Introduction
"Build-a-box" is a type of subscription that allows a customer to build their own customized product and service bundles. Once a customer has made their selections, the bundle can be setup to deliver on a reoccurring basis, just like a regular subscription.
Creating a build-a-box subscription using Appstle
Step 1: To begin, you will need to create a traditional subscription plan. More information on creating a subscription plan can be found here. Once a subscription plan has been created, go to your dashboard and navigate to More> All/Revenue boosters > Build-A-Box.
Step 2: Click Create Build-A-Box and then make sure "Enable" is selected. You will then have the choice between two different types of Build-A-Box: Dynamic Pricing or Fixed Pricing.
Dynamically Pricing Bundle: The price that customers pay for this bundle will change based on the individual products inside it.
Fixed Pricing Bundle: The merchant creates and uses a parent product with a set price. This price will be what your customers pay once they make their selection.
Setting a Dynamically Pricing Bundle
Set the minimum product count and the minimum and maximum order amounts. Then, select where the bundle will redirect the customer upon opening. This location will be linked and sent to you once your Build-A-Box is finalized.
The location is set to the cart page by default but can be configured in the drop down menu to be either the checkout page or a custom page (with an appropriate URL).
You will also see the option for Tiered Discounts. Discounts can be based on the quantities of products or the monetary value of the products being purchased.
You may also configure discounts so that the more a customer purchases, the greater discount they receive.
Setting a Fixed Pricing Bundle
To create a fixed pricing bundle, you will need to create a source product in your Shopify Products section that will act as the basis for the box. Select a subscription plan you have created to tie the box to.
Once the source product has been created, ensure that it is part of the subscription plan that you want to offer. After choosing a plan, select your source product and the other products you want to apply fixed pricing too in the box. Then, set a min and max quantity for the products.
Generating Links and adding to your store's navigation
Subscription Bundle Link: To generate the subscription link, click save and re-open the subscription plan. A subscription bundle link will be automatically generated. You can click on the highlighted 'document' icon to copy the subscription bundle link.
Build-a-box menu: To add the build-a-box to your product page/Shopify admin page, go to Shopify Admin > Content > Menu > Main Menu. Then, click Add Menu Item to add the bundle subscription you created.
Name the 'Menu item' and Paste the Subscription Bundle Link that you copied.
Click on save. When you go to your online store, you will see the Build-a-Box Menu.
Here are examples of how both types of build-a-boxes will look like:
Dynamically Pricing:
Customers will be directed to a page where they can immediately choose products to add to their carts to purchase.
Fixed Pricing:
Customers will first see a page where they can choose the build-a-box plan that they would like to purchase from. The products they will see here are the source products you chose when configuring, and the price they will see is the price of the source product you set when creating your subscription plan.
Once selected, they can click Next Step to be taken to the product selection page:
Customization: You can customize the build-a-box page to best suit your store, theme, and industry, by using our Subscription Bundling CSS)
If you want to learn more about strategizing the build-a-box model, please visit our blog article.
If you have any questions on build-a-box or need any help, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at subscription-support@appstle.com.