The explosion of the internet has forced many businesses to find new and innovative ways of marketing to potential customers – but as the internet becomes saturated with adverts, many business owners are now going back to older methods, using the internet only as secondary support.

A large number of companies in the US are returning to subscription-based services, offering bundles for a set price a month rather than reaching out to one-off customers. While this time they can use the internet to better determine their customer base and market their goods attractively, the system allows them to regain more control and communication with those customers. These subscriptions can then be advertised online or via business leaflets in magazine subscriptions and by post.

A number of UK companies, notably naked wines and ScrubBox, use the same system, while food companies such as Abel & Cole and Graze.com offer mixed boxes at set prices. This new method of goods delivery skips the need for impulse purchases, and while many customers may only buy once or twice, the convenience of the system makes customer loyalty a much more realistic target in a competitive marketplace.