Glamping Essentials

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What inspired you to start your business?

Ironically, it was the burnout I experienced as a public health nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic that led me to start my business, Glamping Essentials. Camping and the outdoors have always been a big part of my life since childhood. As a parent, I made it a priority to share this passion with my three children, creating cherished memories on countless camping trips.

In the summer of 2021, when pandemic lockdowns were at their peak, camping became a deliberate and much-needed escape from the stress of healthcare work. But by fall, I found myself feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. I longed for a way to keep that sense of outdoor adventure alive through the colder months and searched for a subscription box that would offer a curated selection of camping products to bring comfort and joy.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t find anything that fit the bill—especially not something that highlighted Canadian brands. I realized that I couldn’t be the only one searching for this kind of experience. So, I decided to create it myself and launched Glamping Essentials, a Canadian camping subscription box with a twist. Each box is filled with thoughtfully chosen items that celebrate wellness and the beauty of the Canadian outdoors, blending luxury with practicality to help others enjoy nature in style.

How would you describe your business?

Glamping Essentials is a proudly Canadian business, created by Canadians for Canadians. My commitment to supporting small, independent Canadian businesses is at the heart of every Glamping Box, with a focus on enhancing the wellness of my customers while celebrating the beauty of the Great White North.

The mission of Glamping Essentials is to promote total wellness for our customers by encouraging positive social connections, outdoor experiences, and a balanced lifestyle. To achieve this, I personally attend markets, read reviews, and test hundreds of products, ensuring each item selected aligns with this mission and represents authentic Canadian craftsmanship.

Each season, a new theme guides the selection of products, offering a mix of reusable items, consumables, and keepsakes designed to elevate the camping experience for many seasons to come. Myself, my family and my friends rigorously test these products during real camping and cottage trips, ensuring top quality. I’m proud to include items sourced from coast to coast, including products from Indigenous-owned businesses and partnerships with nationally recognized charities.

Beyond the seasonal Glamping Boxes, Glamping Essentials also curates specialized gift boxes for occasions like Mother’s Day, birthdays, and host gifts for campsite or cottage stays. We offer a variety of “Glamping Essentials,” including drinkware, outdoor lighting, and custom clothing, all designed to bring comfort and a touch of luxury to your Canadian outdoor adventures.

What’s your bestselling product?

The annual Glamping Box subscription is by far the best seller.

Why do you think it’s so popular?

The annual Glamping Box subscription is our best-seller, and it’s easy to see why. Customers love the variety, quality, and thoughtfully curated products inside. The excitement of discovering new Canadian brands, trying unique items, and sharing their finds with family and friends makes each box a memorable experience. With the annual subscription, customers can “set it and forget it,” making a one-time payment and receiving a new box automatically delivered in May, July, September, and December.

Year after year, returning customers consistently share glowing feedback, praising the exceptional value and the attention to detail in every box. Many have even discovered new favorite outdoor snacks and drink recipes thanks to their Glamping Boxes!

Each box includes four to six full-sized products—no trial sizes here! The mix often features consumable items like candles, sunscreen, or bug spray, as well as long-lasting essentials such as wine tumblers, travel mugs, toques, or tea towels. There’s often an activity included, whether it’s a deck of cards, a craft, a game, or a puzzle. Plus, each box features a snack perfect for sharing and a custom drink recipe to enjoy with friends.

Every item is sourced from a Canadian small business, supporting the mission of Glamping Essentials: to promote wellness through positive social connections, enriching outdoor experiences, and a balanced lifestyle.

What’s your favourite product from your own shop?

Selecting each product for the Glamping Boxes is truly a labor of love—it takes so much time, effort, and energy that by the time the boxes are complete, each item feels like one of my own! It’s hard to pick a favourite, but if I had to choose, the item I use most often is the insulated wine tumbler from Glamping Essentials.

This tumbler isn’t just for wine—it’s versatile enough to keep my tea hot and my water cold, and the sleek design fits perfectly in any cup holder since it doesn’t have handles. The clear lid prevents spills, and the vibrant colors and positive message always bring a smile to my face, no matter the time of day. Best of all, since the tumblers are made by hand, each is unique—no two are exactly alike!

What’s your favourite local Canadian business?

Supporting local businesses is at the heart of Glamping Essentials. For every Glamping Box, I select products from four to six small Canadian businesses, showcasing a variety of unique items. Since launching in 2022, Glamping Essentials has partnered with over 40 Canadian companies—and we’re just getting started! Our partners come from coast to coast, but if I had to highlight a favourite local business, it would be Cocoa Bistro (a Canadian chocolate brand based in Kingston, Ontario)

Audrey, the talented chocolatier behind Cocoa Bistro, contributed the hot chocolate bombs for our very first Glamping Box in 2022 and crafted the perfect s’mores kit for 2023. She’s been a staple in our gift boxes, providing a variety of sweet treats. Audrey’s creativity and commitment to quality ensure that Canadians always have something fun, new, and delicious to enjoy at the campsite or cottage.

• Canadian Subscription Boxes shopping guide