UPDATE: Join us in a celebratory (if mildly disturbing) dance of joy for hitting our funding goal with our new music video, "Europeans Do It Better"!

What is Eucopia and why does it exist?

We think a lot of Americans would be happier with a little touch of European joie de vivre in their lives. And there's an incredible richness of excellent design being produced in Europe. But those items are hard to find in the U.S., and thanks to the high price of international shipping, even harder to buy. Every month, Eucopia brings you everything you need to add some European flavor to day-to-day living.

What's in the box?

That's a surprise.

OK, what kinds of things are in the box?

Beautiful, useful, and interesting things from Europe. That could mean anything from pitchers to pencils, from tumblers to toothpaste. Each box is organized around a certain theme, like "Morning" or "Summer" or "Denmark". Our test Beta Box gives you some idea of what kinds of things we're talking about. And we can tell you what the theme of our first box is...

What exactly does "from Europe" mean?

Designed in Europe, always. Made in Europe as often as possible. Just as in North America, at the moment, certain categories of products are not made on a wide scale in Europe itself. Given the choice between the huge variety of European-designed products and the much smaller selection of European-made ones, we made the choice that we think makes for a better, more fun box. But we believe in the future of European craft and manufacturing, and we're always looking to include as many Europe-made objects as possible.

How much does the box cost and how much stuff do I get?

Our regular monthly subscription includes three to five items for $49 ($40 for Indiegogo backers). Our Eucopia Mini subscription includes one item per month for $15 ($12 through Indiegogo). That per-month price goes down if you pay upfront for a three-month or one-year subscription .

When will I get my box?

The first Eucopia box ships in October 2015. Subsequent boxes ship every month.

Do you ship to customers outside the U.S.?

No. Sorry. We ship to U.S. customers only. It's just too expensive otherwise. And if you're in Europe, you're already surrounded by this stuff. You don't need us.

Who is behind this?

I'm Jason Toon and I founded Eucopia. For eight years, I was the head writer at Woot.com, the original daily-deal site. I defined our weird brand voice and developed it as we grew from an improbable startup to a subsidiary of Amazon. Now I write for Woot's spiritual successor, Meh.com, and some other startups that have interesting things to say. 

Along the way, I've also learned a few things about how to make buying and selling interesting. I believe retail is a mostly untapped vein of expression and communication, a way to not only tell stories but to bring them to life in the form of physical objects. That's what each month's Eucopia box will do.

What are you going to do with this money?

Buy some great stuff from Europe and send it to people in cute boxes with an interesting little mini-magazine inside. Any money beyond that will be used to help us find more and better stuff for future boxes.

How could this all go wrong?

Transcontinental importing can be tricky. Really cool, fun boxes don't package themselves. And maintaining a high standard for the products while keeping prices affordable will be a challenge. But we're not new to ecommerce. And we're talking to potential partners who have experience in handling problems like these. We're certain that a first-rate Eucopia box will be on your doorstep in October.

Are you hiring?

That depends on how this Indiegogo campaign goes, among other things. But if you're an experienced EU-based design/homegoods buyer, let's talk. 

Or if you have some other idea about how you could help Eucopia out, let us know. We don't have much money yet, but it doesn't cost anything to listen.

Is Eucopia looking for products?

Always! European designers, makers, manufacturers: please get in touch. We'd love to introduce your products to a design-savvy U.S. audience hungry for what you have to offer. 

Are you serious about that $12,000 perk?

Totally. The European Design Grand Tour includes airfare and accommodations; tours and meetings with designers and makers; and probably some dinners and drinks, if you can tolerate our company. We'll work with you to design an itinerary that reflects your tastes and preferences. Come to Europe with us! It'll be fantastic!