The Jilly Box is a quarterly lifestyle subscription box curated by founder, entrepreneur, creator, and cookbook author, Jillian Harris. Each box includes a different selection of products made by small, Canadian, women or non-binary owned brands picked by Harris to share with her community. We spoke to Julia Freeman, CEO of The Jilly Box, to learn more.
What is your business called and what does it do?
The Jilly Box is a heart-led brand, founded by Jillian Harris and her agent, Tyler Evans. The Jilly Box is a quarterly subscription box, filled with products from Jillian’s (and Team Jilly Box’s!) favourite brands. Each seasonal Jilly Box is typically valued at over $400 and available on a lottery basis to The Jilly Box Subscribers and Insiders for only $199 (including shipping!). We are proud to have launched and sold out of 22 seasonal boxes, featuring over 200 small businesses.
Proudly B Corp Certified since 2023, The Jilly Box is part of a global community that meets high standards of social and environmental impact, along with leading a movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy that actively improves the environment, society, and local communities.
We donate $2 from every box sold, and to date, have donated over $1,000,000 back into our local community, with the majority of donations going to women & families.
- THE JILLY BOX VISION STATEMENT: To become North America’s most sought-after, conscious and respected subscription box, while bringing joy to every home
- THE JILLY BOX VALUES
– Support small businesses, many of whom are Canadian, women-owned, minority-owned and environmentally conscious
– Team: We are a Certified Living Wage Employer. We pay all employees a living wage for the region, while building and maintaining an equitable work environment for all team members
– Sustainability: Research and implement practices that reduce waste and plastic. We operate under eco-friendly, biodegradable, vegan and plastic-free principles
– Provide value to the community: Give our customers a dose of joy each season, while providing products that Jillian and the team love and trust, at a value-driven price point.
What made you want to do this work?
The Jilly Box was founded as a way to share Jillian Harris’ favourite products and brands, while supporting the Canadian small business community, with a particular focus on lifting up businesses from historically marginalized groups. Our purpose is to support our community, connect people and celebrate impactful small businesses.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
The Jilly Box was built on the premise of providing value and supporting our community. We were founded with the intention of providing our community with products that are values-driven and bring joy to your home, while doing so in a way that protects our planet and the people in it. Our mission is to support small North American businesses, including purpose-driven companies owned by historically marginalized groups. We are proud that over 80% of the small businesses that we work with are owned by women or non-binary people.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
The Jilly Box community is composed of an amazing, highly dedicated audience of women of all ages. They eagerly await each season’s box to uncover the treasures that The Jilly Box team has curated especially for them! We also have a growing eCommerce Marketplace, The Jilly Market, where we source and sell curated products from values-led small businesses.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
There are two aspects of our business – the first is our seasonal subscription box. This coveted quarterly box is valued at over $400 and retails for $199 (including shipping). We have a loyal community of Subscribers who purchase The Jilly Box each quarter, and also offer a seasonal lottery to our Jilly Box Insiders for a chance to make a one-time Jilly Box purchase. Boxes sell out within 24 hours and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis!
The second, growing part of our business is The Jilly Market. The Jilly Market is an eCommerce marketplace where we curate an assortment of our favourite lifestyle products. The majority of these products are from values-led Canadian companies, and you can even shop according to the values that matter most to you. Our Jilly Market is being updated constantly with new brands and amazing products.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
The Jilly Box and The Jilly Market are available to customers across North America. Our Home Office is located in beautiful Kelowna, British Columbia.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
What sets The Jilly Box apart from other subscription boxes? Our values. We are proudly B Corp Certified. We’re not just about curating products; we’re about amplifying small businesses and marginalized voices. We make it a priority to feature small, Canadian, women-owned brands. Our mission is rooted in sustainability, inclusivity, and giving back. With every box, we donate to local charities and strive to reduce waste. When you shop with The Jilly Box, you’re not just treating yourself – you’re uplifting values-driven small businesses.
What is the best part about what you do?
The best part of The Jilly Box is celebrating the amazing products of values-led Canadian small businesses and watching our customers experience the joy of opening our seasonal boxes, which are curated with such love and attention.
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
Our team was recently sharing some funny jokes about The Jilly Box, and our favourite one is:
Why did the Jilly Box go to therapy? Because it had a lot of things to unpack
Where can we follow you?’
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
There are too many to name! We love all the small business partners that we feature in our seasonal box. Most recently, we partnered with Tuck, Cheekbone Beauty, Indaba, Mahara Mindfulness, Grosche, Lavoh and Brunette the Label on our Spring Box and our customers looooved it.
