Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box cover art

Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box

Launch Your Box Podcast with Sarah Williams | Start, Launch, and Grow Your Subscription Box

By: Sarah Williams
Listen for free

Summary

 8 years ago I had a dream to start a Subscription Box service full of goodies for women to treat themselves and nurture the importance of self care. It took me a full 18 months to make it happen! I was paralyzed by ‘all the things’ I had to figure out with no one to turn to for guidance. That is why I created Launch Your Box! Maybe you need some direction on how to begin, or you are ready to grow your subscriber base. Either way, it all starts with an idea that can turn into a constant reoccurring revenue, a raving fan base, and a business to love. I will help you... Take your first steps and know where to start. Figuring out the logistics: packing, shipping, boxes, oh my! Learn how to launch, from idea to sales. Scale that box to the next level, go big or go home!2021-2026 Sarah Williams Economics Education Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • 251: From Selling a Few Kits to 400+ Subscribers in Months with Kelli Blouin

    251: From Selling a Few Kits to 400+ Subscribers in Months with Kelli Blouin
    May 13 2026
    What happens when you combine creativity, consistency, and the courage to start before you feel ready? This week on the Launch Your Box podcast, I sat down with Kelli Blouin, founder of Minutes of Zen, to talk about her incredible journey from elementary school teacher to subscription box owner with more than 425 subscribers, all in just a few short months. But what makes Kelli’s story especially powerful is how she got there. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “ready” to launch your subscription box, this episode is one you need to hear. How a Cancer Diagnosis Changed Everything Kelli spent 25 years as an elementary school teacher, balancing work, family life, and all the responsibilities that come with both. But after a breast cancer diagnosis forced her to slow down and reevaluate what mattered most, she began leaning into creativity and calming activities that helped her heal and reconnect with herself. That journey eventually led her to become certified in the Zentangle Method, a meditative style of drawing designed to promote relaxation and mindfulness. Like so many people during COVID, Kelli started sharing what she loved online. She taught calming drawing sessions virtually, created YouTube videos at her audience’s request, and slowly built a community of people who connected with both her creativity and her calming presence. At first, she wasn’t trying to build a business. She was simply serving people. And that’s exactly where so many successful subscription box businesses begin. The “Accidental” Business That Wasn’t Really an Accident As Kelli’s audience grew, people started asking questions. So Kelli began putting together small seasonal kits a few times a year, selling 20 or 30 at a time to her growing audience. Without realizing it, Kelli was listening to her audience and creating offers based on what they were already asking for. The Moment Everything Shifted Then Kelli discovered Launch Your Box. After listening to this podcast, reading my book, One Box at a Time, and attending Subscription Box Week, Kelli started asking herself a question she’d never seriously considered before: What if this could become more than a side hustle? Eventually, with support from her husband, she decided to take a year and truly treat Minutes of Zen like a business instead of a hobby. Why “Do It Messy” Matters One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is Kelli’s honesty about how imperfect everything still is. And yet, she has over 425 subscribers. That’s the reminder so many aspiring subscription box owners need. You do not have to have everything perfectly figured out before you launch. Building a Subscription Box Around Experience Kelli intentionally wanted the box to feel calming, supportive, and immersive, not just like another box of “stuff.” That experience-first mindset helped her create something subscribers genuinely connect with. It’s also a great reminder that your subscription box doesn’t have to be complicated to be valuable. Sometimes the simplest ideas become the most meaningful. Her First Launch Brought in 300 Subscribers Kelli originally hoped for 100 subscribers during her first launch. She ended up with 300. She focused on: Building an email list Growing a waitlist Showing up consistently Talking about the box repeatedly Serving her audience long before selling to them And perhaps most importantly, she stopped worrying about “bothering” people by talking about her offer too much. A Business That’s Changing Her Life Kelli shared that her early side-hustle income paid for an Alaskan cruise for her and her husband’s 30th anniversary. Now, her business is helping support her family even more. And perhaps most importantly, she’s created something that gives her freedom. The Advice Every Aspiring Subscription Box Owner Needs to Hear At the end of the episode, Kelli shares the advice she would give anyone feeling stuck or afraid to start: “Show up. And then show up again.” That consistency is what changed everything for her. Not perfection, expensive tools, or having it all figured out. Just continuing to show up, serve people, and keep going. Kelli’s story is proof that you don’t need a perfect website, perfect branding, or perfect confidence to begin. You just need the willingness to start. Listen to this week’s episode of the Launch Your Box podcast and get inspired by Kelli’s incredible journey from teacher to thriving subscription box owner. Where to find Kelli: ⁠Minutes of Zen on Facebook⁠ ⁠Inventory Genius on Instagram⁠ ⁠Minutes of Zen Website⁠ ⁠Minutes of Zen on YouTube⁠ Join me in all the places: ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Launch Your Box with Sarah Website ⁠ Are you ready for ⁠Launch Your Box⁠? Our complete training program walks you step by step through how to start, launch, and grow your subscription box business. ⁠Join the waitlist⁠ today!
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • 30 Days to Launch

    30 Days to Launch
    May 6 2026
    What if you were launching your subscription box in 30 days? Maybe you’re launching for the first time or you could be operating under a closed model and you’re launching to new subscribers. In order to be ready to launch - and for your audience to be ready for you to launch - there are five things you need to be doing or start doing right now. Before I go through those five things, I do want to say I’m recommending you launch in 30 days only if you’ve already spent time building an audience and you’ve got your tech figured out and in place. If not, you’ll need longer than 30 days. But if you’ve been audience building and you’ve got your tech ready to go, I want you to plan to launch in the next 30 days. Will it be perfect? No. Will it seem messy? Yes. Will putting it off make your launch more perfect or less messy when it finally does happen? No. Putting it off will simply delay you from taking the next step toward subscription box success. Back to those five things I want you to start doing right now: Set the date - be specific. Email your list more frequently. Unboxings Subscriber shares Different ways to use items in your box Sneak peeks for your upcoming launch Behind the scenes Talk about your why Increase video views. Drive people to your waitlist and start emailing them right away. Generate leads with opt-ins. The truth is you should be doing all of these things all year long in order to continuously feed the top of your funnel. So even if you’re not launching in 30 days, start focusing on these five areas now. That way, the next time you plan a launch - whether it’s your first or your fifth - you’ll be ready! Join me for this episode as I talk about why you should consider launching in the next 30 days and the five things you need to start doing right now to help make your launch a success. Important Links: Join me in all the places: ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Launch Your Box with Sarah Website⁠ Are you ready for ⁠ Launch Your Box⁠? Our complete training program walks you step by step through how to start, launch, and grow your subscription box business. ⁠ Join the waitlist⁠ today!
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • 250: How to Start a Subscription Box (8 Steps to Launch Successfully)

    250: How to Start a Subscription Box (8 Steps to Launch Successfully)
    Apr 29 2026
    If you’ve been sitting on a subscription box idea but feel overwhelmed about where to start, this episode is your roadmap. “I have an idea, but I don’t know what to do next.” “I feel stuck.” “I don’t want to do it wrong.” Most people aren’t stuck because they’re not capable. They’re stuck because they’re doing the steps out of order. So in this episode, I’m walking you through the exact 8 steps to go from idea to shipping your first box with clarity and confidence. Step 1: Start With the Person, Not the Product Your subscription box is not about the products inside. It’s about the person you’re serving. Instead of asking, “What should I put in my box?” Start with: Who is this for? What problem am I solving? Because even if it doesn’t feel like a “problem,” it is. People don’t buy products. They buy how those products make them feel: organized, relaxed, confident, seen. If you can clearly describe your ideal customer in one sentence and she immediately feels like, “That’s for me,” you’re on the right track. Step 2: Build Your Audience Before You Launch Don’t wait until your box is ready to find customers. You need people before you have something to sell. Your job right now isn’t to sell, it’s to invite people into the journey. Share behind-the-scenes moments Ask for input (polls, naming, product ideas) Let people watch you build And remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be real. Step 3: Plan Your First 3–6 Months of Boxes Before you buy anything, map out your themes and product ideas for the first few months. Planning ahead: Makes sourcing easier Simplifies your content Creates a more consistent experience for your customers It also keeps you from scrambling every single month. When you know what’s coming next, you make better decisions and you move with more confidence. Step 4: Price for Profit (Not Just Sales) This is a business, not a hobby. Once you’ve planned your boxes, then you start sourcing and you price with intention. A good starting goal is at least a 40% profit margin, with room to grow from there. And don’t forget the hidden costs: Shipping Packaging Fees Replacements Because making sales doesn’t always mean making money. This step is about building something sustainable that supports you long-term. Step 5: Build a Warm, Ready-to-Buy Waitlist Before you launch, you need people who are already excited to buy. That’s what your waitlist is for. Think of it as warming up the room before you make the offer. Use social media to grow your list, and email to nurture it: Share your story Show sneak peeks Reveal themes Take them behind the scenes People don’t just buy the box, they buy into you and connection is what turns interest into action. Step 6: Keep Packaging Simple (At First) Packaging matters but not as much as you think in the beginning. Choose packaging based on what’s going inside the box, and keep it simple and cost-effective. You can always upgrade later. In the early days, your customers care more about what’s inside than the box it came in. Let your product lead, and let your packaging grow with your business. Step 7: Plan Your Launch Before Launch Day A successful launch doesn’t start on launch day. It starts weeks before. Give yourself 2–4 weeks to build excitement: Talk about your box consistently Share sneak peeks and progress Repeat your message (more than you think you need to) Your energy and consistency are what build momentum. Step 8: Pack and Ship Your First Box This is the moment where it all becomes real. Your first shipment will likely be a mix of excitement, chaos, and pride. Keep things simple: Batch your packing Create a basic workflow Do quality checks And document everything. Photos, videos, behind-the-scenes moments all make up the kind of content that fuels your future marketing. Most importantly, celebrate it. Because this is a big deal. Success comes from doing the steps in the right order. Not skipping ahead. Not rushing. Not trying to do everything at once. Just taking the next step. So ask yourself, “What step am I skipping right now?” Because you don’t need everything figured out. You just need to move forward. If you want help mapping out your first six months of boxes, I’d love for you to join me inside my 6 in 60 Workshop. Join me in all the places: Facebook Instagram Launch Your Box with Sarah Website Are you ready for Launch Your Box? Our complete training program walks you step by step through how to start, launch, and grow your subscription box business. Join the waitlist today!
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.