Having meat delivered right to your door isn’t a new idea. However, different subscription boxes for wholesale meat and seafood have increased in popularity over the past few years. It’s also safe to say that the COVID-19 pandemic had something to do with increased orders. There has been a shift in consumer behavior and the way that people shop for the products they need. Does this mean you should also get into the meat subscription box business?
Many consumers have turned to online channels and online food delivery services. They rely on restaurants and food distributors to provide them with safe and secure food delivery options on a regular basis. Selling wholesale meat boxes isn’t for everyone. It can take time to build a solid customer base and to establish a business model that works.
A subscription meat business doesn’t require a huge upfront investment. In fact, you don’t necessarily need to have your own butchery. Working with a local butchery and farm is the bulk of it. As long as you have a good product, a logo, and some social media skills, you’re good to go.
What Is a Meat Subscription Box?
A meat subscription box is a box full of raw or cured meat delivered to your doorstep on a regular basis. Some boxes focus on curated meat like jerky, bacon, or salami. However, other subscription services provide antibiotic-free, hormone-free, and free-range meats such as steak, chicken, pork, and more.
Meat subscription boxes are one of the eCommerce business ideas that companies have been relying on since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar custom subscription boxes include the best coffee subscription boxes such as a coffee bag subscription including a monthly coffee subscription, baking subscription box, and produce subscription box.
Subscription Meat Statistics and Industry Trends
Online meat orders and subscription commerce services aren’t going to dramatically affect grocery store meat sales in the near future. However, they will increase the comfort levels of shoppers that want to have fresh meat delivered to their doorsteps.
Popular meat subscription businesses Crowd Cow and ButcherBox were both founded in 2015. They appeal to shoppers that seek high-quality meat cuts that are from humanely raised animals at small-scale farms.
Both businesses operate using a subscription model and that is what has helped them keep their sales up after the pandemic. In fact, 41% of ButcherBox shoppers that made their very first purchase in March 2020, made another purchase just 6 months later. The same is true for 11% of Crowd Cow shoppers.
Sales in the meat category went up 28% between the middle of March 2020 and the beginning of October 2020. These statistics are compared to the same timeframe in 2019.
In terms of subscriptions, the market is estimated to reach $473 billion by the year 2025. This is a $15 billion increase from 2019. This means that there is a vast range of opportunities for existing and new business owners.
How Do You Ship Fresh and Curated Meat?
In most cases, meat subscription boxes will ship out flash-frozen meat. This is essential for the shipping food process in order for the meat to retain its quality. Once your meat box is delivered, you should transfer the products to the freezer for long storage. You can also let the products thaw in the fridge if you plan to use them right away.
Each company likely has a similar way of shipping frozen meat products. They use the proper cool packing materials and include items that will keep the box at the right temperature throughout the shipping process. Curated meat will also have a specific packing and shipping method.
What You Need to Start a Subscription Service
Are you wondering how to start a subscription box? You'll need to know what you'll need for the process. A subscription meat service can provide online consumers with a convenient and personalized way to get the products they want and need. They can do so at a lower cost and on a recurring basis. Whether it’s curated meat or raw meat, the options are endless. Here’s what you’ll need to start such a business.
A Farm
While having a farm of your own isn’t necessarily a requirement, you’re going to at least need to work with one. Any size farm will due. You also don’t need to have your own butchery.
Find a reliable farm and butchery that provides local and native breeds. This can help you ensure the quality of your meat and your product as a whole.
A Solid Business Model
Establish a solid business model for your subscription meat service to run on. Factor in the cost of slaughtering, butchering, packaging, and shipping. After you deduct all of your costs, ensure that there is still a reasonable amount of profit. This includes enough to pay for the farm and cover your time.
Social Media Marketing
Social media is a great way to market your subscription meat boxes. You can also rely on social media platforms for eCommerce orders. It’s a great way to grow your customer base and increase your local business. This is where calculating social media ROI will come in handy.
Boxes for Delivery
Sending out raw and curated meat can lead to shipping issues if you aren't careful. Make sure that you have access to the proper cooling boxes for delivery. This can ensure that the products arrive at their final destination in excellent condition.
Meat is perishable, so the packaging is a crucial part of the business. Most businesses consider overnight shipping or expedited shipping options when it comes to the eCommerce shipping of meat and perishable items.
A Platform
You can rely on a platform, like BlueCart’s all-in-one food subscription box platform, to manage the entire service for you. From the website to recurring payments, email reminders, and more, it will all be taken care of. You can grow sales with none of the hassle. BlueCart subscription management software will manage recurring billing, automated billing, and provide other subscription billing solutions.
Benefits of Having a Meat Subscription Box
Most subscription businesses provide online shoppers with a personalized and convenient way to get their products regularly. A meat subscription box can easily turn one-time customers into repeat customers. Below are some additional benefits of selling a meat subscription box.
Predictable Revenue
A meat subscription essentially means that the customer will be paying a fee each month for their products. This means that you can easily predict your monthly revenue and in turn streamline your sales forecasts and plan your inventory accordingly. With this, you can also reinvest in your business to ensure growth.
Low Customer Acquisition Costs
Businesses that have pay-per-product pricing models attract customers when they consistently invest in marketing and sales. These high customer acquisition costs are what oftentimes lead to startup failure. However, a subscription-based business model means that customers are paying you on a regular basis. With recurring revenue, you won’t have to invest as much money in new customers in order to keep your business afloat.
Enhanced Opportunity for Upselling and Cross-selling
You have the opportunity to make additional revenue from your existing customers with a subscription model. This is because you have consistent contact with your customers and are building a relationship with them. With the established trust between you and your customers, you can easily market additional products and services through upselling and cross selling. There’s a greater chance that they’ll accept because they already know you provide valuable services being part of your niche market.
Starting a subscription meat business can be very profitable for a business owner, as long as it’s done right. It's also a DIY business idea for someone who is opening a business, opening a restaurant, or opening a coffee shop. Start by choosing a subscription model that works for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Meat Subscription Box
What Is a Meat Subscription Box?
A meat subscription box is a custom box full of raw or cured meat options that you select and delivered right to your home. These boxes are oftentimes customizable so you can choose what items to include or have them randomly selected based on your interests. Most meat subscription boxes include wholesale meat and seafood options.
What Kind of Meat Comes in a Meat Subscription Box?
A meat subscription box typically includes custom meat options such as chicken, beef, pork, and even bulk fish options like salmon. All of the meat options come packaged in a way that ensures food safety and freshness. Most subscription box companies pay attention to how to ship frozen food to ensure customer satisfaction.
How Often Can I Get a Meat Subscription Box?
Meat subscription boxes can be scheduled for delivery based on your preferences which can include weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly deliveries. This is part of the meat subscription box customization process.