By Amelia Dracup
Styles are constantly changing in fashion. Sometimes it is difficult to spend money on an item because it may not be considered trendy in just a few short months. But a few companies are making it easier to stay on trend without breaking the bank.
Birchbox supplies a monthly dose of current makeup looks and companies like Trunk Club will keep you in stylish clothes. Today, RocksBox allows customers to receive jewelry, wear it for as long as they like and keep the pieces that they want to purchase. As soon as a RocksBox customer returns a box, they can expect to receive another within a week. Plus, customers aren’t limited on the number of boxes they can receive per month.
When you receive your jewelry, you can expect designers of a mid-range price point, such as House of Harlow, Trina Turk and Kendra Scott. The value of the box will be around $200 and usually includes three pieces. The pieces generally match so that you can wear them all together.
In addition, the items RocksBox offers are bestsellers for the designers – so you know you are receiving the best products. SMU senior Allyson Zabaleta became a fan of RocksBox when she received a six-month gift card for Christmas.
“I love RocksBox because I feel like jewelry is usually super trendy, and it’s hard to invest money in trendy jewelry if it won’t be in style in a couple of months,” Zabaleta said.
She said she most enjoyed being able to “test drive” the different designs.
“It’s nice because you can see how often you wear a piece of jewelry and determine if it’s worth buying or not,” Zabaleta said.
To get started with RocksBox, you pay $19 a month to become a Shine Insider. Members can put $10 of “shine” toward a product they covet each month.
“I got a really pretty Loren Hope statement necklace that I love,” Zabaleta said. “And I also got some really pretty Kendra Scott jewelry.”
When you’re feeling classy, but also a little sassy.
A photo posted by Rocksbox (@rocksbox) on
Maeve Ricaurte is on the marketing team at RocksBox. She emphasized that the company takes the time to design each box to fit the individual’s style and ensure the client is getting a variety of jewelry pieces.
“Our stylists curate each customer’s box, reviewing her history, her requests (on Instagram and on our website) and any social media profiles she has connected for reference,” Ricaurte wrote in an email interview.
The arrival of yet another monthly subscription service shouldn’t be surprising, said Cara Jacocks, SMU assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies.
“Subscription companies prioritize convenience,” Jacocks said. “These companies allow you to try new products at your convenience, at your residence, at a reasonable price.”
The success of subscription companies is based on the fact that consumers’ shopping needs have changed. Instead of driving to the mall every weekend, people are choosing to shop online instead.
“Many of us work long hours, many of us commute long hours, many of us have complex personal demands in our lives,” Jacocks said. “This leaves little time for shopping for products we feel like we need, or products we desire.”
Jacocks said she herself favors subscription services.
“I simply try the products, keep the ones I like and subscribe for similar products, or return what I don’t like,” she said. “It’s that simple.”
