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151: 3 Website Platforms for Your Subscription Box Business

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Inhalt bereitgestellt von Sarah Williams. Alle Podcast-Inhalte, einschließlich Episoden, Grafiken und Podcast-Beschreibungen, werden direkt von Sarah Williams oder seinem Podcast-Plattformpartner hochgeladen und bereitgestellt. Wenn Sie glauben, dass jemand Ihr urheberrechtlich geschütztes Werk ohne Ihre Erlaubnis nutzt, können Sie dem hier beschriebenen Verfahren folgen https://de.player.fm/legal.

Is tech holding you back from launching your subscription box? There are so many decisions to make. One of the first is choosing the right platform for you and your business. There are hundreds to choose from. But not all of them are right for subscription box businesses.

So many people get stuck here, overthinking and over-researching. Decision paralysis sets in and they fail to make any progress at all. But it doesn’t have to be that way - I’m here to help.

In this episode, I break things down for you to make it as simple as possible. I talk you through my top three website platforms and the pros and cons of each. The truth is, no one platform is perfect for every subscription box business. But there is one that’s right for you!

Option 1 - WordPress/Woocommerce

  • WordPress is the platform and Woocommerce is the plug-in needed to sell products. Woocommerce Subscriptions is the plug-in needed to sell recurring products like a subscription box.

Option 2 - Shopify

  • Shopify is an eCommerce platform that allows you to create an online store and sell products. It offers a wide range of tools and features specifically for product-based businesses.

Find more in-depth information about all of these platforms and a deep dive into the Subscription Apps on Shopify inside the Launch Your Box Training Library. Not a member yet? Joinlyb.com!

Option 3 - Subbly

  • Subbly is an all-in-one subscription box platform that provides tools for managing and launching a subscription-based business.

My tips for choosing a website platform:

  • Don’t get overwhelmed by your options - go with one of these three.
  • If you already have one of these sites, don’t change it. Build your subscription on it.
  • Decide which features as most important to YOUR business.
  • Evaluate the costs.
  • Just. Get. Started. Don’t let tech stop you from moving forward.

Join me for this episode where I share my top three website platforms for subscription box businesses and the pros and cons of each. Don’t let tech stop you from moving forward.

Join me and our AMAZING community inside Launch Your Box!

Join me in all the places:

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!

  continue reading

210 Episoden

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iconTeilen
 
Manage episode 402085268 series 2872971
Inhalt bereitgestellt von Sarah Williams. Alle Podcast-Inhalte, einschließlich Episoden, Grafiken und Podcast-Beschreibungen, werden direkt von Sarah Williams oder seinem Podcast-Plattformpartner hochgeladen und bereitgestellt. Wenn Sie glauben, dass jemand Ihr urheberrechtlich geschütztes Werk ohne Ihre Erlaubnis nutzt, können Sie dem hier beschriebenen Verfahren folgen https://de.player.fm/legal.

Is tech holding you back from launching your subscription box? There are so many decisions to make. One of the first is choosing the right platform for you and your business. There are hundreds to choose from. But not all of them are right for subscription box businesses.

So many people get stuck here, overthinking and over-researching. Decision paralysis sets in and they fail to make any progress at all. But it doesn’t have to be that way - I’m here to help.

In this episode, I break things down for you to make it as simple as possible. I talk you through my top three website platforms and the pros and cons of each. The truth is, no one platform is perfect for every subscription box business. But there is one that’s right for you!

Option 1 - WordPress/Woocommerce

  • WordPress is the platform and Woocommerce is the plug-in needed to sell products. Woocommerce Subscriptions is the plug-in needed to sell recurring products like a subscription box.

Option 2 - Shopify

  • Shopify is an eCommerce platform that allows you to create an online store and sell products. It offers a wide range of tools and features specifically for product-based businesses.

Find more in-depth information about all of these platforms and a deep dive into the Subscription Apps on Shopify inside the Launch Your Box Training Library. Not a member yet? Joinlyb.com!

Option 3 - Subbly

  • Subbly is an all-in-one subscription box platform that provides tools for managing and launching a subscription-based business.

My tips for choosing a website platform:

  • Don’t get overwhelmed by your options - go with one of these three.
  • If you already have one of these sites, don’t change it. Build your subscription on it.
  • Decide which features as most important to YOUR business.
  • Evaluate the costs.
  • Just. Get. Started. Don’t let tech stop you from moving forward.

Join me for this episode where I share my top three website platforms for subscription box businesses and the pros and cons of each. Don’t let tech stop you from moving forward.

Join me and our AMAZING community inside Launch Your Box!

Join me in all the places:

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!

  continue reading

210 Episoden

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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
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On this episode of the Launch Your Box podcast, meet Jenny Finke of Love Me Gluten Free. Jenny didn’t just pivot from blogging to launching her subscription box—she sold out her first 125 boxes in just two hours and now has over 1,200 subscribers in less than a year! Learning and Sharing All Things Gluten-Free Jenny launched a blog where she shared recipes, stories, products, advice, and more. She ran the blog for over 10 years and had several million readers. Jenny wrote a book and amassed a sizable social media following. Her newsletter went out weekly to more than 24,000 readers. She made income through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing. In 2023, everything changed. The algorithm that was so helpful in the past, directing people to Jenny’s content who needed it, changed. Many successful bloggers were throwing in the towel and returning to corporate jobs. Jenny knew she needed a new way to serve her community and save her business. Starting and Launching a Gluten-Free Subscription Box Jenny saw a need. Her audience wanted a subscription box but needed to know they could trust the safety of the items. And Jenny knew she could deliver. Jenny already had an audience, but needed to learn how to start and manage a subscription box business. She needed to build relationships with brands who would supply items for her box. Jenny joined Launch Your Box and jumped right in. She set a 90 day plan to launch her box with a launch date in April 2024. Selling Out - and Gaining 125 Subscribers - in Two Hours Jenny crunched the numbers and decided to make up 125 boxes to offer during her subscription box launch. She sold all 125 in less than two hours! Jenny went back to her vendors and asked if they had 25 more of the items in the box. They did and she offered the additional 25 boxes to her audience. All were gone that first day. 150 subscribers in one day. An incredible result for a first launch. Jenny’s Love Me Gluten Free subscription box has continued to grow, adding subscribers every month. For the first several months, fulfillment took place in Jenny’s basement. That meant capping growth at 300 subscribers until they found a warehouse space. Jenny moved her business into the warehouse space which allowed her to add more subscribers. Nine months after launching they have 1200 subscribers and are already outgrowing this new space. Pivoting from Blogger to Subscription Box Owner Jenny’s business didn’t just survive the changes to Google’s algorithm. It evolved and is thriving. All because Jenny wasn’t afraid to pivot. She knew she wanted to stay in the gluten-free industry. She knew she wanted to continue to serve her loyal audience. They needed her expertise. They trusted her. And now she provides them with products they can trust. Jenny’s advice for other bloggers who are struggling is to pivot and look to diversify their revenue streams. She believes many could benefit from starting a subscription box - just like she did. A subscription box is another way to serve an audience you’ve spent so much time nurturing, growing, and serving. Join me on this episode to hear Jenny’s inspiring journey, how she solved a problem her audience desperately needed a solution to, and her advice for anyone needing to pivot in their business. Don’t miss it! Find and follow Jenny: Love Me Gluten Free on Facebook Love Me Gluten Free on Instagram Love Me Gluten Free Website Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
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What one thing can you do in your business every single day that would help you be the most successful? Work to build and grow your email list! If you’re not replenishing the pool of people you’re selling to, you won’t be able to grow your business the way you want to. Growing your email list gets new, fresh eyes on your stuff. It allows you to present your offer to new people. And that allows you to grow. One of my main goals for my business in 2023 was to double the size of my email list. I challenged the ladies in my Elevate Mastermind to make growing their lists one of their goals for 2023 and now I’m challenging you to do the same thing. List-building activities need to be at work in your business every day. I’m sharing ten different ways you can build your email list. And no, you don’t need to do all of them at once. Add a pop-up on your website - have a pop-up at work on your site at all times capturing email addresses. Create an opt-in on your website with a way to serve your audience - give them more information about something (box opening with a freebie or additional information like a style guide, a free printable to go with your home decor box, a checklist to go with a beach themed box, tips about caring for your pet for a pet box, etc.) Think about the industry you’re in and what you can provide to serve your audience. Run a giveaway - a great way to build your list when you’re new and as a quarterly list-building strategy for seasoned box owners. Post a lead magnet on social media and run ads to it - pulling people in and onto your list. (ebooks, checklists, gift with purchase, etc.) Add an email opt-in at checkout - capture people who buy from you but may not be on your list. Create a fun quiz that requires an email address to get results - make it something your audience will want to share! Offer a discount or free gift - use this carefully to prevent training people to only shop with you when there is a sale or a discount. Host an event or workshop - free or low-dollar offer. Works great for DIYers or crafters. Tease sneak peeks or exclusive behind the scenes content with opt-ins - early access gives feelings of fun and exclusivity. Get in front of new audiences - collaborate with other brands, businesses, and influences who have the same customer but sell different items for a joint giveaway or a way to serve each other’s audiences. Note: Make it clear to people that they will be receiving emails from you when they provide their email addresses. Pick one thing to work on right now. Get that going and then add in another strategy. The more of these you do, the more people you’ll reach and the more people you’ll add to your email list. Join me for this episode where I challenge you to grow your business by growing your email list this year and give you 10 simple ways to do it! Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box podcast artwork
 
In this episode, we’re talking with Denise Parkes of The Crafty DIYer. Denise and I know each other well. She’s a member of Launch Your Box, Scale Your Box, and my Elevate Mastermind. As one of my Mastermind Ladies, I get to see Denise in person 3 times a year! Her strength and the story of the last year in her business inspire me and the other members of our Mastermind. It will inspire you, too. Denise is an artist and a crafter. She is passionate about teaching others to enjoy crafting. Denise serves mainly women over the age of 60 and, by going LIVE six days a week for a long time, had built up a devoted following. When Denise learned about me and my annual Subscription Box Week , she joined right away. During that week, Denise got to know me and my teaching style as well as what she could expect inside Launch Your Box. Denise was convinced a subscription box was the right next step for her. She actually launched during Subscription Box Week (remember she already had a large audience) and got 120 subscribers! Denise’s subscription box grew quickly and soon she needed to rent warehouse space to handle inventory and fulfillment. But all was not well inside Denise’s business. Denise and her business reside in Canada where shipping costs are prohibitive. She simply couldn’t afford to ship to her largely US based subscribers, or even those in her own country. Shipping costs were eating up all of her profits. Denise was also dealing with health issues and found herself stressed and unhappy. Her business in its current form was no longer serving her. She knew she still needed to make an income, but couldn’t go on as she was. But Denise is someone who gets back up and figures things out. And during our September 2023 Mastermind Retreat, she did just that. There is power in being in a room with other smart, like-minded businesswomen who want the best for you. Denise realized the way forward was with printables – no shipping required! She’d had a super successful printable lead magnet in place to grow her list and further proved the viability of her idea by selling one-off printables. When she was able to get out of her warehouse lease, Denise felt able to start from scratch again… even though doing so was scary. Starting from scratch for Denise meant “doing everything Sarah teaches.” Building her list Driving traffic to her website Putting effective lead magnets out there The Digital Print Clubhouse launch was a big success – 150 subscribers big. And it has continued to grow. Denise now has more than 400 subscribers and celebrated hitting 6-figures only 10 months after making this major pivot. So what’s different now? Less stress More joy Nothing to pack and ship More time and energy to create Denise talks about the importance of being around women who support and understand her – like the ones found inside Launch Your Box. She also reminds us of the importance of not worrying about what anyone else thinks and resisting the urge to compare yourself to anyone else. Pivoting was necessary for Denise’s business to survive. And now she’s not only surviving, she’s thriving… and celebrating hitting six-figures in less than a year! Join me for this episode as Denise and I talk about realizing when it's time to pivot, working through the fear, and coming out stronger… oh, and reaching six-figures in revenue in less than a year! Find and follow Denise: Crafty DIYer on Facebook Crafty DIYer on Instagram Crafty DIYer Website Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
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Have you thought about taking your subscription box business from a side hustle to a full-time gig? It’s absolutely possible. I did it and so have many members of Launch Your Box. But… Before you quit your full-time job or make any major changes to your business, you need to ask - and answer - some questions. And you need to get really comfortable with your financial details, business and personal. Take your time and get real about what your goals are. Are you currently working 40/50/60 hours a week and want to work less? Do you want to make more income than you have been? The truth is, you can get there. But you’ll need to make a plan and work that plan. Start by asking yourself these four questions: What is the income you need to replace? What is the survival income you need to cover your bare bones expenses every month? What portion of that survival income can be covered by someone else (spouse, parents, roommates)? What is the initial investment you’ll need for your business (products, supplies, packaging, tech)? Understand that your business will need to be profitable before you can pay yourself. That takes time. It took me 9 months before I was able to pay myself a regular paycheck. 8 ½ years later, I pay myself a very nice salary and also pay the salaries of more than 20 employees. Join me for this episode as I take you on my journey from tiny side hustle making $200 a month to where I am now, running two multi seven-figure businesses, answering those questions, knowing my numbers, and making careful decisions every step of the way. Important Links: Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box podcast artwork
 
This past year in my business was filled with wins, challenges, and hard-earned lessons. And that’s okay. Because being an entrepreneur, and especially a subscription box owner, isn’t as glamorous as the internet sometimes makes it seem. It’s more like a rollercoaster – holding on tight through the highs, the lows, and all the in-betweens. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my business, sharing the good, the bad, and the downright frustrating moments. Why share all of this with you? You know I believe in being transparent. And I want to inspire you to take a good look at your own business, reflect on your year, and use those insights to propel you into 2025, making it your best year yet! Why Reflecting on the Past Year in Your Business Matters Looking back helps us see what worked, what didn’t, and how we can grow. As entrepreneurs, it’s easy to focus on where we fell short. I’m challenging you to shift your mindset to celebrate the progress you’ve made instead. I started my subscription box business in 2017. To date, I’ve surpassed $10 million in revenue. That’s the gain I choose to focus on, even when things don’t go as planned. And there were definitely some times this year when things didn’t go to plan. The Highs – What Worked in 2024 Recurring Revenue – My three subscriptions—The Monogram Box™, T-Shirt Club, and Tees 4 Teachers—account for 75% of my revenue. Recurring income is the foundation of my business. Successful Launch – My April launch, featuring low-cost bonuses, brought in over 400 new subscribers in just a few days. Turning Inventory into Growth – Self-liquidating offers (SLOs) helped me clear out excess inventory while attracting new customers, and turning one-time buyers into subscribers. The Lows – What Didn’t Work in 2024 A Slow Start to the Year – Taking my eye off the numbers in January led to slower months and a revenue deficit I worked all year to recover from. Campaigns that Fell Short – An "intro offer" flopped early in the year. But… Instead of giving up on the strategy, I revamped and relaunched it later with much better results. 2024 Had Its Surprises, Too Retention Challenges – My retention has always been high. Always. Like 94%+ high. Until it wasn’t. A payment failure issue in September caused my retention rate to drop to a never-before-seen 79%. This was a hard pill to swallow – and sent me for the wine and chocolate – but it taught me to stay resilient. Key Takeaways for Your Business Track Your Numbers – Every month. Don’t let busy months distract you from keeping an eye on your metrics. What happens today impacts the months ahead. Embrace Launches –Launches breathe new life into your business, giving customers a reason to subscribe or make a purchase. Experiment and Adjust – Not every campaign will succeed. But even those that don’t can teach you how to improve and grow. Focus on the Gain –Instead of dwelling on where you want to be, celebrate how far you’ve come. Progress is worth celebrating. Entrepreneurship isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. By reflecting on your year, focusing on the gains, and staying intentional with your plans for 2025 you can set yourself up for success. Join me for this episode where I take an honest look at my subscription box business—and challenge you to reflect on 2024 in your business. Tune in and let’s dive into the lessons of the year! Resources Mentioned in This Episode: The Ed Mylett Show (Podcast) The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star rating and a review! Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box podcast artwork
 
“If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast, now is the perfect time.” - Sarah Heeter. My podcast producer, Sarah Heeter, joined me for today’s episode to talk about all things podcast. We talked about the benefits of podcasting and why starting a niche-specific podcast could be a valuable part of your audience-building strategy. Sarah knows a LOT about podcasts. After all, she helped me start this podcast and grow it to more than 200,000 downloads in 18 months and a ranking in the top 1.5% of podcasts globally. She’s also a member of Launch Your Box. If you’re wondering if podcasts can be a valuable part of an audience-building strategy for subscription box owners, the answer is yes! I mentioned I have more than 200,000 episode downloads in only 18 months. Compare that to my social media audience. It has taken me years to grow my Facebook and IG followers to a combined 20,000. And if you’re wondering if there’s room for another podcast - for your podcast - the answer is also yes. Studies show more than half of people over 12 listen to podcasts and, on average, each listens to 7 podcasts! There are several benefits to podcasts when it comes to connecting with your audience. Podcasts meet people where they are. They lend themselves to being interrupted - it’s easy to stop a podcast when needed and get right back to where you left off. Podcasts allow listeners to multitask. They listen while driving, cleaning, exercising, and more. A podcast mimics the intimacy of a phone call - you’re talking to your audience for 25-40 minutes per week. Unlike social media posts, reels, and videos, podcast episodes live forever! It can be daunting to think about what you would talk to your audience about each week. Many people worry they’ll run out of things to say. If you’re serving your niche, and know your audience well, that shouldn’t be a problem. Sarah suggests brainstorming a list of possible topics by asking yourself: What keeps my ideal customer up at night? What answers are they searching for on Google? What is their support system like? What is their value system? What are their highest priorities? Use what you learned about your ideal customer in my FREE 6 in 60 Workshop to help you get started. Join me for this episode as Sarah shares so much knowledge about why subscription box owners should consider starting a podcast, how to decide what to talk about, and why it’s very possible to DIY your podcast. Important Links: 6 in 60 Workshop Find and follow Sarah Heeter: Sarah Heeter on Instagram Sarah Heeter’s Website Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
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Are you sitting on extra inventory as we near the end of the year? For most of you, sales are strong right now. You're filling holiday orders and managing all that comes with this busy season. But as the end of the year draws near, it’s time to liquidate leftover stock. Why is liquidating inventory important? Liquidating inventory frees up your cash flow, opens up room on your shelves, reduces taxable assets, and prepares you for a fresh start. In this episode, I’m sharing 4 strategies to liquidate products. Don’t sit on unnecessary inventory. Liquidate it before the end of the year and avoid dragging old stock into the new year. 1 - Flash Sales Flash sales are quick, time-sensitive sales. They’re also one of the best ways to move product FAST. Create urgency, scarcity, and excitement! 2 - Bundle Older Products We’ve been talking about product bundles for all of Q4. Continue selling these through the holidays and to the end of the year – they hold a lot of value and make great gifts. 3 - Offer Mystery Boxes You and your customers will have so much fun with this one! After all, who doesn’t love a good surprise? Mystery Boxes are more than just fun; they’re also an effective way to clear inventory. 4 - Social Media Sales Events Put social media to work for you! Social media is your best friend when it comes to liquidating inventory quickly. Use it to host a sales event. Of course, you can’t just plan these events. You need to market them, too. Each event needs its own marketing campaign in order to be effective. Join me for this episode where I share 4 ways you can liquidate inventory before year-end. Let’s turn your inventory into cash and clear space for growth! Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star rating and a review! Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
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“Don’t bring that stale inventory into 2023!” - Sarah Williams Inventory is one of the biggest challenges product-based businesses face. Too much, not enough… and what happens if it doesn’t sell? Now, during this buying season, is the perfect time to liquidate any old or stale inventory you have sitting on your shelves. One of my favorite ways to move product and get old inventory off my shelves is by selling Mystery Boxes. They’re new, fresh, and fun for your customers and a GREAT way to reduce inventory without putting clearance tags all over everything. Whether you made a bad buy (been there), overbought for your subscription box (yep, been there, too), or you’ve just had a slower year than last year and need to move some product quickly, Mystery Boxes are a great strategy. The goal is to get your money back. Don’t focus on making a large profit or even a profit at all. Focus on getting the cash you spent on the items back in your bank account and getting space back on your shelves. The excitement of a Mystery Box is not knowing what’s inside! Mix items from past subscription boxes with items never in boxes. Make subscribers aware they might receive something they already have. These are not curated experiences like your subscription box. They are filled with items at a great value. Create different price points. Choose different size boxes, fill them up, and price them. These Mystery Boxes won’t all be the same. If you have 20 of one item and 30 of another, you can still make 50 boxes. Just make sure the items you’re putting in the boxes have a similar size and value. Get excited about these Mystery Boxes and start teasing your audience about a week before you’ll start selling them. Go LIVE, let your audience see how excited you are, and show them one of the boxes and how FULL it is! Talk about the value! Do you have inventory you need to liquidate? It’s time to let go of old product and start fresh in the new year. Join me for this episode to learn how to create your own Mystery Boxes and start liquidating! Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
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Entrepreneurial overwhelm is part being a small business owner, especially during the 4th quarter. But that doesn’t mean feeling overwhelmed is a fact of entrepreneurial life you can’t do anything about. Overwhelm leads to two things: burnout and bad decisions. Burnout is bad for your health – physically, mentally, and emotionally. And bad decisions can cost your business a LOT of money. I have 10 practical strategies you can use to reduce overwhelm and stay focused not only during Q4, but all year long. 10 Ways to Manage Entrepreneurial Overwhelm 1 - Early Planning Start planning well in advance in order to stay ahead. Don’t have a plan for Q4 yet? Start now and plan for the rest of the year to ease last-minute pressure. Then start planning for next year. 2 - Prioritize Self-Care If you get burned out and overwhelmed, you won’t be able to give what you need to your business or your family. Prioritizing self-care doesn’t mean spending a day (or a weekend) at the spa. But when you can, do that, too! Instead, create simple, non-negotiable daily rituals like morning coffee or evening baths. Things that restore your energy and reduce the chance of burnout. 3 - Stay Hydrated and Rested Yes, these are basic needs. But… When things get busy, especially during the 4th quarter, it’s easy to neglect basic needs. Your body knows what it needs – regular hydration and quality sleep are essential for productivity and mental clarity… even during busy seasons. 4 - Dedicated Email Support Times Your inbox is a time suck. Avoid checking your emails constantly. Silence notifications and set aside specific times to handle emails. This simple switch allows you to avoid interruptions throughout your day. 5 - Dedicated Social Media Times Have you ever lost track of time because you were scrolling on social media and got sucked in? Of course you have. We all have! Set aside times for social media, especially if it's a necessary part of your business operations. 6 - Set Clear Boundaries Boundaries are necessary and healthy for everyone, including entrepreneurs. Define boundaries for yourself, your team, and your customers. This allows you to keep personal time sacred and avoid overwork. 7 - Direct, Delegate, and Prioritize for Your Team As a leader, help your team manage their tasks by giving them a clear focus each day. This allows them to manage their own overwhelm and handle whatever the day brings calmly. 8 - Batch Tasking Over Multitasking Multitasking does not lead to greater efficiency. The opposite is actually true. Instead, focus on one type of task at a time, like emails or order processing. You’ll improve efficiency and reduce errors caused by frequent task-switching. 9 - Learn to Say No No is a complete sentence. If saying yes to a request adds undo stress, it’s okay to decline. Keeping a “no mindset” opens up time for self-care and focused priorities. 10 - End-of-Day Wrap-Up Routine How you end your day has a big effect on your stress level and feelings of overwhelm. Close each day by reviewing tasks, celebrating small wins, and moving unfinished tasks to the next day. An end-of-day routine creates closure, reduces stress, and helps you sleep better! Join me for this episode where I share 10 tips for managing entrepreneurial overwhelm during the 4th quarter and beyond. Grab your notebook… ! Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star rating and a review! Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box podcast artwork
 
“Stand tall and own your buying power.” Is this going to be the year you find new sources for products? Have you been curious about how to order products from overseas manufacturers? Are you wondering what Alibaba is and why so many subscription box owners use it to order products at great prices? If any of those sound like you, this episode is for you. Marissa Sayers joined me to take us through the process of ordering products through Alibaba. Marissa has a lot of experience sourcing products overseas and actually handles sourcing for my business. She does an incredible job because she is very detail-oriented and knows this process backward and forward. Marissa gave us a detailed outline of the steps of sourcing products directly from a manufacturer. Search Alibaba.com for products Narrow your search Further filter your search based on delivery options (find out why you should ONLY accept DDP shipping) Talk to several manufacturer representatives Order samples (they cost more than you think they should) Place order Receive shipment Realize this process takes time. Plan for 90-120 days to work through it from start to finish. In other words - Alibaba is not for panic buying! It’s important to remember that at the same time you’re vetting a manufacturer, they are vetting you. Coming to them from a place of knowledge will give you confidence. Marissa also talked about how you can work with her if you need help sourcing products. She has limited spots available to work with her and gives priority to my people. Make sure you let her know if you’re a podcast listener or member of Launch Your Box. As a subscription box owner, you order large quantities of products every month. When you decide to step into this world of overseas sourcing, stand tall and own your buying power! Join me for this episode as Marissa takes us through her process of sourcing products through Alibaba, step by step. You’ll learn what to look for, what to ask for, and what to never, ever compromise on. If you’re ready to source products from overseas, this is a can’t-miss episode. Grab a notebook and pen - you’re going to take a LOT of notes. Learn how to bypass the middlemen and wholesalers by sourcing on Alibaba! Sourcing Courses 101 & 201 - https://marissa-sayers.mykajabi.com/a/2147542513/F2huURQN Important Links: Alibaba Website Ali Express Website Find and follow Marissa: Marissa Mae Sayers on Facebook Marissa Mae Sayers on Instagram Sayers Imports Website Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box podcast artwork
 
It’s the 4th quarter—also known as the busiest, craziest time of the year for product-based business owners! You've planned your 4th quarter promotions and products are arriving, but have you thought about the logistics of fulfilling and shipping all those orders? In this episode, I share shipping hacks and strategies to help subscription box owners and product-based businesses navigate our busiest quarter… and stay sane doing it! Prep Packing & Shipping Supplies Early Audit your packing and shipping supplies now: tape, labels, boxes, poly mailers, filler. Order enough to get you through December. Plan for the unexpected. Establish a dedicated storage space for your extra supplies so your team knows exactly where to find what they need. Optimize Fulfillment by Prepacking, Prepping, and Batch Packing Pre-pack items that will be sold together, like holiday bundles or Black Friday specials. Reduce friction, eliminate unnecessary steps, and gain efficiency Implement batch packing by processing similar orders together for a smoother, faster workflow. Research Shipping Carrier Cut-off Dates & Have Options Research carrier cut-off dates and set your own Christmas shipping cut-offs well in advance. Overcommunicate! Post these cut-off dates visibly in your social media headers, on your website, and in emails. Stay flexible and ready to adjust by having multiple shipping options. Maintain open communication with your drivers to help manage any unexpected delays. Be Prepared for Increased Customer Service Volume Expect an increase in customer service inquiries and be transparent with customers about shipping timelines and potential delays. Have a contingency plan in place to deal with lost packages, including a policy for replacements or refunds. The holiday rush can be chaotic, but with these tips, you’ll feel more prepared than ever to tackle Q4. Have a shipping manager or team? Have them listen to this episode to boost efficiency and reduce holiday chaos in your shop! Join me for this episode where I share fulfillment & shipping strategies to help subscription box owners and product-based businesses navigate the busiest, craziest time of year - the 4th quarter. Grab your coffee (or something stronger!) and let’s dive in! Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star rating and a review! Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box podcast artwork
 
“More emails equals more sales!” - Sarah Williams We’re more than halfway through the 4th quarter. For product sellers, it’s the busiest time of the year. It’s also our best chance to make some serious revenue. You’re probably feeling tired and maybe even overwhelmed. I’m tired, too. Rest when you can and then get to work. There are some things you can do now that will give your 4th quarter sales a major boost. We create different types of email content during the first three quarters of the year. Email opt-ins with welcome sequences, weekly newsletters, and emails to share blog posts or podcast episodes. We’re serving our audience by providing value. The 4th quarter is different. During the 4th quarter, we SERVE our audiences by SELLING. We help them shop. Your customers want to shop — it’s your job to get your products in front of them. How can you leverage that email list you’ve spent all year building? Increase the frequency of your emails. If you’ve been emailing once a week, send two or three each week. If once a month, send at least one email a week. Bestseller of the week Top three gifts for teens, moms, dog lovers, etc. New items of the week Restock alerts Facebook LIVE recaps (where you’ve promoted a product) Make sure all of your emails are product focused. Serve your customers by solving their “what to get” problem by sharing: Eliminate decision fatigue. Make it easy for them to buy. Don’t give your customers too many options. Who is this product for? Take an everyday item and make it giftable Show an image of it folded neatly with a bow around it Show an image of the product peeking out of a box with a gift tag Create gift sets or bundles Focus each email on its giftability. The key to success is not to overthink it. These emails should be short on copy and get right to the point. Include great images and a clear call to action. Follow up your email with social media posts to match and send a text to your text list! Join me for this episode as I share four simple ways you can leverage email marketing to bring more revenue into your business during the 4th quarter. More emails equals more sales. It’s time to get to work! Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box podcast artwork
 
The 4th Quarter is here! It’s the busiest shopping season of the year and a can’t-miss opportunity to bring more revenue into your subscription box business. If you haven’t started preparing for your 4th quarter promotions, it’s time to start. This episode is all about maximizing your 4th quarter sales by tapping into your existing audience and subscriber base. I’m sharing five promotions you can run this season. You’ll serve your audience by making gift-giving easy and bring more revenue into your business. 1 - The Holiday Gift Box The holiday gift box is not one of your regular subscription boxes. Instead, it’s a one-time box that your audience can buy for someone on their gift list… or even for themselves (we encourage this!) A holiday box is a great way to increase your subscriber base. Make it easy for a holiday box recipient to become a subscriber. Presale these boxes in October or early November to allow for as many sales as possible and to give you time to get inventory in, pack, and ship well before holiday shipping deadlines. I pre-sell holiday gift boxes every year. My audience knows to expect them and they sell out every year! 2 - New Subscriber Launch – Special Promotion Plan this launch in October or early November. Grab people’s attention before they get too far into the noise of holiday shopping for others – when they’re still shopping for themselves. Use this launch to generate FOMO about your upcoming boxes! Add a free bonus gift to get your audience excited and help you gain subscribers before the end of the year. 3 - Gift Subscriptions This is one of the easiest promotions you can run. I run a gift subscription promotion once a year – around Black Friday. I add excitement and fun by offering a free month for a 6-month subscription or 2 free months for a 12-month subscription! Gift subscriptions bring revenue in upfront and fulfillment doesn’t start until after the first of the year when the holiday craziness is over! 4 - Curated Boxes Having excess inventory is the nature of the beast when you’re a subscription box owner. Put that inventory to use by curating new one-time boxes. These boxes are perfect for gift-giving. Remember, this is your opportunity to serve your audience by making gift-giving easy! Give these boxes new names and get creative! Remember, you’re not ordering new items for these boxes, you’re simply curating a new experience using items you already have. 5 - Mystery Boxes Mystery boxes are a great way to get rid of excess inventory! Don’t worry about careful curation, these boxes are about packing them full of value and making it fun for your customers. They’re also about earning extra revenue and clearing out inventory that’s taking up extra space so you don’t carry it into the new year. If you haven’t run multiple 4th quarter promotions in the past, don’t try to do all five! Instead, choose 2-3 and start planning now. These promotions are a great way to maximize sales during this most important time of the year. Join me for this episode as I walk you through five promotions subscription box owners can run to maximize 4th quarter sales. Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star rating and a review! Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box podcast artwork
 
“If it doesn’t scare you, you’re not dreaming big enough.” - Sarah Williams Most of us launch our subscription box businesses from a spare bedroom, the garage, or even the kitchen table. But when do you make the decision to move out of the house and into your own commercial space? In this episode, we’re talking with Cheryl Ham of Hypnotic Yarn. She’s been on the show in the past talking about challenges she faced at different stages of growth in her subscription box business. While still managing a full-time career in high-pressure sales, Cheryl started selling hand-dyed wool via an e-commerce store. She added a subscription box, Yarnable, and grew that side of her business slowly and steadily until she reached 300 subscribers. Launching the Launch Your Box Way & Hitting 700 Subscribers Cheryl discovered Launch Your Box, joined, and jumped right in. When she launched again – following the launch plan I teach inside the group – something amazing happened. Cheryl more than doubled her subscribers, gaining 400 in less than 24 hours! Moving Her Subscription Box Out of Her Home By this point, Cheryl’s subscription box had taken over her house. She moved into a new commercial space and hired some team members. Her subscription box business continued to grow, reaching 1600 subscribers through increased retention and quarterly launches. In less than two years, Cheryl had outgrown that commercial space. Again, she needed more space. The problem? Cheryl couldn’t find a commercial space to meet her needs. Bigger Space Leads to New Challenges Cheryl finally found a new space. A space so big it scared her. She knew she needed a lot more space, but 8,000 square feet? She found herself terrified to make that jump until she had a realization. Scary doesn’t always mean bad. Cheryl talked about how every move has meant learning new processes. Inventory management and fulfillment look different in the new, bigger space than in the smaller commercial space or in her home. Hiring has also been a challenge this year. Cheryl lost 3 team members this past spring and struggled to backfill those positions until after summer. Once she sought out new avenues for hiring, she was able to hire 2 new team members. Continued Growth and Focus on Creating Experiences What’s next for Hypnotic Yarn, Yarnable, and Cheryl? They’re focused on growing the non-subscription side of the business using lessons learned from Yarnable. Cheryl knows the importance of creating an experience for her subscribers and uses that knowledge to create experiences for customers who purchase one-off kits. Focusing on non-subscription sales allows Cheryl to maximize off-hours and weeks when she and her team are not as busy with subscriptions. It is also a great way to convert non-subscribers! Episode 16 - Afraid of Having 700 Subscribers? Episode 105 - Scaling Your Subscription Box Business Find and follow Cheryl: Hypnotic Yarn on Facebook Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram Hypnotic Yarn Website Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box
Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box podcast artwork
 
Every year for the last five years I’ve sold a Holiday Gift Box. This year was no different. What was different was that my Holiday Gift Box sold out in only four days! And it brought $20,000 in extra revenue into my business. Should you offer a Holiday Gift Box to your audience? Yes! If you already have a subscription box, you should absolutely offer a Holiday Gift Box. And if you have an audience but haven’t launched your subscription box yet, you should also offer a Holiday Gift Box. Many members of Launch Your Box have used a Holiday Gift Box for proof of concept before launching. Members like Nicole who launched a one-time holiday box for guinea pig owners. When it was a HUGE hit, she knew she could launch her subscription box with confidence. She now has hundreds and hundreds of monthly subscribers and won a major subscription box industry award earlier this year. My process for launching a one-time Holiday Gift Box was simple and it started before I had any idea what I was going to put in the box: I set up a waitlist page in September. I set up a waitlist in my text app in September. I built up excitement that my Holiday Gift Box was coming and drove people to the waitlist. One day before the launch I sent one email to the waitlist and one text to the text waitlist offering them first dibs. Launch day started with a LIVE during which I generated feelings of: I started running ads on launch day. I sent one email to my entire email list. I sent one text to my entire text list. I posted twice on social media about the box. I changed my Facebook header. By the end of day one, I had sold over half the boxes. On day two, I resent the email to non openers and posted about the boxes on social media twice. By day three, I only had 100 boxes left. I sent a last chance email to any non openers who hadn’t purchased and posted on social media once. On day four - the last day of the launch - I mentioned the Holiday Gift Box on a LIVE and posted about it once. I sold out of all my Holiday Gift Boxes on day four! Oh, and I did all of this without having any product in hand. Join me for this episode as I share what a Holiday Gift Box can do for your business and walk you through my simple, four-day Holiday Gift Box launch plan. Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram 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!…
 
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