Not Your Mother’s Subscription Box
Since the early days of the Columbia House Record Club and the World of Beauty make-of-the-month club of the 1980s, the subscription box industry has exploded, with more than 3,000 subscription box companies trying to find their niche. Now there are subscription boxes for virtually every taste, budget and interest these days. As the subscription box industry evolves, more specialized companies are emerging, offering everything from beer, wine and spirits clubs to luxury watch rentals and marijuana subscription boxes. Here are some interesting offerings for grown-ups.
Beer, Wine and Spirits
Boozy boxes are becoming a popular way to try new adult beverages, including beer, wine and spirits. They come in a range of prices and product mixes. Some of the spirits boxes, for example, include bar accessories, mixers and recipes but no liquor. Here are a few to try.
Beer
The Craft Beer Club: Monthly Craft Beer Selections
$39 per shipment for 12 bottles, 4 styles, 3 of each, or
$74 a month for 24 bottles, 4 styles, 6 of each
With The Craft Beer Club, subscribers receive a selection of craft brews from small-production, independent brewers who use traditional brewing ingredients and time-honored brewing methods. Prices vary, depending on how many bottles subscribers want to receive with each shipment and whether they want to receive their shipments monthly, every other month, or quarterly.
Recent offerings include Evil Genius (American India Pale Ale and Porter), Spider Bite (Russian Imperial Stout and India Pale Ale), Argus (American Pale Ale and Extra Special/Strong Bitter) and Diamond Bear (Porter and Marzen/Oktoberfest). In addition to beer, subscribers receive a monthly newsletter with more information about the month’s beer selection and door-to-door delivery with free shipping.
Beer of the Month Club: U.S. and International Microbrews
U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club: $27.95 per month plus $15 S&H from two U.S. microbreweries
U.S. and International Variety Beer Club: $32.95 per month plus $15 S&H for U.S. and international beer
International Beer Club: $34.95 per month plus $15 S&H for international beers
The Rare Beer Club: $35.95 per month plus $14 S&H
Established in 1994, this microbrewed beer club is probably the oldest such club still in existence. This popular club selects hand-crafted microbrews from the U.S. and abroad for its members. There are four membership types. In the first three, subscribers receive 12 12-ounce beers each month from two different U.S. and/or international microbreweries. In the fourth club – the Rare Beer Club – members receive two bottles, 750 ml each, of the month’s two featured rare beers. Monthly shipments also include a monthly newsletter. Beers are selected by a panel of brewmasters and beer judges.
Wine
Source: Wine Awesomeness
Wine Awesomeness: Three- and Six-Pack Wine of the Month Club
$45 per month for three-pack plan, or $75 per month for six-pack plan (S&H is included)
Wine Awesomeness calls its wine club ‘a monthly journey, curated for adventurous souls.’ Subscribers can choose between red and white wine packages, a mix of red and white, or purchase all of the month’s selections by subscribing to the Six Pack plan. Each monthly shipment includes the company’s Black Label mini-magazine with custom tasting notes, educational content, recipes, playlists, pairings and more. In addition to the month’s selections, subscribers can purchase additional wines from the site’s wine list, updated monthly. Other membership perks include members-only private sales and deals, referral credits and rewards for membership milestones.
Source: Vinebox
Vinebox: Wine by the Glass
$35 a month for month-to-month membership
$33 a month for 3 months, pre-billed before the quarter
$30 a month for 12 months, pre-billed annually
Unlike other wine of the month subscription boxes, Vinebox allows members to try limited-production wines by the glass, curated from France, Spain and Italy by a team of sommeliers and industry experts. Most wines come from small to medium-sized vineyards. Each month’s delivery includes three glasses of wine, tasting notes, pairing suggestions and fun wine facts. Currently, members cannot choose between a preference for red or white wine. Boxes contain a mix of both.
Spirits
Source: Crafted Taste
Crafted Taste: Cocktail of the Month Club
$65 a month for Mixers Only (does not include liquor)
$130 a month for monthly plan
$200 a month for premium plan
With a Crafted Taste subscription, subscribers can build their own bar, discover new drinks and recipes, and experiment with hand selected mixers, ingredients and spirits, highlighting award winners, industry favorites and the best in small batch distilleries. The mixers-only subscription plan includes a modern cocktail recipe each month, along with hard-to-find and custom-made mixers and fresh ingredients. With the standard monthly plan, subscribers receive a modern cocktail recipe which includes a full-sized liquor along with ingredients to make the drink. With the premium subscription, members receive the ingredients – including liquor – needed to create the month’s signature cocktail. Premium subscribers can upgrade their monthly spirit selection or add hand-selected bottles to their home collection.
Source: Hooch
Hooch: A Private Cocktail Society
$9.99 a month for 30 or so drinks
This is not a subscription box, but we love the innovative concept, so we added it to the list. With a Hooch subscription, available by invitation only, folks register for $9.99 a month. Each day a new drink at a venue partner will be available to the subscriber in the Hooch app after 5 a.m. Currently, Hooch has partnered with 400+ venues around the world including hot spots in New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Austin, Dallas, Miami, Hong Kong and San Diego. What a fun way to experience new-to-you venues and signature cocktails!
Marijuana
As more states legalize the use of marijuana for medical and recreational use, cannabis subscription boxes are cropping up everywhere – pun intended! Access to these is restricted by the laws in your state, of course, but if pot is legal where you live, you can subscribe to a wide variety of products and accessories.
Source: Cannabox
Cannabox: 420 Essential and Gear for Cannabis Enthusiasts
$19.88 per month + $6.95 S&H for one-month plan
$17.88 per month + $6.95 S&H for three-month plan
16.88 per month + $6.95 S&H for six-month plan
Each month’s mystery box, shipped discreetly, includes six to nine full-size smoking essentials and gear with a retail value of $40 or more. Products include rolling papers, pipes, t-shirts, books and accessories. Because the subscription box doesn’t actually contain cannabis, the subscriptions are available in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia, Spain and the U.K. In addition to the subscriptions available above, cannabis enthusiasts can also purchase an “essentials” pack of five items for $10 a month with free shipping, or cannapacks, a hand-picked selection of Cannabox’s favorite items for $13.99, including S&H.
Potbox: Farm-to-Door Weed
$150 per month
Source: Potbox
Putting a new twist on farm-to-table, Potbox is a premium cannabis delivery subscription club available to patients in San Francisco that delivers high quality, ethically-grown cannabis from farm-to-door. In each month’s Potbox, subscribers receive a quarter-ounce of two different strains of all-natural cannabis that is curated and customized to a subscriber’s personal preferences. Each Potbox also includes two wax-sealed, pre-rolled joints. A valid physician’s referral and credit card are required to sign up. Potbox offers three curated boxes – Hybrid box, Sativa box and Indica Box, priced at $150 per month. Subscribers can skip a month, change their plan type or cancel anytime.
Source: Green Bake Box
Green Bake Box: Smoking Accessories, Gear & More
$30 per month or $80 for three months with free S&H
With Green Bake Box, subscribers receive eight to twelve “cool, exciting and very essential” smoking accessories like vapors, paper, grinders, lifestyle gear, entertainment and munchies with a total retail value of $50 to $150, discreetly shipped, of course.
The April box, for example, included an 8-inch glass water pipe, rolling papers, raw standard filter tips, a cone make tool with funnel, juicy Jay’s pre-rolled flavored cones with dank 7 tips, a Curve Bob Marley fire lighter, mini sour belts and a GBB 420 die-cut sticker, retailing at $67. In addition to subscriptions, customers can purchase past boxes from the Green Bake Box store.
Gourmet Chocolate
0)]Cocoa Crate: Artisanal Chocolate
$33 to $45 a month, depending on plan (1, 3, 6 or 12 months)
Speaking to subscribers who adore good quality chocolate, Cocoa Crate offers a monthly subscription box, beautifully packaged and filled with artisanal chocolate treats. Partnering with chocolatier G. Debbas, Cocoa Crate curates a monthly selection of chocolates including chocolate-covered pretzels and fruit, truffles, chocolate bars and other tasty chocolate-coated treats. In addition to subscriptions, customers will soon be able to purchase favorite items in the Cocoa Crate online store such as spicy mocha almonds, scotch whiskey caramel bites and hot buttered rum raisins.
Cococlectic: For Chocolate Enthusiasts and Connoisseurs
$36 to $198 for various frequencies
1)]Cococlectic is a craft bean-to-bar club for chocolate enthusiasts and connoisseurs. Each month’s selection of chocolate includes rare chocolates, straight from the chocolate makers like Harper Macaw Chocolate, Wm Chocolate and Potomac Chocolate. With a Sweet Devotee subscription at $36 a month, subscribers will receive four single-origin small-batch bean-to-bar chocolate bars every month with shipping included. All subscriptions include a discount on purchases from the Chocolate Collection.
Chococurb: Gourmet Chocolate
$8 to $35 a month, depending on frequency and personalization
2)]Chococurb operates a little differently than the previous two gourmet chocolate subscription boxes. With Chococurb, subscribers set up a chocolate profile to share their preferences. Except for the entry level subscription box, monthly selections include curated chocolates for subscribers based on their individual profiles. There are three subscription options: Chococurb Nano, $8 to $10 a month; Chococurb mini with three gourmet chocolate products, $18 to $20 a month; and Chococurb with five to seven personally selected chocolate treats, $30 to $35 a month.
Luxury
Eleven James: Luxury Watch Rental
Annual watch membership from $149 to $799 a month
For men who want to look sharp or cover exceptional timepieces, Eleven Sharp offers an annual membership, offering exquisite watch brands and models. Watches are available in four collections plus a custom collection: Enthusiast, starting at $149 a month; Aficionado, starting at $299 a month; Connoisseur, starting at $499 a month; and Virtuosos, starting at $799 a month. Brands include everything from Breitling and Cartier to Panerai and Rolex. The watches are well maintained and are sent to members on essentially a rental basis. Membership is not guaranteed, however. Applicants are screened and will not be accepted into the Eleven James membership program until they have been approved.
3)]
Vogue VIP: Exclusive Access to Vogue
$200 a year
4)]Though not a subscription box, per se, Vogue VIP represents another type of exclusive, luxury membership. With Vogue’s relatively new members-only program, members receive
exclusive access to Vogue plus limited-edition designer collaborations and trinkets. Currently, a Vogue VIP membership includes a limited-edition Clare V. x Vogue clutch, Facebook Live Q&As with Vogue editors Selby Drummond and Virginia Smith, a one-year all-access subscription to Vogue, a six-month subscription to Vogue to share, the 2016 Met Gala special issue, and special perks and offers from brands like Rent the Runway and Farfetch.
5)]Men’s Health Box: Men, Up Your Game
Quarterly subscription box for $89.99 each or $359.96 per year
Men’s Health has expanded its reach beyond its popular magazine. It now offers a quarterly Men’s Health box to bring curated health and fitness, nutrition, style and grooming products to its subscribers. Send four times a year, subscribers will receive “an arsenal of live-improving products” featured in Men’s Health magazine. Boxes include everything from fitness gear like jump ropes and protein-packed munchies like Fatman’s Beef Jerky to stylish accessories like silk ties and grooming products like Clinique for Men to help men look their best.
Rocksbox Jewelry: Try Before You Buy
$19 a month
6)]Not to be ignored, women now have their own luxury subscription box options including Rocksbox Jewelry. With this monthly subscription box service, subscribers receive three pieces of fashion jewelry to rent. They can return or swap out pieces at any time. They can also purchase jewelry from their boxes of the Rocksbox store. Subscribers create a style profile to help stylists hand select jewelry for each subscriber’s taste and needs. They can also create a Wish List to help stylists choose pieces appropriate for individual subscribers. Rocksbox offers pieces from a variety of designers including Slate, Perry Street, Luv AJ, Elise M, Kendra Scott and Sophie Harper. For more on Rocksbox, see our case study from April 2016.
Sports
For sports lovers, a wide range of sports-related subscription companies have cropped up in the last few years, including Tennis Trunk, Fanchest, Pro Wrestling Loot and Game Day Box. Here are a few sports subscription boxes to check out.
Wrestle Crate: #1 Wrestling Subscription Box
$14.99 to $31.49 a month
7)]Rated the #1 wrestling subscription box (yes, there’s more than one!), Wrestle Crate is a pro wrestling-themed subscription service featuring wrestling-related memorabilia and gear from Mattel, FUNKO, Fathead, Topps and other brands. Wrestle Crate offers four subscriptions: Standard Wrestle Crate Subscription at $14.99 a month, Standard Wrestle Crate Subscription with Sizes XXL and Up at $16.49 a month, the Ultimate Wrestle Crate for $29.99 a month, and the Ultimate Wrestle Crate Sizes XXL and Up at $31.49 a month. Subscribers can include add-ons to their monthly boxes or purchase items directly from the Add-On Shop.
Sportman’s Box: Hunting & Fishing Gear
$35 to $39 a month
8)]If you have a hunter or fisherman in your home, check out the Sportman’s Box memberships. Starting at just $35 a month, subscribers receive a full box of field-tested and approved hunting and fishing apparel, gear and food. In the September box, for example, subscribers received Farm to Feet socks, Hardy face paint, a tick kit, deer body bag and Lawless jerky, for a total retail value over $70. In August, they received Browning liner gloves, Wild Hare shooting pouch, Guardian hunting tag holder and a rugged meat stick, valued over $75.
Football Haul: For the Sportsfan in Your Life
Starting at $19.99 a month for Juniors and $29.99 for adults
9)]
Offered through Cratejoy, Football Haul caters to professional football fans. With the Football Haul Subscription (for adults), valued at $75 or more, subscribers receive an assortment of clothing, gear, accessories, toys and cards from a variety of teams, including one or two items from their favorite team. Football Haul Junior, valued at $40 or more, is similar but does not contain a bonus item from their favorite team and apparel is not included. In addition to monthly subscription boxes, Football Haul offers one-time purchase like a kids gift pack, New York Jets premium one-time haul and premium hauls.
_____________
This is just a sampling of the types of subscription boxes and memberships available for grown-ups. There are many others, including coffee clubs like Bean Box and MistoBox, adult product subscriptions like Frisque Box and Spicy Subscriptions, artisan boxes like Robb Vices and Pumeli, and gourmet meal kits like Purple Carrot and Martha’s Meal Kit. We’re only limited by our budgets and imagination!
