Subscription boxes aren’t new, but they’re yet to take off in Australia the way they have in other countries such as the US.
Here, there are plenty of one-off gift boxes available for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Christmas, but recurring boxes tend to be hobby-oriented or come with sample-sized products.
Liz Hoyle is the co-founder of Tis The, a new Melbourne-based company putting together seasonal beauty and lifestyle subscription boxes.
“Ours is just all full-size products,” Hoyle says. “It’s physically a very big box.”
You can sign up for one-off, seasonal or yearly subscriptions and receive a box of seven to 10 products, which Hoyle says would cost more than $250 if you were paying full price at a store.
The winter box – which has a pink, teal and brown patterned exterior – contains five “mandatory” items: a silk sleeping mask, a rose-quartz face roller, pimple patches, lip plumper and collagen face masks.
You can then customise the box for your own skin and beauty needs. Choose between a Frank Green reusable coffee cup or a portable Porvadi blender, and between an Excuse my Frank cleansing-and-moisturising duo or a 10-pack of (more) collagen face masks.
Hoyle, who has a background in PR, launched Tis The in May with long-time friend and former fashion buyer Delys Shelton. They’re currently working on the spring box, which will focus on easing the transition out of lockdown, with products sourced from overseas and packed in a Mornington Peninsula warehouse.
“The challenge will always be that it has to be exciting enough for the brand-new people, but we also want each box to complement the last, so you end up adding to your repertoire of products,” Hoyle says.
Tis The ships free across Australia, with customers in major cities, regional areas and even remote towns as far-flung as the Pilbara in Western Australia.
“One of the things I’m loving is feedback from some women who are buying boxes for themselves and their daughters, living on quite remote rural properties,” says Hoyle.
One-off seasonal Tis boxes cost $79.95 each (including Australia-wide shipping) or $269.95 for an annual subscription.
