them one of the top subscription box services in the world. Brands can either have their products featured in a monthly box or partner for a co-branded box.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

600,000

Product Category:

Gaming/Toys

Application Link:

Be Prepared to Answer These Questions:

What is your company name?
What is your product name?
Are your products licensed?
How do you want your products to be featured?
Have you done previous sponsorships?

9. Lip Monthly

Description:

Lip Monthly is a subscription box that sends everything lips. Products included are glosses, sticks, balms, stains, and sometimes oils. Unlike most subscription boxes, each Lip Monthly box provides customers with a makeup bag filled with 4-5 full-size lip items.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

100,000

Product Category:

Beauty and Grooming

Application Link:

10. Rachel Zoe Box of Style

Description:

Filled with an expertly-curated selection of style obsessions, Box of Style is a subscription box that delivers coveted, trend-forward fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products selected by leading fashion authority Rachel Zoe. Members have access to a year-round marketplace offering products at up to 70% off retail, styling tips, and content from Rachel Zoe.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

Undisclosed; Box of Style has an Instagram follower base of 61.3K followers

Product Category:

Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle Products

Application Link:

Be Prepared to Answer These Questions:

Undisclosed, products are subject to at least a one month review and test process to determine quality and relevance to subscribers.

11. CAUSEBOX

Description:

CAUSEBOX is a quarterly subscription box service that sends boxes of responsibly sourced beauty products, accessories, and home decor. CAUSEBOX has featured over 150 brands, partnered with emerging designers and tastemakers to create exclusive products for the CAUSEBOX community, and introduced thousands of members to companies that focus on ethical and sustainable production. Most companies CauseBox works with donates a percentage of profits to charity or that empower local heroes to build better, brighter futures for their communities.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

Undisclosed; CauseBox has an Instagram follower base of 146K followers

Product Category:

Beauty, Grooming, Homewares

Application Link:

No link; email partners@causebox.com

Be Prepared to Answer These Questions:

How is your company/your product making the world a better place?

12. Winc

Description:

Winc's monthly subscription box service connects subscribers to a world of exclusive wines tailored to their tastes and offers wine delivery right to their door. Members answer a 6-question palate assessment which determines the types of wines included in each box.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

Undisclosed; but Winc boasts a 75% millennial subscriber base

Product Category:

Wine

Application Link:

13. BoxyCharm

Description:

BoxyCharm is a monthly subscription box service that sends 4-5 full-size beauty products to subscribers. Unlike other subscription services that offer mini or deluxe samples, BoxyCharm offers 4-5 full-size products every month from a variety of established and indie makeup brands. Subscribers can also upgrade for other box services to get more products in each box. BoxyCharm works with some of the hottest brands, including Butter London, Dr. Brandt, Elemis, GlamGlow, Smashbox, Tarte, Too Faced, and many more.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

500,000

Product Category:

Beauty and Grooming

Application Link:

14. MistoBox

Description:

The Mistobox coffee subscription box brings an incredible variety of coffees to choose from, flexible shipping, and even a personal coffee curator to help you understand the complex world of artisan coffee.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

50,000

Product Category:

Coffee

Application Link:

Be Prepared to Answer These Questions:

How many coffees do you currently offer?
Do you currently work with or sell your coffees through any other online retailers?
Which days of the week are you roasting coffee?
Which days of the week are you shipping coffees?
Tell us more about your company (Company Bio)

15. Bespoke Post

Description:

Bespoke Post is a subscription box club for guys who like to mix drinks, travel and outfit their homes with unique products and a dose of good advice. After a quick appraisal of their interests, Bespoke Post will send subscribers a new box every month of gear they have tested and used, from toiletries to kitchen essentials and even barware. Customers can also customize their boxes from Bespoke’s online shop to get what they want.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

100,000

Product Category:

Men's Apparel and Accessories (Barware and Mixology, Style Accessories, Clothing and Apparel, Kitchen and Cooking, Grooming Supplies, Camping and Outdoors. Travel and Bags, Music and Tech Gear)

Application Link:

No link; email merch@bespokepost.com

16. SprezzaBox

Description:

SprezzaBox is a monthly men's fashion accessory subscription box. Each box contains five to six different products and brands with a retail value of over $100. Typical items include ties, socks, pocket squares, grooming products, and more. SprezzaBox has shipped over one million boxes worldwide, providing subscribers every month with high-quality accessories at an affordable cost.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

250,000

Product Category:

Men's Apparel and Accessories

Application Link:

17. Yogi Surprise

Description:

Yogi Surprise is a monthly subscription box that delivers products to elevate yoga practice on and off the mat. Each month, customers receive a new Yogi Surprise package in the mail filled with a unique variety of pure, natural, and sustainable goodies.

Est. Number of Subscribers:

Undisclosed; but Yogi surprise has an Instagram follower base of 80K followers

Product Category:

Fitness

Application Link:

Be Prepared to Answer These Questions:

What is the name of your product?
Do you have links to your product examples?
Please tell us why your product is perfect for our customers and one of our boxes.

 
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