BY MONIQUE QUINTANA
Run by Jamie Satterfield, Creeper Crate is a monthly subscription box business that celebrates babes who love campy horror and the gothic. I learned about this business from Instagram and was intrigued by the company account, which displays an impressive knowledge about the horror and gothic genres by sharing memes, GIFS, short videos, and fun facts with its’ fan base.
266 Likes, 8 Comments - Creeper Crate (@creepercrate) on Instagram: "🔪Night Creeps!🔪WCW is going to some of my favorite Scream Queens! Will we see them in anything new..."
Each month Satterfield curates a themed box that contains several products from small businesses that sell their wares online. Previous themes have included "Slasher," "Labyrinth," and "Killer Klowns." Each box comes in a Standard size, which retails for $19.95, plus shipping and handling and a Deluxe size, which retails for $29.95, plus shipping and handling. You can order boxes individually or you can sign up for a subscription that automatically charges you on the 15th of every month.
546 Likes, 24 Comments - Creeper Crate (@creepercrate) on Instagram: "🔪The SLASHER Box!🔪 I swiped this pic of the Deluxe SLASHER Box from @stitchtupgothgrl (Thanks for..."
177 Likes, 5 Comments - Creeper Crate (@creepercrate) on Instagram: "🔮A Look inside!🔮A great pic of April's LABYRINTH Box! Thank you Jade! This box is the Original..."
269 Likes, 27 Comments - Creeper Crate (@creepercrate) on Instagram: "🤡🔪KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE🔪🤡The movie was released 29yrs ago today in 1988! The KILLER KLOWNS..."
140 Likes, 3 Comments - Creeper Crate (@creepercrate) on Instagram: "🔪🔪Coming This Year!🔪🔪 Hey Creeps! Here's a look at the rest of 2017! 🔪The SLASHER📦(July) PRE ORDER..."
I decided to try out Creeper Crate by ordering a "Queens of Macabre" box. When it arrived, I happily found a box that contained a full sized lipstick in the shade "Slay" by Suavecita Pomade, an Elvira sleep mask by Kreepsville 666, pocket-sized mirror with the image of the Bride of Frankenstein, a lovely sticker featuring Morticia Addams, a grapefruit scented spider-in-web bath bomb by Brutal Bathory, an exclusive Lily Munster pin by Demonic Pinfestation and a DVD of Ed Wood’s classic B-horror film, Plan 9 from Outer Space, which is touted as one of the worst films ever made, and features Maila Nurmi of Vampira fame.
156 Likes, 3 Comments - Creeper Crate (@creepercrate) on Instagram: "⚰️The QUEENS OF THE MACABRE Box⚰️ Time is running out to grab this box! EXCLUSIVE Items by..."
Shortly after receiving this initial bounty, I decided to purchase a monthly subscription to the box because I was intrigued by the forthcoming themes. For the month of August, Satterfield put together a "Coven" box promising a mix of items featuring American Horror Story: Coven and the film, The Craft. I eagerly anticipated this box, especially since there were teaser posts on the Creeper Crate Instagram page. Here’s what was in the box when it arrived: A small bundle of white sage, an exclusive pin of Myrtle from AHS: Coven, a "BADDEST WITCH IN TOWN" window decal from Merch Massacre, a sticker of a solemn Nancy Downs from the Craft, a sticker of the famous witches-walking-in-French Quarter scene from AHS: Coven, a purple iridescent pentagram necklace from Sparkle Monster, vegan nail polish in "Midnight Rose" shade from Black Dahlia Lacquer, "Times Three" Limited Edition Bath Bomb by Porcelain Wolf, and a red tote bag featuring the witch trio from "The Craft" by Rainbow Alternative.
I was especially impressed by the tote bag and bath bomb. The textile of the tote bag was lightweight and of excellent quality. The scent and packaging of the bath bomb sort of blew my mind. The bomb, which contains sweet almond oil, also smells like a citric combustion of fruit and the color was intergalactic shades of purple and gold. The packaged was adorned with a gorgeous wooden cross that was perfectly attuned to the "Coven" theme of the box, and the most gothique of all the items.
180 Likes, 8 Comments - Creeper Crate (@creepercrate) on Instagram: "🔮Who's the Baddest Witch in Town?!🔮Are you Team Fiona or Team Nancy? Either way you'll want to grab..."
These boxes that I’ve received have been packaged with care and contain a campy business card that relays all the essential info for Creeper Crate. It also reminds you of the following month's theme. There are also business cards for some of the other businesses featured in the box. I find something delightfully retro about getting these business cards. Of course, you can always Google the business, but it’s nice to keep this info somewhere, in case names get lost in the downpour of social media.
Since I’ve had the subscription to Creeper Crate, I’ve been notified about billing and shipping in a timely matter, which I really appreciate. It’s apparent that the business is organized and cares about keeping their customers informed about their purchases.
Overall, I recommend Creeper Crate to individuals that love fun and camp and glamour and a whole lot of anticipation.
Monique Quintana is the Beauty and Fashion Editor for Luna Luna and runs the literary blog, Razorhouse. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing Fiction. Her work has been published in Huizache, Bordersenses, and The Acentos Review, amongst others. She has work forthcoming in the anthologies, Retell It Like It Is: Fairytales Retold By People of Color and Tragedy Queens:Stories Inspired By Lana Del Rey and Sylvia Plath. She is a member of the Central Valley Women's Writers of Color Collective and is currently working on a Chicana gothic sci-fi novella.