MINIBC Enables LARQ’s Subscription Evolution
MINIBC makes recurring revenue possible
CHALLENGE
A Business Model Change Changes Everything
Moving from a focus on one-off sales and fulfillment to a subscription model meant that the LARQ team needed to re-evaluate a slew of internal processes and the technology used to manage them.
Facilitating the purchase of subscription products and ensuring the subsequent charges could be processed at the appropriate intervals and that the payment information could be properly and securely stored stretched the limits of a standard BigCommerce implementation. The LARQ team was happy with BigCommerce, though, and wanted to find a solution that wouldn’t require a full replatforming.
SOLUTION
MINIBC Makes Subscriptions Possible on BigCommerce
Fortunately, BigCommerce has a robust partner community and an easy to search catalogue of applications that enable Recurring Billing and Subscriptions. After exploring a couple options that didn’t suit their needs, LARQ reached out to MINIBC at the suggestion of their BigCommerce account manager.
The LARQ team was looking for two important attributes in a subscription billing partner. First, they wanted a flexible solution that would be compatible with some of the specific customizations that had been built into the ecommerce experience and that the team was keen to retain. Secondly, to ensure a seamless customer experience, they wanted a solution that was built natively into BigCommerce’s checkout flow.
With MINIBC checking both boxes, and more, the team moved forward with an API-based implementation that was completed on time and without issue. Kaleb commented that it was a “super fast process, especially when you consider that there were custom-built components.”
Sustainable Hydration Built On Design and Tech Innovation
LARQ, headquartered in San Mateo, California, has “done the science” to ensure safe and tasty drinking water for users of its line of filtration products. Its proprietary PureVis technology improves the quality of water at home and on the go. Since 2018 its ecommerce channel has been powered by BigCommerce.
After fine-tuning its signature UV-C water bottle for two years, LARQ launched a line of pitchers as well as replaceable bottle filters. In addition to supporting its sustainability mission, the new products provided LARQ with the opportunity to offer a subscription service – ensuring users with an effortless supply of filters, and the company with valuable recurring revenue.
According to Antonio Kaleb, Director of Ecommerce and Digital for LARQ, “The subscription opportunity completely changed the business model. It’s the foundation of our top KPIs and the vision for the future of the company.”
“Anyone who’s working with BigCommerce and has a need for subscription, I’d wholeheartedly recommend MiniBC over any other company.”
- Antonio Kaleb, Director of Ecommerce and Digital @ LARQ
RESULTS
A Successful New Subscription Business
LARQ is no stranger to success, having launched from a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign and subsequently walking away with an investment on Shark Tank that placed it as the highest valuation in show history. With 70% of its sales through its direct-to-consumer channel, it was a big bet to move to a subscription model. And it’s one that has paid off.
Kaleb was quick to say that implementing MINIBC “made subscriptions possible for LARQ.” Subscribers have doubled year-over-year, and the company expects its subscriber count to continue to grow at least 50% each year for the foreseeable future.
LARQ anticipates that within the next two years, its subscription business will surpass its one-time direct sales in revenue. Surely Shark Tank investors Kevin O’Leary and Lori Greiner are thrilled to hear it.