Subscription box

Shelfless offers subscription boxes

We’re involved throughout the entire process

There’s a lot to consider when planning and developing an efficient workflow for subscription boxes. We work daily to prepare products for bundling, box assembly, and automated packing lines, followed by consolidation for shipment. This is a service we’ve provided for many years, gaining both experience and expertise along the way. Thanks to our diverse customer base, ranging from cosmetics and pet products to food, we’ve built in flexibility to meet a wide variety of needs.

Logistics solutions for subscription boxes

Subscription boxes, monthly kits, or curated packages. No matter what you call them, we have the experience to handle them. For over ten years, we’ve been one of the leading providers in the subscription box space.

We understand that subscription boxes are a dynamic product, and it’s crucial to be able to adapt quickly. We’re responsive in our approach, listening closely to what needs to be done and finding the right solutions. Our dedicated in-house team works daily with subscription box logistics and has hands-on experience with some of the largest boxes on the market.

Just like with all our warehousing and logistics services, our proprietary WMS is fully integrated into subscription box handling. This makes it easy for you as a customer, especially if you want to combine subscription boxes with regular e-commerce. Everything runs through the same system.

What is a subscription box?

Before diving into the details of how we work with subscription boxes, it’s helpful to explain what they actually are. First, the name “subscription box” is a term for a service that offers recurring deliveries of one or more products. These items can vary from month to month and often include consumables such as beauty products, snacks, books, or clothing.

To subscribe to a subscription box, customers typically choose a plan or package that suits their needs and preferences, then pay a monthly or annual fee to have the products delivered to their address on a regular basis. In most cases, subscribers also have the option to cancel at any time if they no longer wish to receive them.

How we work with subscription boxes

As mentioned earlier, we’ve been handling this type of logistics for over 10 years, and each month we produce more than 100,000 boxes for customers around the world. To simplify the process, we divide the workflow into several key stages:

1. Planning

Together with our clients, we plan each month’s shipment. This includes everything from box design and product selection to scheduling and deadlines.

2. Products

The most intensive part of the process revolves around the products themselves, from supplier delivery and inbound handling to unpacking and refinement. Preparing items for packaging is critical, and once ready, speed becomes essential.

3. Automated packaging

When packaging begins, it’s vital that we can produce large volumes simultaneously to ensure all boxes reach end customers at the same time. With multiple subscription clients, we schedule production on specific dates. Our automated packing lines handle the following steps:

- Opening boxes
- Inserting products
- Adding inserts such as flyers, discount coupons, or promotional material
- Sealing boxes
- Packing into transport packaging
- Labeling with shipping labels
- Additional marking
- Sorting

4. Storage

After production, we handle surplus products and store them for future use, additional shipments, or other needs.

5. Quality

A common term in the subscription box industry is “lifetime value” - how long a customer continues subscribing. To maximize lifetime value, it's essential that we deliver the highest possible quality in every box.

6. System support

Managing multiple boxes, products, variations, kits, and recipients requires robust system support. Our proprietary WMS, DreamPack, is continuously developed and customized in collaboration with our clients. Through DreamPack and other support systems, we ensure top-tier quality for both our clients and their end customers.

We help you with packaging

We assist in designing the packaging, box, and container to match the experience you want to create for your customers. Whether you're aiming for a premium unboxing moment or a practical, cost-efficient solution, we guide you toward the best possible outcome.

If your box has a complex layout, we’ll identify the right pattern or packing technique to meet those requirements. We also evaluate the contents, whether the products are durable or whether alternative packaging options would offer better protection or presentation.