This update went out to our subscribers via email this morning. It has been slightly edited for clarity and I have eliminated information that pertains to their subscription accounts.
Hi there!
This email is long, so please take the time to read it carefully. You’re a book lover, so I know you like to read, but I’ll try to make it worth your while!
So many great things are on their way for Feminist Book Club members. We’ve got the holiday season on our minds and have been plotting ways to make it as easy and fun as possible for you to shop for the feminists in your life (or yourself, let’s be real). Stay tuned for more details.
Price Increase
As you may have seen, we raised our prices this week. You are still grandmothered in at the price when you signed up, so no need to fret! I had to make the difficult decision to raise prices for a number of reasons:
- Everything is getting more expensive. Since the last time we raised our prices, the price of cardboard (our boxes) has gone up at four times, paper has gone up once (our inserts), and postage has gone up at least twice (that I can remember).
- The effect of postage increase is twofold: We pay extra to receive our books and products. Though we do our best to source locally so we can pick up items and don’t have to pay for shipping, this isn’t always an option. Then we pay more to ship your orders to you.
- The effect of paper and cardboard increasing is the same. Our suppliers and makers have to charge more per unit in order to make any sort of profit. Therefore, so do we.
- FBC is increasing our reach across the board. We now have our own office and fulfillment space, plus a team to manage the space.
- Above all, we are determined to pay living wages for all, including myself. I haven’t taken a paycheck since July and would like to compensate myself. While we collaborate with the companies we feature, we pay standard wholesale rates for everything that goes into our boxes. We haven’t featured a donated product since the Larabars of October 2020!
- Ultimately, we’ve lost money on several boxes. And I’m okay with that. That’s the price of growth, and it’s how I choose to use my relative financial privilege. But it’s not sustainable.
Here’s our plan to make more money:
- Increase our subscription and one-time box prices (nothing in the add-on shop will change!)
- Offer in-person opportunities at our Minneapolis space, including workshops, yoga, and pop-up events.
- Partner with other small businesses for advertising and sponsorship opportunities.
Here’s what we refuse to do to make more money:
- Pay our vendors less.
- Let go anyone on our team.
- Cut hours for anyone on our team.
- Skimp on the value of the box.
- Cut our 5% donation to social justice organizations.
Here’s what we ask of you:
- If you’re willing to switch to the new subscription prices, we would be SO grateful. We’ll sweeten the deal with an item of your choice from the add-on shop! Please reply to this email if you are willing to increase your membership price and what price you’re able to pay (doesn’t have to be the full $55 – but maybe it’s more?!).
- If you own a small business or are close to a small business owner, please tell them about our advertising opportunities! Email me directly with any inquiries. Our advertising rates are flexible and incredibly reasonable.
- If you’re local to the Twin Cities, join us for events! We’re hosting a feminist holiday market on Nov. 27 and Dec. 11! (Are you a maker or business owner and want to be a part of it? Sign up here!)
- Shop our featured businesses and let them know you found them through us!
- Shop through our bookshop.org affiliate link. If you shop through this link, we’ll earn 10% of your purchase no matter what you buy, as will your local indie bookstores (determined by shipping zipcode).
- Share our content – whether it be our blog, podcast, social media posts, or your box, it all counts and means the world to us!
- Don’t forget about our referral program! You’ll earn $5 for every referral you make.
In summary, please reply to this email if:
- You are able to increase your member price.
- You or someone you know would like more info on partnership and advertising opportunities.
- You or someone you know would like more info on our holiday markets in Minneapolis.
- You have ideas for workshops in our space in 2022.
- You have a really cute gif that you want to share with me.
On behalf of all of us at FBC, we are so so grateful for you. Thank you for believing in our vision of a more feminist and just economic system. Capitalism sucks but we’re trying to make it suck a little less with your help.
All the best,
Renee Powers, founder
