I hate junk mail. If I get one more flier from my old Realtor or coupon card for laser-hair removal, I’m going to lose it! I never seem to get a nice thank-you note or a personal letter. In the sci-fi movie Her, the main character works as a writer for a company called Handwritten Greeting Cards. Customers tell him what they want to convey to a loved one, and he writes it in a personal, sentimental way. While it’s a bit unsettling, if it would get me a handwritten letter in the mail, I’d be OK with employing such a service. What would you love to see arrive in your mailbox today?

WOMEN IN NUMBERS: 61 Percent

One way to get something special in the mail is by making it happen yourself. I’m talking about subscription services. There’s nothing that brings me more joy than opening up my monthly subscription box wrapped with tissue paper and filled with goodies I love. According to Forbes, subscription-box businesses are growing by leaps and bounds. In April 2017 alone, subscription-company websites had about 37 million visitors, an 800 percent increase since 2014. And of the 5.7 million or so subscription-box shoppers in the U.S., some 61 percent are women.

WOMAN TO WATCH: Liz Camden, Founder of My Subscription Addiction

Of course, there can be too much of a good thing. When it comes to subscriptions, you can get major decision fatigue trying to determine which box is right for you. After all, there are often dozens of options within a single category. Today’s Woman to Watch, Liz Camden, knows exactly how you feel.

In 2011, Liz signed up for a beauty subscription through Birchbox. Those adorable boxes with their cute samples inside quickly became her obsession, which led her to subscribe to loads of other boxes. By the time at least two subscription boxes were showing up on her stoop every day, Liz decided it was time to start sharing her opinions about her obsession. So, she created a blog called My Subscription Addiction, telling the world about her favorite subscription boxes, their contents, and the pros and cons of each. Her readers loved it, so much so that within two years, Liz and her husband quit their full-time jobs to focus solely on the My Subscription Addiction website and their subscription-box reviews.

While it sounds like easy work, it took a lot of hustle to build Liz’s empire. She’d write one or two reviews each day, but that was when she was receiving only 30 to 60 monthly boxes. Crazy, right? Since the market has expanded so dramatically in the past few years, My Subscription Addiction now employs several full-time workers and contractors to publish at least a dozen reviews every single day.

With more than 10 million page views a month, Liz’s site isn’t going anywhere. And members can now go beyond reviews and discuss subscriptions in forums, as well as save money on subscription boxes with Liz’s promo codes.

So, maybe you’re an entrepreneurial lady who wants to start your own subscription-box service. Liz has some advice for you. Send your box to friends and family and request photos of how it arrives. Presentation is key when it comes to this monthly mail. She notes that many women receive subscription boxes at work, so having an easily identifiable package helps build your brand and grow its popularity. In this case, it’s important to think both inside and outside of the box!

QUITE THE QUOTE

Success doesn’t come without hard work and seizing on opportunities the way Liz Camden did. In that spirit, I’ll leave you today with a quote from entrepreneur Lori Greiner:

“Dear optimist, pessimist and realist: While you guys were busy arguing about the glass of wine, I drank it! Sincerely, the opportunist.”

This is Melinda Garvey signing off until next time. Remember, ladies, empowered women empower other women. Share On the Dot so more women can have a voice. Thanks for getting ready with us.

To learn more about our conversation, check us out at OnTheDotWoman.com and talk to us @OnTheDotWoman on Twitter and Instagram. We’d love to hear your voice.