Summer 2017 Box Reveal

Welcome to another Outer Banks Box reveal blog!

Summer is in full swing on the OBX and hundreds of happy Outer Banks Box subscribers are enjoying the contents of our latest shipment. Read for yourself what was included then make sure to sign up for shipments so you don’t miss out on the fun!

Extras, if available, are here.

One of our most highly rated, the 2017 Summer Box had a balanced assortment of both consumables and usables!

Carolina BBQ Rub Spice Blend – The Spice & Tea Exchange in Duck, NC

(Facebook) / (Instagram)

Brand new for 2017, The Spice & Tea Exchange is located in the Scarborough Lane shops in Duck, NC and features quite possibly the largest assortment of fine herbs, spices, teas, and accessories within a hundred miles of the Outer Banks!

When we first learned about their opening, we were very eager to get in and experience what they had to offer. Needless to say we were beyond impressed and had to share this new treat with all of our subscribers!

All 2017 Summer Boxes featured a 1oz bag of The Spice & Tea Exchange’s Carolina BBQ Rub… a timeless classic and perfect addition to any kitchen in the summertime. Based on the tradition of the delicious mustards & vinegars used in Carolina style barbecues, this sweet and savory rub is perfect for ribs, pulled pork, chicken, brisket, or mixing into dips!

The local flavor and essence of southern hospitality does not end there. The owners of The Spice & Tea Exchange have also extended a special offer to our subscribers and readers. Get the “Outer Banks Box” 10% OFF discount when you browse online, then order via email at duck@spiceandtea.com!

Read more about our experience at The Spice & Tea Exchange here!

Set of “Beach, Please!” Neoprene Can Koozies

(Extras Store)

Who doesn’t want a little more beach in their life?

Every subscriber received two of these fun “Beach, Please!” koozies, that are actually made from the same neoprene material as surfing wetsuits. They show off your love for the OBX and are guaranteed to keep you and your drinks cooler this summer!

Snag your own pair in our extras store!

Saltwater Taffy in Keepsake Bag – Forbes Candies & Gifts

It wouldn’t feel like summer at the beach without some mouthwatering saltwater taffy! In debating wether to include it in our first summer box or potentially next year’s, we perused the many options from businesses on the beach, including Forbes Taffy & Gifts. When we came across these keepsake bags filled with taffy, there was really no other option!

Subscribers received various designs on the bags including: mermaids, sea turtles, seashells, flip flops, dolphins, and starfish. They’re great to keep even after the taffy is gone for collecting shells on your next visit to the Outer Banks!

You can buy some of our remaining bags in bulk here at a discount!

Custom Notecard Prints – James Melvin’s Studio

(Website) / (Email)

James Melvin knew at a very young age that he wanted to become a professional artist. James works in oils, acrylics, pastels and colored pencils. Peace is the theme in his work, and the viewer is invited to rest and recall special memories enjoyed while on vacation.

He is the illustrator for books such as  Suzanne Tate’s Nature Series and is the creator of the Pea Island Lifesavers Series at the N.C. Aquarium in Manteo.

James resides in Nags Head, NC and you can find more of his work and even purchase it on his website. He is available for commissioned pieces and his works are enjoyed by collectors from around the world.

What we particularly love about his James is that he not only masterfully shares the beauty and history of the Outer Banks in his work, but he actively gives back time to the community as well.

Subscribers received a hand-picked assortment of eight beach scene printed notecards with envelopes. While we were very excited to include local art for the first time in our boxes, we were much more honored and fortunate to share the story and spread the word about the person.

BANXblock Full Size Original Sunscreen and Lip Protection Stick

(Facebook) / (Website)

There was probably no better fitting gift to go with our summer theme than sunscreen, and premium sunscreen at that! BANXblock is an all-natural, doctor created, surfer approved, and environmentally safe solution to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays.

Dr. Jeff Pokorny of Kitty Hawk, NC has been treating the surfers, fishermen, golfers, and sun bathers who live, work and play along the beaches of North Carolina for years and witnesses firsthand the consequences of prolonged exposure to the sun. After treatment or surgery, many of his patients would ask for recommendation on the type of sunscreen they should use while maintaining their lifestyle. After researching all the medical grade sunscreens, Dr. Pokorny found that he could not comfortably recommend any sunscreens currently available on the market to them as it seemed every product either used chemicals that were harmful to the skin or provided inadequate protection from the sun.

In the summer of 2013, Dr. Pokorny came up with his own formula and BANXblock was born. Initially, BANXblock was sold only in his own medical offices and in a few local pharmacies. It fell to his wife, Anne and a few of her good friends, to relaunch the product in an attractive and convenient squeeze bottle that an active, happy person would use.  They have done wonders introducing their product into the surf shops and retail stores across the country so we were exceptionally excited to help share their story with Outer Banks Box subscribers!

Subscribers received a full size bottle of BANXblock original unscented sunscreen as well as a lip protection balm. Anne and the BANXblock crew are extending a special offer for any of our subscribers and readers who’d like to purchase more BANXblock products. Until 7/31/17, you can use coupon code “Banx in the box” for a massive 25% OFF your total purchase @ BANXblock.com! Make sure to share this offer with your friends and spread the word about this amazing product!

Customized Wooden Bottle Opener

Last but not least, our summer box included a handy wooden bottle opener for cracking open a cold one and daydreaming of the beach!

Each opener was hand stamped with a custom beachy slogan and design based on our subscribers’ favorite beach on the Outer Banks.

Did you know we’re giving away SURPRISES in random boxes!?!

That’s right! As a “thank you” to our subscribers, we’ve started seeking out extra special gifts from the OBX to sneak into boxes at random.

For the summer 2017 box, our lucky winner was Gloria in Roanoke, VA! She was shipped the contents as seen above as well as this beautiful framed and matted giclée print of a sand dune scene by artist James Melvin!

We have more prizes for the fall box but the only way you could win is by being a subscriber!

Business Spotlight – The Spice and Tea Exchange in Duck, NC

Have you heard the word? There’s an exciting new shop on the Outer Banks that you absolutely need to explore!

Nestled in the Scarborough Lane shops right in the heart of Duck is a brand new location of The Spice & Tea Exchange, owned by Terry Bell and her daughter Megan Scott.

The Spice & Tea Exchange operates under one mission, “Creating & sharing the experience of a more flavorful life,” and in doing so, they’ve brought a one-of-a-kind shopping experience and 18th Century Trading Post retail concept to life right here on the Outer Banks. And let me tell you, it is beautiful!

Like many of us, Terry did not always live on the Outer Banks. She was a special needs teacher in Northern Virginia for over twenty five years before moving to the Outer Banks to help get her husband’s construction business up and running. She then opened and operated Outer Banks Restaurant Tours for five years while Megan was an operations manager for a local property management company.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Terry for a while now, we first met about five years ago while I was documenting one of her restaurant tours in the town of Duck. Before our tour was done, it became very clear to me she had a passion for food as well as a desire to share it with others. It’s easy to see how these shared interests could turn, once again, into something special.

In December of 2015, Terry and her husband were spending a long weekend in Asheville, NC when they discovered The Spice and Tea Exchange.  “I was immediately drawn to the concept. The store was very appealing and the products were so varied and different from anything I had seen before.” Terry says. “I spent a good amount of money in that store (on gifts, of course).  After the holidays, the store still stuck in my mind.  I decided to look into it to see if was a franchise, which it is.  Megan and I share a love of cooking and an enjoyment of different foods and cuisines, so she was interested as well.”

After speaking with the franchise representatives and visiting their distribution center, they decided that they would pursue the opportunity of opening their own store.

“Thankfully, we have found that the business is a good fit for us.  We both enjoy talking to customers about the products and offering suggestions about how they can use them.  We offer special events every afternoon during the summer months.  We have Spice Trivia on Mondays at 4pm, a Tea Tasting on Tuesdays at 4pm and Thursdays at 10:30am, a cooking demo on Wednesdays at 5pm and Fridays at 4pm, and a Blind Tasting on Thursdays at 4pm.  It’s been fun to design these events and watch people enjoy them.  That being said, we also want to appeal to our local community, so we are planning events to offer during the off-season as well.  We are also looking forward to participating in some of the local food events in the coming fall and spring.”

They offer more than 140 spices, over 80 exclusive hand-mixed blends, 16 naturally-flavored sugars, an array of salts from around the world, and more than 30 exotic teas. They also focus on providing high quality products and accessories to home cooks, chefs, and tea lovers in an old-world spice traders’ atmosphere. And it’s really, really cool!

When visitors step into the store, they are immediately immersed in a sensory experience where they can explore, open the jars and smell, engage with all of their offerings, and speak with Terry and Megan who truly love what they do.

It really is the people and their passion that sets businesses apart these days… and it’s so easy to see the happiness and enthusiasm in Terry and Megan when you visit The Spice & Tea Exchange.

You can connect with them on Facebook, read about their product included in our Summer 2017 edition of the Outer Banks Box, and of course, make sure to stop during your next visit to or through Duck to experience this firsthand!

Tell them the Outer Banks Box crew sent you!

The owners of The Spice & Tea Exchange have also extended a special offer to our subscribers and readers. Get the “Outer Banks Box” 10% OFF discount when you browse online, then order via email at duck@spiceandtea.com!