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“Bama in a Box,” a locally owned subscription service, was launched from Troy a little more than  72 hours ago with 100-plus drop-off sites in Alabama, Virginia, Indiana and Oregon.

Each box contained edible and non-edible products that were made in Alabama and one of those products was made here in Pike County.

“Bama in a  Box” is the brainchild of Angi Horn Stalnaker, who designed the business for the dual the purpose of giving a boost to the economy as COVID-19 lingers while promoting Alabama products nationwide.

“As Americans, we are encouraged to buy products that are Made in America,” Stalnaker said. “I realized that many of the products that I use on a daily basis are made in Alabama. So, why not take it a step further and encourage others, here in Alabama and across the country, to buy products ‘Made in Alabama.’”

As Stalnaker did the research for the project, she found more than 500 Alabama-based companies in operation and many of them make products that are used or consumed daily.

“Many of these are small businesses that don’t have large marketing budgets,” Stalnaker said. “So, what if there was an affordable way to market Alabama products locally and around the country?”

And, out of that thought, “Bama in a Box” was born.

Stalnaker said the idea  was to promote Alabama-made products via a subscription service.

“If we boxed a mixture of edible and non-edible products and shipped them all across the country, that would be an affordable way for these businesses, large and small, to promote and market their products.”

So, “Bama in a Box” became a reality.

Each box contains from five to seven Bama-made products, edible and non-edible, and one is a product of Pike County.

Subscriptions are offered monthly and quarterly (three months). Both are auto renewable.

Month-to-month subscriptions are $39.95, tax included, shipping is $7. The quarterly subscription offers a savings of $15.

Stalnaker said the first “Bama in a Box” included a bath balm from Amy Jinright’s  Southern Sensations on the Square in downtown Troy.

Future boxes will include products from Whaley Pecans, jewelry by Kim Edwards, Dale’s Steak Sauce and everything from grits and dog food to furniture polish, olive oils  and toothbrushes.

“It is amazing all of the products that made here in Alabama,” Stalnaker said. “There are enough products that we can ship ‘Bama in a Box’ for seven years without repeating a product. ‘Bama in a Box’ is a great way to support our local companies by promoting Alabama products.

Each “Bama in a Box” will include a flyer with information about the products included and where they are available for purchase.

Stalnaker said special “Bama in a Box” items also will be available for fundraisers for community charities.

“Our local companies are the ones that support our local fundraisers and we will give them a percentage of the box sales as a way of showing appreciation for their support,” Stalnaker said.

“Bama in a Box” is a new local business that promotes Alabama businesses and Alabama products and will, itself, be a good community partner.