Best Marketing Idea Ever!
June ReaderCrate featuring Lois Winston’s Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun
By Lois Winston
What started in Sweden in 2007, quickly made its way throughout Europe, and showed up in the US in 2011? The best marketing idea ever: subscription meal kits. Hello Fresh was the first, quickly followed by Blue Apron. Now there are countless curated services for all dietary needs for both humans and their four-legged fur babies.
The Best Marketing Idea Ever: A Genius Concept
Other companies soon adopted the business model. Once upon a time the only subscriptions we had were for magazines. Then came premium cable channels, followed by Netflix. Now? We never have to leave our homes because we can subscribe to just about anything. Or everything. From cosmetics to vitamins to…ice cream. The sky’s the limit. For many consumers, this is a good thing. We never have to run out at the last minute because we’ve run out of something. (And what parent hasn’t made an emergency midnight diaper run to Walmart?)
The Best Marketing Idea Ever: This is not a Scam
Back in January, I received an email with the subject line, “This is not a scam.” As authors, we’re all being inundated lately with scam emails from phony book clubs and publicists, trying to part us from our hard-earned Benjamins. But those emails are showing up in my author account, not my personal account. And this email came from a name I recognized. Because my email is configured to show the entire message without me clicking on a link, I didn’t immediately delete it. It turned out the subject line wasn’t a lie. The email was really from cozy mystery author Lyssa Lund, and it was legit.
Lyssa was inviting me to be one the authors showcased in ReaderCrate, a cozy mystery subscription service she had created. Once a month subscribers receive curated boxes of cozy mysteries, along with cozy-themed gifts and goodies.
The Best Marketing Idea Ever: Why Hadn’t I Thought of That?
My first thought when reading about ReaderCrate was, what a genius of a marketing idea! My second thought was, why hadn’t I thought of that?
I’m a think-outside-the-box kind of girl. When I was asked to write a crafting-themed cozy mystery series, I deliberately created one different from all the other crafting-themed cozy mysteries I came across. My series is set in an upscale suburban community outside Manhattan, not a small town.
My sleuth is the crafts editor at a women’s magazine, not a shop owner or production crafter, or hobbyist. That way I wouldn’t be confined to one craft throughout the series. Every book in my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries features a different craft. And most of all, Anastasia is a reluctant amateur sleuth who would like nothing better than never coming across another dead body for the remainder of her life and never again having to figure out whodunit.
Of course, I enthusiastically accepted Lyssa’s invitation. ReaderCrate subscribers will be receiving a copy ofAssault with a Deadly Glue Gun, the first book in my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series, as one of their June box reads. I also sat down for an interview with Lyssa a few weeks ago for the ReaderCrate website. It’s also available on YouTube.
If you consume cozy mysteries as quickly as you run out of shampoo or cat food or toilet paper or just want to treat yourself (and don’t we all deserve to treat ourselves now and then?), you might want to check out ReaderCrate.
What do you subscribe to? Post a comment for a chance to win a promo code for a free audiobook download of any of the available Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries or Empty Nest Mysteries.
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USA Today and Amazon bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry. Learn more about Lois and her books at her website www.loiswinston.com. Sign up for her newsletter to receive an Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mini-Mystery.
Thanks for sharing this Lois! Just when you think there’s nothing new . . .
I applaud Lisa genius, Brooke.
What a clever target marketing idea, Lois! Sounds like a successful venture. Best of luck with it.
Thanks, Gay. I’m hoping it’s a way to gain more readers. We’ll see…
Nice to know one of the items I will be receiving in my June box! First time doing this so here’s hoping it’s as good as it looks!
Marcia, it’s nice to hear from a ReaderCrate subscriber. I hope you enjoy the box and especially Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun.
What a great idea. How many boxes are sent out each month — I gather one?
Debra, I believe it’s one box to all subscribers, but I think the boxes are curated to the individual subscribers’ tastes. I’m not sure, though, and I never thought to ask. All I know is that my book is going out to 30 subscribers for June.
That is a genius marketing idea! I know they will love your books, Lois!
Maggie
Thanks, Maggie! I hope so!
Wow! You’re right–this is a great idea. Congratulations for being selected to be a part of it. I predict many more Anastasia fans in the offing.
Thanks, Saralyn! I hope you’re right. 🙂
I’m the one who connected you with Lyssa! I’m so glad it worked out.
Yes, you were, Ellen, and I’m soooo very grateful. I owe you!
Love this idea! I’m glad you didn’t delete that email. I probably would have.
Thanks, Kathleen! I almost did.
Very cool!
Thanks, TK!
Great marketing idea! Thanks for sharing, Lois.
Thanks, Judy!
Brava, Lois!! Right up your cozy alley!
Thanks, Donnell!
That is a good idea. I like it.
Thanks, Dru!
Great idea, Lois. How does it work logistically? Does each chosen author send a certain number of physical books to Lyssa who acts as a clearing house and mails them out together each month? Who adds the swag?
thanks,
Susan
Yes, Susan. Lyssa acts as the clearing house. She tells each author how many books to send her. She reimburses the authors for the cost of the books and shipping and sends bookplates for the authors to sign and send back to her. The authors are welcome to include swag. I believe she also includes additional swag.
Hey! Thanks for forwarding this info to SinC. What a clever and delightful idea. i’ll contact her when my cozy comes out in the Fall.
You’re welcome, Claire. Best of luck on your upcoming release.
How cool, Lois! I hope you follow up with tales of great success with this. Sounds like a wonderful way to introduce yourself to new readers!
Thanks, Melissa! I’m keeping my fingers crossed!