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 first had the idea of a seed box for adults, which came from my love of gardening and growing and in the early development stages my 5 year old daughter said, “I want one of those”, and really it just developed from there and I decided that it would be so much more fun to do this for children.

What attracted you to the subscription box model?

Recurring revenue and the ability to have a real dialogue and relationship with your customers.

How did you validate your idea and test the market?

Research with our target market and validation through reviewers that we had got the product right.

How did you acquire your first customers?

Pre-launch marketing campaign and social media.

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

Not yet.

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

Since January 2018 - the best thing has been the fantastic feedback from our customers and the fact that we have retained over 90% of our original subscribers.

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 uniqueness of our product - there are lots of children's craft boxes, but combining craft, growing and cooking in one box is unique. Also, the quality of our boxes. It is very important that all the contents are the highest quality - inspiring ideas, great craft materials, quality seeds that will germinate and cards that are laminated and will stand the test of time when the children use them time and time again.

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

The development of each box takes a great deal of time and research but that is what makes the boxes special and keeps our customers engaged.

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

We are constantly evolving and talking to our customers to find out what they want.

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

We are small but perfectly formed; development - me, horticulture - me, education - Sarah, marketing & social media - Abbie, chief tester - Charlotte, my 5 year old daughter.

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?

All in house currently - and we like it that way whilst we are small enough.

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

We are small enough to manage this currently, but fulfilment will be the biggest headache as we grow.

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 see lots of opportunities in the coming months and years as more and more people get to grips with the benefits of a subscription model.

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

I'm loving all of it - especially working from a barn in my garden rather than commuting to London every day.

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

Getting our brand out there to more people and also educating people about the subscription marketplace.