The Boom of Subscription Services – Periodic Deliveries Save Time and Protect the Environment

From groceries to perfumes, clothing, contact lenses, beer, and even menstrual care, subscription 'boxes' (eng. subscription boxes) are experiencing a boom, and the pandemic has only increased the number of people opting for various product subscriptions.

As a result, the subscription sector is on track to reach over one billion pounds in market value by 2022, representing a 77 percent increase in just five years.

It is estimated that 6.3 million people aged 18 or older are subscribed to some form of subscription service in the UK. The most popular are Amazon Prime, Graze, and Nextunlimited, with the most popular sectors being food, razors and shaving, perfumes and cosmetics, and clothing.

This change in consumer behavior is driven by the younger generation. As many as 3.37 million people aged 18 to 34 have subscribed to some form of product subscription, compared to only 616,000 aged 55 and older.

Delivery Always at the Same Time

One such subscription service is Yoppie, specializing in delivering eco-friendly menstrual care products for women. Thanks to its conveniences and offerings, Yoppie continues to see a surge in demand with an 850 percent increase in subscribers since the second lockdown. Yoppie has also redefined the subscription offering with a range of innovative products for the entire menstrual period, not just for tampons and pads.

– Subscription services have become incredibly popular, and not just for products consumed digitally like Netflix. For example, the ability to have purchases delivered at the same time every week is incredibly convenient and saves a lot of time.

However, many of us also choose subscriptions to obtain a higher quality product than what we might find in a supermarket. These are usually rarer but necessary items like menstrual care, contact lenses, or razors. The biggest challenge for subscription providers is to remain relevant after the initial purchase, which these regularly needed items allow us to do – commented Daniella Peri, founder of Yoppie.

Fewer Trips to Stores

The biggest advantage of subscription 'boxes' is the reduction of waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Research shows that greenhouse gas emissions associated with supermarket visits were 32.8 percent higher than those of an equivalent subscription service.

– The environmental impact is as important to us as the quality and convenience of our products. We believe this is another factor that can highlight the subscription sector and increase its relevance. Fewer people going to stores means fewer cars on the road or fewer people using public transport, and all these small gains are significant.

The pandemic and the resulting movement restrictions have truly highlighted the value of subscription services. Our previous research revealed that more than half of women in the UK were prevented from purchasing essential products in nearby stores due to epidemiological measures.

Although we are still far from returning to pre-pandemic life, the ability to deliver what you need can really help overcome the uncertainty that continues to affect our daily lives – added Peri.

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