From coffee to clothes and then some, there’s a subscription box for everything you need in your life now. MIA CHENYZE rounds up a clutch of services you’ll want to try.
From coffee to clothes and then some, there’s a subscription box for everything you need in your life now. MIA CHENYZE rounds up a clutch of services you’ll want to try.
LOWINSKY
What you get monthly Three to five items for a whole outfit – complete with accessories – curated for your fashion personality.
How it works You start off with a questionnaire. Besides sizing, other questions include how loose or closely fitted you wear your clothes, styles you prefer (romantic, preppy, edgy, for example), and prints you don’t like. You can even upload photos or share your social media accounts to help the online stylist find stuff that suits you. If something doesn’t fit or you don’t like it, you can ask for an exchange. Or you can get a refund on the box.
Cost From $32 a month for a pre-paid oneyear subscription to a $38 monthly plan you can cancel at any time before the cut-off date.
Delivery Free via Singpost registered mail. If the package does not fit in the letter box, you have to arrange for free redeliver y or self-collect from the post office. Alternatively, request and pay for courier service.
Our verdict The stylists were reasonably spoton with clothing options – although their taste was more casual. And we were rather surprised by a pair of bling shades. One or two more rounds of feedback should iron out these small issues.
KIMOCH BOX
What you get monthly A good mix of 10 to 12 packs of crisps, confectioner y and chocolates. Each sample packet is one serving.
How it works The box comes with a card listing the month’s goodies, as well as their ingredients and expiry dates. If you fall in love with a particular snack, you can order the full-sized pack online.
Cost From $13.75 a month for a pre-paid one-year subscription to a $15 monthly plan that you can stop any time before the cut-off date. One-off boxes are $16 each.
Delivery Super convenient and free. It comes by Singpost standard mail.
Our verdict Japan is famous for its infinite array of snacks, so this box was a great way to slowly munch our way through a sea of possibilities. The portions were just enough to finish in one, guiltfree sitting, too.
PINT SOCIETY
What you get monthly Two pints of freshly churned ice cream in a single flavour.
How it works Pint Society likes to push the boundaries on what's possible in an ice cream, so expect a surprise experimental flavour every month. Past creations have included Pineapple Tar t (pineapple ripple, pineapple jam and butter cookies) and Hazelnut Bomb (hazelnut gelato, crushed hazelnuts, chocolate cake, and chocolate-coated cornflakes).
Cost From $29 a month for a pre-paid one-year subscription to a $38 monthly plan you can stop any time before the cut-off date.
Delivery Free, done on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, 2-6pm or 6-10pm. Redeliver y is $15 per trip. Alternative: Self-collection from the central kitchen in Burn Road near Tai Seng MRT on weekdays, 10am-5pm.
Our verdict We thought the monthly plan pricey – even for fresh, artisanal ice cream. But if you commit to an annual subscription, the price is supposed to be on a par with boutique ice cream parlours.
SPURBOX
What you get monthly The box for one-year-olds includes toys for sensor y play and motor skills development. Boxes for older tots contain learning-driven activity sheets, two craft projects, a toy construction set and a badge.
How it works Each month has a different theme. For kids aged two to four, the contents are more focused on language skills, with flash cards and colouring and/or writing worksheets. For instance, an animal-themed box for two-year-olds had picture cards, colouring exercises and craft projects to learn words that star t with A and B, like alligators and bats.
Cost From $25.90 for a one-off trial box for one-year-olds to $286.80 for a oneyear pre-paid subscription. Delivery Free every 15th of the month via courier, with two time slots: 9am-3pm; after 3pm. There’s also a onetime free redeliver y option.
Our verdict The crafts in the box for three-year-olds were simply adorable. However, there should be better quality control of the materials; one of the paints had dried up. And you are expected to already own basic supplies like glue.
LOLLIBOX
What you get monthly Materials for two craft projects, activity suggestions for parents to engage their children with, and a reward badge for completed activities.
How it works Each box has a different theme. For instance, My Sweet Dreams box lets your child stitch and stuff a teddy bear with a plastic needle, and weave a dream catcher. The activity sheet follows the theme, with things like a bedtime checklist and a sheep-counting exercise.
Cost From $84.90 for a three-month subscription. Single boxes are $28.90 each.
Delivery Free via Singpost standard mail. The package will not fit in the letterbox, so if you miss a delivery, you’ll need to arrange a one-time free redeliver y or self-collect from a designated post office. Or you can opt for registered mail or courier service for an additional fee.
Our verdict The craft projects were fun – and a great family activity. However, supplies should be better scrutinised before shipping. We were dismayed when the yarn for the teddy bear split before we were even half done.
PERROBOX
What you get monthly Four to five healthy doggy treats and a toy. Boxes occasionally come with discount coupons from affiliated partners, too.
How it works Tell Perrobox how big your dog is (small, medium, big) and about any allergies and dietary restrictions, so it can customise your box. You can then also stock up on favourite treats online.
Cost From $29.90 a month for a small dog (up to 9kg). The service can be cancelled any time before the cut-off date.
Delivery Free after 7pm on a day of your choice. Redeliver y is also free.
Our verdict A mighty fine way to pamper your fur kid and add healthy variety to its diet. As for the stuffed toy, the Paul Frank plushie that came in our box lasted three hours before one feisty pup chewed it up.
HOOK COFFEE
What you get Freshly roasted Arabica coffee, ground specifically for your preferred brewing method: espresso, drip, aeropress, French press, moka pot, and even Nespresso-compatible capsules. Whole beans are available, too.
How it works Take a short quiz so Hook can understand the flavours and intensity you like, and recommend a blend. You can also browse the site for its range of blends. Stick to one or let it surprise you with a different blend each time.
Cost $14 for 20 capsules, 200g ground or whole coffee, and 10 drip bags for subscribers; $18 for ad hoc orders. You can stop your subscription any time before the stipulated cut-off date. The site’s Coffee Calculator helps you figure out the ideal frequency of deliver y based on your coffee-guzzling habits. So, depending on how much coffee you drink, you could receive your coffee weekly, monthly or at longer intervals.
Delivery Free via Singpost standard mail, and packed to fit into your letter box.
Our verdict The freshly roasted and ground concept will appeal to coffee geeks and newbies. The drip bags were perfect for us as all we needed were mugs and hot water! The Guji Liya from Ethiopia, described as “Meyer Lemon Meringue Pie”, had a lovely citrusy bouquet with floral notes.
SAKEMARU
What you get monthly One or two (depending on your plan) 720ml bottles of seasonal “nama” or unfiltered and unpasteurised sake.
How it works Sakemaru works directly with small breweries in Japan to source and deliver rare sake that’s raw (unpasteurised), limited in quantity, and believed to give a truer reflection of the brew’s natural profile.
Cost From $55 a month and $110 a month for one or two different bottles respectively. Six-month plans get a five per cent discount. Monthly plans can be cancelled any time before the cut-off date.
Delivery Free, done on the 25th of each month by Cool Ta-Q-Bin to ensure the sake remains chilled throughout the logistics process. There are three deliver y slots on weekdays: morning, 12-5pm and 5-8pm. Free redeliver y is possible.
Our vedict It was a helpful guide to appreciating sake. The accompanying pamphlet, in reasonably comprehensible English, provided notes on flavour profiles and a brief on the brewer y, as well as the recommended drinking temperature.
BATTERFUL
www.batterful.com
What you get monthly A complete set of ingredients, a photo recipe card that even tells you what equipment you’ll need, and a link to a short video guide.
How it works Go online to choose one of four recipes – cake, tart, muffin, or no-bake dessert – for each month. Batterful collaborates with cafes, bakeries and restaurants to design them. Ingredients are all apportioned, and there’s a separate refrigerated bag (complete with ice pack) for temperature-sensitive products. Use-by dates are clearly indicated, too.
Cost From $22.95 a month for a box that serves four to five to $32.95 a month for eight to nine people. You’re billed monthly but can cancel any time before the cutoff date.
Delivery There’s an additional $2.95 a month fee. Deliveries are done on Saturday or Sunday, 12- 5pm or 5-9pm. If no one’s home, the courier will call for somewhere safe to leave the box. One-time redeliver y is free. Failing which, you must self-collect from a designated location.
Our verdict The recipe card was very clear, from what to expect from the final result to its taste – great for novices. Plus, it took away the hassle of weighing everything. Ingredients, from the likes of King Arthur Flour and Meiji, were also premium quality.
