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Bradley Savage is the Founder & CEO of Gardencup, aka Salad as a Service, a D2C meal subscription brand that ships ultra-premium, ready-to-eat salads and produce snacks nationwide.What started with Brad taping boxes in his kitchen after getting tired of eating hot pockets every day has grown into a $29M ARR brand in just 18 months. Along the way, Gardencup scaled to nearly 2 million salads shipped a year, fueled by organic Instagram buzz and influencers before a single dollar was spent on ads.Brad's story blends scrappy bootstrapping with rapid execution. From migrating to Shopify and building a custom tech stack, to juggling ecommerce, operations, and logistics under one roof, to solving retention challenges like menu fatigue, he's learned what it really takes to scale a food subscription at breakneck speed.Whether you're building a DTC subscription, navigating operational “puberty problems,” or looking for ways to blend convenience with customer loyalty, Brad offers an unfiltered look at the grind, the pivots, and the lessons behind turning fresh salads into one of Shopify's fastest-growing brands.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:20] Intro[01:04] Creating a product from personal need[02:55] Solving churn through menu rotation[05:44] Migrating to Shopify for growth[09:44] Gaining traction from influencer posts[11:06] Driving adoption through daily habits[11:28] Stay updated with new episodes[11:39] Testing content angles and audiences[12:50] Finding right partners at each stage[14:49] Scaling ads without huge capital[15:12] Episode Sponsors: Electric Eye, Heatmap, Grow[18:27] Collecting revenue before vendor bills[20:00] Leveraging Facebook's feedback loop[21:15] Gaining strength from co-foundersResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeDelicious chef-crafted meals at your door gardencup.com/Follow Bradley Savage linkedin.com/in/savagebradleySchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectClear, real-time data built for ecommerce optimization heatmap.com/honestThe Premier Conference for Ecommerce Operators joingrow.comIf you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!
Today, we dissect Little Farm Story Idle Tycoon — SayGames' latest farming-idle hybrid that feels like a mashup of Dreamdale, My Perfect Hotel, and Idle Breaker.Key insights:Gameplay Loop:Clearing grass → unlocking fields → harvesting → selling resources.Heavy reliance on ads for progression (resources, boosts, even eggs).“Annoyance monetization”: progress gates force you to watch ads or buy “No Ads” pack.Monetization:~$67–70K/day in revenue.~53% from ads, ~47% from IAP.Ad breakdown: ~$24K rewarded, ~$10K interstitials, ~$500–700 from banners (“why bother?”).“Remove Ads” pack is likely the top IAP — players pushed into it by frustration.Design Choices:Map expands with resource conversions (tomatoes → ketchup, chickens → eggs, wood → upgrades).Inventory/capacity upgrades disguised as RPG-like gear, but tied to ad rewards.Cosmetic shop + IAP items scattered on map.UA & Creatives:Ads mirror Township / Playrix resource ads and Century Games' UA tricks (suction devices, backpacks).Low-poly art style keeps CPIs down, but LTVs capped.Playables + AI-generated UGC, but “Township-from-Wish” vibe.Heavy interstitial cross-promo inside SayGames portfolio (even multiple in a row).Market & Scaling:Currently SayGames' #1 title by IAP revenue.~$2M monthly run rate, growing but not viral like Dreamdale or My Perfect Hotel.Audience skew: ~63% US revenue, Tier 1 heavy.Takeaway: Little Farm Story is a polished ad-driven idle hybrid, but its top IAP being “Remove Ads” caps its growth potential.PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricJoin our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction and Game Overview03:48 Gameplay Mechanics and Features07:25 Monetization Strategies and Ads12:42 In-App Purchases and User Experience17:17 Revenue Insights and Conclusion18:15 The Decline of Traditional Ads19:23 User Acquisition Strategies in Gaming21:17 Ad Monetization Archetypes23:46 Comparative Analysis of Game Creatives25:57 Performance Metrics and Revenue Insights28:30 The Future of Game Scaling and IAPs---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
Taiäne Sìlva, CDAO da Whirlpool, explora como dados e cultura digital estão transformando indústrias centenárias em negócios ágeis e inovadores. Da sua trajetória em diferentes setores ao impacto do BI as a Service, do D2C e do engajamento cultural, ela mostra como dados se tornam ativos estratégicos para acelerar a digitalização e sustentar decisões de alto impacto.“Transformação digital não é apenas técnica, é cultural. É preciso engajar pessoas, quebrar crenças e transformar dados em confiança para decisões estratégicas.”
AI, Amazon & the future of eCommerce The buzz around AI isn't slowing down—and for good reason. It's not just another shiny tool. It's changing how businesses work, grow, and compete. This week, Richard sits down with JJo Lambadjieva, CEO and founder of Amazing Wave, to break down what AI really means for Amazon sellers and eCommerce brands. Jo's been in the game for 14+ years—running performance marketing for D2C and retail, supporting Amazon vendors through his boutique agency, and later leading strategy and operations at a major aggregator. When ChatGPT dropped in 2022, he saw what was coming and started building AI into everyday workflows. In this episode, Joe and Richard cut through the hype and share real strategies: How AI uncovers hidden inefficiencies in your businessWhy even solo operators can scale productivity with the right toolsWhat evolving search and customer behavior means for the future of selling It's not about replacing people. It's about giving teams leverage, speeding up the boring work, and staying competitive as the landscape shifts. Whether you're an Amazon pro, just testing AI in your processes, or curious where the industry's headed, this one's packed with practical advice and real-world examples. Listen now—and start spotting opportunities AI can unlock for your business. Topics covered: 00:00 "Integrating AI in E-commerce SEO" 06:30 ChatGPT: Second Brain on Walks 10:25 AI's Organizational Impact: Efficiency, Data, Talent 11:26 AI as a Team Enhancement Tool 16:01 AI Innovations with MCP and Artifacts 18:48 "AI: Utility Over Hype" 22:45 AI Meeting Recorders Enhance Interviews 26:13 Improving Data Hygiene and Organization 29:19 "Rufus AI: Transforming Amazon Shopping" 34:13 "Rufus Blueprint Analysis Highlights" 38:02 Empowered Teams Boost Efficiency 41:54 "Invest in Data and AI Search" 45:36 Improving Brand Presence in LLMs 46:35 Expert Tool Recommendations for Ecom 51:02 "AI E-Commerce Newsletter"
Today, we break down Galaxy Defense, a sci-fi-themed tower defense/survival clone that's generating $100K/day in IAP with only around 135K DAU.
On this episode of The Rock Fight, Colin sits down with Todd Frank, owner of The Trailhead in Missoula, MT, and board member of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, to dig into the state of specialty outdoor retail.With recent closures like Summit Hut and Next Adventure , the question looms: what's the future of independent gear shops? Todd shares what makes specialty retail resilient, the challenges of D2C and online competition, and why resale programs could be a lifeline for shops like his.They also dive into:Why community connection still sets local shops apart.The role of GOA in elevating specialty retailers.Why some markets (like Missoula) thrive while others (like SoCal) struggle.The importance of brand storytelling in making product choices.Todd's pick for the next big comeback brand (hint: it's all about Black Diamond).Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC. Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's semi-weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List.Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts.Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to myrockfight@gmail.com.
We dive into AceCraft, Moonton's new Tom & Jerry–themed midcore gacha shooter that mixes Cuphead-style 1930s cartoon art with Habi-inspired systems and miHoYo-style monetization depth.Key insights:Gameplay & Core Loop: Systems & MetaDual banners (Tom & Jerry separately) with pity timers, skewed rates, and duplicate scaling.Each major character has a signature weapon requiring rolls.Collectible album (Royal Match / Monopoly Go style) with trade functionality, now ported into midcore — a first.Co-op synchronous modeThree-layer skill trees, elemental affinities, wingman companions.Monetization:~$330K/day IAP revenue post-launch (peaking with Tom/Jerry banner).Battle Pass upsell trick: Downloads ~300K/day at launch, half from China.Scaling across 17+ networks: TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Unity, AppLovin, IronSource, Mintegral, etc.UA creatives lean on retro cartoon surrealism, dancing ads, Tom & Jerry music, plus street interview trend (borrowed from Raid Rush).Prediction:Likely to fade in Western markets (art style too niche, monetization too punishing).Moonton may line up other WB/Looney Tunes IPs (Sylvester, Tweety, Popeye, Roadrunner) for similar launches.Takeaway: AceCraft is one of the deepest midcore gacha launches in 2025 — but built for Asia, not the West.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricJoin our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Intro03:46 Discussion on Ace Craft and Impressions09:22 Core Gameplay Mechanics and Innovations12:14 Character Development and Gacha Elements15:04 Battle Pass and Game Structure21:05 Exploring Game Modes and Social Features23:05 The Collectible Album Revolution25:23 Gacha Mechanics: A Deep Dive31:48 Event-Driven Engagement Strategies41:03 Nostalgia in Gaming: The Influence of Classic Titles47:09 The Role of IP in Game Development50:32 Cultural Differences in Game Reception---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
After last week's cliffhanger, let's jump back in. If you missed it, Michael was on the Hopeaholic's podcast and we're running it back with Part 2 today!In this episode, Michael shares about his early days in sobriety, meeting the love of his life, and how becoming a father reshaped everything. He also dives into his journey of building restaurants in Manhattan, exiting for CPG, and what it really takes to run a successful D2C brand. Plus—his “no matter what” mindset, the value of commitment in sobriety, and the work ethic that continues to fuel every area of his life.Whether you're chasing recovery, building a business, or just trying to level up your habits—this episode is packed with inspiration and real-life lessons.TIMESTAMPS:1:15 Meeting the love of his life10:47 Commitment in sobriety: the secret weapon for addicts & alcoholics20:48 Pivoting during the pandemic → moving into D2C35:20 Why being a dad is the most important job42:00 Meeting Gary Vee & adopting a “NO MATTER WHAT” mentality51:42 The power of work ethic in business & life1:01:14 Why most restaurants fail (and what to do differently)
We break down Epic Plane Evolution – Voodoo's hypercasual throwback hit that's pulling in ~$150K/day in ad revenue with over 100K daily downloads.Key insights:Gameplay: Players start with a broken cardboard plane and unlock wings, tails, and rockets through upgrades. Controls are intentionally clunky — planes crash often, driving engagement and retries.Monetization: Heavy use of rewarded ads (“convert or die” mechanic) and interstitial spam. iOS users see gems + VIP purchases, while Android has no gems at all, leading to 80–85% of revenue coming from iOS.Retention: Despite frustration, average playtime is ~13 minutes/day across 3 sessions, powered by the addictive slingshot mechanic.Revenue Mix: Estimated $150K/day, 80–84% ads, minimal IAP. VIP subscriptions and gem bundles exist only on iOS.Creative Strategy: Basic hypercasual creatives (gates + plane gameplay). Some gameplay ads actually teach players how to steer — a sign of design flaws.Market Context: Falls under “Arcade Driving” genre, sitting alongside Hill Climb Racing & Traffic Rider. Current run rate ~$10M annually, but easily cloneable. Vietnam devs likely to copy/expand with IAP depth.Future Potential: If Voodoo adds events/meta (e.g. Legend of Slime style), this could evolve from hypercasual into hybrid-casual. But for now, it's a hypercasual money-printing surprise hit.Takeaway: Epic Plane Evolution proves hypercasual isn't dead — it just needs the right loop, frustration, and ads.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricPodcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction to Epic Plane Evolution04:08 Gameplay Mechanics and Challenges11:39 Monetization Strategies and Ad Revenue14:10 Unexpected Success and Future Improvements18:15 The Decline of Banner Ads21:13 Analyzing Competitor Strategies24:14 User Acquisition and Monetization Trends28:24 Creative Strategies in Mobile Gaming32:16 Future of Mobile Gaming and Audience Engagement---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
In this episode of the Indian Business Podcast, we sat down with Arjun Vaidya (founder of Dr. Vaidya's) and now a leading investor at V3 Ventures. From bootstrapping an Ayurvedic legacy brand and facing rejections, to scaling during the D2C boom and exiting in a ₹144 Cr deal, Arjun shares raw lessons from the founder's side of the table. He then flips the lens as an investor, breaking down how pitches are actually evaluated, what “Right to Win” really means, and why product-market fit is the ultimate game-changer. Along the way, he dives into the myths of fundraising, the importance of vibe-matching with investors, and common mistakes founders make while chasing growth. Packed with frameworks, case studies, and honest insights, this conversation is a must-watch for entrepreneurs, operators, and anyone who wants to understand the future of Indian consumer brands.►Think School's flagship Communication course with live doubt sessions : https://thethinkschool.com/sp/communication-masterclass/►Follow Think School Social Media: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThinkSchool►Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thethinkschool?igsh=NWg2ZXRyZmdsM2ds&utm_source=qr
Our Creative Trends episode dives into the wildest UA creative trends of July 2025. We dissect the latest ad formats, AI breakthroughs, and genre crossovers reshaping mobile game marketing.Key highlights:Golden Goblins still dominating: Physics + slicing + gem/gold mechanics continue to scale across genres.AI everywhere: From fully AI-generated creatives to lip-synced fake influencers and medieval AI drama ads, VEO3 and other tools are powering cheap, fast, and diverse iterations.Clash Royale's bizarre UA: Gameplay with random AI gorillas and corpses – questionable hooks, but they still scale.Celebrity & influencer hooks: Jonas Brothers cameo in Travel Town ads, Kevin Hart still pushing, street interview actors turning into professional creative talent.Rising stars: Vita Mayong scaling with bizarre money-plinko-style creatives, Carnival Tycoon adopting 4XUA funnels, Dark War Survival flooding with pixel-art AI creatives.Legal risks ignored: LEGO blocks, Gucci logos, celebrity likenesses - Chinese publishers are pushing boundaries regardless.Creative of the year contender: AI-powered medieval skits with bad dialogue, compared to Viva La Dirt League, hailed as the funniest + most viral format so far.Takeaway 2025 creatives = AI hooks + genre mashups + zero morality. The only rule: “Does it scale?”Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricJoin our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction to Creative Trends03:52 Analyzing Current Creative Trends17:44 The Ethics of Creative Production in Gaming26:48 Ad Creatives and Performance Insights30:48 Game Concepts and Genre Adaptation31:48 Scaling Strategies in Game Development32:49 Emerging Game Creatives and Market Competition33:51 The Impact of AI on Game Creatives40:48 Trends in Game Design and User Engagement41:54 The Evolution of Game Creatives42:49 Legal Challenges in Game Development47:01 Innovations in Game Marketing Strategies---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
In this weeks' Scale Your Sales Podcast episode, my guest is Nwamaka Udenigwe. I am Nwamaka Udenigwe, a Commercial Strategist and Sales Architect helping organizations lead grassroots-to-scale sales transformation. I build sustainable revenue systems, optimize sales structures, and design go-to-market strategies that deliver results. I don't just create strategy — I help implement what it takes to grow. In today's episode of Scale Your Sales podcast, Nwamaka shares her journey from selling bead jewelry and cakes to building a successful sales career across insurance, pharmaceuticals, and direct selling in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. She discusses blending Nordic operational systems with Nigeria's entrepreneurial energy to empower women through digital D2C models. Nwamaka outlines how AI chatbots and innovative onboarding systems are transforming engagement and solving major sales challenges, while emphasizing the power of community, trust, and personal development. This insightful conversation with Janice highlights practical strategies for scalable success and the vital role of intentional systems in driving growth. Welcome to Scale Your Sales Podcast, Nwamaka Udenigwe. Timestamps: 00:00 Microbiologist's Journey into Sales 05:53 Career Journey in Sales Leadership 08:34 Nordic Approach in Nigerian Entrepreneurship 13:33 Empowering Women Through Community Building 15:15 Transformative Community-Led Growth 20:45 Empowering Women for Wider Impact 22:56 AI Chatbots Revolutionize Bar Communication 24:50 Streamlined Self-Paced Onboarding Process 27:56 90-Day Onboarding Success Framework 32:54 Essential Structures for Success 35:01 Sales Assessment and Roadmap Creation https://www.linkedin.com/in/nwamakaudenigwe/ https://x.com/udenigwenwamaka?s=21 https://www.instagram.com/nwamakaudenigwe Janice B Gordon is the award-winning Customer Growth Expert and Scale Your Sales Framework founder. She is by LinkedIn Sales 15 Innovating Sales Influencers to Follow 2021, the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Customer Experience Nov 2020 and 150 Women B2B Thought Leaders You Should Follow in 2021. Janice helps companies worldwide to reimagine revenue growth thought customer experience and sales. Book Janice to speak virtually at your next event: https://janicebgordon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/janice-b-gordon/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceBGordon Scale Your Sales Podcast: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast More on the blog: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/blog Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicebgordon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScaleYourSales And more! Visit our podcast website https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast/ to watch or listen.
In this episode of China EVs & More, Tu (Sino Auto Insights) and Lei (former Editor-in-Chief of China Auto Review) dive deep into the latest developments in the global EV and mobility sector. From NIO's bold ES8 relaunch and pricing strategy to XPeng's surprising earnings and Leapmotor's raised sales forecasts, the conversation spans China's ultra-competitive EV market, Tesla's Model Y L update, and how foreign automakers like Ford, GM, Volkswagen, Audi, and Buick are fighting to stay relevant.The hosts also discuss battery swapping milestones, government price-cut scrutiny, global tariff shifts, and the EV retail channel wars (4S vs. D2C). To wrap, Tu shares his personal EV shopping experience in the U.S. (Cadillac Optiq, BMW i4, Chevy Blazer EV, Hyundai IONIQ 5).If you're tracking China's EV giants and their impact on the global auto market, this is a must-listen.Keywords:China EV market, NIO ES8 2025, Onvo L90, Tesla Model Y L China, Li Auto i8, XPeng P7, Leapmotor sales forecast, BYD Yangwang, Xiaomi SU7, Aito M8, Ford EV platform, CATL battery, Volkswagen XPeng partnership, Buick Electra, Audi E5 Sportback, AutoX robotaxi, Geely satellites, Tesla DeepSeek, EV price war China, battery swapping, NEV sales China, EV breakeven 2025Companies discussed:Chinese OEMs: NIO, Onvo, Li Auto, XPeng, Leapmotor, BYD (Yangwang, Denza, Fang Cheng Bao), Aito, Xiaomi Auto, Geely, Huawei (Momenta, Hesai)Global OEMs: Tesla, Ford, GM (Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet), Volkswagen, Audi, Hyundai, BMW, Lucid, Rivian, Stellantis, Volvo, PolestarSuppliers & Partners: CATL, DeepSeek, Doubao, SpaceX/StarlinkChapters:00:00 Introduction to the EV Landscape01:52 NIO's ES8 Launch and Market Impact09:21 Pricing Strategies and Market Dynamics18:46 Legacy Automakers and Their Adaptation28:09 Future Trends in the EV Market36:04 Tech Upgrades and Market Trends37:47 Pricing Strategies and Market Positioning39:38 Brand Differentiation and Consumer Perception42:33 Competition in the EV Market47:55 Consumer Preferences and Brand Loyalty49:42 Localization and Market Adaptation51:12 Profitability and Production Strategies55:15 Sales Channels: D2C vs. Traditional Models57:58 Future of EVs and Consumer Expectations
In this episode, we suffer (literally) through Wool Craze, a yarn-peeling 3D puzzler that's taking the charts by storm. The crew dissects why this painful yet brilliant game is generating ~$100-120K daily on a DAU of just ~140K — all while flooding the market with AI-generated creatives.Key highlights:Gameplay & Pain: Long, punishing levels (20–30 minutes each), fat-finger frustration, endless rewarded ads. A grind that monetizes sunk-cost fallacy.Monetization: Aggressive rewarded ads, interstitial spam, “Fail Packs” as top IAP. Smart combo of bundles + F2P pain points.Scale: ~$60K/day from IAP, $30–40K/day from ads = ~$100K/day total.Creative Strategy: Wild diversity (20+ different concepts). Heavy use of AI for characters, interviews, and banners. Street interview trend, talking AIs, even knitted dwarfs.UA Lessons: Chinese devs (HeroLinkage / SparkWish) pushing huge creative volume. AI lowers production cost, drives constant testing.Prediction: Could follow Screwdom's trajectory ($400K/day). With retention benchmarks and UA firepower, scaling is inevitable.Takeaway: Pain + AI + aggressive monetization = money machine.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricYoutube: https://youtu.be/0ONl8Bj4jR4Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction and Game Overview02:18 Game Mechanics and Design05:16 Monetization Strategies07:28 User Experience and Retention10:31 AI in Game Development13:27 Comparative Analysis with Other Games16:03 Market Performance and Revenue Insights18:41 Creative Strategies and Advertising21:23 Conclusion and Future Prospects---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
In this episode, I sit down with Suyash Saraf, co-founder of Dot & Key, one of India's fastest growing skincare brands that turned fruit powered actives into a household name. We talk about how Dot & Key started in Kolkata and grew into a major player aiming for even bigger milestones.Suyash opens up about what it takes to build a D2C brand in a crowded beauty market, why pricing strategy and consumer trust shaped their success, and how understanding Indian customers differently from global trends gave them an edge. We also dive into lessons on scaling, branding, consumer behavior, and staying innovative in a space where trends change overnight.If you've ever wondered how to create a brand that balances science and joy, or what it really takes to build a profitable D2C business in India, this conversation with Suyash is packed with insights you will not want to miss. Clips Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UC6_36Ck19T722Ozq73ft32A Shorts Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UCReIVC4kIVXuGFCv2Y-hr-Q Connect With Suyash Saraf - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/suyash-saraf-30602a68/Dot & Key - https://www.dotandkey.comConnect With Pritika -Podcast Related Emails - connect@pritika.coInstagram- https://www.instagram.com/pritika.looniaListen to the full podcast here - https://www.youtube.com/@PritikaLooniaOfficial Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/captainpritika/Learn From Me - www.pritika.co Listen to my podcast on - Jio saavn - https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/sage-up-with-pritika-loonia/2/ZukCx7qhBVQ_ Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/7ErewAP263SgLXOUE8V0SI?si=f0c13ec52bb74062 Apple Podcast- https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/sage-up-with-pritika-loonia/id151762994500:00:00 - 00:01:29 - Trailer & Intro00:01:30 - 00:08:26 - Story of Dot & Key00:08:27 - 00:10:26 - How to take the first LEAP in business00:10:27 - 00:16:08- D2C Brand Building MASTERCLASS00:16:09 - 00:33:29 - Step By Step Of Launching A Product00:33:30 - 00:49:55 - Hurdles Of Going Global 00:49:56 - 01:00:53 - Making Your Brand PROFITABLE (Tips)
In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we start with a big update. The Online Gaming Bill 2025 has received the President's assent and Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw explains why India banned real money gaming. We also cover how D2C brands are battling the festive quick commerce rush, Ola Electric's shareholder approval to reallocate IPO proceeds, and OpenAI's move to set up its first India office in New Delhi.
Grand Games is back with another puzzler and it's a monster. Car Match has hit $120K/day, combining bench mechanics, Pixar-style cars, and a polished Royal Match meta. On paper, it's a textbook case of how to scale a puzzle game.Product, amazing. UA? Not so much.Here's why:The product is a 9/10. Meta depth, endless events, and a proven template.Monetization is efficient. ~30% of revenue comes from ads, bundles are cleverly layered in, and interstitials start at different levels for different players.But the UA machine is broken. Grand Games has only 5-7 creatives live. For a game printing $2M in 30 days, that's a scaling disaster waiting to happen.Jakub nailed it: “If they stop producing new creatives, they die immediately.”Felix added: “It's an easy fix — upscale creative production.”But Matej countered: “Not that easy. You need concepts, not spaghetti on the wall.”$5M/month with Magic Sword + Car Match combinedThe takeaway: Car Match proves that you can copy, paste, and polish your way to $120K/day. But without a creative firehose, momentum will stall.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricJoin our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction to Car Match and Hosts02:16 Overview of Game Mechanics and Comparisons04:12 Gameplay Experience and Difficulty Levels07:11 Meta Mechanics and Game Events10:16 Monetization Strategies and Player Engagement13:25 Discussion on Customization and Player Preferences16:13 Game Performance and Market Insights20:34 The Financial Landscape of Game Development22:08 Understanding User Acquisition Challenges24:59 Creative Strategies for Game Marketing27:13 The Importance of Scaling Creative Production31:19 Analyzing Revenue and User Acquisition Costs36:08 The Role of Data in Game Marketing Success---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
Today on Startup to Storefront, we're sitting down with Brian Nolan, a lifelong entrepreneur and the co-owner of Darren & Phillip, a purpose-driven pet brand known for its premium matching apparel for dogs and their humans. Before launching Darren & Phillip in the U.S., Brian co-founded and led multiple successful ventures, including BookOutdoors, acquired by Hipcamp, and Sellbrite, acquired by GoDaddy. He holds a business degree from USC's Marshall School of Business and is also a proud member of the Academy of Magical Arts at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. Darren & Phillip began in Australia in 2016 and in 2024 Brian and his wife Cris brought the brand to the U.S. Now based in Denver, Colorado, Darren & Phillip continues its mission to bring comfort to dogs and joy to the people who love them. Every purchase helps rescue dogs get adopted into safe, loving homes through donations to non-profit rescue organizations around the world. Brian's story is one of building businesses with both purpose and passion, and today we'll dive into how he's turning matching pajamas into a global movement.
75% of shoppers say they go to Amazon to find new products, even if they saw the brand elsewhere. Yet many companies still resist being there, missing massive opportunities for growth.This week, Elena, Angela, and Rob dive into physical availability, the often-overlooked "place" in the marketing mix. They explore why D2C brands are rushing back to retail, share real campaign examples where distribution made the difference, and discuss what physical availability means in an AI-first world. Topics covered: [02:00] Why "place" is the forgotten P in the marketing mix[06:00] How D2C brands discovered the limits of digital-only strategies[10:00] Real campaign examples where physical availability made the difference[15:00] Brands doing physical availability right today[19:00] Expanding your thinking about "place" beyond shelf space[23:00] Brands we'd buy more if they were easier to find To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter. Resources: 2025 WARC Article: https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/opinion/4ps---place-physical-availability-the-marketing-factor-youre-likely-overlooking/70102025 AdAge Article: https://adage.com/article/marketing-news-strategy/state-dtc-warby-parker-rare-beauty-draper-james/2603761/ Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Allison Luvera and Lauren De Niro Pipher are the Co-Founders of Juliet Wine, where they're redefining boxed wine with award-winning California varietals and eco-conscious cylindrical packaging that challenges the category's decades-old perception. Allison is an award-winning brand builder with a dual BS in Finance and Marketing from Boston College, an MBA from The Wharton School, and WSET Level 2 Certification in Wine. She's also a founding member of the Alternative Packaging Alliance, a coalition of high-end boxed wine brands dedicated to advancing sustainable packaging in the wine industry. Lauren brings nearly two decades of sales, business development, investor relations, and design expertise from leading roles at Virgin Galactic, Uber, and Douglas Elliman, along with a BS in Culture & Communications from NYU and a Sustainability Certification from Cambridge University's Judge School of Business.Before launching Juliet, Allison built a career leading brand strategy, design, and storytelling for premium products, earning a reputation for transforming overlooked categories into high-value lifestyle experiences. Lauren honed her skills in building relationships, scaling sales, and translating brand vision into tangible growth. Together, they've created a brand that blends “affordable luxury” with modern consumer expectations and a design-first approach that stands apart from traditional boxed wine.In this episode, Allison and Lauren share how they spotted an opportunity to reimagine boxed wine, why they launched DTC first to prove product-market fit, and how they tested seven price points to find the sweet spot before expanding to retail. They also reveal how early customer data shaped their go-to-market strategy and helped secure high-quality retail partners who understood Juliet's unique value.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:40] Intro[01:07] Highlighting sustainability as a core advantage[01:58] Reimagining a category for modern consumers[03:46] Meeting evolving consumer demands head-on[05:21] Sourcing partners to match product vision[06:55] Reframing consumer perceptions of boxed wine[09:03] Prototyping early to speed market entry[09:20] Testing multiple price points before scaling[11:47] Episode Sponsors: Electric Eye, Heatmap, Zamp[15:44] Adjusting pricing after early market feedback[17:33] Making decisions to drive progress forward[19:21] Proving product-market fit to win distributors[20:48] Proving demand before pitching big retailers[21:10] Meeting online customers where they are [22:38] Boosting AOV with strategic bundlesResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeEco-friendly and delicious luxury boxed wine drinkjuliet.com/Follow Allison Luvera linkedin.com/in/allisonluveraFollow Lauren De Niro Pipher linkedin.com/in/iamldpSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectClear, real-time data built for ecommerce optimization heatmap.com/honestFully managed sales tax solution for Ecommerce brands zamp.com/honestIf you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!
Marketing Leadership Podcast: Strategies From Wise D2C & B2B Marketers
Dots Oyebolu speaks to Nigel Thomas, CEO of Alpha Unbound*. Nigel shares his remarkable evolution from construction cost management to D2C marketing leadership, unpacking financial discipline, agency operations, influencer strategies and the latest in first-party data and digital experiences. They explore attribution, content and the future of customer experience — all tailored for modern marketers navigating a changing digital economy.Key Takeaways:(00:00) Introduction.(06:42) How unrealistic early market conditions shaped D2C growth.(10:12) Why TikTok's audience behavior differs from Facebook's.(15:48) The fundamentals focused on today by winning brands.(16:54) First-party data as a competitive advantage.(18:39) Why poor input leads to poor creative output.(22:30) The customer-experience risks of agency silos.(24:21) A $200,000 campaign built from targeted research.(29:18) Gamification's role in improving website experiences.(35:39) Understanding a lifetime value to CAC ratio.(41:51) Why perfect attribution isn't possible and what to focus on instead.(52:45) Making agencies care by sharing the why, not just the how.(01:00:51) The cost of not creating personalized customer experiences.Resources Mentioned:David to Goliath | Websitehttps://mentoring.davidtogoliath.com/l/undeniable-business-plannerInsightful Links:https://home.breinify.ai/learn/best-d2c-marketing-strategieshttps://www.feedough.com/d2c-marketing-guide/https://www.smartinsights.com/digital-marketing-strategy/direct-to-consumer-e-commerce-marketing-techniques-for-d2c-brands/*Since recording the interview, Nigel Thomas has changed companies and is now the Founder of David to GoliathThanks for listening to the “Marketing Leadership” podcast, brought to you by Listen Network. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation. We appreciate the enthusiasm and support from our community. Currently, we are not accepting new guest interview requests as we focus on our existing lineup. We will announce when we reopen for new submissions. In the meantime, feel free to explore our past episodes and stay tuned for updates on future opportunities.#PodcastMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #BrandMarketing #MarketingStrategy #MarketingIntelligence #GTM #B2BMarketing #D2CMarketing #PodcastAds
Chip Thurston, Head of Gaming at FastSpring, returns to Two and a Half Gamers with explosive updates on the Apple and Google rulings that are blowing open the direct-to-consumer (D2C) floodgates. Since Apple's April ruling unlocked steering — legally directing players from your game to an off-platform payment page — publishers have shifted millions in revenue from Apple and Google to their own web shops, keeping the 30% cut and boosting player value.Key insights from the episode:Steering Levels: From conservative in-game banners to aggressive side-by-side pricing and direct-to-checkout flows, publishers are experimenting with how far they can push players to web shops.Impact Numbers: Playtika reports 25% of revenue now comes from D2C, equating to $667M/year not tracked by Sensor Tower or AppMagic.Friction Is Dead: New checkout flows get players from game to web payment and back in under 10 seconds.Global Domino Effect: US first, Japan's ruling hits Dec 18, 2025, with Brazil, Spain, and Korea exploring similar laws.Google Twist: Upcoming ruling could allow in-app third-party payments, not just web-based — potentially game-changing.Why Not Everyone Jumps: 43% of studios still have no web shop — mostly due to fear of Apple/Google retaliation (with zero confirmed cases).Optimization Endgame: Big publishers now mediate between multiple payment providers, routing by region, payment method, or even pricing for maximum margin.Bottom line: The payments landscape is shifting fast. Studios that delay web shop adoption are literally leaving money on the table — and their competitors are scooping it upGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricSpecial guest: Chip Thurstonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thurstonchip/ Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction and Context of Payment Rulings04:18 Shifts in Payment Strategies Post-Ruling07:05 Exploring Steering Techniques in Mobile Games09:39 Direct-to-Consumer Revenue Insights12:35 Examples of Successful Web Store Implementations15:25 Incentivizing Players to Use Web Stores18:27 The Impact of Unaccounted Revenue21:12 Future of Payment Regulations Globally23:58 The Role of Multiple Payment Providers26:47 The Evolution of Direct-to-Consumer Strategies29:38 Anticipating Future Rulings and Changes32:12 Conclusion and Future Outlook---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
In this solo episode of Two and a Half Gamers, Matej Lancaric reveals his full Soft Launch Framework: the exact 40-page playbook he uses to validate retention, monetize effectively, and decide whether to scale or shut down a game before global launch.From three critical stages — Tech Test, Retention, Monetization — to precise KPIs, country targeting, creative iteration, and UA channel sequencing, Matej walks through the step-by-step process he's used across dozens of successful launches. This isn't theory, it's built from real campaign data, retention curves, LTV models, and monetization funnels from midcore, puzzle, and RPG hits.Key insights from the episode:Why a soft launch should run 3–6 months (not one) to capture real LTV and retention curves.The 3-stage framework: Tech stability, Retention validation, Monetization scaling.Exact geo picks for each stage (Philippines, Mexico → Poland, Brazil, Netherlands → UK, Germany, Canada).UA sequencing: Facebook → Google → TikTok/Unity, shifting from MAI to event-optimized to purchase campaigns.Retention benchmarks (ideal 40/20/10) and what “healthy” ratios actually look like.Creative strategy: 10–15 videos per month, 3–5 playables, gameplay-first to avoid misleading retention data.How to kill a game quickly if it can't meet KPIs — and save your studio in the process.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Matej LancaricJoin our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction to Soft Launch Framework04:06 Key Performance Indicators for Soft Launch07:17 Stages of Soft Launch Testing09:55 Retention and Monetization Strategies12:21 Understanding Game Metrics and KPIs14:48 Technical Testing and Data Evaluation18:54 Retention Strategies and User Acquisition21:36 Pre-Launch Strategies and Market Selection25:07 Monetization Strategies and Campaign Optimization27:58 Creative Approaches and User Engagement37:34 Preparing for Global Launch and Final ThoughtsMatej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.mePlease share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
Today, I'm joined by Katie Wilson, co-founder and CEO of BelliWelli. Tackling digestive issues, BelliWelli combines fiber, probiotics, and electrolytes in cult-favorite powders and snacks — moving gut care from medicine cabinets to kitchen cupboards. In this episode, we discuss making fiber fun and accessible for modern consumers. We also cover: Millennial women's wellness overwhelm BelliWelli's product evolution and innovation pipeline Building a retail-first strategy versus direct-to-consumer Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcastSubscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribeFollow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider Website: belliwelli.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/belliwellihealth TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@belliwellihealth - The Fitt Insider Podcast is brought to you by EGYM. Visit EGYM.com to learn more about its smart workout solutions for fitness and health facilities. Fitt Talent: https://talent.fitt.co/ Consulting: https://consulting.fitt.co/ Investments: https://capital.fitt.co/ Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (02:00) BelliWelli's origin story (03:00) Being early to the gut health and fiber trends (05:00) Making fiber fun and accessible (07:00) Challenges in gut health marketing (09:00) Millennial women's wellness fatigue and overwhelm (11:00) Balancing customer feedback and staying focused as a brand (13:00) Retail-first strategy and getting into Walmart (16:00) Operational excellence and scaling to meet retail demand (21:00) Product evolution from bars to powder and future innovation pipeline (24:00) Fiber-first philosophy and the science behind gut health benefits (29:00) Current priorities: innovation, D2C growth, and bridging social to retail (32:00) Long-term vision and building toward acquisition (35:00) Conclusion
Noel Bollmann, Gründer von yfood, spricht über den Aufbau einer der erfolgreichsten D2C-Marken Europas. Mit über 120 Millionen Euro Umsatz teilt Noel, wie sie von der ersten Charge bis zum Millionengeschäft skaliert haben, warum der richtige Marketing-Mix entscheidend ist und wie sie den Weg von Performance zu Brand Marketing gemeistert haben. Was du lernst: Von der Idee zum Produkt: Die ersten 8.000 Flaschen und der Weg zur Million Wie du mit Lieferanten und Händlern verhandelst Die Balance zwischen D2C und Retail Marketing Evolution: Von reinem Performance zu Brand Marketing Wie du Influencer Marketing richtig skalierst Die Bedeutung von Brand Awareness Finanzierung & Wachstum: Der Weg vom Bootstrapping zu VC Wann Banken interessant werden Die richtige Balance zwischen Equity und Debt Internationalisierung: Die Strategie für neue Märkte Wie du Retail-Partnerschaften aufbaust Der Weg zur Milliarden-Marke Team & Organisation: Die Evolution der Organisationsstruktur Wie du Marketing-Teams richtig aufbaust Die Balance zwischen Online und Offline ALLES ZU UNICORN BAKERY: https://zez.am/unicornbakery Mehr zu Noel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noel-bollmann-9b601392/ Website: https://yfood.com/ Join our Founder Tactics Newsletter: 2x die Woche bekommst du die Taktiken der besten Gründer der Welt direkt ins Postfach: https://www.tactics.unicornbakery.de/ Kapitel: (00:00:00) Wie entstand die Idee zu yfood? (00:04:55) So findest du einen guten Partner (00:16:24) Finanzierungsstrategie bei yfood (00:21:21) Die Höhle der Löwen als Sprungbrett (00:35:26) Operations von Großbestellungen bei einem kleinen Team (00:40:13) yfood in Retail vs. D2C (00:57:11) Der Zeitpunkt für Brand Awareness (01:02:46) Wie definiere ich Zielgruppen? (01:09:36) Influencer-Marketing in den letzten 7 Jahren - Noels Rat für die heutige Zeit (01:13:07) Marktsättigung und Anpassung der Marketingstrategie (01:22:29) Kundenakquise bei yfood (01:31:52) Welche Finanzierungsmittel wurden relevanter über die Zeit? (01:41:16) Was muss passieren, damit yfood die Milliarde Umsatz knackt?
How a Chinese Survivor.io Clone Is Printing $170K/Day in a Brutal Category?We tear into Mech Assemble: Zombie Swarm, a high-performing “shoot ‘em up” that's managing to out-earn Survivor.io in a red-ocean market. With nearly $4M monthly revenue, $170K/day at peak, and only ~12K daily downloads, the game is proof you can win with ruthless monetization, creative overload, and a mix of East + West appeal.Key takeaways:Category Killer: In a genre where most titles die after launch month, Mech Assemble is holding and scaling revenue.Revenue Mix: 85%+ IAP with whales from the US, Japan (20%), South Korea, Taiwan, and Tier 1 EU. Ads add ~$14K/day.Customization Hook: Fully movable, functional weapon placement on mechs — a novelty in the subgenre.Onboarding Power Move: Classic “Asian onboarding” — start overpowered, then strip it away.Aggressive Monetization: 200-pull pity timers, daily ad boosts, limited waifu offers, and multiple battle passes.Creative Strategy: 500+ pages of creatives across TikTok, Google, and Facebook. Mix of AI-generated, meme-driven (Skibidi Toilet, Gundam knockoffs), and misleading playables.UA Reality: CPIs hitting $30+ in US, mitigated by whale-heavy spending and blended campaigns. Downloads modest, but ARPDAU sky-high.Why It Works: Strong East + West monetization, relentless creative testing, genre familiarity + novelty in mech customization.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction to the Episode04:21 Exploring the Game: Make Assemble07:16 Gameplay Mechanics and Features10:10 Monetization Strategies and Revenue Insights13:14 Customization and Player Engagement16:08 Creative Marketing and User Acquisition19:22 Comparative Analysis with Other Games22:09 Future Predictions and Closing Thoughts---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
A turbulent flight sparked Wayne Slavin's idea for Sure: let consumers buy insurance in real time. But after launching as a D2C app, he realized the bigger opportunity was powering insurance sales for others. Sure's pivot to B2B turned it into a vertical SaaS platform that lets enterprise companies embed insurance at the point of transaction. In this episode, Wayne explains how to pivot without losing your mission, why founders should lead early enterprise sales, and why he refuses to run proof-of-concept deals. He also shares why — if he could do it over — he'd avoid launching a business with so much built-in complexity. RUNTIME 51:58 EPISODE BREAKDOWN (3:16) How a turbulent flight inspired Wayne to sell insurance directly to consumers. (7:03) Why he reached out to a founder who tried (and failed) to launch an insuretech startup. (12:01) Becoming fluent in insurance industry jargon “was definitely a learning curve.” (16:05) The point when Wayne realized Sure needed to pivot. (20:16) The transition from D2C to B2B “was a slow aircraft carrier style turn.” (22:35) How to tell whether you're grinding through a rough patch or building on the wrong model. (29:21) When it was time to pitch to enterprise customers, “ most of those conversations were led by me. (32:40) “ Proofs of concept are actually the way for a big company to not do something.” (40:45) Sure is an embedded finance company, not an insurance company. (44:04) “ In hindsight, I would not want to be in another business where you are dependent on two other parties performing.” (49:08) The one question Wayne would have to ask the CEO if he were interviewing for a role with an early-stage startup. LINKS Wayne Slavin Sure "The Start-up From Hell," Inc.com SUBSCRIBE
We dissect Miniclip's War Drone 3D, a surprise hit blending realistic drone fantasy, hypercasual onboarding, and ruthless gacha with relentless ad monetization. With over 50 percent organic downloads, scaling past 300,000 installs per day at peak, and daily revenues topping $65,000, War Drone 3D proves you can go viral with core gameplay, slick visuals, and a smart (but sometimes broken) upgrade loop. What's inside:Viral Organics: Over half of all downloads are organic, driven by gameplay that looks and feels like real drone footage. Younger demographics are hooked on the “news media” aesthetic and immersive perspective.Tower Defense, Shooter, Hypercasual: Fast onboarding, no menu bloat, and you're shooting in seconds. The core loop is classic tower defense, layered with shooter upgrades and skill cards—instantly accessible, but with depth for longer-term play.Rewarded Ads and Gacha MonetizationProgression and Pain PointsCreative UA and Organic Blend: Ads leverage real drone footage aesthetics, survival hooks, and “breaking news” memes. Vertical and story formats are underused—big opportunity for TikTok and Instagram growth.Key Takeaway:War Drone 3D proves you can scale to millions without heavy UA if you nail fantasy, onboarding, and reward loops. Add better gacha balancing, creative iteration, and the sky's the limit.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricPodcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction and Technical Issues02:04 Overview of War Drone 3D04:00 Gameplay Mechanics and Balancing07:03 Game Design and User Experience12:02 Monetization Strategies and Ads19:09 User Engagement and Replayability22:58 Market Performance and Future Prospects25:21 Ad Revenue Insights and Gameplay Mechanics28:03 Game Design and User Experience30:59 Improving Game Mechanics and Progression Systems35:00 Marketing Strategies and Audience Engagement39:57 Creative Approaches in Game Advertising---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
Alberto Morgando is the CEO of the iconic brand Mavic. Alberto shares his fascinating journey from studying mechanical engineering in Turin, Italy to leading multinational companies and private equity turnarounds before taking the helm at the legendary French wheel manufacturer.Arriving at a precarious moment when Mavic was struggling with significant losses amid cycling's market downturn, Alberto faces the critical task of returning this storied brand to profitability and long-term health.We explore his management philosophy, the unique challenges of revitalizing a storied brand, and his strategic approach to navigating the volatile cycling industry. With his outsider perspective and proven turnaround expertise, Alberto offers fresh insights into brand revival, market dynamics, and the evolving future of cycling.Introduction & Background0:00 – Introduction to Alberto Morgando and his background in engineering and management.Early Career & Moving Abroad1:14 – Alberto's decision to study engineering, early career in logistics, and moving from Italy to France.Small vs. Large Companies5:45 – Experiences in small companies vs. large corporations, and the value of both.Transition to Consulting & MBA12:50 – Pursuing an MBA, entering consulting, and the impact on his career trajectory.Leadership Philosophy & Management Roles18:46 – Alberto's approach to leadership, impact, and moving into executive roles.First CEO Experience & Private Equity22:06 – Taking on CEO roles in mid-sized companies, challenges, and successes.Joining Mavic & Brand Revitalization27:07 – How Alberto became involved with Mavic, the brand's challenges, and his mandate.Cycling Industry Challenges & Strategy36:37 – The unique challenges of the cycling industry, market cycles, and Mavic's strategy for growth.Product Innovation & Market Approach43:09 – Focus on product development, innovation, and balancing OEM and aftermarket business.Retail, D2C, and Channel Strategy53:54 – Mavic's approach to retail, direct-to-consumer, and online channels.Closing & Contact Information59:17 – Final thoughts, how to contact Alberto, and closing remarks.Read the latest 'The Business of Cycling' BlogSign up for 'The Business of Cycling' Newsletter
In this episode, we break down Tile Survive! FunPlus's biggest 4X pivot yet and their boldest copy of Century Games' “Dark War” playbook. From idle meta and scripted roads to resource overload creatives and meme awards, Tile Survive is showing that copying the leaders is now the fastest path to $50,000 a day. Find out what's new, what's missing, and why FunPlus may finally scale back into the 4X top tier.You'll learn:The real gameplay and meta changes—what's new, what's just Dark War with cartoon paintThe evolution of 4X ad creatives—Golden Goblins, AI memes, Minecraft hooks, and fake UGCWhy simplifying onboarding, events, and gacha is now the winning moveKey Takeaway:Tile Survive is proof that the new 4X playbook is copy, simplify, and scale—then innovate only once you're printing money. FunPlus finally stopped reinventing, and the numbers are speaking for themselves.How to master the template and what FunPlus might do nextGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricPodcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Revisiting Forex: A Nostalgic Dive04:05 Game Review: Tile Survive Unpacked06:53 Game Mechanics: Simplification and Comparison10:03 Market Trends: Analyzing Downloads and Revenue13:06 Creative Strategies: Marketing and User Engagement16:05 Future Predictions: The Path Ahead for Games25:00 Emerging Trends in Game Development27:05 Creative Strategies and Marketing Insights30:25 Game Mechanics and User Engagement34:00 Benchmarking and Performance Metrics37:55 Final Thoughts and Future Directions---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
This week, I outline the key numbers you should know regarding subscriber gains and losses, as well as the profitability of D2C businesses for Peacock, Roku, Paramount, Sling TV, and Fubo. I also cover the revenue growth from cloud providers Amazon and Microsoft, and break out the capex spend of Meta and the hyper-scalers, totaling more than $250 billion this year, driven by AI-related infrastructure. Finally, I highlight some news relating to Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Instagram and DAZN's deal with the NHL.Podcast produced by Security Halt Media
In dieser Folge von Kassenzone spricht Karo Junker de Neui mit Sebastian Kebbe, Geschäftsführer bei Beurer. Das Traditionsunternehmen aus Ulm steht seit über 100 Jahren für (elektronische) Gesundheits- und Wohlfühlprodukte, von Blutdruckmessgeräten bis hin zu Massagegeräten, Heizkissen und bald sogar Zahnbürsten sowie Haustierzubehör. Sebastian gibt tiefe Einblicke in die beeindruckende Breite des Beurer-Sortiments (über 1.700 Produkte), die internationale Marktpräsenz in 140 Ländern und das organische Wachstum durch kontinuierliche Produktentwicklung. Besonders beeindruckend ist dabei, dass Beurer nicht nur Markenhersteller fungiert, sondern mit fünf eigenen Werken (u. a. in Europa und Asien) die komplette Wertschöpfungskette besitzt. Ein strategischer Vorteil im Kampf um Resilienz, Qualität und Margenstabilität gegenüber Billigkonkurrenz wie Temu. Im Gespräch geht es auch um die Rolle von E-Commerce. Rund 60 % des Umsatzes laufen mittlerweile online, mit Amazon als wichtigstem Kanal. Gleichzeitig investiert Beurer gezielt in D2C, Social Media und Content, u. a. mit einem TikTok-Shop und wachsendem Fokus auf CRM und Markenbindung über Connected Devices und Health-Services. Neue Wachstumstreiber sind außerdem schon in den Startlöchern. Neben Zahnpflegeprodukten wird mit „Love Your Pet by Beurer“ eine neue Marke für Petcare-Produkte gelauncht. Auch Themen wie internationale Expansion, Markenbildung über TV und Social Media sowie die Weiterentwicklung des Beurer-Claims stehen im Zentrum. Ein spannender Blick hinter die Kulissen eines Traditionsunternehmens, der zeigt, wie man sich im Wellbeing-Segment zukunftsfähig und kundennah positioniert. Podcast-Host - Karo Junker de Neui: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karojunker https://etribes.de/ Newsletter: https://www.kassenzone.de/newsletter/ Community: https://kassenzone.de/discord Disclaimer: https://www.kassenzone.de/disclaimer/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KassenzoneDe/ Blog: https://www.kassenzone.de/ E-Commerce Buch: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/3866413076/ Plattformbuch 2024: https://amzn.eu/d/1tAk82E Tassen kaufen: http://www.tassenzone.com Kassenzone” wird vermarktet von Podstars by OMR. Du möchtest in “Kassenzone” werben? Dann https://podstars.de/kontakt/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes_kassenzone
This episode, Two and a Half Gamers sit down with analytics legend Russell Ovans—the mind behind Professor ARPDAU and the author of game analytics' “bible.” Learn the brutal truth about retention, ARPDAU, LTV, and the “golden cohort” trap. If you want to scale your game profitably in 2025, you need these formulas, tools, and lessons - no hype, no BS, just results.You'll learn:Why retention is the only metric that matters (until ARPDAU takes over)How to model and predict your LTV, player days, and payback window using real retention curvesThe difference between analytics and data science, and why cohorts are your best friendHow to avoid burning your UA budget chasing “golden cohorts” or missing your D7 ROAS targetFree tools at arpdow.com to plug in your data and get real answersKey Takeaway:Retention plus ARPDAU equals real growth. Track cohorts, model your curve, and never fall for the golden cohort trap or ad network happy talk. If you want more, arpdow.com has the tools.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------Vibe. Vibe is the leading Streaming TV ad platform for small and medium-sized businesses looking for actionable advertising campaign performance.https://www.vibe.co/---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricSpecial Guest: Russel Ovanshttps://arpdau.com/https://arpdau.com/ltvJoin our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction to Analytics in Gaming05:38 Russell Owens' Journey in Game Analytics08:29 Understanding Analytics vs. Data Science11:37 The Importance of Cohorts in Game Analytics14:43 Retention Metrics and Their Significance18:44 Key Performance Indicators for Game Success21:39 The Relationship Between LTV and CPI24:37 Predicting Retention and Its Impact on Game Design30:41 Understanding Retention Metrics33:42 The Importance of Retention in Monetization36:31 Expected Player Days and LTV Calculation43:43 Tools for Predicting LTV and ROAS50:41 Final Thoughts and Homework for Game Developers---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
In this episode of Life in Motion, we sit down with Martina Russo, founder of The Action Sports Translator. Martina shares how her love for languages and a lifetime passion for outdoor sports combined into a unique global agency helping outdoor brands authentically connect with international audiences. From translating technical gear manuals to subtitling athlete stories, her team works across 700+ language experts—all with direct experience in sports like climbing, snowboarding, and mountain biking. Martina also shares trends she's seeing in the outdoor industry, including the rise of trail running, the shift to direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales, and navigating AI in content creation. Whether you're an outdoor brand looking to go global or just curious how language impacts adventure, this episode has something for you.Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beautiful brands that highlight the approachable and authentic parts of outdoor recreation. Said simply - they “keep it real”. Find them online at actualoutdoors.com or on Instagram at @actualoutdoors.Tweet us and let us know what you think of this episode! @illuminecollectFind more episodes at www.illuminecollect.com/blogs/life-in-motion-podcastSince 2017 Illumine has donated over $48,766 to outdoor nonprofits and shared over 243 stories on the Life in Motion Podcast.
Today, we break down Granny: the solo-developed mobile horror hit that racked up a billion downloads and $50,000 daily ad revenue with no UA, no team, and nothing but YouTube virality.You'll learn:The secrets behind Granny's viral growth and billion-plus downloadsWhy four simple interstitials are better than banners, IAP, or rewarded videoHow meme culture, Let's Plays, and YouTube Shorts keep the DAU highHow a lack of mediation and adops left $50 million on the tableWhat makes Granny so replayable—and why nobody's cloned the formulaThe untapped goldmine of horror games on mobileKey Takeaway:You do not need a team, UA, or even high production values to win. Build for memes, embrace virality, and never underestimate the power of a good scare on mobile.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------Vibe. Vibe is the leading Streaming TV ad platform for small and medium-sized businesses looking for actionable advertising campaign performance.https://www.vibe.co/---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction to Granny: The Horror Game04:26 Game Mechanics and Design Exploration07:27 Gameplay Experience and Strategies10:26 Monetization and Revenue Insights13:26 Multiple Endings and Replayability16:23 Personal Reflections on Horror Games19:22 The Evolution of Granny: From One to Two21:50 Connecting the Dots: Granny and Slendrina Lore23:57 The Passion Behind Game Development26:42 Analyzing Download Trends and User Engagement31:08 Revenue Insights: The Financials of Granny Games35:17 Optimizing Ad Placements for Better User Experience36:18 Game Design and Monetization Strategies37:29 Understanding Ad Mediation and Revenue Loss39:52 Calculating Potential Revenue Losses42:00 Leveraging YouTube for Marketing44:09 The Impact of Horror Games on YouTube46:05 Challenges in the Horror Game Genre50:01 Future of Horror Games and Closing ThoughtsMatej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiarPlease share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
What happens when you take a simple daily habit like your morning coffee, and supercharge it with performance ingredients, influencer buzz and a Formula One partnership? You get Before You Speak, the Brisbane-based functional coffee brand co-founded by Jaryd Terkelsen. In this episode, Jaryd shares the caffeine-fuelled story behind Before You Speak's rise from a D2C startup to a global ecommerce brand, now stocked in Woolworths, Ampol, Amazon Australia, and launching into the UAE.In this episode, we're covering:Why and how functional coffee works The shift from D2C to retail and how they landed in Woolies, Ampol & moreGoing global: UAE expansion, Amazon growth, and F1 influenceJaryd's $1.5M lesson in shiny-object syndrome and finding focusSubscription, loyalty, and creative hacks that actually moved the needleThe silky Irish AI ad that crushed Meta acquisition costsConnect with Jaryd TerkelsenExplore Before You SpeakUse code: ATCXBYS20 to get 20% off Hurry! offer ends 31 August 2025 at 11:59pm AEST. Not valid with other discounts, bundles, loyalty rewards or subscriptions.Questions? Shoot us a text!Support the showWant to level up your ecommerce game? Come hang out in the Add To Cart Community. We're talking deep dives, smart events, and real-world inspo for operators who are in it for the long haul. Connect with Nathan BushContact Add To CartJoin the Community
Russell Breuer, founder of Spot & Tango, shares the remarkable journey of building a $100+ million pet food company from a New York studio apartment in just seven years. What makes this story even more impressive? They've remained profitable while operating as a subscription-only, direct-to-consumer brand in the competitive pet food space. Russell reveals the strategic decisions that set them apart—from their innovative "Unkibble" fresh-dry process to building their own 70,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. This conversation is packed with actionable insights on vertical integration, subscription model optimization, and performance marketing excellence.This episode is essential listening for any D2C founder looking to build sustainable, profitable growth while maintaining premium positioning in their market.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Introducing Spot & Tango: The Value Proposition of Fresh Pet Food(06:15) The Importance of Vertical Integration(11:56) Subscription-Only Model: A Strategic Choice(15:52) Key Lessons for Increasing Conversion Rates(19:03) The Role of Education in Customer Engagement & Relationships(23:09) Understanding Return on Invested Capital(28:58) Growth Levers & Marketing Strategies(32:29) The Role of AI in Performance Marketing(35:05) What's Next for Spot & Tango—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Relevant Links:Russell's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-breuer-0b3b57Spot & Tango Website: https://spotandtango.com/_Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more
Le modèle D2C a évolué. Exit le “tout digital” et le produit star : bienvenue dans l'ère des marques plateformes et de l'omnicanal assumé. Dans cet épisode, on plonge dans la transformation profonde du modèle Direct-to-Consumer (D2C). Après l'explosion des DNVB dans les années 2010, une nouvelle génération de marques repense le modèle. Plus stratégiques, plus hybrides, plus connectées à leur audience, elles redéfinissent les règles du jeu.On y parle :de l'héritage – et des limites – du D2C 1.0,des marqueurs de cette nouvelle génération de marques,des leviers marketing qui leur permettent de se différencier dans un marché saturé. Autre épisode qui pourrait vous plaire: C'est quoi une DNVB?---------------
We break down Century Games' Tasty Travels, the new merge hit muscling into a category long dominated by Travel Town and Microfun. Tasty Travels is not just a clone. It's a polished, high-velocity merge machine, doubling the ARPDAU of Travel Town and already scaling toward $200,000 daily revenue, with a launch playbook built on AI, altered gameplay, and relentless creative iteration. We explore why Century's approach to UA and live ops could make them a serious threat to every top-grossing merge game and why nobody wants to go head-to-head against them.What's inside:Insane UA and CreativesOnboarding and PaceEvents, Live Ops, and MonetizationMarket Impact!Clone Wars and CopycatsKey Takeaway:Tasty Travels is not just another merge game. It's Century Games' statement that nobody is safe from a studio that can outspend, outclone, and out-iterate the entire category.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------Vibe. Vibe is the leading Streaming TV ad platform for small and medium-sized businesses looking for actionable advertising campaign performance.https://www.vibe.co/---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricYoutube: https://youtu.be/IreEye1zjF0Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction to Tasty Travels04:14 Gameplay Mechanics and Features07:15 Comparative Analysis with Travel Town10:06 User Experience and Game Economy13:22 Event Structures and Engagement16:15 Innovative Elements and User Acquisition Strategies21:13 Introduction to UA Play and Gameplay Mechanics24:15 Live Operations and Monetization Strategies27:14 Ad Monetization in Merge Games31:16 Revenue Insights and Market Trends37:46 Future Predictions and Competitive Landscape40:17 Exploring Creative Strategies in Gaming43:26 The Role of User Acquisition in Game Success46:42 Innovations in Game Design and User Engagement51:51 Competitive Landscape in the Gaming Industry---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
Jess Berman is the Chief Brand Officer and co-owner of BodyBio, a family-owned supplement brand redefining cellular health through premium, science-backed formulations. Built at the intersection of clinical credibility and modern digital commerce, BodyBio is helping bridge the gap between practitioner-trusted products and direct-to-consumer wellness, making elite cellular health accessible to more people than ever before.After spending years deeply connected to BodyBio's practitioner roots, Jess stepped into a leadership role during a pivotal shift: moving the business from B2B-only to a thriving DTC brand. What began as a family legacy focused on scientific excellence evolved into a broader mission of education, access, and brand storytelling, bringing cellular health out of the doctor's office and into everyday routines.Though she didn't come from a traditional DTC background, Jess brings strategic clarity to every stage of growth, navigating channel tradeoffs, building dual B2B and DTC ecosystems, and balancing hyper-targeted paid media with high-trust organic growth.Whether discussing how BodyBio fixed its reliance on branded traffic, why affiliate funnels outperformed typical influencer playbooks, or how brand guidelines helped unify internal teams and external agencies, Jess offers a transparent and tactical perspective on scaling a modern wellness brand without sacrificing trust.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:43] Intro[01:52] Rebuilding websites to unlock conversions[03:16] Growing brand awareness through omnichannel[04:26] Bootstrapping marketing with a two-person team[05:40] Managing fulfillment while scaling DTC[07:18] Finding new customers through authority partners[09:31] Testing creative angles to convert cold traffic[11:34] Leading growth through transparency and story[12:21] Episode Sponsors: Electric Eye, Reach & Zamp[15:52] Defining brand guidelines before scaling online[17:52] Testing incrementality before scaling Amazon[18:48] Skipping short-term wins for long-term brand health[20:48] Preparing for shoppable AI disrupting searchResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeSupplements Made From Science https://bodybio.com/Follow Jess Berman https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesshkaneSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectLevel up your global sales withreach.com/honest Fully managed sales tax solution for Ecommerce brands zamp.com/honestIf you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!
Welcome back to another episode of the EUVC Podcast, your trusted inside track on the people, deals, and dynamics shaping European venture.This week, Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen of SuperSeed and Lomax from Outsized Ventures, gather to unpack the macro forces and micro signals shaping European tech and venture.They dive into the EU's latest corporate structure reforms, the battle with resistant notaries, and the implications for startup formation and cross-border investing. Then it's onto LLM innovation in China, valuation exuberance in AI, and the strategic shifts in capital allocation. The group finishes by zooming out on macro policy, sovereignty debates, and a cautious optimism for European tech.Whether you're an investor, founder, or policymaker trying to navigate Europe's choppy regulatory waters — this one's for you.Here's what's covered02:00 | Startup law, friction, and EU Inc.06:30 | The SAFE envy09:30 | Founders as fund managers — and vice versa12:00 | From Pink Floyd to trillion-parameter models17:30 | Capital efficiency and compute arbitrage21:00 | UK startup ecosystem: a shadow of its former self?25:00 | Fundraising cycles and trapped capital28:00 | D2C health — a comeback?31:00 | Crypto week in Europe?35:00 | Macro clouds and haven-hunting
Visit thedigitalslicepodcast.com for complete show notes of every podcast episode. In this episode of The Digital Slice Podcast, Brad Friedman and Will Haire talk about how D2C brands can leverage Amazon to scale their businesses. Will Haire is the Co-Founder of BellaVix, a full-service Marketplace Marketing Agency dedicated to direct-to-consumer retail brands aiming to aggressively grow sales on the world's largest marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart. With over half a billion dollars worth of sales on marketplaces, Will has established himself as a leading authority in the industry. Will has extensive experience working with e-commerce businesses, leading the strategic planning, implementation, and tactical execution of marketing strategies for products across all Amazon business segments. BellaVix has successfully collaborated with renowned brands such as Instant Pot, Wilton, and Outward Hound, delivering exceptional growth and results. As an agency, BellaVix is proud to be part of Amazon's Service Provider Network, a Verified Amazon Advertising Partner, and an Amazon Global Selling Partner, ensuring top-tier service and expertise for their clients. In his spare time, Will is a Father of two, Victoria and Sebastian, and handles most of the planning for family activities, which he loves. When not parenting, he appreciates good coffee or whisky, depending on the time of day. Will is passionate about helping brands achieve category domination. The Digital Slice Podcast is brought to you by Magai. Up your AI game at https://friedmansocialmedia.com/magai
Send us a textIn today's episode, Paul will explore how he scales hardware teams, builds for manufacturability, navigates supply chain complexity, mentors engineers, and embraces community‑driven innovation. Get ready for insights on leadership, prototyping, and bringing hardware to life from idea to market.Main Topics:Proteus Motion's V1 and V2 machine developmentEngineering career progressionHardware product design and manufacturingConsulting and entrepreneurshipNew York Hardware Meetup community buildingAbout the guest: Paul Vizzio is a seasoned mechanical engineer and hardware leader with a diverse background spanning consumer electronics, cleantech, and defense. Starting as a product management intern at SolidWorks, he later managed undersea vehicle projects at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. As the first mechanical engineer at goTenna, he developed both consumer and military-spec products from concept to production in under a year.In 2017, he founded Vizeng, providing end-to-end mechanical and supply-chain consulting to NYC hardware startups. He also led product development for RoadPower's regenerative road systems.Since 2019, Paul has led hardware efforts at Proteus Motion, overseeing team growth, R&D, and supply chain. His work includes redesigning the V1 system and launching the V2 within a year—contributing to Proteus's adoption by 400+ pro sports teams and clinics. He also co-organizes the NY Hardware Meetup and founded the D2C pet brand RemieDog, reflecting his passion for innovation and community-building.Links:Paul Vizzio - LinkedInVizeng WebsiteAaron Moncur, hostClick here to learn more about simulation solutions from Simutech Group.
Welcome to episode 282 of the China Manufacturing Decoded podcast from Sofeast where we take a deep dive into the logistics and product preparation differences across three major e-commerce and sales channels. Adrian and Kate from Sofeast break down how to optimize supply chains depending on whether you're shipping to retailers, selling through Amazon FBA, or running a direct-to-consumer (D2C) operation. Show Sections 00:00 – Intro 01:12 – Retail vs. FBA vs. D2C: Channel overviews 04:23 – Retail: Bulk shipping & packaging compliance 08:06 – Amazon FBA: Labeling, penalties & alternatives 15:36 – D2C: Dropshipping from China 20:30 – D2C: Holding stock in overseas 3PLs 23:40 – Choosing the right channel by stage and volume 26:00 – Combining models: hybrid logistics strategies 28:40 – Key takeaways Related content... Get support from Sofeast with our diverse Supply Chain Management services Get in touch with us Connect with us on LinkedIn Contact us via Sofeast's contact page Subscribe to our YouTube channel Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB Get in touch with us Connect with us on LinkedIn Contact us via Sofeast's contact page Subscribe to our YouTube channel Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB
Affiliate marketing is shedding its outdated reputation and entering a new era—one centered on authenticity, emotional resonance, and genuine human connection. In fact, during the 2024 U.S. Cyber Monday, influencers and affiliate marketers were responsible for driving around 20% of e-commerce revenue, highlighting just how influential trust-based recommendations have become. At the center of that shift is “vibe marketing,” a new way of thinking about how brands and creators grow together.So, what does it really mean to “get the vibe right”? And how are creators and brands redefining influence?In this episode of Tuesdays with Morrisey, host Adam Morrisey speaks with Andrew Abony, founder and CEO of Adbloom, about how affiliate marketing is evolving into something bigger—what Andrew calls vibe marketing. Andrew's background spans traditional media, early-stage startups, and the modern creator economy, and he's on a mission to help people earn a living by being themselves.The duo talk about what it really means to “get the vibe right,” how brands are losing control (in a good way), and why authenticity is the most valuable currency in marketing today.Key takeaways from the episode…Affiliate = Authentic referrals at scaleAndrew reframes affiliate marketing as a simple idea: people sharing products they actually use and love—and getting paid for it.Vibes > ViralityBrands win when their values, products, and partners align emotionally. When that alignment is off, people feel it and tune out.Execution over everythingThere are lots of good ideas out there. The ones that win are the ones that get shipped. No matter how scrappy the start.Let go of controlThe best-performing content often comes from creators, not corporate. Smart brands are leaning into co-creation, not just dictating the narrative.The new frontier is human + AICreators are using AI to scale their voice. Not to replace themselves, but to extend what they can do across platforms.The episode also covers…The story behind Adbloom's startThe origin of affiliate marketingStanley mugs and vibe-driven growthWhy B2B is starting to look more like D2CCreating community as a byproduct of doing something specialRunning, raison d'être, and what happens when you have the will and support to winAndrew Abony is the CEO and co-founder of Adbloom, a high-growth affiliate and partnership marketing agency that helps startups and enterprise clients scale through creator-driven content and performance marketing. With over 15 years of experience in growth strategy, digital product innovation, and mobile marketing, he has led initiatives at companies like Mood Media and Somerset Entertainment, where he launched award-winning products and forged key partnerships. His clients have included major brands like Uber, Buzzfeed, RBC, and ByteDance, and his work spans the gig economy, fintech, edtech, and D2C sectors.
Dans cet épisode, Laurent Kretz reçoit Peggy Sadier, Directrice e-commerce et digitale de Duralex, marque verrerie emblématique qui vient de fêter ses 80 ans. Avec une expertise en transformation digitale et croissance rapide dans des entreprises patrimoniales. Peggy souligne l'importance d'embarquer les équipes, d'arbitrer entre retail, food service et D2C, et d'innover pour toucher de nouveaux clients.Les temps forts :00:00:00 – Introduction et présentation de Peggy Sadier00:03:00 – Son parcours et ses expériences 00:16:00 – Duralex : histoire, actualité et stratégie e-commerce00:23:00 – Retail, food service, D2C : arbitrages et complémentarités00:30:00 – CRM, acquisition et fidélisation00:37:00 – International, nouveaux marchés et adaptation00:44:00 – Management et conseils pour transformer00:56:00 – Transmission, résilience et conseils clés01:03:00 – Perspectives d'avenir pour DuralexEt quelques dernières infos à vous partager : Suivez Le Panier sur Instagram lepanier.podcast !Inscrivez- vous à la newsletter sur lepanier.io pour cartonner en e-comm !Écoutez les épisodes sur Apple Podcasts, Spotify ou encore Podcast AddictLe Panier est un podcast produit par Cosa, du label Orso Media.Distribué par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
More and more it seems like “Direct to Fan” is having a moment in the music industry...but it's not a new concept and a lot of what you're hearing about it misses the point entirely... In this episode of Creative Juice, Jack and Circa set the record straight on what “direct to fan” really means for artists. We unpack the buzz around D2F in the industry, the confusion with D2C models, and how to build a business on your terms with your fans and customers! If you're building your artist business and want to understand what's real and what's noise in the “direct to fan” conversation, this episode cuts through and gives you a path to follow without distractions! DISCOVER: Why “Direct To Fan” Is Becoming An Industry Buzzword and How To See Through The Hype What To Know About D2C Artist Businesses and D2C Brands How Gatekeepers And Middlemen Are Being Added Back Into D2C Unnecessarily What Direct To Fan Is Actually About (Hint: It's Fan Monetization, Not Platforms) Why You Can't Rely On Tools Alone To Build A Direct To Fan Business How To Evaluate The Costs Of Changing Platforms In Your Business What Direct To Fan Will Never Be and How To Build It The Right Way RESOURCES: Learn The Top Music Marketing Strategies Inside IndiePRO Shout out to Dame Ritter for the Inspiration Join Us In The Indepreneur Discord Server! Getting Everything You Can Out of All You've Got Looking to expand your team or need marketing help? Apply to work with IndieX!
A&P are joined by Rebecca MacVittie the GC @ Newstore. Newstore is backbone technology enabling global e-commerce for brands like Burton, Marine Layer, Birkenstock and other popular D2C brands. Rebecca had a unique pathway to the GC seat and we will discuss how these experiences helped her pave the way forward and how the diversity of experience is a plus as a GC.
In this episode, Dave explores the differences between manufacturing in China, India and the USA after ordering some products from all three countries. We talk about the good, the bad and the ugly between all three areas and the factors that you should consider if you do choose to move your manufacturing to India or to America. Specifically, we'll dive into the lead times, the cost differences between each country (including tariffs), the quality differences and the other pros and cons we found. Struggling with tariffs? Unsure about upcoming changes? Let's talk! With Portless, you only pay tariffs after your customers pay you – so your cash always moves faster than your costs. Schedule a risk assessment and leverage tariff deferment today. All new customers get $1,000 to reinvest in their business. Now that the tariffs have been somewhat finalized, we can now do a clear and accurate breakdown of the pros and cons of manufacturing in China, India and the US. So for the sake of our audience, Dave ordered products from each country to breakdown the differences in quality, costs, and lead times that you should know about. If you've been considering moving your manufacturing base, then this episode is definitely for you. In a rush? Here's the high-level takeaways: Manufacturing in China currently comes with the caveat of 50%~ tariffs. Lead times in India are basically unpredictable because everything is handmade. Prices in India are generally higher than in China, despite lower tariffs but the quality of products from India is high, especially in textiles and handicrafts. American manufacturing offers lower lead times but comes at 2x the cost of Chinese prices. Finding manufacturers in America can be challenging because of high MOQs and lack of responsiveness. Most manufacturers in America are already selling D2C. A lot of American manufacturers have a lot of requirements to create your product. American manufacturers typically also do not do any additional kitting for free. Online marketplaces for manufacturing are emerging as valuable resources in the US. E-commerce entrepreneurs may need to consider in-house manufacturing as a long-term strategy. The future of manufacturing may involve a mix of domestic and overseas production. Understanding the specific product requirements is crucial when choosing a manufacturing location. Here's some timestamps if you'd like to skip around: 00:00 Manufacturing Landscape: China, India, and America 08:20 The Pros and Cons of Indian Manufacturing 15:21 Navigating American Manufacturing Challenges 22:24 Future of Manufacturing: Trends and Predictions As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!