Meet The Sponsor // Indie Gift Box

1. What is Indie Gift Box?

Indie Gift Box™ is an exclusive curated experience featuring specialty handmade goods. In addition to holding private sales of one-of-a-kind indie products, we deliver themed collections of unique goods from independent artisans every month. We use the subscription box model, but that’s certainly not the only way we convert people to Indie Mavens. Individual indie items and collections are also available without a subscription, but are limited in availability.

Most importantly, we are dedicated to promoting independent artists and small businesses. We envision a world in which artisanal craftsmanship is valued and accessible. Our mission in support of that vision is to help you discover new artistic talent and amazing handmade products, and to help the artists and companies achieve their deserved success.

2. How can you get a box/how does it work?

We coordinate with artisans and indie businesses to find the best product to be included in the themed boxes every month. We package them up, set a release date for the boxes, and then set the new box up on the website for sale. Meanwhile, we publish features about the contributing makers throughout the month to offer clues about what’s in the box, and help you get to know more about the ones that you like most.

Though we do offer subscriptions here, they are not required. Remaining boxes not reserved by subscribers are first-come, first-served and go on sale here on the date of each monthly box release. The number of boxes available is dependent on the number of contributors and the number of items each contributor sends. Right now, we usually have only 70-100 boxes available each month, so they usually sell out quickly. You have to act fast to get one!

3. Tell us your story - how did Indie Gift Box come to be?

Web designer Erin Flynn founded the company because she couldn’t find a subscription box for her love of unique, handmade items. She did a fantastic job designing the original website (and has since designed our newer one), gathering a crowd of fellow indie product lovers, and launching the concept to the public. As more people caught on and business picked up, she decided to sell for the sake of the business so that it could continue to flourish while she kept up her primary career.

I (Lisa) interviewed and bit for the business, and I thank God to this day that Erin saw herself in me, and decided that I was the right one to adopt her “baby.” I hope I’ve been able to meet her expectations, and I’ve loved every minute of heading up this awesome business. Since then, I’ve brought an old friend and classmate Reagan Cotter onboard as a Co-Director, and she has been great and helping to bring new ideas and vision to the direction of the Indie Gift Box business.

4. What are some deciding factors in choosing the contributors for the boxes and how can small businesses apply?

Hmm, that’s a great question. It’s kind of a fluid, ongoing process. Artists regularly apply online through our website, and we’re always on the lookout for items and makers we adore. We keep a master list, and as we get ideas for the themes (usually from seasonal ideas, current trends or other concepts that just strike our fancy), we scour through the list revisiting each artists to see what new things they’re producing. Here’s our new special sauce, though: once we select the artists for each theme, we try to collaborate with them on a new product that they haven’t produced yet, and that will ONLY sell on Indie Gift Box. It’s that collaborative process that makes our boxes truly unique and exclusive.

5. If you could wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Wow, tough question. If I cared how I looked, but not how I felt, I’d wear an over the top candy-hued Marie Antoinette costume. Seriously. [See attached photo of me in a homemade costume. It's ridiculous.] If I cared how I felt, and now how I looked, I’d wear a soft cotton maxi dress happily for the rest of my life.

6. Guilty pleasures?

Whipped cream, marshmallows, anything in bright colors, Hyperbole and a Half (book and blog), trashy television (though I swear I’m an intelligent person), sleep, and strangely enough work. Especially with Indie Gift box. Most days, I seriously have to force myself to stop working at the end of the day.

7. What blogs currently have you hooked?

There are about a gazillion creative lifestyle blogs out there that I love, and the list is always growing, but I’ve been reading these two blogs for YEARS and I will never ever stop. Ever. Hyperbole and a Half and The Bloggess.

8. What inspires you?

In my everyday life, my friends and family are my lifeline and source of constant encouragement. On a deep level, feeling that I’m filling some sort of need in the world and making other people’s life and work better, easier and more joyful is what keeps me doing what I’m doing. If that wasn’t happening, I’d probably be moving on to something else…if I wasn’t so stubborn. In my daily work, listening to upbeat, fun indie music and keeping myself visually inspired by beautiful products while curating is what makes each day awesome and uplifting.

9. What kind of items do you love to see in the Indie Gift Box?

My favorite Indie Gift Box items are bright, fun and slightly unexpected. These are the kinds of things that bring smiles and gasps from our Indie Mavens when they open their boxes.

10. Most importantly, what's your favourite ice cream flavour?

Normally I’d say cherry vanilla, but I just ate a bowl of triple chocolate gelato while answering these questions, and I’m compelled to go back and eat the entire rest of the container. Just try to stop me.

You can find Lisa at the Indie Gift Box website, sign up for their newsletter, or in these other fine places:

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