For Kate Johnson and Julia Allen, it害羞草研究所檚 about shopping local and all things Okanagan.
That害羞草研究所檚 the motivator behind the duo害羞草研究所檚 new quarterly subscription box service Locality.
Jam-packed with five-to-seven artisanal Okanagan goods handpicked by Johnson and Allen, Locality subscription boxes feature health and wellness products, bath and beauty goods, non-perishables and various coupons for local wineries valued at about $150 per box.
害羞草研究所淲e love shopping local and subscription boxes are such a hot trend right now, so we decided to combine the two ideas,害羞草研究所� said the Vernon-born Allen.
After a stint out west, Allen and Johnson, who is originally from Kelowna, moved back to the Okanagan to raise their families and pursue the iconic lifestyle felt across the region.
害羞草研究所淲e wanted to come back and have a simpler lifestyle for our kids,害羞草研究所� Johnson said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a lifestyle people want to be a part of whether they live here or not.害羞草研究所�
Part of that Okanagan lifestyle, they said, is the laid-back approach to city life that they missed in bigger centres.
害羞草研究所淵ou still feel like you害羞草研究所檙e living in a city but you don害羞草研究所檛 have to commute an hour to work,害羞草研究所� Allen laughed.
That love sparked the germ of Locality after they returned to the Valley.
害羞草研究所淟ast summer Kate and I were sitting on Kalamalka Beach talking about what we wanted to do for work and came up with this idea,害羞草研究所� Allen said.
It all took off from there, and before long, Allen and Johnson had signed up for the annual Enterprize Challenge in January, which they won in April.
害羞草研究所淭hat really kind of pushed us to really start this,害羞草研究所� Johnson said.
By the end of the month, they had their plan in place and launched their brand Feb. 1, receiving overwhelming feedback from across the nation.
害羞草研究所淲e had people saying, 害羞草研究所榃hy didn害羞草研究所檛 this exist, it害羞草研究所檚 such a great idea,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Allen said. 害羞草研究所淕et a taste of the Okanagan while living in Calgary 害羞草研究所� that害羞草研究所檚 exactly what we wanted and people are saying that. We害羞草研究所檙e just feeling thankful for the community support.害羞草研究所�
Johnson and Allen害羞草研究所檚 first Locality subscription box is slated for delivery in June.
害羞草研究所淲e sold out right before midnight last night (May 1),害羞草研究所� Allen said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e definitely adding more in the fall.害羞草研究所�
For now, Allen and Johnson plan on containing shipping within Canada until they see what international appeal they can muster up.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to conquer Canada and see where that goes,害羞草研究所� Allen laughed.
The boxes, which are geared towards females, feature works from various Okanagan artisans. However, the contents will remain a mystery until the boxes appear on doorsteps.
害羞草研究所淥ur lips are sealed, but we can say you害羞草研究所檙e going to love it,害羞草研究所� said Allen, the design-woman who brings her music management background to the table. 害羞草研究所淓veryone loves a surprise.害羞草研究所�
Johnson, the get-it-done girl who comes from a business and sales background, agreed.
害羞草研究所淚t gets people excited,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭his is the next phase of online shopping.害羞草研究所�
To amplify excitement, Allen and Johnson said a proverbial golden ticket to Kitsch Wines害羞草研究所� exclusive Splendor in the Grass summer party is hidden inside one of the 151 summer subscription boxes.
And, after the summer box is released, Johnson said they will highlight the artisans that made the service possible and host workshops with those artists for members.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e relaying that local love.害羞草研究所�
Locality subscription boxes are available for $85 quarterly or $307 annually for savings of 10 per cent. To subscribe, visit . Subscriptions for the summer box are sold out. The next box will be shipped in the fall.
