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Are subscription services right for you?

subscription model

Learn the do’s and dont’s of a subscription service from Tawnee Kinnebrew, owner of Wyldwood Creative in Renton, Washington.

Membership Benefits

Subscription services aren’t anything new, even for the creative community (think fabric clubs and mystery boxes). Kinnebrew offers a fresh take on the old idea by allowing customers to pay a monthly fee to become “Wyldwooders” and receive member benefits.

Kinnebrew offers two subscription tiers. The first starts at $3.50 monthly, and allows members access to a Discord group (similar to a private chat) where members share tips, projects, ideas, and more. They’re also added to Wyldwood’s close friends group on Instagram. Close friends have access to sneak peaks on inventory orders and first access when new inventory arrives.

The second tier is a $10 monthly fee that includes the previous benefits plus two monthly events (one in person and one virtual). Wyldwood hosts a variety of events including sew-ins, happy hours, or outings in the area. Discounts are also available to to those who buy annually.

And for those community minded, take Kinnebrew’s idea where she donates $1 per month from each membership to the Duwamish Tribe.

Subscription Options

Kinnebrew puts it best when she said, “People buy into me as much as to what I sell.”

Kinnebrew controls her subscription through a site called Patreon. Patreon is a company that hosts your membership site and also manages participants, tracks usage, and collects funds.

Inspiration for this post comes from “Membership Benefits Build Community” by Katherine House published in the December 2022 issue of Creative Retailer.


If you’re looking for more information to guide you in owning a retail business, subscribe to Creative Retailer today. Already a subscriber? No worries—join our Facebook group for insights and dialogue from industry specialists like you. And don’t forget, you can always purchase single issues if you prefer that instead.

If you still can’t get enough, register for the Creative Retailer LIVE Spring 2023 event May 2-4 in Pawhuska, Oklahoma for opportunities to learn from peers and network with industry professionals.

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