As a Vancouver lifestyle blogger, I am regularly mailed packages of products for review. There’s a joy to receiving a notification from my concierge, knowing that I’ll be coming home to a box full of goodies which I can then test out, play around with, sometimes eat or drink, and then share my opinions on. Even though I’ve been blogging on Modern Mix Vancouver (and receiving packages) for nearly 8 years, the joy of receiving something new in the mail, is always so exciting.
For a non-blogger, subscribing to a “subscription box service” offers the same joy and excitement of discovering new products by mail on a regular basis.
Although every subscription box service is a little different, the general premise is this: on a regular basis, you are postal mailed a box full of goodies from a subscription box service you subscribe to. From loose-leaf tea (ie. Amoda Tea or Tea Sparrow) to stationary (ie. Q&A Letterbox), to monthly packages specifically curated for babies or pets (ie. Meowbox), it’s always a delight to excitedly rip open that new package, and see what’s inside.
Some subscription boxes let you pick exactly what you want (ie. The Juice Box), some let you customize for age (ie. Wee Nation), personal preference (ie. Ellebox) or dietary restrictions (ie. Naked Snacks), some offer sneak peeks on social media (ie. White Willow), while for others, the items inside are always a surprise (ie. Vancity Box).
Scroll left and right to see a round-up of Vancouver-based subscription box services and see how they are supporting local through their services.
White Willow Box: Upscale Lifestyle Subscription Box
White Willow Box is Canada's leading upscale monthly lifestyle subscription box for women with a stylish flare. Each month, subscribers will receive a lovely box delivered straight to their home with four to five full-sized and sample products ranging from: beauty, personal care, jewelry and fashion accessories, home decor accents, culinary gifts, paper goods & stationary, and other lifestyle surprises.
Pricing: $35 month to month, $34/month for 3 months, $33/month for 6 months and $32/month for 12 months. Shipping cost is $8.50 across Canada.
Wee Nation: Subscription Box For Babies
Friends since kindergarten 30+ years ago, Jessica and Jillian found a gap in the subscription box market for the 'wee ones', which specifically featured Canadian products. So as friends, parents and entrepreneurs, Wee Nation was 'born'! Monthly subscribers to Wee Nation can expect to find a boutique assortment of gender-neutral, Canadian baby products. A subscription to Wee Nation would make a fantastic baby shower gift.
Pricing: Month to month subscriptions are $49.96/month. A 3-month subscription pre-paid is $138 ($46/month). A 6-month subscription is $252 ($42/month). Shipping cost is $10.00 across Canada.
Vancity Box: Our City in a Box
Love shopping local? Vancity Box curates artisan products from Vancouver-based small business and bundles "our city in a box" on a monthly basis.
Pricing: $49.95/month for 5 to 8 products. Each box is valued at approximately $80.
The Juice Box: Weekly Cold-Pressed Juice Delivery
Pick 6, 8, or 10 cold-pressed organic juices to be delivered to you on a weekly basis through The Juice Box. This is a fantastic way to get a regular dose of nutrition into your body, without committing to something like a juice cleanse. You can pick your six juice flavours, and can switch up the flavours each week.
Pricing: 6 juices/week for a month is $200, 8 juices/week for a month is $270 and 10 juices/week for a month is $340. Delivery is included in the price of the subscription.
Tea Sparrow: Tea Subscription Box
Tea Sparrow is North America's first monthly tea club. Each month, members receive four curated packages of loose-leaf teas: one each of black, green/oolong, rooibos and herbal. All teas are free of artificial ingredients.
Pricing:All shipping and taxes are included in the $20/month subscription fee. Members can pause or cancel their subscription at any time.
Amoda Tea: Loose-Leaf Tea Subscription Box
Discover the best teas from North America's top tea blenders. Taste the hidden gems that you won't find at the big chains or supermarkets. Each month box includes: 4 foil packets of premium loose-leaf tea and disposable, biodegradable tea filters.
Pricing: $18/month with free shipping. For a limited time only, add a Zimt organic chocolate bar to your order for $5.
Naked Snacks: Gourmet Snack Mix Delivery Service
Naked Snacks is a Vancouver-based snack subscription box program, which focuses on delivering healthy, gourmet snack-mix style snacks to its subscribers on a monthly basis. Every month, subscribers can pick five snack mixes (from 25+ options) to be included into their subscription box.
“Naked” refers to the company’s dedication to stay away from processed ingredients and keep their snacks are pure as possible. There are no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners in Naked Snacks’ mixes, no harmful preservations, no high fructose corn syrup, no trans fats, and each portion contains no more than 200 calories.
Pricing: $29.95 per box for 5 bagged snack mixes (20 total portions) with free delivery across Canada. Pick from delivery every week, every two weeks or once a month. For every box sold, Naked Snacks donates to Breakfast for Learning to provide a healthy snack for a hungry child at school.
Meow Box: Subscription Box For Your Cat
Meowbox is a Vancouver-based monthly subscription box for your cat, with 5 to 7 fun toys and yummy goodies, delivered to your door. All edible treats are made in Canada or the US, and there is an emphasis on supporting small business. For picky kitties or ones with special dietary requirements, there is the option to receive Meowboxes with no edible items. The food and treats are replaced with more toys and non-edible goodies.
Meowbox also has a charity initiative called One Box Can: with every meowbox you purchase, a can of food is donated to a shelter cat. Subscribers can track their individual can to see where they've made a difference.
Pricing: $32.95 for 1 month, $27.95 for 3 months ($83.85 upfront), $22.95 for 6 months ($137.70 upfront). Each box is personalized by hand with your kitty’s name.
Ellebox: Subscription Box for "That Time of the Month"
Ellebox is a Vancouver-based subscription service for ‘that time of the month’. Yup, you read correctly: Ellebox is a Vancouver-based subscription service designed to revolutionize your period by sending you the basic necessities: pads, tampons, tea and chocolate, and a few other comfort and wellness goodies, to make that time of the month a little more pleasant.
Pricing:Monthly subscriptions begin at $12/month for the Necessities Box (tampons and/or pads, chocolate and tea), $33.40/month for the Comfort Box (tampons and/or pads, chocolate, tea, and two self-care gifts).
Panty By Post: Pretty Panties Delivered Monthly
Panty By Post ships premium panties all over the world to women who enjoy receiving a peek of monthly glamour through premium panties every month.
Pricing: $15/month for "Everyday Basics", $22/month for the "Signature Line" and $35/month for the "Premium Luxe".
Discount Codes for Vancouver-Based Subscription Boxes
- Meow Box – “MODERN10” for 10% off your first box.
- Elle Box – “MODERNMIX10” for 10% off your first box.
- Naked Snacks – “modernmix” for 30% off your first order.
- Tea Sparrow – Get 40% off your first box at teasparrow.com/promo40.
- Amoda Tea – “Modernmix” for 30% off your first box.
- Panty By Post – Subscribe to their e-newsletter and get your first pair for $9.95.
