Health and fitness is a growing industry. And it will probably always be on the rise, as people grow more and more in tune with their health and wellbeing. Being part of the fitness and health subscription industry means you’ll be helping people fulfill their fitness dreams and keeping them on the straight and narrow when it comes to their health.
Just remember, though: yoga lovers, cardio buffs and weight enthusiasts all need different things, so it’s always best to narrow down your niche before getting started.
1. Workout guides
Not everyone has the expertise to figure out what they should and shouldn’t be doing to stay healthy. That’s where your subscription box comes in. There are a couple of options here. You can have itemized boxes according to niche, so cardio lovers can choose cardio workouts only, or you can have a generic program that introduces people to each and every workout option. Of course, you can do both as well, so that those who want variety can access variety and those who want to stick to what they know can do so.
2. Exercise equipment
Whether it’s resistance bands, muscle rollers, yoga mats, or even small weights, exercise equipment subscription boxes can be a great way to get people out of their comfort zones and trying new things each and every month. Of course, you’ll have to include instructional manuals with ideas from some experienced and qualified trainers.
3. Healthy snacks and meal plans
Everyone loves a good snack, and it’s an added bonus if it’s healthy and tastes great. So, source them! Find snacks that you would love and pass them on to your customer. It’s also a nice idea to include meal plans in subscription boxes to help people in their nutrition journey. Of course, these will need to be done in consultation with a nutritionist, and you’ll probably want to offer several different versions depending on the person’s health goals and needs.
4. Vitamins
These are a perfect replenishment subscription for two reasons. One, everyone needs them. And two, because you know, as a supplier, how long each and every bottle will last. If you’re a retail shop or business that already sells vitamins, consider setting up a subscription service. That way, your customers will never be without their vitamins and they won’t have to think about when they need to replenish, because they’ll be delivered automatically to their front door.
Starting a subscription box business
We always say that a successful subscription box business needs to have at least three or four of the following properties:
- Niche has an existing fanbase
- Niche is timeless
- Offers value of discovery
- Fulfills a habitual need
- Would make a good gift
- Has emotional value
- Offers lifestyle value
When deciding what kind of fitness and health subscription box to start, consider how your idea compares with these seven elements. If it’s only one or two, your work is going to be much harder. That’s not to say you won’t succeed, but you may be up against some pretty high hurdles.
But if your idea ticks three or four (or more) of these properties, great. Let’s get started!
The first thing to do is to price your subscription box. One of the biggest mistakes we see is owners mispricing their box too low and making their margins too thin. It’s all about finding the balance between pricing low to stay competitive and high enough to secure profit. Finding the middle ground can be tricky, but it’s very important.
Generally, they’ll take into account the cost of the products, the box, the packing materials, and the shipping. You also need to consider the fulfillment costs, any transaction and platform fees, monthly fees such as email and accounting software, and advertising and marketing costs.
Learn more: To help you figure out your costs, Cratejoy offers exclusive calculator tools.
It’s a good idea to put together a prototype box that you can use to market your idea. Photograph the box and the products and use these in your marketing efforts. You can also use your prototype box as a bit of market research. Ask people in your networks to try out your box and get some constructive feedback from them. It’s during this prototype stage that you should be ironing out any problems with the box itself and with any suppliers. This means when you take it to market, the issues should have been dealt with.
Of course, you also need to set up your website and social media channels to start your marketing. And remember, your marketing doesn’t stop just because you’ve launched your product! This will continue throughout your business to ensure you’re attracting new customers.
Once you feel comfortable and confident, take it to market!
Why start a fitness and health box business?
Everyone needs a little help sometimes, especially when it comes to our health and fitness. Starting a health and fitness subscription box allows you to not only follow your dreams but also help others with theirs.
If you have the expertise, or know people who do, share your knowledge with others.
Besides this, if health and fitness are a passion of yours, starting a subscription box will probably feel like a natural progression in your career. Whether it’s a side hustle or your full-time job, sharing your experiences with others is sure to put a smile on your face.
