What Clubs of America does

Clubs of America, doing business as Great Clubs (greatclubs.com), is a family-owned direct-to-consumer subscription commerce company founded in 1994 by brothers Doug and Dirk Doretti and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company curates and delivers monthly "Gift of the Month" clubs across seven premium consumer product categories: Beer, Wine, Cigar, Flower, Fruit, Coffee, and Chocolate, plus one-time themed Craft Beer Boxes. Products are sourced globally from small craft breweries, boutique wineries, master cigar blenders, specialty coffee roasters, exotic flower growers, and chocolatiers, with the company emphasizing expert-curated, often made-to-order selections not available in retail channels. The firm has shipped 5 million+ packages to 500,000+ lifetime customers across the continental United States over its 30+ year history.

The company's technology foundation is a Shopify-hosted e-commerce storefront powering online ordering, subscription management, and payment processing, with fulfillment executed through FedEx and US Mail carriers and temperature-sensitive packaging for perishables and age-restricted products (alcohol and tobacco). The team remains small (11-50 employees), with family members involved in day-to-day operations. Marketing is multi-channel: SEO-optimized category and blog content, monthly thematic newsletters (Beer/Wine/Cigar/Flower/Fruit/Coffee/Chocolate "Expeditions"), organic social (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X), a CJ Affiliate referral program, and significant earned-media coverage (Fox News, Forbes, Good Morning America, CNN Financial, USA Today, Entrepreneur Magazine, Parade, AP, CNET).

The business model is primarily recurring subscription revenue, with flexible 2-12 month memberships available on either a pre-pay or pay-per-shipment basis at price points ranging from approximately $34-$64 per month per club. Revenue is supplemented by one-time Craft Beer Box purchases ($85-$120 each), corporate/B2B volume gift programs targeting Fortune 500, small business, and government buyers via dedicated phone sales, and affiliate referral commissions. Customer segments are split between consumer gift buyers (personal occasions, self-purchase) and corporate/executive gift buyers (employee appreciation, client gifting), with no external institutional investors or parent company—the business has remained independently owned by the Doretti family since founding.

Name

Clubs of America

Legal name

Great Clubs

Website

https://greatclubs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clubs of America operates seven curated monthly subscription gift clubs—Beer, Wine, Cigar, Flower, Fruit, Coffee, and Chocolate—serving individual gift buyers and corporate clients across the continental US via a Shopify-powered e-commerce platform, family-owned since 1994.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Monthly Subscription Clubs: Recurring monthly revenue from subscription memberships (2-12 months) with flexible billing options (pre-pay full or pay monthly). Includes Beer, Wine, Cigar, Flower, Fruit, Coffee, and Chocolate clubs. Shipments deliver 3rd-4th week of each month.
2. One-Time Craft Beer Box Purchases: One-time purchase option for curated craft beer variety packs (International, Hazy IPA, Best of 2026, IPA, Dark Beer, Pilsner/Lager styles) at $84.95-$119.95 per box.
3. Affiliate Referrals: $12 commission per sale through CJ Affiliate network for website referrals. 120-day cookie tracking window.
4. Corporate Gift Programs: Volume discount programs for Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, organizations, and government agencies. Ongoing monthly shipments for corporate gift recipients. Mix and match across 8 club types.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Clubs of America operates seven monthly subscription gift clubs — Beer, Wine, Cigar, Flower, Fruit, Coffee, and Chocolate — delivering curated, expert-selected premium products to members nationwide. Each club offers flexible 2–12 month memberships with free shipping, themed newsletters, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The company also sells one-time curated Craft Beer Boxes for non-subscribers.

Product overview

Clubs of America operates a portfolio of seven monthly subscription gift clubs, each focused on a different premium product category: Beer, Wine, Cigar, Flower, Fruit, Coffee, and Chocolate of the Month Clubs. Members receive curated, expert-selected products delivered monthly with free shipping, personalized gift letters, and themed newsletters. The company also offers one-time purchase Craft Beer Boxes for non-subscribers. All clubs share a common subscription model with flexible 2-12 month terms and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Founded in 1994, the company emphasizes exclusivity, with most offerings available only to members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beer of the Month Club Monthly subscription delivering a 12-pack of unique craft beers in four different styles from small American microbreweries, brewed fresh and shipped with a free monthly beer newsletter. Free shipping included; starting from $49.95/month.
• Wine of the Month Club

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CJ AffiliatecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCJ Affiliate network powers the company's affiliate marketing program, tracking referred sales and processing commission payments ($12 per sale, 120-day cookie window). The partnership enables publishers to promote subscription clubs and earn referral commissions.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationShopify hosts and powers the e-commerce platform (greatclubs.com), providing the technology infrastructure for the online store, payment processing, order management, and subscription billing. All customer data is processed through Shopify's platform.
• Licensed Retailers, Breweries & WineriescoreOthersAlcohol shipments are made through applicable Licensed Retailers, Breweries, or Wineries. Title passes from the licensed entity to the buyer upon shipment. This structure ensures compliance with alcohol shipping regulations across the US.
• Small Craft BreweriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly partnerships with 2-3 small American craft breweries per shipment, featuring exclusive beers brewed fresh for members. Supports independent brewers while providing unique, hard-to-find products.
• Small Wineries & VineyardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelationships with wineries in California, France, Italy, Spain, Chile, Australia, Portugal, New Zealand, and South Africa. Features small-quantity, hard-to-find wines from boutique estates and family-run vineyards.
• Master Cigar Blenders & Boutique Cigar MakerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with master blenders and family-owned factories from Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, Jamaica, Canary Islands, and beyond for premium hand-rolled cigars.
• Artisanal Roasters & Specialty Coffee GrowerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with roasters and growers from Colombia, Ethiopia, Sumatra, Kenya, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, and other renowned coffee regions for freshly roasted, exotic beans.
• Award-Winning Flower GrowerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with top flower growers worldwide for premium, exotic blooms including Peruvian Lilies, Dendrobium Orchids, Red Anthuriums, Proteas, Lisianthus, and Birds of Paradise.
• Top Orchards & Specialty Fruit GrowerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with orchards worldwide for premium seasonal fruit including Comice Pears, Honey Tangerines, Bing Cherries, Taylor's Gold Pears, Royal Pineapple, and Tropical Kiwi.
• World-Class ChocolatierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with premium confectioners creating hand-dipped chocolates including Macadamia Delights, Chocolate Truffles, Island Specialties, Chocolate Mousse Cups, Turtles, and more.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wine.com: Direct competitor in online wine retail with curated selections and direct-to-consumer shipping model, overlapping significantly with Clubs of America's Wine of the Month Club category.
• Winc: Direct competitor in the wine subscription space with monthly delivery of curated wines, overlapping target customer and category with Clubs of America's Wine of the Month Club.
• Amazing Clubs: Direct competitor operating a similar multi-category 'Gift of the Month Club' model including beer, wine, cigars, coffee, chocolate, fruit, and flowers, with comparable monthly subscription terms and curated supplier network.
• Craft Beer Kings: Direct competitor in craft beer subscription/curated beer box space with mixed-pack offerings similar to Clubs of America's Craft Beer Boxes and Beer of the Month Club.
• Atlas Coffee Club: Direct competitor offering a curated coffee subscription delivering beans from global origins monthly, directly overlapping with Clubs of America's Coffee of the Month Club.
• Harry & David: Direct competitor in premium fruit and gourmet gift delivery with seasonal and monthly offerings, overlapping with Clubs of America's Fruit Gift of the Month Club and broader gift positioning.
• MonthlyClubs.com (Wine of the Month Club, Beer of the Month Club): Direct competitor offering beer, wine, cigar, coffee, chocolate, and flower monthly subscriptions with curated selections and similar D2C e-commerce positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Birchbox: Pioneering subscription box company offering curated beauty and lifestyle samples monthly, comparable as a broader subscription commerce incumbent rather than competing in Clubs of America's specific categories.
• Blue Apron: Larger subscription commerce player operating in meal kits with curated monthly delivery and D2C fulfillment, comparable as a subscription commerce business model rather than overlapping categories.

Others

• Shutterfly: Adjacent gift and personalized product retailer serving the same consumer gifting occasions (birthdays, holidays, corporate gifts) but with photo-based physical products rather than curated consumables.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clubsofamerica
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClubsOfAmerica
• Instagraminstagram.com/great.clubs
• Pinterestpinterest.com/clubsofamerica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clubs-of-america

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clubs of America