Podcasts about DTC

Heaven Mayhem founder and creative director Pia Mance built a $10M accessories brand by turning customers into co-creators with a bold community strategy. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Nationwide Whole Foods distribution. A seven-figure DTC engine. A five-person team. In this episode, Ashley Nickelsen, the founder and CEO of nutrition bar and chocolate brand B.T.R. Nation, breaks down the systems behind her brand's growth, from using DTC zip-code data to unlock retail expansion, to building a creative-first Meta ads strategy that drives real revenue (not just impressions).  She shares why velocity is her North Star metric, how she thinks about omnichannel as a flywheel – not separate businesses – how she evaluates when syndicated data is worth the cost, and why she chose to self-warehouse to maintain margin and operational control.  Ashley also unpacks her approach to pricing across channels, portfolio expansion beyond a single hero SKU, and constant creative testing in one of grocery's most competitive categories.  Show notes: 0:20: Ashley Nickelsen, Founder & CEO, B.T.R. Nation – Ashley talks about her deep ties to New York City and a life largely spent on the road for work. She also shares her path into CPG from a master's in higher education and then into the supplement world and applied lessons from her experience to B.T.R., Ashley's discusses evolution as a spokesperson and her belief that brands need a consistent "face," explains B.T.R.'s origin story and how losing both parents to rare cancers before age 30 shaped her mission and her decision to avoid natural flavors. She describes how trust and community grew "organically" through direct customer engagement and helps generate retail discovery and online reorders across channels. She also details how B.T.R. approaches growth with constant iteration while keeping affordability and velocity in mind, and shares practical learnings on Meta advertising and how to pair digital attribution with retail data stories to win new accounts. Brands in this episode: B.T.R. Nation, Spindrift, Mid-Day Squares, Graza, Simple Mills, Siete, Perfect Bar, Lily's, Unreal, Heinz, Crumbl

In this episode, I sit down with Forest Bronzan, CEO of Jetset, someone I truly consider a pioneer in the DTC and retention space. We revisit his journey from building and scaling Email Aptitude—one of the earliest agencies dedicated solely to retention and email—to launching Jetset in a completely different economic and technological landscape. What struck me most is how his conviction around retention hasn't changed—but how the strategy has evolved dramatically. We go deep into why customer experience—not just customer support—is becoming the real differentiator for brands. Forest shares how Jetset is redefining CRM by integrating sentiment analysis, proactive outreach, and immersive brand experiences to build long-term loyalty. In a world obsessed with acquisition, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the real gold is in the customers you've already earned Key Moments from the Episode: * Forest reflects on launching Email Aptitude in the early days of DTC and how retention was once a niche focus—long before it became table stakes. * Why "customer support" is not the same as "customer experience"—and how most brands are missing the bigger opportunity. * The introduction of Jetset's internal framework, Sentiment IQ, which aggregates signals like NPS, engagement, reviews, and support data to proactively manage retention. * How brands can identify high-value detractors and intervene before churn happens—turning frustration into loyalty. * Why authentic surprise-and-delight moments, curated experiences, and deeper listening will define the next era of retention. Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this thoughtful and strategic conversation about loyalty, customer experience, and what it truly takes to build a brand that wins long-term. If you care about sustainable growth, this episode is one you won't want to miss. For more on Jetset, visit: https://jetset.io/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don't forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today's Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: https://www.getsaral.com/demo SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. Let the SARAL team know you're a The Story of a Brand Show podcast listener to get an extended free trial! Visit the link above. 

In Episode 104 of the Digital Velocity Podcast, Pat Barry joins Erik Martinez for a fast-moving, practical conversation about how to build "individual capability with AI" as the foundation for stronger teams. Rather than treating AI like a one-time experiment, Erik and Pat focus on how capability is built through repetition, discipline, and real workflow reps (repetitions). Pat shares how his learning process evolved from "watching videos on YouTube" and "Googling stuff" to using LLMs like Gemini or Chat GPT for guided learning: "I just tell it what I wanna learn, and then I tell it, ask me more questions so I can, kind of tailor this to myself." A major theme is the reality of time constraints for marketers, agency leaders, and DTC operators juggling "a bajillion things on your plate." Pat breaks down how he makes progress anyway: "I use time boxing," and "I'll block off just an hour on my calendar," then stick to it. Erik ties the mindset back to coaching, reminding listeners that "you gotta do more reps" to actually improve, whether it's "short hops" at work or getting better outputs from AI. Listeners will learn: ·         How to use LLMs for guided learning by having them "ask me more questions" ·         Why "going and doing" beats passive consumption when AI changes constantly ·         How "time boxing" creates space to practice without adding chaos to your week ·         Why confidence is built through iteration and verification — not perfect first prompts ·         How individual capability becomes the bedrock for scaling AI across a team If you're leading a DTC brand, running an agency, or managing a marketing team, Episode 104 is a must-listen for anyone who wants AI adoption to translate into real execution — not tool overload. As Pat puts it, "You're never gonna start unless you start doing."

In 1877, Cornelius Vanderbilt died as the richest man in America — worth $105 million (over $2 billion today). Less than 50 years later, at a Vanderbilt family reunion, not a single millionaire remained.The Rockefellers? Still one of the most powerful family dynasties on the planet.Same era. Same kind of entrepreneurial wealth. Completely different outcomes.So what did the Rockefellers know that the Vanderbilts didn't?It wasn't how they made money. It was how they kept it.In this episode of The Wealth Warehouse Podcast, David Befort and Paul Fugere break down one of the most foundational wealth-building lessons you'll ever hear — and most people will never learn it because they're too busy spending what they earn.Here's the hard truth: "The worst thing you could possibly do is that money that you work, you sweat, you bleed for — don't spend it."The Vanderbilts liquidated everything. They spent. They built mansions. They became socialites. They had a great time — for about two generations. Then it was gone.The Rockefellers? They built trusts. They used permanent life insurance. They practiced a simple but powerful principle: borrow against your money, don't spend it. Buy. Borrow. Die. The loan gets repaid by the death benefit. The wealth stays in the family. Forever.And here's the part that might change the way you think about every dollar in your pocket right now:You don't have to be a Rockefeller to use the Rockefeller method.Dave and Paul walk you through exactly how this works in the real world — with real clients making real decisions right now:A military pilot and UPS aviator who understood this principle immediately and structured his policy to buy his next home without ever spending his own cashA client sitting on $50,000 who's wrestling with whether to use it as a down payment — and why Dave says that could be one of the most expensive decisions he ever makesWhy Paul is pulling equity out of his own home and flowing it into a system where he controls it — not the bank, not the walls of a house, not a 401k he can't touch without penalty"If you have enough cash to solve a problem, you don't have a problem."Most people think they only have two choices with their money: save it or spend it. Dave and Paul flip that completely on its head.Your dollar is already working in more than one place at a time. Banks are using it. Hedge funds are using it. The DTC is leveraging your 401k shares while you're not looking. The question is — are you getting the benefit of that, or is someone else?The Infinite Banking Concept teaches you how to stop being the Vanderbilts and start thinking like the Rockefellers. How to run your capital through your own system first — so it compounds, uninterrupted, for the rest of your life — and then leverage it for whatever you were going to spend it on anyway."Would you rather have a dollar doing one thing at a time for you — or multiple things?"Yeah. That's what we thought.One family asked: "How can I enjoy this?" The other asked: "How can we never lose this?"One built a lifestyle. One built a legacy.And here's the thing — a legacy creates a pretty nice lifestyle too. You just have to build it first.Whether or not whole life insurance is your vehicle, the principle is the same: never interrupt the compounding of your money. Use the life insurance company's money, the bank's money, someone else's money — to do the things you were going to do anyway. Stop writing checks from your own pocket and start controlling both sides of the banking equation.The Vanderbilts didn't have a system. They didn't have constraints. They didn't have a trustee making sure the money was used for something productive. They had parties and mansions and a great run for about 50 years.Don't be the Vanderbilts.

#800 From backyard-grown herbs and screen doors used as drying racks to national retail shelves, Jodi Scott's journey with Green Goo is a masterclass in building a mission-driven CPG brand! In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with the co-founder and CEO of Green Goo to unpack how they set out to “reinvent first aid” with plant-based solutions that actually work — earning passionate customer stories, scaling into major retailers (including the Army & Air Force Exchange), and adapting fast when the market wasn't ready for “plant-based” a decade ago. Jodi also shares the behind-the-scenes reality of hypergrowth, navigating financing and forecasting, surviving the retail shutdown during COVID by ramping DTC, and the hard-earned mental fitness practices that helped her buy the company back and rebuild after a failed partnership nearly wiped everything out! What we discuss with Jodi: + Reinventing first aid + Plant-based + high efficacy + Backyard-to-kitchen production + Farmer's market validation + Customer stories (eczema, wounds) + Launching a website to reorder + Retail expansion learning curve + Army & Air Force Exchange pitch + COVID pivot to DTC + Amazon + Selling, losing, buying back the brand Thank you, Jodi! Check out Green Goo at GreenGoo.com. To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're live and poolside at the close of eTail Palm Springs. This year's conference brought less theory and more proof, from agentic platforms doing actual operational work to the quiet rise of go-to-market tooling among merchants. One thing is clear: AI stopped talking and started shipping. Brian and Phillip break down the sessions, hallway conversations, and briefings that mattered most, and dive into their marathon week of discussions with companies including CommerceIQ, Attentive, Resolve AI, Decile, Modem, and more. The Year AI Stopped Talking and Started Working Key takeaways: Agentic AI is operational now. Platforms like CommerceIQ are replacing FTE-style workflows, running around the clock, and proactively surfacing insights. Context is everything… and most native AI tools don't have it. In-tool AI using synthetic or siloed data is producing unreliable outputs. The winning stack integrates across all data sources. CRM is mainstream; go-to-market tooling is emerging. Merchants are now using tools like Clay, a tool built for B2B sales prospecting, to find creators, influencers, and strategic partners. Clienteling looks different when repurchase cycles are a decade long. Brands like Ernesta (custom rugs) and GHD (hairstyling tools) are rethinking loyalty and relationship-building without the luxury of frequent transactions. "Consolidation is power." Whoever consolidates information, tasks, and systems the best will hold the advantage, both in business and in AI. Quotes: [00:20:15] "The marketing agent is looking for a segmentation issue... high CAC and low LTV. Those are things that, as an organization, you'd have to surface, invest in, create segments, create a dashboard — and then bother to look at." — Phillip [00:37:38] "The job of the RFP responder is the same as the code developer. They become a shepherd and a reviewer rather than a writer." — Brian  [00:48:03] "What do we lose when we eliminate the mundane?" — Brian  [00:51:09] "In the next six months, AI is going to own entire workflows without any human intervention." — George Davis, CMO of Cozy Earth (as quoted by Phillip) In-Show Mentions: Listen to Kristin Flor Perret's episode on Future Commerce Get on the list for our ShopTalk Spring After Party Associated Links: Check out Future Commerce on YouTube Check out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and print Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce world Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Creative volume isn't the unlock. Better messaging is.In this episode of eCommerce Evolution, Brett sits down with Nate Lagos (CMO of Adapt Naturals, former Head of Growth at Original Grain) to break down how great storytelling drives real performance.From selling wooden watches through emotional positioning… to increasing AOV by reframing gift messaging… to building ads that scale without “fatigue” — this episode is a masterclass in understanding why customers actually buy.If you're a DTC founder, CMO, or operator tired of launching more ads without improving results, this conversation will recalibrate how you think about copy, positioning, and brand personality.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Intro(05:05) Nate's origin story, and why storytelling became a “performance lever”(07:40) Selling the story behind the materials (10:30) Customer motivation deep dive: status, identity, and gift-giving (15:05) Creative quantity vs quality(19:05) Finding the real “why”: research methods (23:10) Brand as “personality”(30:10) Testing surprises + valence/intensity framework(37:15) Practical frameworks: adjective formula—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Request a Free Strategy Session: https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact Relevant Links:Nate's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagosAdapt Naturals: https://adaptnaturals.comOriginal Grain: https://www.originalgrain.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, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

The ad market is starting to look like a three-body problem: streaming growth, linear decline, and event-driven spikes (sports + politics) — all colliding as deal rumors swirl around Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).Kate Scott-Dawkins hosts Jeff Foster and Nidhi Shah (WPP Media Business Intelligence) to break down Paramount and WBD earnings: Paramount+ up 17% with 78.9M subs, Pluto TV down 16% on monetization headwinds, and WBD streaming ad revenue up 20% (just over $1B) with 131.6M global streaming subscribers — plus the aftershock of losing NBA rights and the looming NFL renewal.They also scan Europe's pressure points (TF1, Atresmedia) as broadcasters raise streaming ad minutes and broaden advertiser access, then look at TelevisaUnivision (U.S. ad softness, tentpole demand, political and World Cup tailwinds). Finally: Mercado Libre's +67% ad growth and why shifting tariffs and de minimis rules are complicating 2026 planning.00:00-Deal rumor backdrop, tariffs uncertainty, what's on the docket01:13-Paramount earnings: DTC growth, Pluto monetization slump, ad declines07:07-Sports and NFL renewal: why local reach still matters08:06-Warner Bros. Discovery: streaming ads +20%, subs 131.6M, NBA loss fallout13:08-Europe: Atresmedia & TF1 declines, streaming monetization and ad-load strategy16:30-TelevisaUnivision: US down, Mexico steadier, political + World Cup tailwinds19:17-Mercado Libre +67% ads, retail media momentum, tariffs and de minimis “whack-a-mole”23:37-Next week's earnings and podcast recommendationsPost-recording update: WBD's board deemed Paramount Skydance's sweetened offer “superior” to the $83B Netflix deal; Netflix will not match and has withdrawn.Advertising Intelligence Framework: https://www.wppmedia.com/thought-leadership/research-business-intelligence/advertising-intelligence-framework-first-edition?utm_source=media_intelligence&utm_medium=podcast

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupBraydon Germain from Pilothouse is back, and we go straight into the most practical question in DTC right now: how do you use AI to create more winning ads and systems without torching brand trust or wasting time prompting? We talk AI “employees,” creative production in the Andromeda era, and why concept volume matters more than ever.Role-Based Hook: For DTC founders + performance marketers scaling Meta spend while creative fatigue (and CAC) keep creeping up.In this episode, we get tactical on:“Clawbot/Maltbot” style AI agents that can operate a computer (and why security is the real bottleneck)How to use AI for Black Friday creative that stops the scroll but doesn't scream “fake”Why Andromeda pushes you toward new concepts (not tiny headline/CTA tweaks)How to set ChatGPT custom instructions so it stops being a yes-man and starts pressure-testing your ideasMotion's AI tagging + “chat with your ad data” workflows for faster creative strategy loops Who this is for:Media buyers, creative strategists, and founders who need more creative output, faster learnings, and fewer “we tested 30 ads and learned nothing” weeks.What to steal (quick wins):Use AI to generate weird-but-believable statics (organic-looking, scroll-stopping) instead of obvious AI artBuild a “mentor mode” prompt profile that actively calls out weak angles before you waste spendAudit your account for creative diversity and gaps (formats, audiences, hooks) before you brief your next batchTimestamps0:00 Using AI in ads without looking obviously AI2:00 Malt Bot and autonomous AI that can run a computer4:05 Bot social network drama and why “scary AI posts” go viral6:10 Black Friday AI creative workflow with Photoshop and subtle edits8:20 AI video trick: first frame + last frame for organic-looking shots10:20 Static ad creator tools for fast concept volume12:30 Andromeda creative testing: the 70% different rule and bucketing14:45 Custom instructions to make ChatGPT less of a people pleaser17:05 Building an AI-assisted newsletter system with Claude and podcast “brains”19:15 Staying plugged into AI communities and new ecommerce tools21:25 Motion app AI tagging and creative analysis for Meta ads23:30 Agent mode, security, and letting AI work while you sleepSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF589Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

In this episode, Gareth Everard, founder of Rockwell Razors and co-creator and former CMO of Lomi ($100M+ in 2 years), explains why revenue growth can be misleading and what serious DTC operators track instead. We unpack Gareth's 4-lever framework for building a profitable eCommerce business, how to calculate allowable CAC before you truly know LTV, and why relying on future LTV assumptions can quietly break your financial model. We also get into his preference for funding via revenue over venture capital, why bundling often beats subscriptions, and the launch mechanics that helped Lomi generate $3M in its first 72 hours on Indiegogo.   Key Takeaways (00:00) Intro (01:27) Crowdfunding Vs. Venture Capital Funding (03:25) Why Revenue Growth Can Kill a DTC Brand (06:45) The Real Math Behind SaaS vs. DTC Valuations (14:18) The 4 Levers of eCommerce (22:54) Why He Won't Build Below 80% Gross Margin (26:23) Difficult Business Models (30:26) Is the Subscription Model the Right Move? (35:40) When Bundles Beat Subscriptions for LTV (39:50) How Lomi Did $3M in 72 Hours (43:48) Using Crowdfunding for Product Feedback (Carefully) (47:04) Contribution Margin Creates Optionality     Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7NPXMBRuTXE     Let's Connect: Website | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitter | Facebook

Some brands don't have a product problem, they have an execution problem. In this episode, Nik breaks down a pattern he's seen over and over again this year: brands with incredible products, real social proof, and even professional athlete endorsements…that are completely stuck. He walks through what's actually holding them back, from lazy packaging and unclear positioning to underbuilt websites, weak subscription strategy, and missed logistics opportunities. Nik also outlines a tactical checklist covering shipping and fulfillment, brand strategy, positioning, email and SMS flows, churn reduction, and LTV expansion. If you want to sharpen your website, improve your PDP experience, or learn from the funnels quietly printing money outside the usual DTC bubble, this episode is for you. Roku pioneered streaming on TV. We connect users to the content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising.roku.com/limitedsupply⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips.   Check out the Nik's DTC newsletter: https://bit.ly/3mOUJMJ   And if you're looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the Limited Supply Slack Channel for Nik's most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

Jonathan Cohen, CMO of Onyx Global Group (Pure Daily Care & Aquasonic), joins Phillip and Alicia to trace the arc from Amazon-first launches to TikTok Shop dominance. This week, we unpack the unmeasurable and explore what it actually means to cede your marketing playbook to a creator economy that doesn't need your permission. Control Is Overrated, Anyway Key Takeaways Creators are the new CMOs. Brands don't cascade strategy; creators build their own. Amazon reviews are still currency. Early investment in social proof compounds over the years. Sampling is a long game. Expect results two to three months out, not just the week of Black Friday. TikTok Live provides free focus groups. Real-time customer feedback can greenlight a new product line and unlock new growth opportunities. You can't dashboard everything. The brands with staying power are building habits, not just conversions. "The creators are our mini CMOs. They build their own marketing plans, their own talking points, their own strategies to sell our products." — Jonathan Cohen [00:22:08] "We have cut checks for tens of thousands of dollars to creators we've never spoken to before." — Jonathan Cohen [00:22:07] "If you brush your teeth, you're an Aquasonic potential customer." — Jonathan Cohen [00:45:28] "You're building habits. And there's no better investment in brand than that — because those habits stick with them a lot longer than the ad dollar you spent to get them there." — Phillip Jackson [00:47:50] Associated Links: Check out Future Commerce on YouTube Check out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and print Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce world Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Scott Dancy is the founder and CEO of Azuna, a fast-growing brand in the natural air freshener space. With a background in staffing, technology, and several entrepreneurial ventures, Scott started Azuna in Buffalo in 2019, scaling the business from hand-packaging orders to becoming the world's largest purchaser of tea tree oil and achieving significant success in both DTC and Amazon channels. In this episode of DTC Pod, Scott shares his journey of launching Azuna, from navigating supply chain challenges and product R&D to unlocking consistent growth and managing cash flow as order volumes soared. He covers the pivotal product decisions, strategies for boosting AOV, lessons from high-profile partnerships, and Azuna's approach to retail expansion. Scott also offers practical advice for founders on knowing their numbers, avoiding expensive mistakes, and building a team that's invested in the brand's success. Episode brought to you by Stord - 3PL for Commerce Episode brought to you by EMF Radar - Health Starts with EMF Safety in mind Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack. On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover: 1. Scott Dancy's entrepreneurial background and Azuna's origin story 2. Early-stage bootstrapping: packaging, fulfillment, and ad writing 3. Scaling operations: manufacturing, 3PLs, and hiring expert talent 4. Product and packaging strategy: sustainable materials, bundling, and raising AOV 5. Building a brand moat with proprietary tea tree oil sourcing 6. Subscription economics and customer retention strategies 7. Navigating cash flow, funding growth, and working with MCAs 8. Knowing key metrics: revenue, gross profit, AOV, and cash allocation 9. D2C vs Amazon vs retail channel strategy 10. In-house vs agency operations and pitfalls 11. Brand marketing and influencer partnerships 12. Lessons learned from sports and celebrity partnerships 13. Timing retail entry and optimizing product mix for channels 14. Importance of customer service and product quality 15. Entrepreneurial learnings: failures, details, and staying data-driven Timestamps 00:00 Scott Dancy's background and founding Azuna 03:05 The “aha moment”—tea tree oil product discovery 04:10 Early days of hand-packaging, first sales, COVID impact 05:36 Scaling up: building the team, manufacturing, growth in Buffalo 07:14 Transition to 3PL and challenges of scaling past $10M 08:10 Product development, bundling, and packaging strategy 10:05 Target audience and tea tree oil sourcing 13:41 Growth channels: Meta, Google, and influencer seeding 15:53 Subscription model economics and retention 19:03 Funding growth: inventory buys, cash flow, using Clearco 22:24 Data-driven decisions and knowing your numbers 26:25 Channel mix: Amazon, DTC, retail launch, pricing strategy 32:00 Learning from agency mistakes and shiny object syndrome 35:06 Retail timing, product mix, and learnings from entering stores 42:02 Brand partnerships: AKC, NFL, influencer marketing 46:44 Final lessons and what Scott would have done differently 47:50 Where to find Azuna and connect with Scott Show notes powered by Castmagic Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.   Additional episodes you might like: • #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth • #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content • #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views • #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands • #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook • ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands ----- Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further? Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you. Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox? Check out our newsletter here. Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for Content Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok Scott Dancy - CEO & Founder of AzunaBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Amanda Greeley has been thinking about Spence since 2017. She didn't rush it.Before launching the racket sports brand, she built Tink & Tiger out of Brooklyn's garment district during Instagram's pre-ad era, founded Thelma footwear (picked up by J. Crew before her Italian manufacturer collapsed during the pandemic), and led creative direction at Serena & Lily. She's someone who has done this before — multiple times — and has the scar tissue to prove it.In this episode, we get into what it actually looks like to build a brand in today's DTC climate: tighter investor appetite, more expensive paid media, and a fundraising environment that has completely reset from the Warby Parker window of the early 2010s. Amanda is candid about all of it — what's working, what she'd do differently, and why she's more optimistic now than ever about the racket sports category.We also talk about the creative tension at the core of Spence — nostalgia versus futurism — and why tennis, pickleball, padel, and squash represent one of the most underserved brand opportunities in the market right now.Topics covered:— Why the DTC fundraising window has closed and what that means for founders building today— The Lululemon and Nike comparison: what happens when a brand expands the TAM instead of just serving it— Building in public: the risks, the upside, and why Amanda is leaning into it with Spence's journal— Surf and skate as a brand template for racket sports— AI in brand operations: where it's useful and where it produces forgettable creative— The optimization trap in wellness — and why racket sports is uniquely positioned outside of it— Why "idea people" only get so far, and what execution actually demands

Our Power Duos theme with a duo that is building in every sense of the word with Yongxi Tan and Aidan Neziri, co-founders of Bessie Nails. They share what it takes to launch a fast-growing press-on nail brand from a true consumer need, compete in a legacy category, and build a company together while also being partners in real life. Their roles are distinct but collaborative, and their dynamic is the through-line of this episode: Yongxi is momentum and experimentation, Aidan is precision and protection. The balance helps them move fast without breaking what matters.The product innovation is just as compelling. Bessie's handmade press-ons are crafted like salon nails, with real artists painting layers of gel and acrylic and placing details by hand. The result is a press-on that looks and feels like a salon set, but is designed to be removable and reusable when cared for properly. They also talk about wear options, from longer-hold glue to flexible tabs, reinforcing a core belief: press-ons should adapt to your lifestyle, not force you to plan your life around your nails.When it comes to growth, they are building from community outward. Bessie sells DTC online and through pop-ups, leaning into in-person experiences that let customers see the artistry up close. They share plans to expand pop-ups into more cities and explore the right retail partners, while staying grounded in authenticity and local community building. Check out more at bessienails.com

Send a textWe share how Whiskey Thief keeps its farm soul while growing in Louisville and nationwide through direct-to-consumer shipping. We taste a nine-year rye, dig into pot still craft, and map the rising whiskey hub shaping the city's scene.• why grow and stay the same is the goal• how the urban tasting room mirrors the farm vibe• what pot distilling demands from a skilled team• where collaboration beats constant instruction• how maturation, storage, and weather shape flavor• why DTC unlocks access in 46 states• what legal compliance and taxes mean for shipping• how small-batch blending preserves identity• where Louisville's whiskey neighborhood is booming• what we taste in the nine-year ryeListen, like, leave good feedback and subscribeWhiskeythief.comThe first thing you notice is the feel. Gravel under tires at the farm, guitars on the wall in Louisville, and that instant sense you've walked into a place that treats whiskey like a craft and a community. We sat down with owner-operator Walter Zausch, director of distilling Lisa Wicker, head of experiences Amy, and Philip from Kentucky Bourbon Direct to unpack how Whiskey Thief scales without losing its single barrel soul—and why fans across 46 states can finally get bottles shipped legally to their door.We start where their story lives: pot stills, sharp palates, and a team that can make precise cuts without babysitting. Lisa explains how collaboration speeds quality, from early peach brandy iterations to doubling yields while tightening flavor. Then we go deeper into maturation: the moment when the barrel becomes the hero around eight to ten years, how ricked versus palletized storage bends outcomes, and why Kentucky's wild winter swings can turn vanilla, mint, and dry cocoa into surprising notes in a nine-year rye. If you love rye whiskey, this tasting will light up your curiosity—minty lift, caramel undertow, and a clean finish at 121 proof.Access is the other revolution. Philip breaks down the direct-to-consumer engine that handles compliance, taxes, and shipping so craft producers can focus on making great juice. The result is real: Whiskey Thief ships to 46 states, fans no longer leave empty-handed, and brands gain data and margins that keep the lights on without surrendering independence. With Louisville's whiskey hub booming—Heaven's Door, Chicken Cock, WhistlePig, and more within walking distance—the city offers a concentrated tour of American whiskey culture while the farm preserves the barrel-thieving experience you can't get anywhere else.We close with the future: small, intentional blends that mirror the five-barrel magic of on-site tastings, a boutique approach that respects terroir, weather, and the patience great spirits demand. If you're here for craft, character, and smarter access to bottles you actually want, you'll feel at home with us. Subscribe, share with a whiskey friend, and leave a review to help more bourbon lovers find the show. Cheers to good barrels, good people, and getting the right bottles into your hands.voice over Whiskey Thief Add for SOFLSupport the showhttps://www.scotchybourbonboys.com The Scotchy bourbon Boys are #3 in Feedspots Top 60 whiskey podcasts in the world https://podcast.feedspot.com/whiskey_podcasts/

From line cook to 8-figure founder, Ellen Bennett turned $300 and a vision into Hedley & Bennett, a heritage kitchen brand. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

In this episode, Lydia and Bridget sit down with Madison Paige, Consumer Brand Growth Specialist, top-rated business podcast host, TEDx speaker, and industry-leading online community builder, for a powerful conversation on what it really takes to build a legacy product brand in today's crowded market.Madison brings nine years of experience supporting hundreds of founder-led product-based businesses, from pre-revenue startups to globally expanding brands. Known for her high energy and practical strategy, she shares tangible insights on branding, marketing, DTC sales, and the often-overlooked power of community.In this episode, we cover:- What community building really means for product-based brands- Why community is your most sustainable growth channel- How to identify your brand's real differentiators- Why most brands blend in (and how to avoid it)- The power of building in public and bringing your audience along the journeyConnect with Madison:http://www.thisismadisonpaige.comwww.instagram.com/thisismadisonpaige Listen to Madison's show, Business Growth Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lAVUE8axyTivb2w91ji7W?si=7cf71cc9b9774c9a Support the showWant a Personalized PR Plan? (includes: a custom PR pitch, 6 part "how to research media contacts" module, curated list of 5–10 ideal media outlets, “Where to Go from Here” roadmap (pitch cadence, next steps, etc.) AND a personalized voice note. Click here: https://www.visibilityonpurpose.com/offers/prxBzYXW/checkout DIY PR COURSE!! https://www.visibilityonpurpose.com/pitchpartySIGN UP ON QWOTED for free: https://www.qwoted.com/?via=VOPWatch our FREE masterclass to start landing big press features like Forbes & interviews on top 1% podcasts: https://www.visibilityonpurpose.com/getfeatured Connect with us on and off the pod! Website: ⁠www.visibilityonpurpose.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/visibilityonpurpose/⁠ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@visibilityonpurpose

In today's exclusive episode, Merline McGregor, Pattern's Managing Director AZN, joins Add To Cart to unpack what that shift really means for brands navigating Amazon, TikTok Shop and AI-driven discovery. From Amazon's continued dominance to the uncomfortable truth that your brand might already be selling on marketplaces without your control, this conversation challenges the idea that everything should still funnel neatly back to your DTC site.Today, we're discussing:Why over 90% of Aussies are now shopping via marketplacesThe real reason Amazon keeps winning in AustraliaWhat “retail readiness” actually means for brandsWhy your product might already be on Amazon, without you controlling itHow TikTok Shop could reshape ecommerce team structuresThe shift from single-channel ecommerce to fragmented commercePattern's Consumer Marketplace Report 2026 now available here.Connect with MerlineExplore PatternSMS us to request a guest!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

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupKareem Raslan (co-founder of BrainGain) breaks down how a “25 dumbbells in a garage” COVID side-hustle turned into a home gym brand with 100,000+ customers across 30 countries. We talk heavy-product logistics, why “just run Meta” isn't the whole story, and what it really takes to expand across Europe without margin leakage.For DTC operators selling high-AOV, physical products who want to expand beyond one market without getting crushed by fulfillment and localization.In this episode, we cover:Why BrainGain skipped dropshipping and went product-in-hand from day oneThe Europe expansion reality: VAT, language, regulations, and market-by-market nuanceWhy Germany can be the “logical” move… and still the hardest operationallyTheir channel strategy today: ~50% Amazon / ~50% Shopify, with Google doing the heavy liftingHow YouTube affiliates drive trust for high-consideration purchasesWho this is for:Founders and marketers selling heavy, high-AOV products (fitness, home goods, equipment) who need a real playbook for scaling across regions.What to steal:Build SKU-by-SKU unit economics so you know your true ceiling CAC (by market + channel)Use YouTube affiliates for “proof” when the purchase isn't impulsiveAudit 3PL invoices line-by-line (surcharges hide everywhere)Timestamps0:00 BrainGain's growth from garage sales to 100,000 customers2:00 How BrainGain started during COVID with Facebook Marketplace sales5:00 Post-lockdown demand, competing in “big and heavy” products7:00 Switching to Shopify and Amazon, building the brand online14:40 Expanding across Europe: VAT, regulations, and localization realities22:00 Channel mix breakdown: Amazon vs Shopify, Google vs Meta24:00 Why BrainGain is saying no to TikTok influencers and leaning into YouTube affiliates27:30 Picking the right 3PL in Europe and avoiding hidden surcharges31:00 Fulfillment cost levers: packaging thresholds, pallet rules, invoice audits34:10 SKU-level unit economics audit and setting a real CAC ceiling37:20 Pricing strategy: Shopify vs Amazon and controlling channel mix39:30 What US expansion could look like for heavy, bulky productsSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Marketing Strategy & Brand Storytelling from Outside the Wine Industry One thing that sets the DTC Wine Symposium apart from most wine conferences is how many speakers come from outside the wine industry. Our friend Barbara Gorder taps into her Chicago ad-world network and brings in people who've spent their careers on the front lines of marketing, brand building, and cultural storytelling. The result is a perspective small wineries rarely get access to. Basically, we got a day at Leo Burnett University courtesy of Dean Barbara Gorder. As you might expect, the stories are as good as the insights. Lane Soelberg was on the early digital frontier at Leo Burnett and has been building narratives ever since. His work has shown up on your TV, inbox, computer, and phone for brands like GM, Pillsbury, and the Olympics. Today, based in Southern California, he helps shape global storytelling and innovation at the XPRIZE Foundation. Louie Monoyudis built his career at the intersection of fashion, brand, and entrepreneurship, from Leo Burnett to Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and John Varvatos. No doubt about it, if DTC handed out a Best Dressed award, Louie wins in a landslide. Today, through Groove Jet Luxury Travel, he applies that same eye for detail and design to crafting deeply personal, highly curated experiences around the world. He has plenty to say about wine and luxury positioning. Mike Siska comes out of the creative agency world, where he helped shape culturally resonant brands and was one of the creators behind the iconic “Mayhem Like Me” campaign. His work lives where strategy meets humanity, exploring how ideas spread, how attention is earned, and how stories shape the way people connect. Three conversations from outside the wine world, all circling the same reality. Wine does not compete with other wines. It competes with everything. If we want people to care, we have to tell better stories, tell them in better places, and pay much closer attention to who is actually listening. Grab a notebook. Open a bottle. Class is in session. [Ep 401]

In just one year, Daily Harvest was acquired by Chobani, dropped its subscription requirement, and launched a campaign calling out the wellness hype machine. CEO Ricky Silver joins us to talk about the facts in an industry dominated by fiction. Selling Food, Not Fiction Key takeaways: The wellness hype machine is exhausting consumers. Daily Harvest's "Eat Food, Not Fiction" is its counter-punch. Subscription was a business convenience, not a consumer demand, and removing the gate unlocked growth. Consumer sovereignty and business autonomy are in tension with one another. The brands that resolve it will win. LLMs are the new discovery layer. Brands must build authoritative, trusted ecosystems to surface in AI answers. Fixing the food system requires collectivism, even with rivals. "Some of our best consumers were the ones who engaged with the skipping function. Active management meant they were finding the right cadence for them." — Ricky Silver "Connection is a motive. It is not tech-driven — even if technology is the thing bringing us together." — Ricky Silver Associated Links: Learn more about Daily Harvest Catch up on Future Commerce's 2026 predictions Check out Future Commerce on YouTube Check out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and print Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce world Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupIf you're a $5M+ brand owner or growth lead and Meta's performance feels “fine but fragile,” this is probably why. Abby from Pilothouse breaks down how Andromeda changed the rules: targeting moved upstream into creative strategy, and the old “tiny tweaks + CTR tests” approach doesn't survive in an AI-ranked feed.Role-Based Hook: For DTC brand owners and growth leads at $5M+ who need a real Meta strategy for creative testing, not more random volume.What you'll learn (tactical + skimmable):Why “go broad” without segmentation is a strategy fail (and a fast way to spike frequency)The audience setup mistake that makes Meta hammer warm users instead of prospectingWhy micro-variants (same static, new headline) now read as boring to the algorithmThe new testing model: persona → concept → multiple formats (same message, different executions)How to use competitive pressure to sharpen your differentiation strategy (not copy angles)Who this is for: Owners + growth leads managing Meta as a core growth channel and trying to scale without wasting spend on over-frequency.What to steal:Ask your team for frequency split by new vs engaged vs existing over the last 30 daysBuild creative tests around a persona hypothesis, then ship 5 distinct formats (carousel, static, UGC, iPhone selfie, trend)Pressure-test messaging against competitors: “If we line up 5 brands, what do we say that only we can say?”Timestamps00:00 Andromeda changes how creative testing works02:00 Why broad targeting breaks without proper audience segments04:00 Frequency benchmarks and the prospecting mistake to watch06:00 Why the old “pilot test” headline testing stopped working08:00 Persona testing: turning pain points into ad angles10:00 Differentiators vs competitors when everyone sells the same USP12:00 The new testing stack: one concept, five creative formats15:00 Building personas with the four Cs plus competitor ad library18:00 Audit questions to ask your media buyer and creative strategistSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF587Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Retail's future winners aren't defined by hype. They are defined by where consumers actually go. In this Omni Talk Ask An Expert episode, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Ethan Chernofsky, Chief Marketing Officer at Placer.ai, to break down the retailers, sectors, and strategies poised to shape 2026. Drawing from real-world foot traffic data and consumer behavior insights, Ethan shares which brands are gaining momentum, which are in turnaround mode, and how shifting expectations around health, value, and experience are redefining retail success. From fitness to grocery to coffee to digitally native retail, this conversation uncovers where physical retail is headed next. Key Topics Covered: • Why the fitness sector, including brands like EōS Fitness, is benefiting from long-term health and wellness shifts • How grocers like H-E-B are winning through localization and innovation • The competitive momentum behind specialty retailers like Michaels • The “bounce-back” potential of Starbucks and its third-place strategy revival • Where Home Depot and Target stand on the recovery spectrum • Grocery's evolving battleground: quality vs. value vs. unique differentiation • How retailers like Kroger are experimenting to stay competitive • The future of digitally native brands and physical retail after pullbacks from players like Allbirds • Why partnerships with retailers such as Nordstrom may reshape DTC expansion • The industry debate around “value” and why it may be retail's most misunderstood concept Whether you're building your 2026 retail strategy, evaluating growth sectors, or tracking competitive momentum, this conversation delivers data-backed insights to help you understand where consumers are spending their time and why. Connect with Ethan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-chernofsky-16ab4519/ Visit Placer.ai: https://www.placer.ai #RetailTrends #RetailersToWatch #RetailAnalytics #FootTrafficData #RetailStrategy #FitnessIndustry #GroceryRetail #Starbucks #DTCBrands #ConsumerBehavior #OmniTalk #RetailInsights

Meet Your All·in·One Creator Store (Stan)https://join.stan.store/the505podcastMeet Your All·in·One Creator Store (Stan)https://join.stan.store/the505podcastWhat's up Rock Nation. Today we're joined by Alex Costa, one of the biggest men's lifestyle creators in the world and the founder of Forte Series, now in over 800 Target stores. Before the millions of followers and the retail deals, Alex was filming videos in his bedroom while working at Google. Then he bet on himself. In this episode, we break down why he quit a stable job, how he built real confidence through reps, why most creators quit too early, and what it actually takes to turn a personal brand into a real company.Check out Alex here:https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@alexcosta⁩  https://www.instagram.com/alexcosta/Timestamps0:00 – Intro1:03 – Paid To Be You waitlist1:18 – Alex's rise + why hair care first2:01 – Finding his niche in men's hair3:37 – Launching Forte before it was perfect4:38 – Selling 10,000 units in six weeks5:24 – Speed vs perfection in business8:27 – Working at YouTube & learning from creators11:15 - Stan Store12:07 - What brands get wrong 15:31 – The year everything changed (2017 momentum)16:26 – The $100K cushion rule before quitting Google17:47 – The emotional night he quit19:51 – Advice for going full-time as a creator22:34 – Early Instagram strategy (self-timer to hiring a photographer)24:20 – “It's okay to be cringe” moment27:18 – His mission: being a big brother to his audience29:14 – The loneliness problem men are facing30:05 – Military school failure → discipline → resilience33:08 – Confidence = stacking skills, not hype36:22 – First money lessons & avoiding lifestyle creep39:02 – Target launch announcement41:32 – How the Target opportunity started44:04 – Practicing the Target pitch for weeks45:11 – What retailers actually care about (reach + new customers)46:36 – The reality of getting into Target (cash flow + inventory risk)47:16 – Taking a personal loan to fund the first purchase order47:55 – Unit per store per week & retail pressure48:31 – Retail data tracking & store-by-store performance50:12 – Managing retail expectations vs DTC freedom52:08 – Balancing brand identity with mass retail54:33 – Scaling operations without breaking culture57:10 – Pressure of representing your name on shelves59:42 – Inventory risk & sleepless founder nights1:02:18 – Leading a team while still being the face1:04:47 – Creator leverage vs traditional brands1:07:26 – When growth starts feeling heavy1:09:58 – Identity shift: creator → operator1:12:14 – Burnout signals & mental resets1:14:52 – Why most founders underestimate stress1:17:31 – Playing the long game in business1:19:48 – Momentum comes from consistency, not hype1:22:05 – Scaling without losing creative instinct1:24:36 – Separating ego from business decisions1:27:18 – What success actually feels like1:30:02 – Money, meaning, and responsibility1:32:41 – Legacy vs lifestyle1:35:20 – Building something that outlives you1:37:58 – Advice to creators building physical products1:40:14 – Confidence through reps, not validation1:42:27 – Final thoughts on risk and embarrassment1:44:10 – If he could go back and tell himself one thing1:45:32 – Closing reflectionsIf you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on. DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!) Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/

In this episode of The Syneos Health Podcast, Conversations on Commercialization, Tyler Cowan, VP, Commercial speaks with Paul Rittman, President and General Manager of Almirall US, about how payer consolidation and PBM influence are reshaping dermatology commercialization.   They discuss how pharmaceutical companies must adapt launch strategy, market access planning and clinical differentiation to succeed in today's competitive specialty landscape. The conversation explores the growing role of digital engagement, direct-to-consumer (DTC) strategy, telehealth and cash-pay models in improving patient access.   Listeners will gain practical insights into how innovation, payer strategy and patient-centric commercialization drive success in dermatology and specialty pharma.  The views expressed in this podcast belong solely to the speakers and do not represent those of their organization. If you want access to more future-focused, actionable insights to help biopharmaceutical companies better execute and succeed in a constantly evolving environment, visit the Syneos Health Insights Hub. The perspectives you'll find there are driven by dynamic research and crafted by subject matter experts focused on real answers to help guide decision-making and investment. You can find it all at https://www.syneoshealth.com/insights-hub. Like what you're hearing? Be sure to rate and review us! We want to hear from you! If there's a topic you'd like us to cover on a future episode, contact us at podcast@syneoshealth.com.

In This Episode Guest:Chris Van DusenMarketing & Sales | Private Equity | Corporate StrategyChris Van Dusen is a marketing and growth professional with extensive early-stage and capitalization experience. He is the founder of Parcon Media (now Parcon LLC), former Chief Growth Officer of Balanced Health Botanicals, and a key growth partner behind Surf City Still Works.About Chris Van DusenChris launched Parcon Media and scaled it to $1.5M in top-line revenue in under two years before merging into what is now Parcon LLC. The agency worked with brands including Travis Mathew, Experian, University of California Irvine, University of California Office of the President, and Maglite.As Chief Growth Officer of Balanced Health Botanicals (BHB) in Denver, CO, Chris allocated and deployed a ~$20 million marketing budget to democratize CBD and scale BHB into the largest supplier of hemp-derived CBD globally. His strategy fueled massive DTC and brick-and-mortar growth through 2019 and navigated the shifting COVID-19 landscape in 2020—culminating in a $75M sale to Village Farms (NASDAQ: VFF) in August 2021.Simultaneously, Chris helped scale Surf City Still Works in Orange County, CA. He expanded marketing, retained Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits (the largest spirits distributor in the U.S.), raised $3.7M in capital, and moved operations into a 25,000 sq ft manufacturing facility—the first of its kind in Orange County. He also built a world-class advisory board including Bob McKnight (Founder of Quiksilver) and Travis Brasher (Founder of Travis Mathew), leading to a merger with Kimo Sabe, a Los Angeles-based mezcal company.Chris holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the College of William and Mary. He has served on boards including the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) and the Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF). He is a member of Entrepreneur's Organization (EO), Young Executive Council (YEC), a National Board member of Alder, and has previously been a member of PTTOW!. Chris frequently speaks on marketing, growth, product-market fit, and brand building.What you'll learn in this episode:● Why truly understanding your customer is the foundation of scalable growth● How conversion rate optimization can 5X your ROI without increasing ad spend● The difference between lifestyle businesses and venture-scale companies● What venture capital investors actually look for before writing a check● Why focus beats chasing every opportunity● How discipline, grit, and “doing hard things” build elite entrepreneurs● The balance between confidence and coachability in leadershipConnect with Chris Van DusenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrismvandusen/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisvandusenYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialcvdFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/christophervandusenLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismvandusen/ To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:Website: No Broke MonthsPodcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople PodcastInstagram: @donrochonxFacebook: Dan RochonLinkedIn: Dan RochonTeach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead

Nik picks up where last week left off and breaks down more ecom sites in real time, pulling apart the exact UX, copy, and merchandising decisions that separate high-converting websites from the ones that just look nice. He dives into The Absorption Company and what it gets right about branding, navigation, and trust-building on product pages. He also explores why small details like loading screens, iconography, and collection page structure can quietly compound into real brand equity over time. He breaks down what these brands do better than most modern DTC sites when it comes to readability, upsells, offer framing, quizzes, and conversion-focused storytelling. If you want to sharpen your website, improve your PDP experience, or learn from the funnels quietly printing money outside the usual DTC bubble, this episode is for you. Roku pioneered streaming on TV. We connect users to the content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising.roku.com/limitedsupply⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips.   Check out the Nik's DTC newsletter: https://bit.ly/3mOUJMJ   And if you're looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the Limited Supply Slack Channel for Nik's most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

Most Super Bowl ads failed before they aired. Dr. Marcus Collins explains why. We break down the Super Bowl as a cultural spectacle: the ads, the Bad Bunny halftime show, and the Levi's strategy that no one is talking about.Key takeaways:Why Marcus felt bad for every marketer who ran a Super Bowl ad this yearThe Lay's ad was beautiful. Marcus saw a father handing his daughter a lifetime of debt.How Levi's turned a 30-second spot, a stadium, a popup, and a halftime show into one integrated play"This is not a 32-second ad. This is a constellation of nodes that together tell the story only Levi's could."What Anthropic understood about the group chat that OpenAI and Google missedBad Bunny performed for 120 million viewers at home, not the 70,000 in the stadium, and that was the pointAssociated Links:Follow From the Culture, hosted by Dr. Marcus Collins and Amanda SlavinBuy For the Culture on AmazonCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

FeastFast only launched in 2025, but the story behind this brand started long before its first sale. The company was founded by two doctors who were struggling with weight loss and shocked by how every store-bought “healthy” snack spiked their blood sugar. After testing product after product, they created their own — snacks that didn't create glucose spikes. They lost over 100 pounds, discovered a massive market in diabetic and pre-diabetic consumers, and teamed up with seasoned entrepreneur Joshua Sizemore to bring FeastFast to life.But the path has been anything but smooth. Just weeks into launch, a breach in their ad account triggered a $100K/day spending error — forcing the entire team to rebuild their ad ecosystem from scratch.Josh's background makes him uniquely equipped for moments like these. After scaling Shinola from $30M to $300M, relaunching Original New York Seltzer, and building a water company that once landed a $1M investment inside a bar at 2am — he's learned what it truly takes to bring consumer products to market.In this episode, Josh breaks down the realities of retail vs DTC, why story drives conversion, and how founders should think about margins, distribution, influencers, and affiliates. He shares unfiltered lessons from raising capital, surviving entrepreneurial lows, and why authenticity from the founder outperforms any influencer strategy.His advice is simple: if you believe in your product, go all in. Get feedback, trust yourself, and don't look back.Subscribe to Young Boss with Isabelle Guarino wherever you get your podcasts, and be sure to like, share and follow on Instagram and TikTok.And remember, youth is your power.

Getting press can feel like a lucky break until you hear how Annabel Love and her co-founder built a repeatable strategy behind it. In this episode of Dear FoundHer, Annabel shares how a dorm room hair-straightener hack became Nori, an eight-figure, profitable brand now sold nationwide at Target. This is a must-listen for women founders who want a clearer playbook for building visibility, earning trust, and turning attention into revenue.Annabel walks Lindsay through the early, scrappy days of the company, including customer discovery in the real world, focus groups, and building a product with zero hardware background. You'll hear what it took to go from idea to manufacturing, then into a go-to-market plan that included Meta ads, influencer partnerships, and getting press that actually moved product. Annabel breaks down how they approached press opportunities like Oprah's Favorite Things and The Today Show, plus how they repurposed those wins across paid ads, their website, and customer acquisition.This conversation also covers growing an audience before launch, choosing the right agency partners, and why a lean team can be an advantage when managing rapid growth. Annabel shares how Nori expanded from DTC into retailers like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Target, and what changed operationally once mass retail entered the picture. If you are one of the many female entrepreneurs trying to scale without burning cash or building a bloated org chart, you will walk away with concrete lessons you can apply right away.Episode Breakdown:00:01 Nori Founder Story: From Dorm Room Idea to Eight-Figure Brand03:24 Launching a Hardware Startup Without Engineering Experience07:05 Customer Research and Product Validation Strategy09:32 Direct-to-Consumer Go-To-Market Plan11:54 Meta Ads, Influencer Marketing, and Getting Press13:52 Retail Expansion: Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Target16:10 Fundraising and Profitability in a Consumer Brand22:18 Scaling to $20 Million With a Lean Team28:46 The Today Show Impact on Sales Growth31:14 Advice for Women Starting a BusinessConnect with Annabel Love:Follow Annabel Love on InstagramFollow Nori on InstagramSubscribe to The Foundher Files: http://foundherfiles.substack.comFollow Dear FoundHer... on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundherPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cherene Aubert is the CEO of Growth Capital, a growth marketing firm that scales consumer brands. As a seasoned e-commerce and digital growth leader, she has nearly two decades of experience scaling DTC brands and managing media investments across multiple high-growth companies. Before Growth Capital, Cherene was the Fractional SVP of Digital & eCommerce at ILIA Beauty, where she drove omnichannel digital strategy for a rapidly growing clean beauty brand.  In this episode…  Marketing has become automated and identical across companies. Brands chase the same ads, channels, and short-term wins, only to discover that growth stalls and loyalty disappears. How can you build something memorable and scale without losing trust? The way forward starts with obsessing over customers, not competitors. As a growth and e-commerce leader, Cherene Aubert maintains that brands should use customer insights — from ad data to conversations — to guide creative strategy, redefine quality as value for the customer, and invest in full-funnel thinking. This requires originality, emotional resonance, and the space for creative teams to build long-term demand rather than quick conversions.  In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris sits down with Cherene Aubert, CEO of Growth Capital, to discuss how brands can escape the marketing echo chamber. Cherene explains why copying competitors backfires, how full-funnel content drives sustainable growth, and how premium and beauty brands can stay culturally relevant.

Brent Peterson sat down with Jorrit Steinz, founder and CEO of ChannelEngine, to discuss one of the most transformative shifts in ecommerce today: agentic commerce. The conversation covered how brands and retailers must rethink their multi-channel strategies now that AI-powered agents, from ChatGPT to Microsoft Copilot, are becoming transactional shopping platforms. With marketplaces multiplying, social commerce expanding, and LLMs entering the buying funnel, the episode delivered a forward-looking perspective on what merchants need to do right now to stay competitive.TakeawaysThe ultimate vision of agentic is consumer empowerment.Consumers will deploy agents to find products online.Agents will scrape the internet for purchasing options.In B2B, agents will facilitate shopping across platforms.Automation will enhance the shopping experience.The future of shopping involves digital agents.Agents will present curated options to consumers.B2B transactions will become more efficient with agents.The role of agents is expanding in digital commerce.Consumer agents will revolutionize how we buy. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Channel Engine and E-commerce Passion00:23 The Role of APIs and Data Feeds in E-commerce

In this episode of HAYVN Hubcast, host Nancy Sheed speaks with Christine Jurzenski and Erica Schultz, co-founders of Cranel, about their journey building a women-centered health company rooted in prevention, education, and product efficacy. Normalizing taboo conversations in women's healthChristine Jurzenski and Erica Schultz are on a mission to remove stigma around UTIs, gut health, and vaginal health—areas many women experience but rarely discuss openly. A company born from personal pain pointsCranel started as a solution to recurrent UTIs after the founders experienced the frustrating cycle of antibiotics, side effects, and limited preventative options. Non-traditional founders who learned fastWith backgrounds in finance and law, they built Cranel by taking “micro steps”—researching clinical evidence, cold-calling experts, and learning manufacturing and e-commerce from scratch. COVID pushed them into DTC—and it workedThe pandemic forced Cranel to launch as a direct-to-consumer brand, allowing them to maintain margins, educate customers, and build strong relationships with their community. Lean scaling with smart delegationCranel is still run by the two founders full-time with a network of contractors. They believe in mastering processes before outsourcing and leveraging modern tools and AI to scale efficiently. Expanding from a hero product to a platformThe brand has grown beyond cranberry juice with the launch of a probiotic/prebiotic product to support gut and vaginal microbiome health, signaling a broader women's health platform strategy. Navigating the supplement and regulatory gray zoneThey discussed the challenges of operating in the supplement space, balancing science-backed messaging with regulatory constraints, and advocating for better education around antibiotic overuse and resistance. The power of community and pitchingWinning the HAYVN Hatch pitch competition reinforced the value of female founder communities, mentorship, and the strength of a co-founder partnership. Christine and Erica's journey with Cranel illustrates how personal frustration can spark meaningful innovation. By combining evidence-based product development, direct-to-consumer education, and a mission to destigmatize women's health, they're building more than a brand—they're building a movement.  Their story highlights the power of curiosity, persistence, and community in turning a side hustle into a growing health platform designed by women, for women. Connect with Nancy LinkedIn  Instagram Website Connect with Christine and Erica Website Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupLaura Cantor, VP of Marketing & E-commerce at New York & Company, shares the reality of transforming a legacy retail brand in the age of AI - and why nobody can do it alone.In this episode:

In 2026, the term direct-to-consumer, or DTC, has become somewhat of a pejorative within the retail startups ecosystem. Enter: “DTC 3.0,” or what's dubbed as the most sustainable and profitable version of the model to date. The term was popularized last year after an X post by Cody Plofker, the CEO of Jones Road Beauty, though a debate has emerged on what the phrase entails. On this week's episode of the Modern Retail Podcast, senior reporter Gabriela Barkho is joined by two veterans of the DTC landscape who started their brands in the 2010s. Nate Checketts, co-founder and CEO of Rhone, and Melissa Mash, co-founder and CEO of Dagne Dover, argue that the term DTC, in and of itself, is antiquated. The two also weigh the pros and cons of being an early player in the "DTC boom," and their approaches to raising venture capital and building more sustainable brands. This week's episode discusses: How do founders characterize the different phases of DTC? A look back at being part of the DTC 1.0 wave, then navigating the next two phases amid increased challenges.  How events like the Covid-19 pandemic and tariffs helped shape the DTC channel. Building an enduring brand through a slower, more sustainable growth model. 

AI is no longer just a tool — it's becoming a business operator. In this episode of Right About Now, Ryan Alford talks with Ethan Ouyang, Head of U.S. Operations at DeepWisdom, about the rise of agentic AI and how their platform Atoms enables anyone to build revenue-ready products without writing code or managing teams. Ethan explains how Atoms differs from traditional AI tools by running a full autonomous decision loop — from market research and planning to execution, launch, and SEO-driven monetization. The discussion covers real-world use cases including DTC brands, SaaS products, internal tools, and small-business systems. Topics Covered: What agentic AI actually means Why most AI tools stop at tasks — and Atoms doesn't How AI coordinates multiple agents autonomously Building MVPs without engineering teams Human judgment vs AI execution Cost efficiency through open-source models Who this technology is really for This episode breaks down why the barrier to building businesses has fundamentally changed — and what that means for founders willing to adapt. Sponsors Are you interested in effortlessly growing your bitcoin portfolio?  ↳Gemini Crypto – https://www.gemini.com/card?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=right_about_now&utm_content=host_read&_bhlid=160d7f4fc923d552d3acfd8e1b631d57799c5196

Four hundred episodes. In classic Wine Makers Pod style, this one sorta snuck up on us. Technically, we breezed past our 400th episode somewhere in the Monterey fog while recording at the DTC Wine Symposium. So we decided to package two of our favorite DTC interviews with two of our favorite people on the planet, Elaine Chukan Brown and Duskie Estes. Both delivered keynote addresses, bringing the outside perspective we love so much about this conference. Elaine took us on a deep dive into California wine history, showing how past challenges mirror today's conditions and reminding us that this industry has always found its way forward through collaboration and innovation. Duskie's story, full of grit and infectious enthusiasm, laid out a path to success built on perseverance and community. On the show, the conversations were mostly what you'd expect from old friends at a great conference; a chance to catch up, laugh, and reflect. To mark the milestone, Brian, Bart, Sam, and Jasmine sat down to reminisce about eight years and 399 episodes. We revisited a few favorites and took a moment to appreciate just how far this little project has come. Most importantly, we raised a glass to everyone who helped us get here, the hundreds of guests, the thousands of listeners, and of course, our dear friend John Myers. So sit down, pop something special, and get ready for the next 100 shows. Thanks for being part of this wild ride. [Ep 400]

LIVE from Manifest 2026: Shipium CEO Jason Murray reveals why AI transformation isn't about making old processes faster but fundamentally rethinking workflows. From turning three-day analytics tasks into minutes with Orca to exploring adjacent areas such as auditing and consulting, Phillip, Brian, and Jason unpack how domain-specific AI creates competitive moats in an era when traditional advantages are dissolving.Some Kid In His Dorm Room Is Coming For Your CompanyKey takeaways:AI works when you rethink workflows, not optimize existing onesDomain-specific AI beats general LLMs through context and reduced hallucinationsSpeed of experimentation matters more than prediction accuracy aloneAdjacent spaces, like auditing, are now accessible through AI-powered digital twinsTraditional moats are dissolving; data and ecosystem relationships become keyIn-Show Mentions:Learn more about ShipiumLearn more about ManifestAssociated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Will Nitze went from selling Linsanity T-shirts in his college dorm to building IQ Bar into a $125 million brain food empire—with just a team of ten people. No bloated headcount. No burning through VC cash. Just ruthless focus on unit economics and a contrarian approach to funding that let him scale aggressively while maintaining control. In this interview, the founder and CEO of IQ Bar breaks down how he turned a $73,000 Kickstarter into one of the fastest-growing CPG brands in America, why he believes bootstrapping is the worst thing you can do in food and beverage, and the exact moment—five years in—when he knew this could be a massive company. From cracking Costco and Whole Foods to reinventing the business over ten times, this episode is a masterclass in hyper-lean growth, retail strategy, and building a company like a knife fight. What you'll learn in this interview: • Why bootstrapping is the worst thing you can do in CPG • Will's contrarian fundraising strategy: raising less money, more often to maintain control • How he raised just under $10 million while still controlling the company • The exact moment, five years in, when he knew IQ Bar could be a big company • Why IQ Bar has reinvented its fundamental identity over ten times • How to navigate the cash conversion cycle while scaling physical products • Why retail is the "final boss" for CPG brands, even in the e-commerce era • The strategic shift from DTC to cracking Costco, Whole Foods, Walmart, and Target • Why consumers are less loyal every year and how more touchpoints solve that • How building a personal brand creates a network of category experts By the end of this episode, you'll understand how to scale a physical product business without burning cash, maintain control while raising capital strategically, and build the operational discipline required to survive in one of the toughest industries in the world. If you're building a CPG brand, navigating fundraising decisions, or trying to crack retail while staying lean, this conversation will fundamentally change how you think about growth, control, and category-defining execution. SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started. HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+ Start your $1 trial → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING? → Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ → Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH WILL NITZE Instagram → https://www.instagram.com//willnitze/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-nitze Website → https://iqbar.com/ FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES YouTube → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/foundr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/podcast⁠

Anthony Barresi built a 7-figure pasta straw brand by launching fast, creating viral content and building relationships to drive sales.For more on Pasta Life and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

From garage startup to global cult following. During NRF 2026, one thing really stood out in this conversation between Marie Schwartz and Jennifer Sprague, CMO at Hammit. Hammit has built something rare. Customers do not just buy a bag. They collect them. They trade them. They know the story behind the rivets. That kind of loyalty is intentional.. They discuss: - How Hammit protects its brand identity while expanding physical retail - Why resale and community are strengthening long-term loyalty - The operational discipline behind rapid DTC and store growth - Luxury today is built on identity, connection, and strategic retail expansion. Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

In this episode of Sales POP!, supplement industry veteran John Smiddy (New to Marketers) reveals the strategies behind his $100M+ in client revenue. Key takeaways for 2026:  AI-first optimization: Structure your product data for AI recommendation engines, not just search engines. Consumers are buying through ChatGPT conversations now. Amazon launch strategy: Start on Amazon to build instant credibility and reviews. Smiddy's data shows conversion rates of 5%+ for new brands- better than most DTC sites. Differentiation is critical: Generic formulations fail. Partner with experts to create proprietary blends backed by clinical validation and third-party testing. Balance AI with authenticity: Use AI for research and optimization, but keep your creative human. Customers can spot AI-generated content instantly.

Most brands spend all their time obsessing over ads and creative and completely ignore the website experience that actually converts the traffic. In this solo episode, Nik does a live teardown of multiple ecom websites and breaks down what separates a “nice-looking Shopify site” from a site that actually drives revenue. He walks through the modules, UX decisions, copy, navigation, and merchandising details that most brands overlook, but that make all the difference in conversion. Nik covers why lifestyle photography and positioning matter more than aesthetics, how the best brands use push-and-pull storytelling, and the small micro-copy moments that guide customers toward checkout. He also dives into what high-performing supplement funnels do better than everyone else, including social proof and PDP structure. If you want to build a site that feels premium, converts colder traffic, and actually earns the next click, this episode is for you. Roku pioneered streaming on TV. We connect users to the content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising.roku.com/limitedsupply⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips.   Check out the Nik's DTC newsletter: https://bit.ly/3mOUJMJ   And if you're looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the Limited Supply Slack Channel for Nik's most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik:Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

Why do CPG brands with strong demand still struggle with cash flow and funding?Growing a CPG brand is not just about demand. It is about timing cash, forecasting correctly, and understanding how growth actually impacts liquidity.Fractional CFO Abby June Richards breaks down why many CPG brands struggle financially even as revenue increases. She explains the hidden risks in retail growth, trade spend, distributor terms, and long cash conversion cycles that do not show up on a standard profit and loss statement.Abby also explains why generic CFO advice and AI-driven financial analysis often fail CPG brands, how founders should think about forecasting across DTC and retail channels, and what investors actually want to see beyond revenue.What You'll Learn:Why growing CPG brands still run out of cashHow to forecast across DTC and retail channelsWhy standard financial reports and AI tools miss key CPG risksThe difference between a bookkeeper, an accountant, and a CFOHow to tell a stronger funding story beyond revenueWhen debt makes sense and when equity is the better moveHow knowing your numbers changes founder confidenceConnect with Abby June Richards:Learn how CPG brands can forecast smarter, manage cash, and prepare for investors: https://www.thecpgcfo.com/Free resource of Know Your Numbers Investor Guide: https://www.thecpgcfo.com/knowyournumbersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbyjuner/Resources:Connect with IanDownload a Tackle Box!Supercharge your marketing and grow your business with video case stories today!Subscribe to the YouTube Channel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sonsie Skin's CEO turns customers into brand advocates through community-first strategies, from garden girl activations to in-person events. Discover how to create your own viral moments that drive real connection. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Magic Spoon is proof that breaking the rules can be the smartest move in CPG. In this episode, co-founder Gabi Lewis breaks down how the premium cereal and snack brand launched – and scaled – in a category most people had already written off. He shares why Magic Spoon anchored on protein and nostalgia from day one, how it made the jump from DTC to national retail without losing profitability, and what actually mattered along the way. Gabi gets candid about product-market fit, pricing, branding, word-of-mouth growth, retail velocity, and the tradeoffs that come with innovation – offering a clear, hard-earned playbook for founders building modern food and beverage brands. Show notes: 0:20: Gabi Lewis, Co-Founder, Magic Spoon – Gabi chats about his Glasgow roots and traces his path into food, and how cooking, fitness, and curiosity ultimately pulled him into entrepreneurship. He discusses his first CPG venture, EXO, a cricket-protein bar brand and reflects on being a young founder who didn't overthink risk. Gabi contrasts early investor reactions to EXO versus Magic Spoon and his belief that consumers still loved cereal emotionally but walked away for health reasons. He breaks down Magic Spoon's core playbook and hype as a downstream effect, the impact of influencer seeding, podcast ads and repeat purchases fueled by limited-edition flavors. Gabi also shares behind-the-scenes lessons on naming the brand, its focus on DTC before retail expansion, pricing strategy, and the constant tradeoffs between taste, nutrition, and ingredient standards. He also shares his long-term vision of building a defining breakfast company and how he finds happiness in high-pressure moments. Brands in this episode: Magic Spoon, EXO, RXBAR, Daniel, Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, Honey Smacks, Corn Pops, Lucky Charms

In this video, you'll learn why Amazon is the fastest and most reliable way to launch a new product or brand. I break down how Amazon gives instant trust, credibility, built-in buyers, and algorithmic momentum that new brands simply can't get from a website alone. You'll also learn the exact 60-day plan, how to align your DTC site with your Amazon store, how Amazon Attribution works, and why creative volume is the key to scaling in 2026.Whether you're launching supplements, consumer products, or any new e-commerce brand, this walkthrough shows the path to reaching critical mass faster and setting yourself up for long-term growth.-------------------About Manuel Suarez:Manuel Suarez, known as the "Marketing Ninja" and a "Best Selling Author" of "Marketing Magic", leads Attention Grabbing Media (AGM), a marketing agency honored three times on the Inc 5000 list. With a team of over 120, AGM specializes in turning attention into profit for a wide array of brands. In 2023 alone, brands managed by AGM exceeded 250 million USD in revenue.Manuel is also the co-founder of NaturalSlim, a self-funded high 9-figure brand. He has elevated thousands of businesses across various sectors and has directed marketing campaigns for industry leaders like Dr. Eric Berg, Grant Cardone, and Daymond John.He is also responsible for two of the top 15 largest U.S. YouTube channels—Dr. Eric Berg and MetabolismoTV—which together have over 20 million subscribers. Over seven years, his strategies have amassed 8 billion views, generated 5 million leads, and earned over 500 million USD in revenue.Follow Manuel Suarez on Social Media:- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theninjamarketer/- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrmanuelsuarez/- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmanuelsuarez- X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/MrManuelSuarez- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmanuelsuarez/Learn More About AGM:- Visit our website: https://www.agmagency.comNeed Help with Your Marketing?- Talk to a Ninja: https://www.talktoaninja.comCheck Out Manuel's Book, a #1 Seller on Amazon:- Marketing Magic by Manuel Suarez: https://a.co/d/gbwHKSf