For Kate Johnson and Julia Allen, it含羞草研究社檚 about shopping local and all things Okanagan.
That含羞草研究社檚 the motivator behind the duo含羞草研究社檚 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.
含羞草研究社淲e love shopping local and subscription boxes are such a hot trend right now, so we decided to combine the two ideas,含羞草研究社� 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.
含羞草研究社淲e wanted to come back and have a simpler lifestyle for our kids,含羞草研究社� Johnson said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a lifestyle people want to be a part of whether they live here or not.含羞草研究社�
Part of that Okanagan lifestyle, they said, is the laid-back approach to city life that they missed in bigger centres.
含羞草研究社淵ou still feel like you含羞草研究社檙e living in a city but you don含羞草研究社檛 have to commute an hour to work,含羞草研究社� Allen laughed.
That love sparked the germ of Locality after they returned to the Valley.
含羞草研究社淟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,含羞草研究社� 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.
含羞草研究社淭hat really kind of pushed us to really start this,含羞草研究社� 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.
含羞草研究社淲e had people saying, 含羞草研究社榃hy didn含羞草研究社檛 this exist, it含羞草研究社檚 such a great idea,含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 Allen said. 含羞草研究社淕et a taste of the Okanagan while living in Calgary 含羞草研究社� that含羞草研究社檚 exactly what we wanted and people are saying that. We含羞草研究社檙e just feeling thankful for the community support.含羞草研究社�
Johnson and Allen含羞草研究社檚 first Locality subscription box is slated for delivery in June.
含羞草研究社淲e sold out right before midnight last night (May 1),含羞草研究社� Allen said. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e definitely adding more in the fall.含羞草研究社�
For now, Allen and Johnson plan on containing shipping within Canada until they see what international appeal they can muster up.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e going to conquer Canada and see where that goes,含羞草研究社� 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.
含羞草研究社淥ur lips are sealed, but we can say you含羞草研究社檙e going to love it,含羞草研究社� said Allen, the design-woman who brings her music management background to the table. 含羞草研究社淓veryone loves a surprise.含羞草研究社�
Johnson, the get-it-done girl who comes from a business and sales background, agreed.
含羞草研究社淚t gets people excited,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭his is the next phase of online shopping.含羞草研究社�
To amplify excitement, Allen and Johnson said a proverbial golden ticket to Kitsch Wines含羞草研究社� 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.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e relaying that local love.含羞草研究社�
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.
