INW Trading Co – Meet the Owners
- Lindsey A. Weaver
- Nov 12, 2020
- 3 min read
Another month, another local business to highlight. But what about a business that highlights other local businesses? It's like a business highlight inception. For this next post, we're headed well, nowhere! They're actually headed towards us. INW Trading Co. is a subscription box filled with locally made products from all around the Pacific Northwest. They have a heart and passion similar to Bee's Knees Marketing Co.'s, highlighting and supporting local business! Owned by husband and wife team, Gary and Mariah Bailey, they are based right here in Spokane.
If you're wondering, "this is amazing, why haven't I heard of them?" It's because they're brand new! At the time of our interview, they were only in their third month of business. By then, they had already been featured on both KHQ and KXLY, and they just recently found out they'll have a segment on Good Morning America airing early December. Talk about creating a buzz!
The couple ended up laid off due to COVID and were looking for a way to work from home while highlighting local businesses that may be struggling during the pandemic. Events such as craft fairs and trade shows have come to a halt during the pandemic, and these smaller local businesses depend on those sales to get them through the year. That's when INW Trading Co was born.
I asked what a typical day in business looks like, and they giggle and look at each other. Like many business owners, they said they "wear a lot of hats." Mariah tends to reach out to vendors creating business relations while Gary is everything media and marketing. The couple is currently online schooling their two children and just recently announced they have another child on the way. Congrats, you two!
Now to say they put their heart and soul into each box is a bit of an understatement. Each box is hand-painted, screen printed both inside and out, and it takes at least three days to complete one box. Did I mention they hand-deliver each box within local delivery range? Now that is dedication! On average, they spend 4-6 hours on a delivery day, dropping off boxes all over the area. If you see these friendly faces on the road, make sure you say hi!
Along with many other small business owners, their workspace isn't far from home. Well, it is their home. Not only do they have a nice little production station set up in their garage, but Gary is a professional photographer, so they have a photo studio set up for product photography on all individual items and the whole boxes themselves! When we spoke, they were gearing up for their "Spooky Boxes" that turned out ADORABLE.
Of course, now they are all geared up with their Holiday boxes featuring over seven different local businesses. Some of the businesses included in the Holiday boxes are: BeYOUtiful Bath Bombs & More, Black Sheep Paper Co., Wild June Co., Theo Chocolate, Roving Goddess, Linden Handcrafted, Potting Shed Creations, and Spokandy. There are so many businesses that are brand new to me, and I live and breathe local business! What a great way to discover local businesses from the Inland Northwest.
They currently offer three subscription sizes: Basic, Standard, and Big. Each subscription size determines how many items will come in your box every month. Basic Box subscribers can expect 5-7 items, Standard Box subscribers can expect 6-8 items, and Big Box subscribers can expect 7-10 items. Basic Boxes contain 3-4 small items and 1-3 medium items; Standard Boxes contain 3-4 small items and 2-4 medium items; Big Boxes contain 3-4 small items, 2-4 medium items, and 1 large item (items vary each month). Subscription boxes are hand-delivered in the Spokane area (or shipped to subscribers who live further away) on the 1st and the 15th of every month, depending on when subscriptions renew.
For December, they are offering limited edition luxury Holiday Gift Boxes (available for Pre-Order beginning Friday, November 13th). These boxes will contain most of the items that are included in the Holiday Big Box subscription, in addition to a few other holiday-themed items. INW Trading Co. Holiday Gift Boxes make the perfect gift for loved ones who love the Inland Northwest! For most small business owners, the holiday season is where the majority of their sales come from for the whole year. What better way to support a number of local makers at once than a Holiday Gift Box filled with locally made items?
I don't know about you, but I am absolutely getting my hands on one of those luxury boxes! I love this concept for a subscription box, and the fact that everything about it supports local businesses just makes my heart so happy. I genuinely believe that this power couple is on to something amazing!
So what are you waiting for? Sign up today, here.
© 2020 Bee's Knees Marketing Co. All rights reserved. All photos provided by Gary Bailey
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