Wine, razors, gym gear? You name a product, and it can most likely be delivered to your door as a subscription. Subscription services have really taken off in the past few years, and whilst the industry is booming, competition is fierce.
Encouraging consumers to sign up isn’t usually the issue, it’s keeping them engaged where most brands stumble. What you need is creative ideas, discounts and solid products to win their loyalty.
Let’s think about well-known services like Netflix, and meal delivery giant Gousto – both quickly started to stand out from their competitors, and it makes you wonder, why these two?
The truth is, both have won business and made customers return through high quality services and much more – here are some tips and tricks to keep your own customers coming back:
- First impressions count
The benefits of subscription boxes is that they can be tailored to you, often with a choice between different products. For example, Birchbox lets you choose your subscription dependant on your skin, hair and style.
Many subscription boxes advertise using photos of their fabulous packaging: use your packaging and branding as a USP. When you’re designing you want packaging to catch everyone’s eye in the office or on your Instagram!
Adapt your packaging along with seasonal trends to make your product Instagram-worthy and fun. Your packaging should be:
- Post friendly: design your packaging in a weight and size to keep shipping costs low whilst still allowing it to fit through a letterbox.
- Use inserts and fillers: it’s not just about protecting your product in transit, it’s about presentation. Fillers can hold products in place, look gorgeous and explain what products are through labelling.
- Think about the environment: eco-friendly packaging is all the rage, make sure you stay ahead of the times and keep in line with the Plastic Packaging Tax.
Make sure you offer a good sign-up discount; this is what nearly every subscription service does!
- Add extra value!
Subscription services are desirable because of a few features; exclusivity, convenience, and pricing. If your product costs the same in local stores, what’s the point in subscribing?
You must offer something unique, like Amazon’s ‘Subscribe and Save’ – for a subscription order of various products, you receive a 10% discount. Other ways you can encourage customers to remain are:
- VIP access to events
- Freebies and discounts
- Free shipping
- Giveaways
- Add a personal touch…
Stay in contact with your customers through regular emails and offers. Asking your customers for feedback is a great way to engage and make sure you don’t suggest products they didn’t enjoy. Tailoring your emails and boxes is a great way to engage with your customers and let them know you’re just as loyal as them.
Don’t end on bad blood – you don’t want to make the cancellation process hard, whilst your customer is leaving you don’t want to discourage their return!
- Win your customers!
It all comes down to having a USP, offering your clients exclusive discounts and content. Think about offering first access to products to ensure loyalty, like ‘earn points as you buy’ incentives as well as referral programmes!
Are you looking to launch your own subscription service? We offer custom mailer boxes which can take your subscription box to new heights, contact us today to start your designing process!
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