Invest Time in Process: Subscription Box Expert Tip Series, Post 6

Bulu Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer Stephanie Jarrett was invited to share some of her Top Tips as a Subscription Box Expert at SUBTA Women in Subscription in September. In this ongoing series, you’ll find 6 tips you need to navigate your own box program - pulled from Stephanie’s experience launching more than 16 subscription box programs that have resulted in over 10 million shipments from Bulu’s warehouse, earned $100 million in revenue, and an average customer rating of 4.5/5 stars per box.

Subscription is relentless. It’s also cyclical and repetitive. Whether you’re just starting out or you have a whole team, having simple processes that are documented and followed creates clarity, reduces confusion and aligns everyone to achieve your goals.

Around 2017, Bulu invested heavily in documenting our mega- and micro-processes. We created templates for key program activities like Box Launches, Monthly Box Cycles and Customer Service.

Bulu uses Asana to coordinate timelines and tasks across all departments.

For example, we take the basic Monthly Box Cycle template and customize it for the unique needs of each program. Using this template month over month ensures maximum efficiency and productivity. Subscription work is ongoing, and you’re usually planning 3-6 months in advance, so you can use a template to see how work is overlapping as well.

A documented and ongoing process can enlighten your leadership team on how things are truly working at all levels of your business. At Bulu, we’ve been able to identify possible areas of improvement across all departments by utilizing ongoing, documented processes, including where we needed to best allocate our team and resources. Managers and team members are able to align on responsibilities without ambiguity. A documented process eliminates the need for, “I didn’t know I was supposed to be doing that,” or “I’m not sure how I missed that deadline,” conversations.

Most importantly, having a documented process means that you’re creating a self-sustaining organization that can run smoothly.

Top Tips from Subscription Box Experts Series

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