A growing number of Generation Z artists are securing a stable monthly income by launching subscription-based "snail mail" clubs, sending physical art prints and personal letters directly to subscribers' doorsteps. The model, which typically costs under $10 per month, offers creators predictable revenue while providing customers with an analog, collectible experience.
Trinity Shiroma, a 25-year-old former architect in Florida, earns approximately $16,000 monthly from her club, which has around 2,400 subscribers paying $8.88 each. "I get a steady income instead of going from commission to commission," Shiroma told Business Insider. She dedicates a week each month to the process, with her parents helping to package thousands of envelopes.
From Side Hustle to Significant Income
For many, the clubs began as creative escapes from demanding jobs. Kiki Klassen, 28, started her "Lucky Ducky Mail Club" in October 2024 while working as a barista in Toronto. Her club now generates about 10,000 Canadian dollars (roughly $7,200) monthly—nearly double her salary from her subsequent job as a social media manager. Despite the success, Klassen remains cautious about pursuing art full-time, citing the newness of the trend.
Josephine Simon, 26, left her architecture job in New York City in August 2024 to focus on art, launching her print club to avoid the burnout of taking 30 commissions a month. She now spends one week monthly on her club for 400 subscribers and the remaining time on other projects.
The Allure of Analog in a Digital Age
Professor Niloofar Abolfathi of Singapore Management University explains the trend's appeal, noting it fits a pattern of obsolete products being revived. "It is a low-commitment model that benefits both sides," Abolfathi said. "Artists gain better visibility into demand and more predictable monthly income, while customers make small, manageable commitments in exchange for regular physical mail."
The subscription model shifts the business dynamic from one-off transactions to ongoing relationships, potentially converting subscribers into higher-spending customers later.
An Uncertain Future for the Trend
Despite current success, some artists anticipate the trend's decline due to market saturation. Alessia Emanuele, a 26-year-old artist in Brisbane with about 1,000 subscribers, believes the snail mail club model might only have another year of viability. "I think that realistically, the snail mail club might have another year," Emanuele said, planning to return to her core ceramics business afterward.
For others, the clubs offer more than income. Gwen Lee, a 32-year-old game animator in Singapore, started her club in December as a form of "self-healing" from her work involving violent imagery. Her art now features calming scenes, with the club built on the idea of delivering floral bouquets through her character, Layla.