This is part of uOpen’s 'Industry Insights' interview series - a valuable collection of informative and intelligent insights into how some of the UK's best-known and most-loved subscription box businesses came to be and got to where they are - all shared by the very people who made it happen...

Covering customer acquisition to fulfilment, this blog series offers a behind the scenes look at how the many moving parts of these complex, yet successful operations come together each month to satisfy the ever-growing demand of subscription box customers in the UK.

How did the idea for your subscription box come about?

I had come to the end of my career as a professional dancer, and was at a bit of a crossroads as to what to do next with my life. I had started a blog about crafting (which i still run today alongside my box), as it had always been one of my hobbies. I started getting a craft subscription box from the USA, but it didn't quite give me what I wanted and I couldn't find one in the UK that could. So naturally the only obvious step was to make my own!

I find a lot of the UK craft market is aimed at the older lady, so wanted to create something that appealed to the younger crowd of sassy crafters I am surrounded and inspired by.

What attracted you to the subscription box model?

I loved the idea of being the reason someone received happy mail, I love getting post especially when it's something a lovely as a subscription box that gives you that feeling every month.

How did you acquire your first customers?

I funded the Glittery Hands Box on Kickstarter which gave me a base of subscribers from the beginning. The rest I acquired mainly through Instagram.

Did you raise any seed or investor funding to help you grow?

I funded The Glittery Hands Box on Kickstarter, which is the only investment The Glittery Hands Box has had so far.

How long have you been running now and what are your most successful achievements and milestones so far?

The Glittery Hands Box has been running for 2 years now, my biggest milestone is that two years of boxes has been created and sent- that feels pretty special! Other things I'm proud of are be featured on Buzzfeed and in Mollie Makes, Simple Things and Papercrafter Magazine. It also feels great knowing that we have subscribers that have been with the box from the very beginning!

With the rise of new boxes launching all the time, what do you see as your USP that sets you apart from your competitors?

The Glittery Hands Box is one of the only discovery craft boxes in the UK, unlike other boxes we don't tell you what to make, that part is totally up to you!

We are also aimed at a younger (under 50) craft market, that isn't catered for in much of the UK craft scene!

How does your business continue to find new and exciting products to keep your customers engaged and excited every month?

We have a different theme each month, which really pushes me to look for new and exciting craft supplies. In particular, looking for smaller craft businesses who create their own craft products that our subscribers will love.

Have there been any particularly pivotal moments so far that have required you to make changes to how you operate?

Not really any pivotal moments, I am constantly evolving the box to better suit our subscribers, we recently added a welcome pack for ongoing subscribers to bridge that gap between subscribing and the box arriving - It's just a little something to make our subscribers feel special and so far it's working great!

How large is your team? What type of roles do they have?

Currently it's just me! But I do have help on packing days of course. I also recently took on a team of 8 crafters who create craft tutorials with the contents of the box for our blog and social media channels. This is great as it allows me more time to get on with everything else and gives our subscribers an amazing amount of inspiration for their box. It also helps promote the box around the world to their followings too.

Across all operational areas of your business, what do you manage in-house and what do you outsource to external suppliers to support you with - and why is this?

I currently keep everything in house, mainly because we still have the luxury of being able to do that, but also because I know that the brand has my voice, care and attention and I want to be able to ensure that that is the case in every part of what The Glittery Hands Box does.

What types of challenges do you face with fulfilment, delivery and customer service?

Our main challenge is working with craft wholesalers who are used to working with brick and mortar shops, which do not have the fast turnaround that we need, which means being extra organised and having plenty of backup options for when the product we want is out of stock.

How do you see the subscription box industry is evolving and what do you believe are going to be your biggest challenges over the next 12 months?

I think we are going to see a massive rise in subscription boxes customers in the UK, which is a wave we are really excited about riding! I think our biggest challenge might be Brexit and the unknown that creates, particularly with shipping our boxes around the world.

What do you enjoy most about running your subscription box business?

I really love curating the box, mainly because I am a crafter hoarder so being let loose around craft supplies is a dream come true. But I also love creating the papers and sequin mixes for the box that I hand illustrate and mix myself.

Of course, I also really love the thought that my box makes someones day once a month!

What excites you about uOpen, and how do you see the marketplace featuring in your business' future?

I'm excited about having my box on a bigger UK platform, and hopefully reaching an audience I haven't had the power to reach yet!