An e-commerce gift box startup that exclusively sells items from artists and makers in the state of Wisconsin is getting its first taste of brick-and-mortar retail on the shelves of the University Book Store.
University Book Store shoppers will now be able to purchase WiscoBoxes at the Book Store’s main UW-Madison campus location at 711 State St. and at the Hilldale Madison location at 454 N. Midvale Blvd. WiscoBoxes designs curated gift boxes featuring wine, candles, cheese, coffee, snacks and other items made by Wisconsin businesses.
The University Bookstore will carry three different WiscoBoxes: the Bloody Merry, the Mini Roast, and a book store exclusive box called Wisco State of Mind.
Founded in 2016, WiscoBoxes launched as a way to send more thoughtful, unique gifts to people who love Wisconsin, and want to support its local makers. Many of the gift boxes are based on a theme, including the Purebred Cheesehead for Packers fans and Something Blue for weddings.
The self-funded startup has grown steadily since it launched, increasing revenue more than 10% each of the last two years as it's found particular success with corporate gift giving, CEO and founder Sarah Botham said in an interview. The partnership with the University Book Store made sense as book store shoppers and WiscoBoxes' existing customer base have a lot of overlap.
"They are people who absolutely love Wisconsin," Botham said. "Whether they’re visiting from out of state and have fallen in love with our fabulous Badger State, or if they are Badgers through and through and want to share that love with other people, that's exactly the kind of person who is drawn to WiscoBoxes."
WiscoBoxes sources items from nearly 50 vendors in more than 70 towns in the state, Botham said, allowing customers to eat, drink and wear items from local businesses across Wisconsin.
"It's a really elegant gift that's still very personal," she said. "Everything in the box, including the boxes, are made in Wisconsin."
