Destination Delivered was a dream I quietly carried for more than 10 years. I never told anyone about it, not even my husband, my mom, or my closest friends. I’ve always loved traveling, discovering new places, and experiencing different cultures. I’ve also always loved finding the perfect gift for someone, something that feels personal and makes them genuinely happy. I just didn’t know how to bring those two passions together into a business.

In October 2025, during an incredibly difficult season of my life, I stumbled across the Launch Your Box podcast. Something clicked. I signed up for their Subscription Box Week event, joined their coaching community the following month, and finally began turning that decade-long dream into reality. After 17 years of owning a cake business, I was creating something completely new, built around two things I’ve always loved.

What makes Destination Delivered different is that I’m not simply filling boxes with souvenirs. Every destination is meticulously and thoughtfully curated with beautiful, useful products that my subscribers will genuinely enjoy long after their box arrives. Through regional flavors, recipes, music, travel stories, and cultural discoveries, I create an experience that lets someone explore a little piece of the world from home.

Now I get to do something I’ve always loved, finding thoughtful, meaningful gifts for people, every single month. And I can genuinely say I’m the happiest I’ve been in years.

Before launching Destination Delivered, I focused on building a waitlist of people who were excited about the concept. At the end of February 2026, I held a live four-day launch and officially introduced the business. It was incredibly exciting to watch an idea I’d kept to myself for more than a decade finally become something real, with people who actually wanted to be part of it.

Today, new customers find Destination Delivered through a combination of social media, word of mouth, unboxing creators, networking, and paid advertising. I’ve learned that there isn’t one magic formula for growing a business. It’s about consistently showing up, building relationships, sharing what makes your business special, and being willing to try new things.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that consistency really is key. Not every post, advertisement, or marketing effort will bring immediate results, but each one creates another opportunity for someone to discover Destination Delivered. I’m building this business one relationship, one subscriber, and one destination at a time.

One of the most important decisions I’ve made was recognizing that creating a great product wasn’t enough. I also needed to learn how to get it in front of the right people.

I invested in Gloria Chou’s Get Featured Accelerator, where I learned how to confidently pitch my business to journalists, editors, and television producers. I also purchased Ecommerce Alley’s Meta Ads Course to better understand how to reach potential customers through advertising. Both have completely changed how I approach growing Destination Delivered.

In just the past few weeks, I’ve made media connections I never would have imagined approaching before, and for the first time since launching, I completely sold out of my monthly boxes!

One mistake that taught me a valuable lesson was not understanding how to use social media effectively. I thought that consistently posting beautiful photos and sharing information about my boxes would naturally attract customers. What I’ve learned is that there’s a big difference between simply posting content and creating content with purpose. Understanding my audience, giving them reasons to engage, and building genuine connections are just as important as showcasing the products themselves.

After more than 17 years as an entrepreneur, I’m still learning, adapting, and discovering new ways to grow. And I’ve realized that one of the best investments I can make in my business is continuing to invest in myself.

Although I’ve only been in the subscription box industry for about nine months, one thing I’ve noticed is that people seem to be gravitating toward experiences rather than simply accumulating more things. They want something meaningful, something that creates a memory, sparks curiosity, or brings a little joy into their everyday lives.

There’s also something special about having a surprise arrive at your doorstep each month. In a world where most of our mail consists of bills, advertisements, and things we’ve ordered ourselves, receiving a beautifully curated box filled with unexpected discoveries gives people something to genuinely look forward to.

I’ve embraced that by making Destination Delivered about so much more than the products inside the box. Each month, I create an experience around a surprise destination, complete with regional flavors, recipes, music, and stories. I recently introduced The Monthly Escape, a beautifully designed booklet that takes subscribers even deeper into the destination, sharing its history, culture, hidden gems, and travel inspiration.

My goal is for subscribers to feel like they’ve been somewhere, learned something new, and enjoyed a little escape from their everyday routine. The products are wonderful, but it’s the experience and anticipation that I hope they’ll remember most.

The very first thing I would tell someone is to build their waitlist, and don’t rush through it! Give yourself a good 90 days to build an audience, create excitement, and connect with people who genuinely want what you’re offering. It’s tempting to jump straight into launching, but having people who are already excited about your business before you open your doors can make such a difference.

I would also tell them to ignore that little voice telling them everything has to be absolutely perfect before they begin. I’m still learning this one myself! There will always be something you want to improve, change, or do differently. At some point, you have to trust what you’ve created, put it out into the world, and allow yourself to grow along the way.

But above all else, choose something you’re genuinely passionate about. Building a business takes an incredible amount of time, energy, and persistence. If you don’t love what you’re doing, that lack of passion will eventually show in your work, and what started as an exciting opportunity can quickly turn into burnout.

I’ve spent more than 17 years as an entrepreneur, and if there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that running a business isn’t always easy. But when you’re building something you truly love, even the difficult days feel worthwhile.