Tender Loving Empire Snail Mail Subscription

What's in the box: The site does not describe a typical mail subscription package; its shop and curated gift boxes feature prints, stickers, candles, snacks and other goods from local makers.

Tender Loving Empire is a Portland gift shop and record label that has supported local and indie makers since 2007. It runs five stores in Portland and a shop at Seattle's airport, and its online store carries goods from hundreds of makers in Portland, Seattle and beyond, alongside releases from its own label, TLE Records. If you want a snail mail or postcard subscription, be aware that the main storefront does not clearly promote one. What it does sell prominently are one-time curated gift boxes, art prints, stickers, candles, snacks and records. The site does not state how a mail subscription works, how often anything ships, or what it costs, so check the current product pages before counting on recurring deliveries. The shop's strength is curation. Its in-house prints lean whimsical and regional, and buying here sends money to small makers and musicians, which the company backs with a long track record. If you want a dependable monthly mail art club, a dedicated postcard subscription service may suit you better. If you like the idea of Pacific Northwest art and paper goods arriving as a gift, Tender Loving Empire is a trustworthy, community-minded place to shop.