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Co-founder Isaac Sandoval with his wife and three children
When Isaac Sandoval found himself planning dates with his beautiful wife of 12 years after they dropped their kids off at the babysitter – which really meant they ended up at the same chain restaurant – he knew there had to be a better and more romantic way. The trouble was, Sandoval had three kids and a day job. All his married friends seemed to have settled into an unexciting date night pattern, but Sandoval wanted more than a lame date, he wanted an experience. The Flutter Box, the company he co-founded with Matt Ruocco, is betting you do too.
Better Dates
At first Sandoval started doing research on dates (pre-babysitter drop-off) for his own needs. “We need to create exciting memories. We’ve been trying to plan different unique dates… It would be so nice if we didn’t have to do all the planning,” said Sandoval.
After talking with his co-founder, they realized there was a market for this.
Sandoval leaned heavily on his background in digital media and marketing to launch The Flutter Box. His experience working with business owners, restaurateurs and entertainment venues has helped as he searches for the best dates, month after month.
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The company was born last October and is currently only available in Denver. Subscribers get Flutter Boxes in the mail once a month – hand packed at the moment by the co-founders (pictured left). The boxes include fun and romantic activities around the city — it could be something along the lines of dinner at Adams Mystery Playhouse or a fondue to cook at home. “We also pack in the box little accessories like massage oil, candles, and rose petals,” added Sandoval.
Boxes come with his and her instructions, sure to help even the densest of men turn into romantics.
Sandoval thinks The Flutter Box has a unique take on the subscription business model. “The subscription box model has been coming up quite a bit. Ours is a bit more unique because we aren’t just sending products, we are sending experiences,” said Sandoval.
He added that while this isn’t a Groupon model – they aren’t specifically targeting places that give discounts – users get more value than the monthly subscription price.
Rekindling the Romantic in Everyone
Originally The Flutter Box started with just one package subscription, but they took feedback from their users and added a second box. Now they offer two packages. The 'Spark Box' is their budget, fun date that often takes place during the day. The 'On Fire Box' is their crème-de-la-crème date. “It’s kind of a like a Valentine’s Day once a month,” said Sandoval.
The company is careful to get a solid understanding of its subscribers, so they don’t send an activity that wouldn’t work with their preferences. Date boxes are planned out 5-6 months in advance.
Sandoval wants to make sure they get everything right before expanding to other markets. Plus, any expansion will require understanding the town like a local – knowing the best, most romantic and fun places to get a true experience for a date. Sandoval is considering hiring “date planners” in expansion cities – people who know and love the city and are true romantics at heart. They hope to grow their subscriber base to 1,000.
Love and Support
Starting the Flutter Box has made Sandoval busier than he was before, which could be a strain on a happy marriage, but date planning as a profession has its perks. “My wife’s not always particularly excited about me investing my time into new ventures and businesses, but she fell in love with the Flutter Box,” said Sandoval.
“Our goal is to help couples not fall into the rut,” said Sandoval.
With Valentine’s Day coming up in less than a month, there’s no excuse not to be a perfect romantic in Denver.
