For Kate Johnson and Julia Allen, it鈥檚 about shopping local and all things Okanagan.
That鈥檚 the motivator behind the duo鈥檚 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.
鈥淲e love shopping local and subscription boxes are such a hot trend right now, so we decided to combine the two ideas,鈥� said the Vernon-born Allen.
After a stint out west, Allen and Johnson, who is originally from 琉璃神社, moved back to the Okanagan to raise their families and pursue the iconic lifestyle felt across the region.
鈥淲e wanted to come back and have a simpler lifestyle for our kids,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lifestyle people want to be a part of whether they live here or not.鈥�
Part of that Okanagan lifestyle, they said, is the laid-back approach to city life that they missed in bigger centres.
鈥淵ou still feel like you鈥檙e living in a city but you don鈥檛 have to commute an hour to work,鈥� Allen laughed.
That love sparked the germ of Locality after they returned to the Valley.
鈥淟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,鈥� 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.
鈥淭hat really kind of pushed us to really start this,鈥� 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.
鈥淲e had people saying, 鈥榃hy didn鈥檛 this exist, it鈥檚 such a great idea,鈥欌�� Allen said. 鈥淕et a taste of the Okanagan while living in Calgary 鈥� that鈥檚 exactly what we wanted and people are saying that. We鈥檙e just feeling thankful for the community support.鈥�
Johnson and Allen鈥檚 first Locality subscription box is slated for delivery in June.
鈥淲e sold out right before midnight last night (May 1),鈥� Allen said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e definitely adding more in the fall.鈥�
For now, Allen and Johnson plan on containing shipping within Canada until they see what international appeal they can muster up.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to conquer Canada and see where that goes,鈥� 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.
鈥淥ur lips are sealed, but we can say you鈥檙e going to love it,鈥� said Allen, the design-woman who brings her music management background to the table. 鈥淓veryone loves a surprise.鈥�
Johnson, the get-it-done girl who comes from a business and sales background, agreed.
鈥淚t gets people excited,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is the next phase of online shopping.鈥�
To amplify excitement, Allen and Johnson said a proverbial golden ticket to Kitsch Wines鈥� 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.
鈥淲e鈥檙e relaying that local love.鈥�
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.
