Dynamic Build-a-Box setup guide

Dynamic boxes virtually bundle subscription products together in Skio's backend, making inventory management easy for each product. Skio uses your current product catalog without requiring edits—there are no "parent" or "child" product structures to manage.

Other products and one-time add-ons can be added to box subscriptions in the Customer Portal. This lets subscribers try new products without rebuilding their entire box.

Not sure which box type is right for you? Read our guide on Build-a-Box types before setting up your box.

Box builder page options

The box builder page is the customer-facing page on your storefront where shoppers select products and build their custom subscription box.

You have three options for your box builder page:

1. Use the default template with customizable colors (turnkey, no developer required)

2. Edit the default template with more complex styling (requires a developer)

3. Create a custom box builder page (requires a developer)

Skio does not handle customization of your box builder page. If you need a developer, we can recommend agency partners. For custom implementations, your developers can use Skio's box API documentation.

How to set up a Dynamic Build-a-Box

Step 1: Name your box

1. In the lefthand menu of your Skio Dashboard, go to Features > Build-a-Box.

2. Click Dynamic box.

3. Under Name your box, enter a clear, customer-friendly name (e.g., "Cookie Box").

This name will be shown to customers in the bundle builder.

Step 2: Set discount criteria and tiers

Choose the discount trigger

In Configure your box discount criteria, select how you want the discount to trigger:

• Total number of items (most common): Discount is based on the quantity of products in the box

• Total cost after selling plan discount: Discount is based on the total price after applying subscription discounts

• Total cost before selling plan discount: Discount is based on the total price before applying subscription discounts

Add discount tiers

Under Configure your box discount tiers:

1. Choose Discount type: Fixed amount off, percentage, or free item

2. Set Threshold: For example, "4 or more items = $5 off"

3. Click + Add to include additional discount levels (e.g., 6 items = $10 off)

Example: If you create two tiers (1) 4+ items with $5 off and (2) 6+ items with $10 off:

• 1-3 items: No discount

• 4-5 items: $5 off

• 6+ items: $10 off

If you don't want a volume discount, input 0 for all fields.

Step 3: Set size rules

In Configure your box size options, choose your sizing strategy:

Min/Max options

Set a window for the quantity of items that can be added to a box.

1. Select Min/Max.

2. Set a minimum number of items (e.g., 2).

3. (Optional) Set a maximum number of items (e.g., 6).

Specific size options

Set strict quantity amounts (e.g., 3, 5, and 7 units). Customers can upgrade or downgrade between box sizes in the customer portal.

1. Select Specific Size Options.

2. Create different box sizes based on volume discount thresholds.

If you want multiple size boxes with the same discount, use the same discount for those thresholds.

Step 4: Select eligible items

1. In Choose eligible items for the box, select which product variants can be included in the box.

2. (Optional) Enable child product grouping to group items (like flavors or colors) visually on the box builder page.

Step 5: Add upsell options (optional)

1. In Choose one-time upsell items, select variants that can be offered as add-ons.

2. These items will be shown after the customer finishes building their box.

Step 6: Customize the Build-a-Box experience

Use the Build-a-Box template customizations section to edit the shopper experience.

Step 7: Adjust styling and colors

In Build-a-Box theme customizations, match the builder to your brand:

• Set colors for buttons, backgrounds, progress bars, and text

• Choose highlight states and border colors for active or disabled items

• Update quantity selectors, price markers, and badges for consistency

Preview your color combinations live to ensure accessibility.

Step 8: Save your box

Click Save changes in the top-right. Your dynamic box is now created.

Step 9: Create the box Selling Plan

After creating the box in Skio, set it up as a subscription product with the appropriate frequencies and discounts.

1. In the lefthand menu of your Skio Dashboard, go to Features > Selling Plans.

2. Click Create new plan > Create Dynamic box Subscribe and Save.

3. Set up the Selling Plans with the shipping intervals you want to offer.

4. Add the dynamic box product (ensure you select the box product itself, NOT the individual eligible products).

5. Click Save.

Sync child Selling Plans

1. Navigate back to the Selling Plan you just created.

2. Click Sync child selling plans.

Why this step is important: All eligible products in the dynamic box must have Selling Plans on the same frequency and discount as the box itself. Syncing child Selling Plans creates the necessary Selling Plans for eligible products if they don't already exist.

Important note: Syncing child Selling Plans will NOT impact the Selling Plans available for eligible products on your storefront (e.g., product pages) or in the customer portal. This is a backend configuration to ensure products are properly set up. It will not affect any current subscriptions.

Step 10: Set up the box in Shopify (optional)

This step is optional and only affects the backend display for your internal team. It won't impact customers in any way.

1. In your Shopify admin, navigate to the box product.

2. Add a product image, description, and any product details like tags or categories.

3. Change the product status from Draft to Active when you're ready to make it available on your storefront.

Since the box is not an actual product in the subscription (it's a virtual bundle), the price, variant, SKU, quantity, and weight can be left at default values. Skio references these values from the individual products that make up the box.

Step 11: Add the box to your storefront

The box builder page is created automatically by Skio and has a unique URL in this format:

yourstore.myshopify.com/a/account/custom-tools/dynamic-box?product=BOXPRODUCTID

After creating a box, a View button will appear at the top of the Build-a-Box page. Click this to open your box builder page and get the URL.

Without including this URL in your theme (e.g., in your navigation, homepage, or product pages), the box will not display automatically on your storefront.

How customers use Dynamic Build-a-Box

Box builder (storefront)

Customers navigate to your box builder page URL and:

1. Select products from the eligible products you've defined.

2. See the total price adjust as they add or remove products.

3. View the discount progress bar (if enabled) showing how close they are to unlocking the next discount tier.

4. Choose to purchase as a one-time order or subscription (unless you've disabled one-time purchases).

5. Complete checkout.

Box customizer (customer portal)

Customers can edit their box anytime in the customer portal:

1. An Edit box products button appears in their subscription details.

2. Clicking this button opens the box customizer.

3. Customers can add or remove products within the box constraints.

4. For specific size boxes, customers can upgrade or downgrade between defined sizes.

Box customizer (admin)

Limitations

Dynamic Build-a-Box does not currently work for:

• Prepaid subscriptions

• Some Quick Actions (like swaps)