Podcasts about DTC

Sandra Oh Lin walked away from running eBay's fashion business in 2011 to pack craft boxes in her garage. She raised just $11 million in total - and never needed another dollar. KiwiCo has now shipped over 50 million crates, crossed $1 billion in lifetime revenue, runs profitably since 2016, and operates with a team of under 150. The standard DTC playbook says outsource fulfillment, buy every customer with paid ads, and burn cash until you exit. Sandra broke all three rules and built one of the most capital-efficient consumer subscription businesses ever created. In this interview, the founder and CEO of KiwiCo breaks down the two-word churn survey answer that unlocked profitability, why she's run her own warehouse for 14 years instead of using a 3PL, and how 70% of her traffic costs almost nothing. What you'll learn in this interview: • How she went from 19 crates taking five people all day - to 50 million shipped • Why she ran her own warehouse for 14 years instead of outsourcing - and why it crushed competitors every Christmas • The two words buried in churn surveys that led to launching three new subscription lines at once • How all three new lines sold out at the 2014 holiday launch - and drew a direct line to their first profitable month • Why 70% of KiwiCo's traffic costs almost nothing - and what those channels actually are • How a website going horribly wrong led her to recruit the first engineer at YouTube as co-founder • The motivation spreadsheet: why every team member distributes 100 points across what actually drives them • How the "graduation" mechanic turns developmental churn into a moment of delight • Why she raised less than $11 million total while building a nine-figure business • How she's revamping four subscription lines, expanding into retail, and launching internationally for the first time If you're building a subscription brand, trying to grow a capital-efficient DTC business without burning through VC cash, or looking for the playbook behind what 14 years of relentless operational discipline actually looks like, this conversation will fundamentally change how you think about retention, fulfillment, and what it means to build a business that doesn't need to be sold. 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. WANT TO GROW YOUR BRAND WITH META ADS? Join the Foundr Operators Waitlist → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/operators⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 SANDRA OH LIN Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/kiwico_inc/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandralin/ Website → https://www.kiwico.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

“I don't think our ads are any better.” Why are Meta click-through rates rising while conversion rates keep falling? Connor MacDonald (CMO, Ridge), Cody Plofker (CEO, Jones Road Beauty), and Connor Rolain (Head of Growth, HexClad) unpack why Meta ad performance has quietly shifted across ecommerce accounts. They break down Ridge's new chains launch and the merchandising lessons behind it, and debate whether TikTok Shop's affiliate program matters more than its storefront. Meta CPMs and click-through rates keep climbing across DTC accounts, even as conversion rates fall. The hosts respond with the exclusion settings and bid multipliers they are testing to fight back. From there, the conversation turns to Ridge's chains launch and the pricing lessons behind it. Powered By Motion Creative Benchmarks 2026 https://9ops.co/motionapp-creativebenchmarks2026 Richpanel https://9ops.co/richpanel-mops Aftersell https://9ops.co/aftersell-mops Haus https://www.haus.io/operators NeonPixel https://9ops.co/neonpixel Operators Newsletter https://9operators.com/ 

Evan Dash is the CEO of StoreBound and Author of the best-selling book, A Dash of Good: How to Turn a Business Based on Values into a Valuable Business. Evan's journey took him from firefighter to business executive before becoming a household name in the kitchenware industry. Alongside his wife Rachel, they launched DASH, their namesake kitchenware brand. Under Dash's leadership, the company skyrocketed to success, achieving sales of over $1 billion in sales and becoming the world's largest producer of waffle makers, popcorn poppers, and egg cookers, with over 100 million units sold. Before its 10th anniversary, Dash negotiated a majority sale of his company to Groupe SEB, the $8 billion global leader in the housewares industry.Highlight Bullets> Here's a glimpse of what you would learn…. Entrepreneurial journey from firefighter to CEO of a billion-dollar kitchenware brand.Transition from corporate retail experience to founding a business.Importance of a retail-first strategy versus direct-to-consumer approaches.Challenges faced in retail, including inventory management and product-market fit.The significance of a caring company culture and hiring practices.Strategies for DTC brands entering the retail space.The role of AI in enhancing business operations and creativity.Partnership dynamics in business, particularly with a spouse.Lessons learned from early failures and successes in product launches.Emphasis on building trust and relationships with customers and retailers.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Evan Dash, CEO of StoreBound and founder of Dash kitchenware. Evan shares his unconventional journey from firefighter to entrepreneur, building a brand that surpassed $1 billion in sales. He discusses leveraging brick-and-mortar retail expertise, the importance of a content-first strategy, and hiring people who genuinely care. Evan also highlights his partnership with his wife Rachel, strategies for DTC brands entering retail, and AI's growing role in business operations.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Start where you have an unfair advantage Leverage your existing expertise, network, or channel (retail, DTC, etc.) instead of blindly following trends. Validate demand before scaling Use tools like crowdfunding, small test runs, or pilot launches to confirm product-market fit and reduce inventory risk. Treat retail like a different business If entering brick-and-mortar, master pricing, margins, cash flow, and logistics—don't assume your DTC playbook will work.Timestamps:00:00:00 Introduction and Setting the StageEvan discusses generational shifts in kitchenware preferences and the initial marketing approach for Dash.00:00:22 Podcast IntroductionHost introduces the E-com Breakthrough Podcast and sets up the episode's focus.00:00:35 Guest Introduction: Evan Dash's BackgroundEvan's journey from firefighter to CEO, and the founding of Dash kitchenware.00:01:51 Personal Connection and Product RecognitionHost shares personal experience with Dash products and introduces the main interview.00:02:19 Evan's Entrepreneurial JourneyEvan recounts his unconventional path from firefighting to retail and business.00:04:01 Lessons from Retail and E-commerce EvolutionEvan discusses his retail background, the fall of legacy brands, and the rise of e-commerce.00:05:57 Transition from Corporate to EntrepreneurshipEvan explains how being fired led him to start his own business with his wife.00:07:45 Working with a Spouse: Partnership InsightsEvan and the host discuss the dynamics and benefits of building a business with their wives.00:10:02 Travel and Business Partnership BenefitsEvan shares the advantages of traveling and working closely with his spouse.00:11:21 Launching Dash: Retail-First StrategyEvan explains why Dash started with a retail-first approach and the challenges faced.00:12:11 Early Product Experiments and Brand NamingEvan describes initial product ideas, licensing, and the decision to use his last name for the brand.00:14:30 Content-Driven Brand BuildingDash's early focus on content creation, social media, and appealing to younger consumers.00:16:37 Retail Placement and Cash Flow ChallengesHow Dash leveraged retail relationships for credibility and managed cash flow pressures.00:17:47 Retail Flywheel and Industry FOMOThe impact of early retail success and how it led to more opportunities.00:18:35 Product Flops and Risk MitigationEvan discusses product failures, the importance of sell-through, and strategies to minimize risk.00:22:07 Crowdfunding and Retailer RelationshipsUsing Kickstarter/Indiegogo to test products and proactively managing retailer relationships.00:24:30 Advice for DTC Brands Entering RetailEvan's recommendations for DTC brands looking to expand into retail.00:25:08 Learning New Channels and Building ExpertiseThe importance of becoming an expert in new sales channels and hiring for knowledge gaps.00:27:02 Brokers vs. Direct Outreach in RetailPros and cons of using brokers versus direct outreach for retail expansion.00:28:14 Focus, Time Management, and Agency PitfallsThe risks of losing focus, the value of time, and challenges with agencies.00:29:37 Hiring Smart People and Building TeamsHow hiring smarter people and building strong teams drives business growth.00:30:36 Culture of Caring and Core ValuesEvan's approach to company culture, hiring for care, and building a values-driven organization.00:34:15 Defining “Care” in Company CultureWhat “care” means at Dash and how it's embedded in the company's DNA.00:35:16 Empowerment, Trust, and Winning HeartsPairing care with empowerment, trust, and a focus on winning hearts internally and externally.00:38:20 Culture as a Competitive AdvantageHow culture and core values translate to consumer experience and business success.00:39:16 AI in Business: Human vs. AutomationEvan's perspective on AI, its role in efficiency, and why humans remain central.00:40:17 AI as a Multiplier, Not a ReplacementHow Dash is adopting AI to boost productivity while maintaining a human-centric approach.00:41:28 Final Thoughts and Book RecommendationEvan recommends his book and offers to connect with listeners.00:41:49 Three Actionable TakeawaysHost summarizes key lessons: domain expertise, caring culture, and hiring smart people.00:45:08 Rapid-Fire Questions: Book, AI Tool, InspirationEvan shares his favorite book, AI tools, and sources of inspiration in CPG and fashion.00:48:34 Closing and Contact InformationHow to connect with Evan and Dash; episode wrap-up.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTools and Websites"Kickstarter": "00:23:27""Indiegogo": "00:23:27""ChatGPT": "00:46:15"Books"

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAri Murray runs DTC, Amazon and customer experience at Salt & Stone. She came from Sharma Brands, and before that worked on influencer and celebrity brands including a Kardashian line and Halsey's beauty brand. She started as a customer service agent.In this episode she breaks down why the old brand-versus-performance argument is collapsing. Customers now shop with a chatbot in the loop. Those bots read your reviews, your Reddit threads, and your actual customer experience. You cannot hack that, which means product quality and brand protection have become growth levers.She also gets specific on creative: what "socially native" really means, why she is chasing ads that don't look like ads, and the protein powder ad where the product is the seventh ingredient in someone's recipe.For: DTC founders, growth leads, creative strategists, retention and CRO teams, brand marketers.In this episode:Why she left the agency side for Salt & StoneWhy Salt & Stone has never acted like a deodorant brandAI visibility, Reddit indexing, and why you can't hide from real customer feedbackThe collapse of the middle of the funnel in agentic shoppingWhy she doesn't feel a desperate need to move spend out of MetaHow they actually measure incrementality (holdouts, Status, Northbeam, Triple Whale, hunting for an MMM)Socially native creative, and why splitting a hook five ways is played outWhy a brand with boundaries makes better adsWhat makes a brand feel cheapWhat makes a brand deserve to be iconicSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter

Most app developers focus on ASO and paid ads, but Apple's ecosystem offers powerful growth opportunities that many teams completely overlook.In this live session, we're joined by Clémence Rigal from Tiimo, the visual AI planner built for real life and recognized as Apple's App of the Year 2025, along with several other industry awards.Drawing from her experience leading growth at companies like Lifesum, Preglife, and now Tiimo, Clémence shares how successful apps leverage Apple's ecosystem to increase visibility, drive more downloads, and build sustainable long-term growth.You'll learn how to make the most of In-App Events, App Store Nominations & Editorial opportunities, Apple's frameworks, the app nomination process, and the strategies that help apps stand out and earn Apple's attention.Whether you're building a new iOS app or looking to accelerate the growth of an existing one, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.You will discover:✅ How to leverage Apple's ecosystem to grow your app✅ Best practices for In-App Events that actually get noticed✅ How Apple's editorial features and nominations work✅ Apple frameworks and tools that can improve discovery✅ Growth strategies used by leading subscription appsLearn More:Check out: Tiimohttps://www.tiimoapp.com

Matt and Nic are back with the deals and news of the week. In this episode:  Nic licks his World Cup wounds Do Bitcoin Treasury strategies make sense? Trying to make sense of Saylor's "bitcoin rating" Trump's teleprompter operator has been trading on what Trump is going to say in his speeches Why do people keep insider trading on prediction markets? Clarity Act odds are trickling down Strategy shores up their balance sheet Is the Bitcoin cycle finally turning? Stripe bids for Paypal The AI DeFi apocalypse didn't happen Kathy Hochul's AI datacenter moratorium Why is Anthropic running ads suggesting that they could cause extinction The DTC is using Canton for it's tokenized settlement pilot Brian Chesky's AI slop thread debacle Jesse Pollak leaves Base CBDCs are officially banned federally

Ben Dietz convenes Casey Lewis (After School), Daisy Alioto (Dirt), and Erica Chen (Media Futures Group, WPP) on the collapse of the wall between editorial and commerce. Publishers are shipping perfume, brands are hiring writers, and the relationship forming in your inbox isn't human-to-human anymore.  What happens when the scenic route is quicker? When “wasted” time actually is the relationship? Your total addressable market now includes agents, and those agents are trained on the taste you are curating. After all – what you buy is who you become, but what you read is how you decide.  Base Notes: Upper Lip Sweat and Hot Metal Key takeaways: Publishers now make products; brands now make publications. The wall stopped mattering. Optimization is a process of reduction, and serendipity gets cut first. Brands flame out at issue two or three without a point of view. Taste-driven publishers have a new addressable market: agents trained on taste. [12:48] "The best ROI does not necessarily give you growth, because growth comes in volumes." – Erica Chen [21:15] "When your audience knows to expect you… you really have to stay true to that." – Casey Lewis [28:50] "Our total addressable market now includes agents." – Daisy Alioto [30:32] "Creators are the cure to the media fragmentation." – Erica Chen Associated Links: Casey Lewis – After School on Substack Erica Chen – "In Defense of Serendipity" Daisy Alioto – Read Dirt @ dirt.fyi Tasteland podcast – Daisy Alioto & Francis Zierer VISIONS Summit 2026 – November 3, 2026 at MoMA. Listen to today's episode for 25% off 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.

Send us Fan MailAn ecommerce marketing funnel shows how traffic moves through awareness, conversion, retention, and repeat sales. This video covers DTC marketing strategy, Meta ads, Google ads, UGC, affiliate marketing, email, and SMS. It shows how brands can reduce website drop-off, improve store conversion, and turn more visitors into customers.Stop paying for traffic that leaves without buying, get a full ecommerce growth plan built around the funnel and conversion gaps costing the brand sales: https://bit.ly/4jMZtxu#EcommerceMarketing #EcommerceSales #DTCMarketingWant free resources? Dowload our Free Amazon guides here:Download the 2026 Amazon AI Operating Manual: https://bit.ly/3SLmusPAmazon Receiving Delay Guide: https://hubs.ly/Q04cdD4c0Amazon Catalog Spring Cleaning: https://hubs.ly/Q046BVfp0Amazon Proft Margin Defense 2026: https://hubs.ly/Q042trRH0Amazon SEO Toolkit 2026: https://bit.ly/4oC2ClTAmazon Seller Strategy Report 2026: https://bit.ly/3YN1RME2026 Ecommerce Website & SEO Readiness Checklist: https://hubs.ly/Q04btghf0Amazon 2026 PPC guide: https://bit.ly/4lF0OYXTimestamps00:00 - Why Ecommerce Customers Leave Before Checkout00:49 - Amazon Ads vs. Ecommerce Marketing Channels01:43 - How the Ecommerce Marketing Funnel Works02:10 - Building Awareness With Paid and Organic Traffic02:41 - Moving Shoppers From Awareness to Consideration03:10 - Using UGC and Affiliate Marketing for Sales03:44 - Turning Website Visitors Into Paying Customers04:29 - How Email and SMS Create Repeat Buyers05:44 - How Customer Advocacy Drives Referral Sales07:20 - Where New Ecommerce Brands Should Start08:11 - Building Ads for Consideration and Conversion09:36 - Finding Competitor Ads in Meta Ad Library11:13 - Why Landing Pages Convert Better Than Homepages12:57 - Testing Short and Long Ecommerce Ad Formats14:28 - Landing Page Clicks and Ecommerce Conversion15:56 - Choosing Text, Image, and Video Ads16:56 - Finding Competitor Keywords for Google Ads17:50 - Amazon ICAP Funnel vs. Ecommerce Funnel19:03 - How Customer Advocacy Restarts the Funnel-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28605816/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpopemag/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/myamazonguys/Twitter: https://twitter.com/myamazonguySubscribe to the My Amazon Guy podcast: https://podcast.myamazonguy.comApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-amazon-guy/id1501974229Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4A5ASHGGfr6s4wWNQIqyVwSupport the show

Recorded live at the Retail Collective Summit, this episode features Ryan Napierski, CEO of Nu Skin, as he outlines his 30-year journey from working in the call center to steering a global corporate empire spanning 50 countries. Ryan delivers an unvarnished masterclass in corporate survival, detailing how a sudden industry-wide ban in China forced the company to completely shift its direct-selling model toward technology investments and integrated brand building. He also shares how a near-fatal backcountry snowboarding accident shattered three vertebrae in his neck and profoundly redefined his leadership lens. The discussion maps out his framework for navigating the rapidly growing $6.8 trillion global wellness economy. Ryan breaks down "Unit Economics 2.0," explaining how AI-driven ad spend is causing a massive inflation in customer acquisition costs (CAC) for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands. He pulls back the curtain on Nu Skin's strategic $275 million exit of the platform Mavely, proving why nano-influencers with sub-1,000 followers deliver vastly higher conversion rates than expensive macro-influencers. Finally, Ryan addresses the challenge of managing channel conflict as a legacy MLM entity scales into a highly integrated, modern omnichannel strategy.  

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupJordan Gordon runs CRO and retention at Pilothouse and hosts TWBERP, The World's Best Email and Retention Podcast. He has audited somewhere in the range of 400 to 500 brands and been inside more Klaviyo accounts than almost anyone in DTC.In this All Killer No Filler episode he breaks down why most email programs are structurally backwards. 85% of campaign revenue comes from people who have visited your site recently, and yet most campaigns are sent to anyone who opened an email in the last 180 days. You are risking your entire sending reputation to chase the 15%.Then he gets to the good part: a flow he says he has basically never seen a brand run, and why it is the most valuable one you can build.For: ecommerce founders, retention leads, email marketers, CRO teams, agency operators.In this episode:Why free traffic is the "forever job" and paid is the spikeWhy small counts hide truths (nobody hits fold 10, but the people who do are your buyers)The 85/15 rule of campaign revenueHow brands blow up a Klaviyo account: too many campaigns, too-broad segments, and the sunset flow that sends to ten years of dead addresses in one goWhy recent repeat buyers are whales you should not over-messageCampaigns are zero-intent messages, so they can only ever be about newness or offersThe essentials core flow: triggered by site visit, not lifecycle, selling your hero SKU to people who came for something elseSending less in a margin-compressed Q4Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF629Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter

Yasmina Elmerkaoui had one shot - use the house deposit to buy a home, or bet it all on a hair gel she'd spent two years formulating. She chose the hair gel. On launch night she packed orders until 5am, drove them to the post office herself, and woke up to find all 20,000 units - what she thought was a year's worth of stock - completely gone in 24 hours. Macao is now on track for eight figures in its third year, built on 90,000 Instagram followers, zero outside funding at launch, and a pre-launch call to her manufacturer that saved everything. In this interview, Yasmina breaks down the exact pre-launch move that meant stock was already in production when she sold out overnight, how she turned copycats into a celebration, and the investor email she kept deleting because she thought it was a scam. What you'll learn in this interview: Why she bet the house deposit on a hair gel - and the mentor conversation that pushed her over the line How nearly $10,000 in sampling and a $30,000 first run taught her what building a real product actually costs The pre-launch gut call - why she paid a deposit to start production before launch, and how it saved the business when everything sold out in 24 hours Why she started signing customer service emails under a male alias - and why it actually worked How she used UGC creators from day one to fill the feed with different faces, ethnicities, and hair types so the brand didn't rely on just her The Black Friday disaster that made a year's revenue in one week - then nearly broke her entire operation Why she kept deleting the investor email from Capital Influence because she thought it was a Facebook scam What finally convinced her to give up equity - and why it was about experience, not money The "create your own bundle" feature that raised average order value without a single extra product Why she celebrates copycats - and the mindset that keeps her focused on what's next instead of what's being copied If you're an early stage DTC founder, a content creator thinking about launching your own product, or trying to figure out how to turn a loyal audience into actual sales without burning the trust you've built, this conversation will fundamentally change how you think about community, launch strategy, and what it really takes to go from house deposit to eight figures. 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. WANT TO GROW YOUR BRAND WITH META ADS? Join the Foundr Operators Waitlist → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/operators⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 YASMINA ELMERKAOIU Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/mrs.yasmina/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmina-elmerkaoui-191b69262/ Website → https://merkaou.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

The beauty industry disruptor that brought clean beauty into the mainstream is back with a shiny new brand concept.  Gregg Renfrew, the entrepreneur behind Beautycounter and Counter, is launching her third beauty brand on September 1 in an effort to reach consumers ages 14 to 30.   The brand is called Beecee and, in a lot of ways, is an iteration of now-defunct Beautycounter. The line will launch direct-to-consumer with lip gloss, skin balm and face mist at premium price points. The company is currently in the midst of a community meet-up tour — hosting events with Renfrew in Nashville, New York, Chicago and Charleston, among other cities — to recruit and mobilize excited young brand advocates who can earn a commission on sales.  But do young people care about clean beauty? “The answer is unequivocally yes,” Renfrew told Glossy. “I've actually been really surprised by how many of the young women with whom we've been interacting have said that this really matters to them.”  In 2013, Renfrew launched Beautycounter, a first-of-its-kind beauty business built off ingredient transparency, independent sellers and ‘boots on the ground' industry advocacy in Washington, D.C. The concept struck a nerve and forever shifted the beauty industry toward better transparency.  But Renfrew was very early to the "clean beauty" wave — something that, today, is very much table stakes for new brands. This has presented its own challenges for Renfrew's ongoing success.  “It's both a blessing and a curse to be the leader and the disruptor in any industry at any moment in time,” she said. “In some ways, I have the luxury now of coming back in through Counter and Beecee to see all the things I did well and all the things I didn't do well, of which there were many, and iterate on those models to do them better than I did before.” Beautycounter officially shuttered in 2024, giving Renfrew the opportunity to buy back her IP from the VC firm The Carlyle Group. Renfrew then parlayed her bestselling formulas and clean beauty mission into Counter, her brand launched DTC in 2025 to serve women 35 and older.  Glossy Beauty podcast host Lexy Lebsack sat down with Renfrew to discuss Beecee, the future of clean beauty, how to best reach Gen Z and why the best days of specialty beauty retail are behind us. 

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) is moving from an experimental monetization channel toward a more established part of game publishing, but adoption remains uneven. Host Devin Becker is joined by David Stelzer, CSO of Appcharge, to discuss findings from the company's recent report and what they reveal about the current state of DTC. They examine why more than half of studios are still making few meaningful changes, what separates the small group of innovators pulling ahead, and where developers continue to misunderstand web stores, player behavior, and the operational demands of running DTC effectively. The conversation also looks ahead to dedicated DTC teams, standardized technology stacks, broader adoption beyond games, and what winning in DTC could look like over the next three to five years.We'd like to thank Medal.tv for making this episode possible. If you're a PC gamer and want to clip your moments or a studio, publisher, or marketer looking to reach a high-quality gaming audience and get your game in front of the right players, check out all Medal has to offer at https://grow.medal.tv.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

“I feel this is bigger than dot com.” How does a $450 million publicly traded jewelry brand build a live shopping empire that predates TikTok by nearly two decades? Sunil Agrawal (Founder, ShopLC & VGL Group) sits down with Matt Bertulli (CEO, Pela Case and Lomi) and Katy Mimari (CEO, Caden Lane) to pull back the curtain on 46 years of building one of the most vertically integrated businesses in the world. He started as a gemstone lapidary and grew six retail brands without ever once considering an exit. Sunil runs a live shopping operation most DTC operators have never seen. He launches 100 new products every day. His top customers generate $20,000 in lifetime value. He fired his robots when the ROI math didn't hold. He moved four brands to Shopify in five months because AI did most of the coding. And he still measures the business not in dollars but in meals delivered. Operators Titans is brought to you by AppLovin and Fulfil. Fulfil: The ERP built specifically for DTC and ecommerce brands, integrated with over 400 3PLs so your inventory, purchasing, and financials never fall out of sync. Ridge runs its entire operation on it. See why here: https://9ops.co/fulfil AppLovin: Get access to the Operators channel expansion playbook, online masterclass, and up to $5k in ad credits here: https://www.9operators.com/paid-growth. Or skip the waitlist and launch your ads today with our Operators-exclusive link: http://applovin.com/9operators.

The latest edition of The PR Week features Jennifer Risi, founder and president of The Sway Effect. Risi founded The Sway Effect, a New York-headquartered global marketing and communications agency, exactly seven years ago on July 16. In 2025, The Sway Effect reported revenue of $4.9 million, up 11% from the same period a year prior, according to PRWeek's latest Agency Business Report.  Risi discusses what her firm has been up to, what she attributes its success to and highlights some client campaigns.  She also talks about her takeaways from this year's Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Plus, PRWeek news editor Diana Bradley reviews the biggest PR and communications news of the week with newly promoted senior reporter Julia Walker, including how brands are cracking jokes amid the cyclospora outbreak; the FDA taking steps to make good on its threat to remove the adequate provision rule for pharma DTC ads; Praytell's expansion into the Asian market; and people moves atSeatGeek, Etsy, Whoop and Unilever. PRWeek.comTheme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSICJaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUSReceive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“If someone can do the same revenue in 12 hours, basically out of nowhere, it does lower the value of brands.” What does the collapse of traditional brand equity mean for founders still building toward an exit? Roman Khan (Co-Founder & President, Peak21) joins Sean Frank (CEO, Ridge) and Matt Bertulli (CEO, Pela Case and Lomi) to make one uncomfortable argument: the playbook for building and buying ecommerce brands is broken, and most founders haven't figured that out yet. After three years acquiring DTC businesses, Roman stopped. The reason cuts to the heart of where dropshipping, ecommerce logistics, and brand valuation are all heading. His Hong Kong summit surfaced the shift in real time: Meta partnership ads back at the top of the stack, Applovin minting operators spending six figures a day, and TikTok-first brands doing $12M months on skeleton crews. The conversation covers why dropshipping from China is nowhere near dead, how Quince is building the AWS of ecommerce logistics, and the one thing Roman tells every founder under $100M in revenue: take out dividends, stop waiting for a buyer, and get honest about what your company is worth. Powered By Fulfil https://9ops.co/fulfil Aftersell https://9ops.co/4i3bb5 Richpanel https://9ops.co/richpanel Northbeam https://www.northbeam.io/ Saras Analytics https://bit.ly/4a3gzVv Postscript https://9ops.co/postscript Operators Newsletter https://9operators.com/ 

How do you become a top RTD spritz brand without raising outside capital?That's the story behind Saint Spritz, the wine-based canned spritz brand inspired by Italian aperitivo culture. In this episode of Business of Drinks, we talk with Ben Patton, CEO and co-founder of Saint Spritz, about how the brand reached 55,000 nine-liter cases in 2025, grew triple digits, expanded into 43 states, and became the number-one RTD spritz — while remaining fully bootstrapped.For Ben, that constraint became a discipline.Without VC money or growth-fund capital, Saint Spritz had to measure every dollar, test small, kill what didn't work, and scale what did. The team couldn't afford to “buy” growth. They had to prove velocity.That mindset shaped everything: The early DTC launch through co-founder (The Bachelorette) JoJo Fletcher's audience, the move into national retail with Target, the buildout of a 100-person brand ambassador team, and the focus on turning shelf placement into repeat purchase.One of the biggest lessons? Getting on shelf is not the same as getting found.Because Saint Spritz is made with wine, retailers often place it in the wine aisle. But consumers shop it like an RTD canned cocktail — near High Noon, Surfside, White Claw, cold boxes, and grab-and-go occasions. Ben calls that problem “wine jail,” and says better placement can drive a 3x to 5x lift in velocity.In this episode, Ben breaks down:— How Saint Spritz used DTC demand as an early signal for retail— Why Target became the brand's first major national growth driver— What retailers need to see before expanding a brand nationally— How a bootstrapped team decides which marketing bets deserve money— Why Saint Spritz built its own ambassador team instead of relying only on third-party tasting companies— How in-store tastings can move five to six cases when the team is trained and incentivized properly— Why “accessible premium” works when the liquid, packaging, and occasion all line up— How the brand's non-alcoholic line quietly launched on Amazon and quickly became a major growth signal— Why cold-box placement may be the next big unlock as Saint Spritz expands through beer-distributor networksThis is a tactical episode for any drinks founder trying to scale without unlimited capital. Saint Spritz shows what happens when a brand combines a clear consumer occasion with disciplined spending, strong retail execution, and a relentless focus on velocity.For the latest updates, follow us:Business of Drinks website (sign up for our newsletter!)Business of Drinks YouTubeBusiness of Drinks LinkedInInstagram @bizofdrinksErica Duecy, co-host: Erica Duecy is founder and co-host of Business of Drinks and one of the drinks industry's most accomplished digital and content strategists. She runs the consultancy and advisory arm of Business of Drinks and has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies.Erica Duecy LinkedInInstagram @ericaduecyScott Rosenbaum, co-host: Scott Rosenbaum is co-host of Business of Drinks and a veteran strategist and analyst with deep experience building drinks portfolios. Most recently, he was the Portfolio Development Director at Distill Ventures. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of T. Edward Wines & Spirits, a New York-based importer and distributor.Scott Rosenbaum LinkedInCaroline Lamb, contributor: Caroline is a producer and on-air contributor at Business of Drinks and a key account sales and marketing specialist at AHD Vintners, a Michigan-based importer and distributor.Caroline Lamb LinkedInInstagram @borkalineSubscribe to the Business of Drinks channel for more insights on how brands, retailers, and operators are unlocking growth across beverages. And please rate and review us. Your support helps us reach new listeners. Thank you!

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupMost DTC brands put the bulk of their paid budget where attention is thinnest. Viewers spend about 99 minutes per session on Connected TV and 8 minutes per session on social, yet only 9% of standard marketing budgets go to CTV. This episode is about closing that gap on CTV with the same measurement & targeting you get on social (starting at $7 CPMs!)Emily Huo built ad businesses at X (Twitter), Reddit, and Spotify, and now runs SMB advertising at Paramount. She walks through how a DTC brand actually gets onto Survivor, Landman, or RuPaul's Drag Race, what to spend, and how to know if it worked.Sign up for Paramount Ads Manager today. Get your brand on TV tomorrow.This episode, we get into:The seasonal play: build awareness over the summer, retarget in the fall, convert in Q4Why you start broad on targeting and let the data tell you who is really watching, not the persona you imported from MetaThe pixel setup that ties a TV impression to a site visit, a lead, or a purchaseThe geo holdout test for measuring halo effect with no third-party toolsWhy a 30-second unskippable spot changes how you tell a brand story when you are not a household name yetBudgeting: carve out 10% as experimental, expect a three-month ramp, scale from thereWho this is for: DTC founders and growth marketers who have maxed out social, anyone planning Q4 now, and operators curious whether CTV is real or just a hot label.What to steal: the install-pixel-now, build-in-summer, convert-in-Q4 sequence, and the broad-then-narrow targeting approach.Timestamps:0:00 Emily Huo's Journey to Paramount3:10 Why CTV Is Growing So Fast8:07 CTV Targeting vs Meta Ads12:14 CTV Budget & Testing Strategy23:18 Measuring the Halo EffectSubscribe 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

Building an Art-Led eCommerce Fashion Brand: Kyall & Maku Fenaroli on Maku The LabelIn this episode, Ryan sits down with Kyall and Maku Fenaroli, the husband-and-wife team behind Maku The Label, an art-centric fashion brand that's gone from Maku painting designs on blank t-shirts to landing David Jones as a stockist, all in under 18 months.Maku spent over a decade in finance before turning her lifelong passion for art into a business. Kyall left a career as a plumber and general manager in construction to run the operations side full-time. Together they've built a brand defined by original artwork, rapid organic growth, and a willingness to make big, fast calls, including ripping up their entire fulfilment model mid-flight.This one's a masterclass in scrappy growth, knowing when to change your model, and what it actually takes to go from side hustle to major retail partner.From side hustle to Style Runner in four monthsMaku started printing her art on blank tees with zero branding, just a decision to stop buying t-shirts she didn't love. Four months later they landed Style Runner, their first major stockist, before either of them had heard of an SSCC barcode.Why they walked away from print-on-demandPrint-on-demand gave Maku total creative flexibility (paint today, sell tomorrow), but it was killing customer experience with two-week delivery windows and mispicked orders. After a rough Black Friday period exposed the gap, they moved to a 3PL and in-stock model in a matter of months.The real cost of switching to held stockKyall breaks down what changes when you go from print-on-demand to holding inventory: deposits on stock six months out, a five-to-nine month cash conversion cycle, and having to plan collections over a year in advance. Maku is already painting for August 2027.Contribution margin over vanity revenueKyall's biggest lesson from the last 18 months: understanding gross margin, delivered margin, and contribution profit, not just top-line revenue. He talks candidly about how much of the "guru" advice in eCommerce ignores what it actually costs to get a sale to break-even.Wholesale lessons from Style Runner and David JonesMaku credits Style Runner for patiently teaching them the basics of wholesale (barcodes, dispatch windows, systems) before they stepped up to David Jones, where the same requirements come with far less flexibility.Personalised influencer gifting that actually gets sharedMaku's approach to influencer seeding isn't a mail-merge, it's DM'ing people directly, matching values and aesthetic, and adding a genuinely personal touch (a hand-painted portrait for Alana Hadid, a custom tee tied to Celeste Barber's own brand). The result: organic shares from influencers with audiences in the hundreds of thousands to over a million.Pulling back from paid ads toward organic and IRLAfter ramping up Meta and Google ads over the past year, the pair are consciously shifting back toward the organic-first strategy that built the brand, including real-world events they say outperform equivalent ad spend.New York Fashion Week, twiceMaku The Label is heading back to New York in September for NYFW, running a gifting suite with PR agency Kate & Co. and exploring a possible pop-up retail space alongside other Australian brands.What's next: the Australian designer categoryMaku's goal is to move the brand firmly into ready-to-wear and the Australian designer space, with the US identified as the next major growth market for both DTC and wholesale.Links & MentionsMaku The LabelStyle RunnerDavid JonesKate & Co. PRNew York Fashion Week (September)Yotpo: Amazing Women in eCommerce retreatHumble Brag's retreat

He built an eight-figure brand without raising a dollar of outside capital. Now he's sharing exactly how he did it. J.W. reveals the playbook behind one of the adult non-alcoholic category's earliest success stories. He explains why he bet on the sober curious trend years before it became mainstream, how direct-to-consumer sales fueled profitable growth from day one, and why relentless product refinement – not rapid expansion – has been the foundation of the brand's success.  J.W. also discusses customer acquisition, retail strategy, premium pricing and the long-term vision that's guiding Curious Elixirs as it aims to redefine how people drink socially. Show notes: 0:20: JW Wiseman, Founder & CEO, Curious Elixirs – JW shares how his experience owning bars and drinking heavily inspired him to create one of the first premium non-alcoholic cocktail brands. He talks about developing the concept in 2013 and launching in 2015, and how he validated demand through Kickstarter, early consumer feedback and press coverage. JW explains why Curious prioritized profitability, premium pricing and digital marketing early on, how constant product refinement and customer feedback have fueled loyalty, and why focusing on how products make consumers feel has been central to the brand's success. He also discusses building an eight-figure business without outside investment, leveraging DTC data to expand into retail, thoughtfully approaching distribution and channel strategy, and balancing innovation with disciplined focus. He emphasizes Curious Elixirs' long-term mission to make premium non-alcoholic beverages a normal part of social occasions while proving that sustainable growth, strong customer relationships and unwavering product quality can build an enduring brand.  Brands in this episode: Curious Elixirs, LesserEvil, Poppi

This episode comes to you live from our pop-up studio at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York City. Our guest: Jason LaRose, CEO of Bombas — the brand that turned socks, underwear, and tees into a mission-powered growth machine, with more than 200 million essential clothing items donated to people experiencing homelessness. But first, the news — and in our summer biweekly format, there's plenty. Steve breaks down Nike's unimpressive quarter: revenues down, China off 12%, and an operating profit boost driven almost entirely by a nearly billion-dollar one-time tariff refund. The contrast with Levi's couldn't be sharper — under Michelle Gass, the brand posted 8% sales growth, expanding margins, and momentum across women's and tops. The winners keep winning elsewhere too. Aritzia's remarkable run continues with comps up an eye-popping 35% and digital up nearly 60%. Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing delivers 22% revenue growth from its 2,500-store global fleet. And Costco's monthly numbers offer fresh evidence of retail's Great Concentration. Then there's Kroger, acquiring regional grocery powerhouse Giant Eagle — a $9 billion revenue business bought at a strikingly low multiple. Michael and Steve debate the real question: does acquiring-to-compete solve Kroger's relevance problem, or just buy cost leverage against Walmart, Costco, and Amazon? Then it's on to Jason LaRose, who joined Bombas after leadership roles at Under Armour and Equinox. What drew him in: a genuine mission wrapped around outstanding economics — profitable essentially since day one. He traces the brand's arc from Indiegogo campaign and Shark Tank's most successful company ever to nearly $2 billion in cumulative sales, now expanding into underwear, tees, footwear, and slippers — the very items most requested in homeless shelters. LaRose also delivers a masterclass in disciplined distribution: highly curated wholesale partnerships with Target, Dick's, Nordstrom, and Scheels, each with distinct assortments for distinct customers, alongside the brand's first stores and expansion into Canada. His mantra — quality, comfort, mission, in that order — explains why repeat rates keep the funnel from leaking where so many DTC peers sprang holes. Wrapping up, on Steve's radar: a Dallas-area tour of the newly merged Container Store and Bed Bath & Beyond format (who exactly is this store for?), plus his provocative new Substack essay, "Convenience is Boring." On Michael's radar: the soon-to-open Gordie Howe Bridge, his conversation with U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, and why USMCA review limbo keeps piling uncertainty — and cost — onto businesses and consumers across North America. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2026 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

Join our community of App Founders: https://appfounders.co/Everyone is focused on growing installs inside the App Store, but the biggest opportunity for app developers in 2026 may actually start on the web.In this video, Steve P. Young breaks down why Web2App campaigns have become one of the fastest-growing acquisition and monetization strategies for mobile apps. From avoiding App Store fees to improving attribution, increasing cash flow, and unlocking more flexible pricing strategies, you'll learn why top app companies are investing heavily in web funnels.Steve also analyzes successful web2app funnels from companies like Coursiv, shares real conversion optimization examples, and explains the checkout strategies that are driving higher revenue today.If you're building a subscription app, AI app, SaaS product, or consumer mobile app, this is the web2app tutorial you can't afford to ignore.You'll learn:✅ Why Web-to-App is one of the fastest-growing acquisition channels✅ The best-performing Web2App landing page strategies✅ Why long-form paywalls outperform short ones on the web✅ Tripwire offers, upsells, and downsells that increase revenue✅ How to optimize Meta Ads and Google Ads for Web-to-App campaigns✅ Real examples from successful multi-million dollar app businessesWhether you're launching a new app or scaling an existing one, these strategies can help you grow downloads, improve monetization, and build a more sustainable app business.Check out: https://www.paddle.com/Want to work with us to grow your apps faster & efficiently?http://www.appmasters.com/You can also watch this video here: https://youtu.be/m5xmwkV4HgM*********************************************SPONSORSThe app growth playbook is changing fast.AppsFlyer's State of eCommerce App Marketing Report 2026 breaks down the latest trends, benchmarks, fraud insights, and market-by-market data every app marketer should know before planning Q4.Download it free from the link below: https://bit.ly/4uvoHGM*********************************************Tired of handing 30% of every in-game sale to iOS and Android billing systems? Appcharge is the DTC monetization platform trusted by King, Huuuge, Tripledot, and SciPlay – giving studios a direct line to their players, and up to 95% of every transaction. Web stores, payment links, and a full Merchant of Record service covering taxes, compliance, and global payments – all in one platform. Visit appcharge.com to learn more*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

This week, Dave speaks with Daniel Kleinkopf, VP of Marketing & Technology at Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages.Daniel shares how Waiākea is growing across ecommerce, retail, Amazon, international expansion, and brand marketing — while staying grounded in its core pillars of health, sustainability, and ethical impact.The conversation covers how Waiākea thinks about content by channel, why the brand leans on authentic Hawaiian creators and athlete ambassadors, and how the team is using AI across the organization — from everyday productivity to supply chain and inventory decisions.Topics covered:Waiākea's brand story and sustainability missionEcommerce, Amazon, and DTC strategy for beverageContent creation across retail, ecommerce, and social channelsThe Japan launch and adapting messaging for local marketsAthlete ambassadors and creator partnershipsPractical AI use cases across marketing, operations, and supply chainConnect with Daniel on LinkedInLearn More about WaiākeaFollow Beyond the Shelf on LinkedInLearn More about It'sRapidGet the It'sRapid Creative Automation PlaybookTake It'sRapid's Creative Workflow Automation with AI surveyEmail us at sales@itsrapid.io to find out how to get your free AI Image AuditTheme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.comProducer: Jake Musiker

AAM President Scott Paul spent 15 years hunting for a Western shirt actually Made in America. He never found one — because almost nobody was making them. Carter Baldwin was on the same hunt, going back to his college days in '90s Austin, and eventually decided to make the shirt himself. Brazos Fine Shirts is the result: 100% cotton, mother-of-pearl snap, made in the Los Angeles Garment District — and it took roughly six years, a career's worth of DTC marketing know-how, and one catastrophic run of 1,000 shirts with the snaps pressed on backwards to get there. Carter walks Scott through why a Western shirt takes 24 hand-cut pieces and can't be automated, how NAFTA hollowed out El Paso's garment district, and how Post Malone's stylist found the brand a month after launch.

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupDan bootstrapped Unbound Merino from a Reddit-fueled obsession with merino wool into a brand approaching nine figures in lifetime revenue, with a warehouse sale, a growing women's line, and zero outside funding.In his second appearance on the DTC Podcast, the Unbound co-founder gets specific about what actually moved the business over the last three years, why he almost lost 80% of his sales in a single day, and why he now cares more about the product and the friendships than any growth hack.What you'll learn:Why the ads Dan loves flop and the cringe ones scale, and how he made peace with itThe creative volume system that unlocked Meta scaling in 2023, and why Meta stopped working the same wayHow word of mouth (15% of new customers) and a 50/50 women's line changed the growth modelThe de minimis and tariff shock that nearly ended the company, and the scramble to open a Dallas warehouse before Liberation DayHow Unbound uses a custom AI wired into Shopify, its ERP, Asana, Slack, and Drive to triangulate why products get returnedWhy 5% of sales now come from ChatGPT and Claude, and what that means for discoveryWho this is for: bootstrapped founders, DTC operators, and anyone selling a premium product who is tired of renting customers from Meta.What to steal: the reorder-first mindset, the creative iteration loop, and the tariff survival playbook.Timestamps:00:00 Building a $90M travel apparel brand02:12 Scaling Meta with creative volume08:00 Why product quality beats acquisition tactics16:00 How tariffs nearly killed the business32:05 AI as a business advisor and data analystSubscribe 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

What if the future of app monetization doesn't happen inside the App Store?According to new research from Appcharge and GDC Festival of Gaming, direct-to-consumer (DTC) monetization has already grown into a $17 billion market in mobile gaming, and the biggest winners are seeing 35% higher revenue while building stronger relationships with their users.In this episode, we're joined by David Stelzer, Chief Strategy Officer at Appcharge to break down one of the biggest shifts happening in mobile app monetization.David shares why leading game publishers are rapidly adopting direct-to-consumer strategies, how recent platform policy changes accelerated the movement, and why categories like AI, fitness, education, lifestyle, and subscription apps may be next.If you're building apps in 2026, understanding DTC may become one of the most important strategic advantages you can develop.You will discover:✅ Why direct-to-consumer monetization has grown into a $17B opportunity in mobile gaming✅ Why DTC is about much more than avoiding the 30% app store fee✅ The lessons that AI, fitness, education, and subscription apps can apply today✅ Why the next wave of app growth may happen outside traditional app storesLearn More:Download the Report:Direct-to-Consumer is Already a $17 Billion Market in Mobile Gaminghttps://www.appcharge.com/DTC-is-already-a-17b-market-reportAppcharge:https://appcharge.com

Nutrition and supplement company AG1 famously built a $600 million business off of a single SKU. Then, in 2025, the brand made major leaps by introducing new flavors and a sleep supplement. CEO Kat Cole speaks with Modern Retail's Melissa Daniels about how the brand grew its next generation of products from its own scientific research, and how it's looking to scale through retail beyond its DTC roots.

The funnel most marketers grew up on – see the ad, click, browse, add to cart, buy – did not gradually erode. It came apart almost overnight, as shoppers got comfortable discovering, deciding, and buying inside social feeds and LLMs, often in a single moment. Recorded live at K:LDN 2026 in London, this is the close-out conversation for the series, a step back to ask what actually replaces the funnel and what it demands of the brands trying to keep pace. Alicia Esposito of Future Commerce sits down with Kelsey Capps, who leads Klaviyo's product work across analytics, personalization, and AI, and so has a front-row seat to the change. A shopper can now find a product in a TikTok comment, buy it, and post about it before the marketing team has time to react, which means the advance-planning window marketers relied on has all but vanished. Kelsey's argument is that brands have to rebalance, away from a roughly 80/20 split of campaigns over automated flows and toward signal-triggered automation that can react in the moment, like a flow that fires when someone arrives from a ChatGPT referral. Underneath the tactics sits a bigger shift: optimizing your site and product data so the machines doing the discovering can actually surface you, and building an operating model around understanding customers rather than merely targeting them. Her closing note is optimistic. The data advantage that once belonged only to enterprises is now within reach of the smallest brand, and because customer intelligence compounds, the brands that start building the model first are the ones that pull away. What you'll learn What replaces the linear funnel once discovery, comparison, and conversion happen at once Why the advance-planning window has collapsed, and what to do about it How to rebalance from campaigns toward signal-triggered automated flows Why optimizing your product data and brand voice for machines is now table stakes How a single wrong recommendation breaks trust, and why understanding beats targeting Why customer intelligence compounds, and why first movers pull away Pull quotes "Customers don't want to be just targeted, they want to be understood." — Kelsey Capps [13:50] "You can see when someone came to your site from ChatGPT. That's just a UTM source on an event, and a brand could automate a workflow around it." — Kelsey Capps [16:15] "This conversation used to be confined to the four walls of industry events. Now your family and friends are having the same conversations about how their data is being used." — Alicia Esposito [23:01] "Even your smallest mom-and-pop shop can take advantage of their first-party data in a way they just never could before." — Kelsey Capps [24:55] Chapters 0:00 Cold open and introductions 5:23 Perpetual commerce and the collapse of the funnel 6:11 Discovering and buying inside a TikTok comment 11:43 Understanding customers, not just targeting them 14:46 Optimizing your data for the machines doing the discovering 15:40 The vanishing planning window, campaigns versus flows 17:08 Composer and orchestration pulling it together 19:03 Vision in the age of autonomy 22:00 The turkey-sub story, how a bad recommendation breaks trust 23:43 What Kelsey is optimistic about, and the urgency for laggards In-Show Mentions: Learn more about Klaviyo's Composer 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.

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupThis week on All Killer No Filler, we're giving you a preview of Agency Confidential, the new podcast from our co-founder Jeff, and this episode's is a truly killer.Jeff sits down with Nick Shackelford, who's everywhere in DTC. Three agencies (Structured, Konstant, Lucid), an events business, and a decade of showing up on every feed, stage, and group chat. Jeff calls him the Coca-Cola of ecommerce. Eric calls him the Drake of DTC.But halfway through, Nick stops and shares something he says he's never told publicly. Last July, cash got tight and he had to bridge the gap on one of his companies. Not with a loan or a raise, but by getting paid as a public agency owner to talk about SaaS products. Ten years of being a face turned into a cash-flow lever almost no other owner has.Then it gets stranger. That same decade of posts and videos is now training data for every LLM on earth. Ask ChatGPT or Claude about DTC agencies and Nick, Structured, Konstant, and Geek Out all come up. A personal brand he built to win deal flow quietly became free distribution in a channel that didn't exist when he started.They get into the real cost of being the face, why building a faceless brand (like DTC and Pilothouse) trades built-in pull for durability, AI in the agency space, and why Nick thinks the market's about to splinter back into specialists.What they cover:The never-shared story of how Nick bridged a cash-flow gap in a rough monthWhy a personal brand is a lever most agency owners don't haveHow ten years of content became free distribution in AI searchThe real cost and risk of being the face of your agencyFace vs. faceless: durability, transferability, and selling the businessWhere Nick thinks the agency market is heading in 2026Who this is for: Agency owners, DTC operators, and founders weighing whether to build in public or build something that doesn't hinge on one person's face.Catch the preview here, and if you like it, go subscribe to Agency Confidential for the full episode.Timestamps:00:00 Nick Shackelford on building agencies and personal brands02:19 How Nick built three agencies and scaled operations11:59 Why AI is changing agency work and client communication27:56 How a personal brand became a business advantage39:18 Why AI will bring back specialized agenciesSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothousehttps://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF627Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

"Service is the new storefront" has been a slogan for the better part of a decade, usually followed by a promise to turn a cost center into a profit center that never quite arrived. What changed is not the ambition. It is that the plumbing finally exists. Recorded live at K:LDN 2026 in London, this conversation is about what becomes possible when a brand can pull customer data from any channel and hand it, in real time, to a human or an AI agent. Phillip Jackson sits down with Kelly Thacker of Klaviyo's product marketing team. Her argument is that the prize is democratization: taking the best in-store associate, the person who knows both the products and the customer, and making that experience available on every channel and to every brand, not just the ones who can staff a great team. Kelly is candid about the failure mode too, the dumb bot that asks a loyal VIP for an email address it should already have. The fix is an agent that knows the business and the customer, with escalation rules the brand sets and widens as trust grows. The number that makes the case is blunt: where is my order is still the most common question to any agent, human or AI, and automating it hands time back to people for the work that actually needs them. She closes by looking further out, to a world where marketing and service stop being separate departments and brands begin building for agent-to-agent shopping, where a customer's agent transacts with a brand's. You Don't Have to Babysit Your Agent Anymore What you'll learn Why the cost-center-to-profit-center promise is finally deliverable, and what specifically changed What separates an agent that delights from the dumb bot that frustrates How brands set the line between automation and human escalation, and widen it over time Why where is my order is the single most valuable question to automate How service data feeds back into marketing and the rest of the relationship What agent-to-agent shopping is, and why it is closer than it sounds Pull quotes "You could be the most loyal VIP customer, and then a chatbot asks, can you give me your email address, and you think, you should just know me." — Kelly Thacker, Product Marketing, Klaviyo [TK] "We meet customers where they are. You build for the future, and you help them slowly get comfortable with that change." — Kelly Thacker [TK] "A poor experience with an agent feels worse than a poor experience with a human, so the human in the loop has to be so important to this." — Phillip Jackson [TK] "This is the moment where people will either rise to the occasion or they'll be forgotten." — Kelly Thacker [TK] Chapters [TK] Cold open and introductions [TK] Service is the new storefront, an old promise made real [TK] Democratizing the best in-store associate [TK] The dumb bot, and what a good agent must know [TK] Human in the loop, escalation rules the brand controls [TK] Where is my order, automating the most common question [TK] Signals from a service chat that make marketing smarter [TK] The future, one brand experience and agent-to-agent shopping [TK] Brands doing service and experience well In-Show Mentions: Learn more about Klaviyo's Composer 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.

Yash Chavan is the founder and CEO of SARAL and SATHI. SARAL has helped 200+ DTC brands including Grüns, Spacegoods, and Slumberkins generate over $59M in influencer-driven revenue.  SATHI is his team's newest product: a Shopify-only affiliate platform built around two breakthroughs: cookieless tracking and multi-touch attribution.  Yash is running every SATHI demo personally for a limited time exclusively for Honest Ecommerce listeners. Book your slot by visiting mysathi.io/demo and let them know we sent you. In This Conversation We Discuss:  [00:00] Intro [02:31] Stumbling Into a New Ecommerce Venture [05:34] Sunsetting a Brand to Focus on a New One [07:05] Learning User Needs Through Manual Work [08:54] Matching The Products to Customer Needs  [10:30] Paying for Actual Sales Instead of Ad Clicks  [13:03] Callouts [13:10] Doing The Actual Work To See Business Results [16:10] Prioritizing Active Partners Over Volume  [19:30] Setting Margins for Marketing Expenses [21:37] Targeting Smaller Partners For Better Deals Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Marketing Platform for Affiliate Brands mysathi.io Influencer Marketing Platform getsaral.com/ Follow Yash Chavan linkedin.com/in/yctheman If 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!

Kevin Williams is the Founder and CEO of Ascend AI Labs, an AI enablement firm that helps organizations build AI literacy, governance, and implementation strategies. A serial entrepreneur with roots in DTC brand building and digital marketing, Kevin helps companies align leadership, improve workflows, and implement practical AI strategies. His expertise spans enterprise AI adoption, governance, agentic workflows, and transformation for brands. Kevin is also the President of KDF Aegis LLC, a consulting and private equity firm. In this episode… Many brands are racing to adopt AI, but the biggest barrier may not be the technology itself. Before teams can improve workflows or build automation, leaders need to define what AI means for the organization. So where should companies begin when the pressure to move fast collides with uncertainty and unclear direction? As an AI adoption and digital transformation expert, Kevin Williams argues that AI strategy has to start with leadership before data, tools, or technical infrastructure. His approach is to create alignment at the top through a clear AI manifesto, practical governance, and a shared roadmap that helps teams understand how AI will support the business. Rather than waiting for perfect data, Kevin recommends building literacy, giving employees the right connected tools, and identifying high-value workflows where AI can reduce friction. The strongest AI strategies come from the leaders who combine vision, communication, and practical execution. In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant talks with Kevin Williams, Founder and CEO of Ascend AI Labs, about why AI strategy starts in the C-suite, not in the cloud. Kevin shares how leadership maturity, AI manifestos, and connected workflows shape adoption. He also touches on agentic automation, implementation costs, cybersecurity risks, and why context makes AI tools more valuable.

Dr. Angela Casey spent nearly 15 years treating skin cancer before she had her business idea. She didn't come from entrepreneurship - she came from molecular biology, medical school, residency, and a clinical practice. When the idea hit her, it was so obvious she couldn't believe nobody had done it properly. She searched every major retailer - Ulta, Sephora, Target, Walmart, Macy's - and found nothing worth recommending to her own three daughters. A Macy's assistant tried to sell her 12-year-old an anti-aging eye cream. Bright Girl was the answer to that gap, and it cost her $350,000 and three years to bring it to life. In this episode, Angela gets completely honest about what it takes to launch a product the right way from scratch - the hundreds of surveys, the thousands of patient conversations, the Covid shipping crisis that sent her costs up six times overnight, and what nearly $120,000 in packaging sitting in a warehouse actually feels like when you're still flying the plane as you build it. What you'll learn in this interview: How Angela validated Bright Girl before spending a cent - surveying hundreds of people on SurveyMonkey, questioning thousands of patients over two years, and physically visiting every major beauty retailer to confirm the gap was real Why she interviewed dozens of cosmetic chemist teams around the world before finding the right fit - and how three years of clinical research meant she only needed three rounds of formula revisions The real cost of a custom, premium launch: $50K for the first filled run, $120K when you include the 36,000 empty bottles in reserve, and $350K all in when you add branding and design What it felt like to order 40,000 bottles and jars across four SKUs in 2020 - just as Covid hit and shipping costs multiplied by six Why she spent the first year of DTC sales proving market fit before ever approaching dermatology practices as a distribution channel - and why that sequencing mattered The exact moment she knew the product had real credibility: when other dermatologists - notoriously skeptical of new skincare brands - started recommending Bright Girl not just to patients but for their own children How selling through dermatology practices built the trust that made mass retail possible - and the retailers Bright Girl is now stocked in Why Amazon, launched just over a year ago, is now growing at 10-20% month over month - and how TikTok Shop became an unpredictable but consistent additional channel The email marketing lesson from her Founder mentor that unlocked 15-20% of website revenue from a channel she had barely touched What two full-time jobs actually looks like - five days a week in clinical practice, seven days a week on Bright Girl - and the non-negotiable routines that hold it together If you're early in your journey and wondering whether your idea is good enough to back with serious money and serious time - Angela's story is a masterclass in what deep validation actually looks like before you commit. She still wants more. She's her own harshest critic. But $40K a month on a brand she built from scratch with zero business experience, while running a full medical practice, is not nothing. 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. WANT TO GROW YOUR BRAND WITH META ADS? Join the Foundr Operators Waitlist → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/operators⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 BY DR ANGELA CASEY Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/brightgirlbeauty/ Angela's Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/angelacaseymd/ Website → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://brightgirl.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

For years, the marketer's job ended when the campaign shipped. Hit send, check the numbers, measure growth, repeat. That model is changing, and what replaces it is agentic orchestration, where the system and the journey around a message matter more than a single send. Recorded live at K:LDN 2026, this conversation pairs the person building the AI with an operator running it at real scale. Gilbert Hsu, who leads Marketing AI at Klaviyo, sits down with Alon Turchin, VP of Retention at Particle, a US-manufactured DTC self-care brand for men with a marketing team based in Israel. That kind of scale brings real complexity, and this is where Composer by Klaviyo brings solutions at scale. Alon describes it today as the brain and the eyes, the thing that finds and frames problems he might not catch manually. His wish list is for it to become the hands too, trusted to edit filters, rules, and content, a trust he says has to be earned through testing first. Closing advice for teams earlier in their journey: know your audience before you trust anyone's benchmarks, remember that selling is mostly psychological, and test your way to what actually works rather than assuming you already know. What you'll learn How Particle scaled from one million to ten million monthly sends in weeks, not months, while doubling revenue Why "the campaign is not the product, the system is" changes what a marketing team actually optimizes for How Particle segments customers and non-customers by urgency and lifecycle stage across 150-plus flows and 100-plus forms Where Composer fits today (the brain and the eyes) and what Alon wants it to become next (the hands) Why rigorous A/B testing is the gate that lets Alon hand more decisions to AI Alon's advice for marketers earlier in their own orchestration journey Key takeaways Alon's operating principle: the campaign is not the product, the system is, meaning the journey around a message matters more than the message itself. Particle scaled from one million to ten million sends a month in a matter of weeks, not months or a year of slow warmup, while revenue doubled, run across more than 150 active flows and 100-plus forms. Segmentation isn't just more lists, it's urgency based. Recent sign-ups get reached while the brand is still top of mind. Older, colder contacts get reintroduced rather than ignored. Composer today functions as the brain and the eyes, surfacing problems and opportunities Alon might miss manually. His wish list is for it to become the hands, trusted to edit filters, rules, and content, once testing earns that trust. Alon's closing advice: don't assume you know your audience or trust someone else's benchmark. Selling is mostly psychological, so test relentlessly until you find what actually works for your own customers. Chapters 0:00 Cold open and introductions 1:38 Meet Particle, and how the marketing job has changed 2:48 The campaign is not the product, the system is 3:30 From engagement to behavior-based segmentation 4:49 Why sending more, to the right tiers, doubled revenue 7:12 Managing 150-plus flows without losing control 7:55 Composer as the brain and eyes, and the wishlist for the hands 10:43 Keeping the brand's soul with a human in the loop 11:55 Advice for teams earlier in the journey In-Show Mentions: Learn more about Klaviyo's Composer 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.

You'll learn how app founders are increasing trial activations, improving subscription conversions, boosting ARPU, and maximizing revenue without adding new features.Steve breaks down real case studies, including:✅ A simple onboarding change that increased revenue by 21%✅ The 3 screens before the paywall that boosted trial activations by 56%✅ Why hard paywalls continue to outperform for many subscription apps✅ Reverse trial strategies that generated 10x higher conversions✅ How one app increased ARPU by 30% with a tiny onboarding tweak✅ Paywall pricing experiments that improved overall salesWhether you're building a consumer subscription app, scaling a SaaS product, or optimizing your mobile growth funnel, these proven monetization insights can help you increase revenue immediately.

Social is where discovery happens now, but it is rented land. You can build an audience of hundreds of thousands and still not own the relationship, because the algorithm decides who sees you and the landlord keeps raising the rent. Recorded live at K:LDN 2026 in London, this conversation is about turning borrowed reach into something a brand actually owns. It pairs the person building the tooling with the person living the problem every day. Brett Bernstein, who came to Klaviyo through its acquisition of Gatsby and now leads its new social product, sits down with Kathleen Loftus, Marketing Director at Sculpted by Aimee, an Irish cosmetics brand with a 350,000-strong Instagram following. Kathleen runs brand, creative, PR, influencer, CRM, and paid under one roof, which is exactly why she can trace a viral moment all the way to revenue. She walks through a campaign built on a piece of theater: teasing the discontinuation of a beloved cream blush. The stunt ran as a closed loop, from Instagram to the brand's broadcast channel to a website waitlist, and it sold roughly eight weeks of forecast stock in under a week. Brett and Kathleen then dig into the unglamorous problem underneath the fun: attribution, why the brand rebuilt its entire UTM structure this year, and how so many of the people engaging with a brand never actually hit follow. The payoff is a practical view of what it means to own the social moment: spotting the commenters and lurkers who signal intent, and giving them a reason to move into channels the brand controls. Why Rent Platforms When You Can Own Relationships? What you'll learn Why keeping social, CRM, and paid on one team is what lets social activity connect to revenue How a brand decides what to post when every post has to earn its place, not just chase reach The mechanics of a closed-loop campaign that turned a discontinuation stunt into a sold-out waitlist Why social attribution starts with unglamorous plumbing, and what rebuilding a UTM structure buys you Why most people engaging with a brand on social never follow it, and why following is the wrong metric to chase How to move commenters and lurkers off rented platforms into email and SMS Pull quotes "Not everything needs a million likes or a million views, but it has to have a purpose to be on our channels." — Kathleen Loftus, Marketing Director, Sculpted by Aimee [~7:05] "We sold out eight weeks' worth of our forecasted product in less than a week." — Kathleen Loftus [~9:15] "Instagram is the landlord that keeps raising the rent every month." — Kathleen Loftus [13:23] "You might think they're no longer an active customer, but then you notice their comments on your content. Those are signals we can now unlock." — Brett Bernstein, Klaviyo [14:36] Chapters 0:00 Cold open and introductions 3:18 Meet Sculpted by Aimee, one team across all of marketing 5:46 Showing up on Instagram, posting with purpose 7:12 Reading the data, what social signals actually tell you 7:57 The Cream Luxe discontinuation stunt, a sold-out waitlist 10:15 From social to revenue, rebuilding attribution and UTMs 12:28 Rented land, why following is the wrong metric 14:36 Turning engaged non-followers into owned relationships 15:26 A campaign that nailed it, the Sculpted Society pop-up In-Show Mentions: Sculpted by Aimee Learn more about Klaviyo's new tools 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.

Krishna Kaliannan wanted to start a tech company but failed at every attempt. On the side, he was teaching himself how to cook with high-protein, low-sugar ingredients. Not just out of interest, but out of necessity. As a teenager, Krishna had been diagnosed with diabetes and epilepsy, meaning he adopted a keto diet long before it was trendy. Krishna's home experiments with pea powder and monk fruit eventually became Catalina Crunch, one of the country's most popular high-protein, low-carb breakfast cereals and snacks. In this episode, Krishna shares how a life-changing health condition sparked an obsession with healthy baking— and a brand that reimagined snacking.What You'll LearnHow to turn a health challenge into a business opportunity The art and science of baking with esoteric ingredientsWhen to trust partners and when it's best to take charge yourselfWhy the DTC model is great for some industries and disastrous for othersTimestamps:00:06:16 - Dealing with diabetes and epilepsy as a college student00:12:38 - What Krishna learns from his early failures in tech00:22:43 - The first, low-sugar cocoa puffs: “Rocks that tasted like soil.” 00:27:36 - His homemade cereal gets good enough to sell00:32:42 - Naming the brand: classy alliteration and a nod to a Will Ferrell movie 00:44:51 - Learning to make cereal like the pros at Texas A&M00:54:43 - Krishna moves from NYC to Indiana to make sure the cereal is made right01:01:04 - Whole Foods, Costco, and becoming a household brandThis episode was researched and produced by Chris Maccini with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Neva Grant. Our engineer was Kwesi Lee. Follow How I Built This:Instagram → @howibuiltthisX → @HowIBuiltThisFacebook → How I Built ThisFollow Guy Raz:Instagram → @guy.razYoutube → guy_razX → @guyrazSubstack → guyraz.substack.comWebsite → guyraz.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Recommending the wrong whiskey to a loyal customer does not just miss a sale. It breaks trust, and once trust breaks, no amount of personalization copy fixes it. Recorded live at K:LDN 2026 in London, this conversation is about the thing every brand now has in common. Everyone has access to the same AI tools. So what actually separates the brands winning with them from the ones just using them? Phillip Jackson sits down with Jake Cohen, VP of Insights at Klaviyo, and Tim Martin-Harvey, Head of Ecommerce at The Bottle Club, a UK multi-brand alcohol retailer carrying roughly 9,500 products. Their answer: memory. Not the AI kind, the brand kind… meaning the stored, structured context a business builds about its own customers and products over time. Tim explains how one mandatory checkout question, asking whether an order is a gift, for self-consumption, for hosting, or for trade, reshaped his customer insight and exposed why standard RFM and lifetime value metrics break down across different buyer types. Jake widens the lens, arguing that loyalty is better measured through engagement across touchpoints than through money spent, and that the brands seeing real gains from AI are the ones writing customer and product knowledge down as reusable context, what Klaviyo calls "artifacts." The conversation gets specific fast, down to the exact wrong recommendation that can cost a brand its credibility, and closes with Jake's straightforward plan for putting this into practice over the next 90 days. What you'll learn Why context, not performance marketing spend, is becoming the real competitive moat as every brand adopts the same AI tools How one checkout question corrected years of wrong assumptions about who buys and why at The Bottle Club Why standard RFM and lifetime value segmentation breaks down once you separate gift buyers from self-consumption buyers Why loyalty is better read through engagement than through total spend The exact kind of recommendation mistake that destroys customer trust, and how layered product data prevents it Jake Cohen's 30/60/90 day plan for building AI context that compounds over time Key takeaways As every brand uses the same AI tools, the real differentiator becomes stored context, meaning written detail about the brand, the customer, and the products, what Klaviyo calls "artifacts." The Bottle Club added one mandatory checkout question (gift, self-consumption, hosting, or trade), which corrected wrong assumptions about which products are gifts and showed that standard RFM and lifetime value metrics break down across different buyer types. Loyalty reads better through engagement across touchpoints than through money spent. The goal is asking the right questions instead of pushing a discount, then building context on each customer over time. Recommendations get dramatically stronger when product data (margin, weeks of cover, gift versus self-consumption, category nuance) is layered onto customer data. Recommend a Jack Daniels to a lifelong Jameson drinker and you have made, in Tim's own framing, the worst recommendation possible, one that costs more than the sale. Jake's plan: set up a service agent and build its skills first, then use Composer to explore your data and test ideas, then keep improving the skills as you learn, since the value compounds over time. Pull quotes "The word of the moment to me is actually context, and that context, if you can store it effectively and leverage it effectively, is the way that you can create a moat, because you can serve more people more personally, more memorably, which will create deeper relationships and, of course, more durable business over time." — Jake Cohen, VP of Insights, Klaviyo [2:08 to 3:04] "What starts to become very important in the world of AI post LLMs is that the most important thing a brand can do is show up for someone the way that they need when they need it." — Jake Cohen [9:09] "I genuinely think Klaviyo agent makes the most sense to be the agentic storefront, and that's not just me Klaviyo championing it. It's genuinely got the most context from multiple sources." — Tim Martin-Harvey, Head of Ecommerce, The Bottle Club [18:49 to 19:48] "The answer should not be, 'Great, here's 10% off, go buy one.' The answer should be, 'How long are you running? Do you have a color you're interested in? Do you have a race coming up?' As you start to collect that information, that helps build the context for that individual, and they become the type of customer that will stay with you for a lifetime." — Jake Cohen [10:26] Chapters 0:00 Cold open and introductions 4:45 Memory is the new moat, why context beats tools 8:00 The checkout question that rewrote The Bottle Club's customer data 9:15 Why RFM analysis breaks down across buyer types 10:40 Showing up for the customer the way they need, when they need it 12:15 The running shoe example, questions over discounts 19:08 The whiskey mistake, the worst recommendation in retail 20:38 Why Klaviyo believes it can power the agentic storefront 21:18 Jake's plan for the next 90 days In-Show Mentions: The Bottle Club Learn more about Klaviyo's Composer 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.

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupGifting is one of the biggest reasons people buy online, and most brands never build for it on purpose.Matt Heckathorn runs digital marketing at Wolfe, the company behind Gift Card Granny, PerfectGift.com, and GiftYa. His ICP is close to everyone, which kills the usual narrow-audience playbook and forces a different approach to growth.What you will learn:How a bottom-of-funnel team moved into CTV, programmatic, and out-of-home without losing measurementWhy CTV retargeting outperformed what Matt expected, and how scale made brand channels measurableHow Wolfe uses second-tier DMAs to test incrementality before spending upHow gift card fraud actually works at the physical retail level, and why it shapes the productWhere Wolfe is drawing its AI line: creative and fulfillment yes, fully agentic media buying not yetThe cost problem almost nobody is planning for as AI usage scalesWho this is for: DTC operators and growth leads working top of funnel, anyone selling into gifting, and marketers thinking through where AI fits in a real team.What to steal: The second-tier DMA incrementality test, the recipient-first product framing, and the human checkpoint on agentic media buying.Timestamps:00:00 The Future of AI in Marketing02:12 Reinventing the Gift Card Industry09:00 How Card-Linked Gifting Works15:12 Top of Funnel Messaging That Converts23:12 Building an AI-First Marketing TeamSubscribe 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

This episode covers the Naavik Digest newsletter published on Sunday, July 5th. In today's issue, we discuss the underrated, emerging intersection of creators and DTC — and why creator codes specifically are becoming an increasingly low-cost, high-reward way to drive player engagement and monetization.You can read the newsletter (with even more sections and visual detail) here: https://www.naavik.co/digest/the-next-wave-of-creator-led-growthWant to explore working with Naavik? Shoot us a note: https://naavik.co/contact-us/ Let us know what you think by sending us a note at podcast@naavik.co.Watch our episodes: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

K:LDN 2026 opened to more than a thousand merchants and set a clear vision with several key product announcements: Klaviyo's expanding toolset has become powerful enough to let a brand of any size operate at a scale that once required a full team. The promise of personalization, long marketed but rarely delivered, has finally become something all brands can ship. Phillip Jackson sits down live with Klaviyo CMO Jamie Domenici and IDC research director Roger Beharry Lall to break down the trends that are shaping the future of retail and Klaviyo as an organization:  the slow collapse of the linear funnel as shoppers move across LLMs, social, and search; the evolution of AI from a disparate chat window to an embedded experience where marketers work; and how the public beta of Klaviyo's new agent, Composer, is helping marketers create campaigns rooted in data from hundreds of thousands of merchants. Market Like It's Hot Key takeaways: A year ago brands were still learning what AI was; this year, they're ready to put it to work. Klaviyo's Composer moves the agent out of the chat window and into campaigns, flows and channels where marketers operate. Klaviyo's edge is context: customer history plus best practices drawn from 200,000 brands, unified in one data platform. The funnel is no longer a controlled path; discovery, advertising, and commerce increasingly share the same LLM. European merchants weigh privacy and compliance more heavily, which favors vendors who have already solved for regulation. [XX:XX] "Six months ago, you couldn't buy in an LLM. Now you can actually have more visibility into what your customers are doing in an LLM, how they're interacting." (Jamie Domenici) [XX:XX] "77% of consumers would prefer to click through from the recommendations in their agentic searches, rather than have the agent do a purchase for them. They want control." (Phillip Jackson) In-Show Mentions: Learn more about Klaviyo's AI marketing agent, Composer Learn more about Klaviyo 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.

A neuroscience student mixing supplements in his dorm room. A national kendo competitor who became paraplegic at 19 after a snowboarding accident. Best friends. And then, one scuba diving Groupon later — a company.Jon Bier sits down with Kent Yoshimura and Ryan Chen, co-founders of Neuro, for a conversation ten years in the making. Jon was there early. He gave them his first ever angel check. He watched the whole thing — the grinding first seven years on $1.6 million raised while every other DTC brand was burning through $30 million, the Shark Tank appearance that got them zero deals and exploded their sales, the trademark lawsuit that nearly ended everything, the near-billion dollar brand they built without ever compromising the formula.This isn't a success story. It's a story about what success actually looks like when you build it the right way — slowly, stubbornly, and with your friendship completely intact.Jon has been saying it for a decade. This is the episode where everyone else gets to hear why.In this episode:• How Neuro went from clinical trial side income and Craigslist employees to one of TikTok's top-selling brands and why raising less money than everyone else turned out to be the advantage• The Shark Tank story nobody tells: zero deals, a trademark lawsuit, a cold DM to a billionaire, and the moment everything changed• Why Kent and Ryan have never cut a corner on the formula and what it actually means to be a brand-led company in a world that rewards sales-led thinkingFind Kent, Ryan & Neuro:• Kent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kentaro/• Ryan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan.ryc/• Neuro: https://www.getneuro.com• Neuro on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurogum/

Jennifer Fisher started with $5,000 and a dog tag she sketched on a piece of paper for her son - a son she almost never had, after chemotherapy, failed IVF, and years of surrogacy attempts. She knocked on doors on 47th Street, got Uma Thurman to wear her piece on a Glamour cover, and bootstrapped the brand for 20 years without taking a single dollar from investors. Now Jennifer Fisher Jewelry is on track for nine figures, growing 50% year over year, and targeting 200-300% growth by 2028 - with a $20 jar of salt as her secret customer acquisition weapon. In this interview, Jennifer breaks down the Instagram pivot in 2017 that tripled sales overnight, how 6% of salt buyers convert to jewelry customers, and the manufacturing mistake she made after Covid that nearly broke the entire business. What you'll learn in this interview: • How a dog tag she sketched for her son became Hollywood's go-to jewelry brand - starting with Uma Thurman on a Glamour cover • Why she launched DTC before Shopify existed - and what running a jewelry brand on Magento in 2005 actually looked like • The 2017 Instagram pivot: how showing her real life - cooking, dogs, kids - tripled sales overnight • How a $20 jar of salt she made in her kitchen became a full customer acquisition funnel - with 6% of buyers converting to jewelry • Why founder-led creative outconverts every influencer she's ever worked with - and why she still does it all herself • The manufacturing mistake that nearly broke her: why not moving production out of NYC fast enough after Covid was her biggest business regret • How a JV with Centric Brands unlocked the operations, manufacturing scale, and systems she couldn't build alone in 20 years • Managing 4,000 SKUs (cut from 10,000) - and the inventory planning challenge that still costs her sales every season • Why she's launching men's jewelry, silver, sunglasses, and home as category expansions - and how she decides what's actually her • What surviving chemo, years of IVF, and the loss of her father taught her about handling fear in business If you're building a DTC fashion or lifestyle brand, trying to figure out how founder-led content and creative actually works at scale, or just want 20 years of hard-won bootstrap lessons from someone who built nine figures without ever raising a round, this conversation will fundamentally change how you think about brand building, customer acquisition, and what it means to show up as yourself. 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. WANT TO GROW YOUR BRAND WITH META ADS? Join the Foundr Operators Waitlist → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/operators⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 JENNIFER FISHER Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jenniferfisher/ Website → https://jenniferfisher.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

The Persona Paradox: Overcoming Saturated Attribution and Decoding Consumer Intent with Brice McBethIn a recent episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur Podcast, host Josh Elledge sat down with Brice McBeth, the Founder and CEO of Reap Commerce, to dissect the severe operational constraints choking margins across the modern direct-to-consumer (DTC) and retail ecosystem. Brice, an elite e-commerce systems architect and data scientist with nearly two decades of scaling revenue pipelines, reveals how traditional demographic tracking and superficial marketing metrics fail to interpret actual consumer purchasing behavior. This conversion delivers an intentional, algorithmic playbook for mid-market product brands and enterprise digital teams looking to bypass broken iOS attribution channels, reduce customer acquisition costs (CAC), and uncover lucrative, undocumented buyer personas hiding within their existing website data.The Architecture of Intent: Merging Behavioral Tracking with Demographic Enrichment to Build High-Yield ConversionsThe primary vulnerability dragging down the valuation of scaling digital storefronts is a structural over-reliance on idealized customer profiles (ICPs) created through boardroom speculation rather than real-time data analysis. Brice McBeth notes that an overwhelming majority of e-commerce brands are fundamentally blind to their true consumer base, routinely missing four or five highly profitable purchasing segments currently interacting with their checkout funnels. When digital marketers optimize ad spend purely against surface-level demographic parameters like age, gender, or zip code, they fail to map the true psychological motivations and friction points that dictate why a transaction succeeds or falls flat. True operational scale is unlocked when an organization transitions past vanity traffic metrics and implements automated behavioral analytics to track exact clickstream paths, item interactions, and cart abandonments across all traffic sources.Optimizing conversion rate performance while simultaneously lowering marketing debt requires a disciplined engineering process that marries first-party behavioral metrics with third-party demographic enrichment. Many mid-market brands operating between the $1M and $100M revenue thresholds find themselves paralyzed by data overload yet starved for actionable insights because cross-functional analytics are siloed away from frontend marketing execution. Real-world capital efficiency is achieved by applying advanced AI clustering tools to group disorganized consumer data—such as scanned interaction loops, navigation timing, and receipt logs—into precise, validated buyer personas. This granular diagnostic process empowers product teams to craft hyper-targeted copywriting, personalize landing page copy, and structure product bundles that speak directly to specific consumer triggers without incurring the bloated agency overhead typically associated with enterprise-grade research.Sustaining this performance trajectory across volatile ad markets demands that corporate executives maintain a balanced perspective, pairing advanced algorithmic execution with intentional personal rest and relationship cultivation. Drawing clear parallels between corporate growth strategy and the precise, mental focus required to navigate an intimidating golf course, Brice emphasizes that strategic clarity is an organic byproduct of dedicated mental downtime. When an executive builds structured blocks of reflective white space into their calendar, they insulate themselves from short-term market hype and refine their long-term corporate vision. When an enterprise pairs this steady, intentional leadership style with continuous cross-functional data audits and targeted customer testing loops, it transforms a fragile, trend-dependent digital storefront into a highly stable, self-sustaining e-commerce engine designed to reliably multiply market valuation.About Brice McBethBrice McBeth is the Founder and CEO of Reap Commerce, a premier e-commerce conversion strategist, and a veteran systems engineer specializing in data-driven user acquisition and retention. Having spent nearly twenty years auditing digital infrastructure and helping underperforming mid-market brands scale profitably past revenue plateaus, Brice is a trusted authority on behavioral analysis. He is an avid golfer and speaker dedicated to helping retail executives cut through marketing noise, implement advanced data-enrichment protocols, and master the human elements of digital commerce.About Reap CommerceReap Commerce is an elite marketing analytics agency and behavioral diagnostic consultancy engineered to scale mid-market e-commerce operations. The firm specializes in delivering custom web-traffic tagging, multi-variant persona diagnostics, third-party demographic data enrichment, and cross-functional messaging optimization. Through structured machine learning workflows and comprehensive usability auditing, Reap Commerce enables consumer brands to eliminate wasted ad spend, lower customer acquisition costs, and dramatically increase conversion velocity.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeReap Commerce Official Website: reapcommerce.comBrice McBeth on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bricemcbethKey Episode HighlightsThe Saturated Channel Trap: Analyzing why rising customer acquisition costs and broken platform attributions demand a transition away from traditional vanity metrics.Uncovering Hidden Personas: Leveraging real-time website behavior to identify lucrative, undocumented customer segments that corporate marketing teams routinely overlook.The Data Enrichment Pipeline: Merging first-party consumer clickstream patterns with verified third-party demographic data to decode true buying motivation.Affordable Enterprise-Grade AI: Implementing advanced data clustering models previously reserved for large enterprises to scale mid-market e-commerce profit margins.The Athletic Focus Metaphor: Utilizing dedicated outdoor hobbies like competitive golf to clear cognitive fatigue, improve resilience, and sharpen executive decision-making.ConclusionThe conversation with Brice McBeth underscores that long-term digital retail dominance requires an intentional synthesis of data science precision and a deep, humanized understanding of user motivation. By standardizing internal website behavioral tracking, enriching raw customer data, and ruthlessly adapting copy parameters to fit verified personas, e-commerce leaders can transform a volatile marketing pipeline into a highly predictable, profit-producing corporate asset.More from The Thoughtful Entrepreneur

Getting on shelf is not the win. Staying there is the business.  Rose Hamilton, CEO of Compass Rose Ventures and co-host of The Story of a Brand Show, sits down with Michael Marquis, CEO of Raw Sugar, for a masterclass in what retail really reveals about a brand.  With more than 20,000 doors across Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Meijer, Sally Beauty, Amazon, and DTC, Raw Sugar is one of the most compelling case studies in mass retail execution in the clean personal care space today. * Clean personal care at mass retail prices is not a tagline. It is an operating model. Raw Sugar launched as a Target exclusive with a deceptively simple belief: clean personal care should not cost more than conventional personal care. That mission drove every formula, fragrance, packaging, and supply chain decision the brand has ever made. * Operational execution comes before brand strategy. The first thing any retailer watches is whether you can supply product on time, in full, at consistent quality. Michael is direct: the worst thing a brand can do is win the shelf and then fail to fill it. * Retail compresses the truth. In DTC you can retarget, rewrite the landing page, and buy yourself more time. In retail the shelf does not care how hard you worked. The consumer either gets it in seconds or they don't. And the weekly scorecards come fast. * A restage is a consumer trust event, not a design project. When Raw Sugar evolved its packaging, the team knew that loyal consumers needed to recognize the brand, understand the change, and feel reassured rather than disrupted. Getting that choreography right is one of the most underestimated challenges in brand building. * Do not go too big too fast. Michael's sharpest advice for any founder heading into retail: hold back on the temptation to chase doors and scale before the brand is fully baked. Place is part of brand positioning. Make sure the channel is a logical extension of what the brand actually stands for. Join us in listening to this episode for one of the most practically useful retail conversations the show has ever produced. Rose and Michael cover shelf clarity, velocity, brand restaging, omnichannel discipline, and what it really takes to compete against the giants without acting like a smaller version of one. Whether you are already in retail or working hard to get there, this conversation will change how you think about the channel.  For more on Raw Sugar visit: https://rawsugarliving.com/ 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!

Most app founders think growth is limited by creatives, ASO, or ad performance.But there's another problem that quietly kills scale: cash flow.In this video, I break down the biggest bottleneck many indie app developers face when scaling with Apple Search Ads, Meta Ads, or any paid acquisition channel, and why waiting 45+ days for Apple and Google payouts can prevent you from growing faster.You'll Learn:✅ Why profitable apps still run out of cash✅ A real example from our own app portfolio✅ How spending $9,000 generated over $10,800 in proceeds✅ Why many large apps operate with thin margins✅ How to reinvest revenue faster instead of waiting for monthly payouts✅ How Adapt Finance helps subscription apps unlock cash flow weekly✅ A case study of a developer scaling from $5K to $80K in revenueIf you're building a subscription app and trying to scale with paid acquisition, understanding cash flow may be even more important than finding the next winning ad creative.

In this special bonus episode with host, Nichel, she shares her current summer findings and favorite things this month. In addition, today, Nichel will be recapping the highlights of Season 9 and giving you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what's brewing at MOLIAE the latest updates from music to podcast episodes and the future plans of PMTR project and her favorite Season 9 episodes. Get inspired, and influence to make your journey the best moving forward with your purpose leading to your happiness. 

Today, I'm joined by Evan Quinn, co-founder and CEO of hiyo. A nonalcoholic social tonic with adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals, hiyo has expanded from DTC to 11K+ retail locations nationwide. In this episode, we discuss building a new category around social wellness. We also cover: Music and culture partnerships The household penetration opportunity Creating a proprietary "float" feeling from functional ingredients Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider  hiyo's Website: www.drinkhiyo.comhiyo's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkhiyo/  - The Fitt Insider Podcast is brought to you by EGYM. Visit EGYM.com to learn more about its smart fitness ecosystem 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 (04:00) Company and founder story (05:25) College inspiration and founding (06:50) Social Tonic category definition (08:35) Avoiding mocktail positioning (10:45) Straddling three industries (12:20) The "float" concept (15:05) Early traction and social proof (16:30) DTC-to-wholesale transition (17:45) Retail expansion strategy (21:00) Music and culture partnerships (23:00) Ingredient philosophy (25:01) Staying disciplined on innovation (28:30) Regulatory compliance and quality (29:16) Category constriction and white space (31:30) Household penetration opportunity (34:00) Red Bull comparison and hiyo lifestyle (35:45) Meaning and ritual in wellness (36:30) Where to find (38:00) Conclusion  

How do you actually scale without losing yourself or your team in the chaos?In this conversation, Sivana Brewer sits down with Mara Castro, COO at Twentyeight Health and former Warby Parker trailblazer, to dissect what it takes to build, lead, and sustain high-performing teams in brutally demanding, mission-driven environments. Expect raw takes on leadership, the dangerous myth of “just do more,” and what it really means to earn trust as a COO.If you've ever wondered why some leaders quietly burn out while others keep their team charging ahead, you cannot afford to miss this episode. Hear exclusive, battle-tested insights you won't find in any COO playbook. Don't settle for “what everyone does” and listen now before these lessons become your competitors' next unfair advantage.Sponsored byGenius Network - An exclusive community for highly successful entrepreneurs, connecting you with top-tier leaders, strategic insights, and powerful relationships to help you grow your business faster and smarter.Learn more: https://www.geniusnetwork.com/Timestamped Highlights00:22 – The unexpected journey from nonprofit roots to COO02:37 – Why a career break fueled a powerhouse comeback05:34 – The untold value of prior relationships for landing big roles09:14 – Networking for introverts: How authentic connections really win10:15 – The counterintuitive 90-day blueprint every new COO must follow13:06 – The art of KPI clarity and not getting sucked into the weeds17:50 – The hidden trap of too much complexity in health tech33:23 – Why guiding, not micromanaging, unlocks leadership at scale39:30 – The radical power of raising the white flag earlyAbout the GuestMara Castro is the COO at Twentyeight Health, where she leads product, engineering, clinical operations, and pharmacy for a fast-scaling women's telehealth platform. Previously, the first employee at Warby Parker, she helped build and scale one of the most celebrated brands in DTC history, before driving expansion at Evolve in hospitality tech. Her results-driven, human-focused approach makes her a standout leader in growth and transformation.