With the holiday season in full bloom, there is no better time to shop for your loved ones than beginning with Thanksgiving. Although holiday travel sets in, slightly postponing your safari exploring or beach bumming, there is no excuse not to travel. Whether you are traveling domestically or internationally, you are in much need of lightweight original gifting ideas. And thanks to Birchbox, only a click away.
Take me, for instance. I travel back home to Romania quite often, for the holidays and other family celebrations. I often need gifts for not only my closest family members, but for my girlfriends, and I drive myself crazy thinking of something fun but small to pack in my luggage. And so, when Birchbox approached me with the idea of holiday boxes full of goodies, for both men and women, I was instantly hooked. Given the size of the boxes with samples, they were perfect for travel!
Launched in 2010, Birchbox has the most innovative e-commerce platform I’ve seen in a while. I had seen them last spring at NY Tech Day and NYC Silicon Alley and at last week’s NYC Uncubed, and I already knew I love their business model. Reinventing the retail experience, Birchbox offers its customers a personalized way to discover and try new products. For $10 a month, members receive deliveries of handpicked, deluxe samples that are tailored to their personal beauty profiles, ranging from makeup to hair, skincare and body products.
They can try them in the comfort of their own homes, learn about them on Birchbox.com through videos and how-to articles and then buy full-size versions of those they love in the Birchbox Holiday Shop. That’s exactly what I did when I received my adorable pink bag containing the two holiday boxes, and oh, what a thrill it was, to freely try new products without the pressures you usually feel in a store.
The samples are quite large, and diverse. I particularly liked the Stila bronze serum and the gold Color Club nail polish.
In April 2012, Katia Beauchamp and Hayley Barna launched Birchbox Man to help guys discover the latest grooming and lifestyle products. at $20/month. I will confess of trying the cologne and quite liking it. So gentlemen, the pain of shopping has come to a sweet end. You can order and try products whenever, however you like it.
If you’re not sure what gifts to get, then check the below cheat sheet!
Happy Thanksgiving and happy holiday travels!
Note: Birchbox offered me a complimentary package of Men and Women sample boxes, however views are my own.
