Consumer Insight: The Subscription Economy

- Study reveals cost of wasted subscriptions

- Subscription market continues to grow

- Saving money and convenience are key factors for customers

Shoppers can get almost anything on a subscription basis now, but what does that mean for businesses these days? We take a look at the state of the subscription economy, and the impact it’s had on online buyer behavior.

From the good old days of newspaper boys, timetabled deliveries have grown exponentially. And now, whether it’s razors, makeup, or even furniture, the rise in regularly-received goods and services – thanks to a small (or large) monthly fee – have seen all sorts arriving on doorsteps at scheduled intervals. 

Research¹ revealed that in the UK, an estimated £25bn is spent each year on unused subscriptions – an average of £39 per person per month. It's gym subscriptions that are the biggest culprit, but there are plenty more services cashing in on those who are unwilling to cancel. In fact, in the States, US$348 is wasted every year by those who have unused entertainment subscriptions².

Jennifer Savary, an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management and co-author of ‘The Uncertain Self: How Self-Concept Structure Affects Subscription Choice’³, has written extensively on the subject, in an attempt to understand the psychology behind subscriptions.

"We know that people don't like to waste money but, for some reason, unused subscriptions are catching us out. I am particularly interested in why people want to be seen in a certain way, so I approached this research through that lens."

Of course, the ease with which people can sign up – with free trials a no-brainer for both buyer and seller – means that the rise in subscriptions is showing no signs of stopping. But why are so many people signing up for so many services?

"When you separate payment from consumption, it doesn't hurt so badly because there’s not a specific moment of monetary transaction – that’s a benefit. There's also research looking at what we might call a ‘cognitive miser’. People want to minimize their effort and because it's hard to cancel subscriptions, they often forget."

Self-concept clarity & the subscription economy

There's an established concept in psychology called 'self-concept clarity', which relates to how certain people are about their identities. Having a subscription to a product or service helps reflect who a person believes themselves to be – whether that’s a vegetable box, headphones, or something more obscure – and that’s what makes subscriptions services appealing. Some people who subscribe to The Economist may never read it, but wouldn’t dream of cancelling, as it strips away part of their identity.

Self-identity is ever-changing, and can be impacted by significant life events. Not just things like moving house or getting married but also wider events such as the Brexit-related issues in the UK, for example. People’s sense of self can be brought into question – and these moments present an opportunity for brands, encouraging potential customers to align to the right type of subscription to help people feel more in control. 

What's in it for buyers?

With subscription businesses growing in the e-commerce market⁵, according to McKinsey & Company, this model shows no signs of slowing. But what keeps people coming back? According to Whistl⁶, 60% said that they sign up for subscription services to save money – while 45% do so for the convenience and 30% for the added perks or benefits, such as with Amazon Prime.

Of those who subscribe, 22% value personalized experiences, according to McKinsey. Epsilon⁷ found that 80% of people are more likely to make a purchase if a brand offers a personalized experience, and Deloitte⁸ discovered that 20% are willing to pay a premium for a personalized product. Which leads us on to Nura, a company renowned for offering premium headphones that automatically adapt to each user's hearing profile.

Through NuraNow, it’s offering the same quality on a subscription basis, removing the initial price barrier. Subscribers pay a monthly fee between US$9 and US$15, with an up-front fee of up to US$100. After two years, subscribers receive a new pair of headphones, and can keep the old ones, too. Delivered as an impeccably-packaged product, users also receive exclusive content from artists associated with Nura, access to competitions for concert tickets, free music downloads, and exclusive merchandise. Nura piloted the idea in Australia, where it sold out in less than a week. Then they expanded to the US and UK. Although it should be noted that when the subscription is stopped, all products have to be returned…

So, is subscription right for your business?

“A lot of times, [companies are] paying 2-4 months’ worth of revenue upfront to acquire a customer, and they need that 5th, 6th, 7th month of renewals to actually make any profit on that customer.” Amir Elaguizy, Co-founder, Cratejoy

McKinsey & Company identified three main types of subscription service:

• Curation: New items for customers to sample and use, which account for 55% of subscriptions.
• Replenishment: Replacements of the same types of products (32%).
• Access: Perks and discounts on items (13%).

And, in a survey conducted by Clutch⁸, the five most popular subscription services were:

• Dollar Shave Club: 29%
• Ipsy: 21%
• Blue Apron: 17%
• BarkBox: 17%
• HelloFresh: 16%

Subscription comes with its own set of challenges – especially when the items you provide are bigger, such as with furniture company, Feather⁹. And even if your products are smaller, logistics at scale can be a challenge, so it’s important to choose a partner who can accommodate your offering. Subscription services do offer a more enhanced ability to predict stock requirements – which can be hugely beneficial. Regardless of all these, it’s also crucial to partner with a logistics company who know cross-border trade when you’re looking to grow globally.

DHL Express operates in over 220 countries and territories, and therefore offers your business huge potential global expansion – promising door-to-door delivery and the ability for customers to track their shipment, wherever it may be. DHL Express can also provide paperless clearance for getting your goods through customs faster, preventing any potential delays which may impact a subscriber’s experience and their likelihood to stay on.

Coupled with the ability to offer time-definite delivery, opening an account with DHL and subscribing to our services means that there’ll be no surprises – just reliable, efficient shipping you’ll certainly want to stick with long term.