Podcasts about DTC

#337: Dry January + finding inspiration in the group chat can lead to a compelling fresh start.In this week's episode of The Business of You series, I'm joined by the founders of Sensori. Three best friends who took their business idea out of the group chat and into the world. Built on their shared curiosity around wellness, Shanna, Ashlyn, and Darean built a fast-growing functional beverage brand.We talk about what it really looks like to build a business with your friends, the messy middle of figuring it out as you go, and why sometimes the smartest move is to move fast and trust that you'll figure the rest out along the way.From putting the first formulation on a credit card to raising their first round of capital and navigating the very real challenges of scaling a product business, this conversation highlights the what it actually takes to go from idea to execution without sugarcoating or glamorizing the early stages.This episode is for you if:You've thought about starting something with your friends and wondered if the idea in the group chat could become a real business.You're curious what it actually takes to launch a physical product.You want an honest look at funding a business and betting on yourself.You're interested in cutting back on alcohol.You want to understand how founders handle selling out of inventory.You want insight into scaling from DTC to retail and distribution.You're building a brand and trying to turn audience into revenue.Episode Links:To learn more about Sensori visit: https://drinksensori.com/Follow Sensori on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinksensoriFollow Sensori on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drinksensoriRead Darean's pick, Blitzscaling: The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies by Chris Yeh and Reid HoffmanSponsors:FP Movement: Visit fpmovement.com to shop their full line of activewear and workout gear.Nutrafol: For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you go to nutrafol.com and enter the promo code BALANCEDLES.Honeylove: Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/LUCKY! #honeylovepodNuuly: Upgrade your wardrobe by subscribing to Nuuly. Nuuly is an incredible value at $98 for any 6 styles, and right now you can get $28 off your first month when you sign up at nuuly.com and enter code LUCKY at checkout.Square: Right now, you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/luckyConnect with Les:Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She's So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletterSubscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/Follow Les on IG @lesalfredFollow She's So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypodFollow Les on TikTokFollow She's So Lucky on TikTokVisit our website at shessoluckypodcast.comThis episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tamara is the Founder & CEO of Bark Bistro Company, creator of Buddy Budder—a line of 100% natural peanut butters made for dogs. What began in her kitchen has grown into a nationally distributed brand available DTC, Ecommerce, independent retailers, and now expanding into mass and grocery channels. She is passionate about blending innovation and creativity, brand design, and business strategy to make products that bring joy and health to pets while scaling into new retail channels.  In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro [01:37] Discovering ecommerce as the growth engine [05:38] Solving a personal problem to spark a product [07:18] Sponsor: Klaviyo [09:24] Leading a category by entering early [10:29] Choosing Ecommerce to accelerate growth [12:10] Callouts [12:20] Bootstrapping growth with early revenue [13:57] Sponsor: Intelligems  [15:56] Validating demand through review data [18:02] Listening to customers to improve goods [22:03] Engaging customers to co-create the brand [23:47] Sponsor: Electric Eye [24:55] Learning while building the business [26:28] Accepting mistakes as part of the journey Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Healthy and natural peanut butter dog treats barkbistro.com/ Follow Tamara Coleman linkedin.com/in/tamara-coleman-07578a23/ Get your free demo klaviyo.com/honest Book a demo today at intelligems.io/ Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect 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!

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAves and Daniel Sendecki get into a problem a lot of brands still haven't solved: how do you make ads feel culturally relevant without making them cringe, tone deaf, or useless in performance channels? This episode breaks down why “brand voice” alone no longer carries paid social, how algorithmic feeds reward relevance over cleverness, and why the best creative now has to do two jobs at once: feel native and resolve intent.For DTC founders, growth marketers, and creative strategists trying to make Meta and TikTok ads feel native without losing conversion intent.In this episode, we cover:Why brand voice was built for an older distribution model, and why that model doesn't dominate anymoreHow to “cooperate with culture” instead of awkwardly borrowing itWhy great paid social creative now needs both cultural cues and problem-solution clarityHow generational context shapes what kind of humor, references, and framing actually landWhat Super Bowl ads, street interviews, and creator-style content reveal about where attention is movingWho this is for:DTC operators, paid social teams, creative strategists, and founders who want better-performing ads without sounding like every other brand online.What to steal:Build ads that use native visual language from the feed, not polished brand-world aestheticsUse cultural references as permission to speak, not as the entire messageMatch creative tone to the audience's deeper context, not just surface-level trendsTimestamps:00:00 Cultural elements in ads that actually work02:00 Cooperating with culture vs co-opting culture04:01 Why brand voice works differently now06:04 Generational marketing and millennial humor08:58 Relevance, intent, and permission to speak11:07 Why ads need to feel native and authentic13:14 Ad examples that build cultural relevance17:18 Creative systems and authentic brand messaging19:02 McDonald's, Burger King, and authenticity in ads23:03 Why Super Bowl ads missed the mark27:08 Where the best ads are happening nowSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF593Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Today's callers: Heather from Ontario talks through a DTC strategy for her retail pain relief tape and patches. Then Nawal in Michigan considers a rebrand for her uniforms designed for Muslim students. Finally, Casey in Idaho seeks new revenue streams for her farmer and worker-owned seed cooperative. Plus, Hernan's take on the future of podcasting and the sweet relief of vindication... Thank you to the founders of Heali Medical, Studyous Monday, and Snake River Seed Cooperative for joining us on the show.If you'd like to be featured on a future Advice Line episode—where Guy and former show guests take questions from early-stage founders—leave us a one-minute message that tells us about your business and a specific question you'd like answered. Send a voice memo to hibt@id.wondery.com or call 1-800-433-1298. And be sure to listen to Wondery's founding story as told by Hernan on the show in 2023. This episode was produced by Katherine Sypher with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Kwesi Lee.You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram and sign up for Guy's free newsletter at guyraz.com and on Substack.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After losing his eyebrows to alopecia while serving as a Canadian Armed Forces fighter pilot, Jason Berndt bootstrapped My Two Brows with his military pension and tens of thousands in free samples. Today the brand has shipped over 1 million brow sets across 275 styles worldwide. For more on My Two Brows and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

AI in eCommerce marketing isn't about “better prompts” anymore, it's about better systems. Brett sits down with returning guest Russ Henneberry (TheClick.ai, co-author of Digital Marketing for Dummies) to unpack what's new and what's next: Claude Cowork, agentic workflows, skills that “self-improve,” and what happens when your AI can actually use your files, tools, and data — not just chat about it.If you're a DTC founder, CMO, or operator trying to scale performance without scaling headcount, this episode is a blueprint for how modern teams are building repeatable AI routines for content, reporting, and decision-making.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Intro(02:05) What Cowork is: agentic plans, local files, and “skills”(05:20) Skills that self-improve, plus persona + offer as core context(08:10) Cowork as a “brain” with version control, shared across workflows(10:10) Connected sources: Notion transcripts, Zoom notes, and MCP-style integrations(15:10) Parallel agents and context windows: why this runs faster than chatbots(18:05) Skill marketplaces, sharing zips, and the security caution(23:10) OpenClaw/Open-source talk: the 4 “levels” (chatbot → cowork → code → open source)(28:05) Hardware reality: Mac Minis, Apple silicon, and “processing power” as leverage(31:05) Content system: Source → Structure → Format → Polish (newsletter example)(38:30) Click.ai membership, team training, and closing thoughts on revenue/employee—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Request a Free Strategy Session: https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact Relevant Links:Russ's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russhenneberrytheCLICK: https://theclick.ai/Digital Marketing for Dummies: https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Marketing-Dummies-Business-Personal/dp/1119235596Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

Most people are still treating AI like a tool. The real opportunity is treating it like an employee. In this solo episode, Nik goes deep on how AI has evolved over the past few months and why the gap between people experimenting with it and people fully adopting it is about to get massive. He breaks down: - The difference between AI models and wrappers - How tools like Claude and ChatGPT are becoming second brains - Why learning to prompt with context is the new operating skill for marketers and operators Nik also shares how he's personally building and running AI agents, connecting them to emails, Slack, calendars, and call transcripts to automate daily workflows. If you're building a brand in 2026 and beyond, this episode is a blueprint for staying lean, fast, and culturally relevant in a world where everyone has access to the same tools. --- Roku pioneered streaming on TV. We connect users to the content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising.roku.com/limitedsupply⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠ --- Want more DTC advice? Check out the⁠ Limited Supply YouTube page⁠ for more insider tips. Check out the Nik's DTC newsletter:⁠ https://bit.ly/3mOUJMJ And if you're looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the⁠ Limited Supply Slack Channel⁠ for Nik's most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts. Follow Nik: Twitter:⁠ https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma⁠

As ChatGPT pulls back on native in-app checkout, malls becomemainstream again. Is agentic commerce ready for primetime, or are consumers seeking more analog experiences? PLUS: Dick's Sporting Goods' loyalty loop that turns steps into spending power, and a dystopian new platform that rents out humans for AI agents that can't operate in the physical world. Everything old is new again. Granny's Favorite Store Goes to TikTok Shop Key takeaways: ChatGPT is stepping back from native in-app checkout, but the commerce protocol it built with Stripe lives on 77% of shoppers prefer clicking through to a website over buying directly via AI The mall remains a societal favorite third space, even as stores become shoppable content studios (just ask John Lewis) Dick's Sporting Goods' movement-linked rewards program is quietly building one of retail's stickiest loyalty ecosystems, making it a viable competitor to AI apps "Rent-a-Human" platforms signal a strange new frontier: AI agents outsourcing tasks to people in “meatspace” In-Show Mentions: How 2,000 consumers used AI to shop Gen Z Is Going to the Mall Again — WSJ Rent-a-Human Join us at Shoptalk Spring 2026! 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.

This week, we discuss why a "unified streaming stack" is not the same as combining two streaming services, despite media reports that HBO Max and Paramount+ will merge into a single DTC service shortly. As we break down the latest details of the proposed Paramount and WBD deal, we speculate on the layoff impact across both companies, as Paramount tells bankers it expects to see billions in cost savings while telling employees the savings target will be realized mostly through non-personnel means.We also cover the launch of F1 on Apple TV, Versant Media's full-year 2025 earnings, Sling TV losing 167,000 subs in Q4, NBCU not planning to publish Super Bowl viewership numbers for Peacock/digital, and YouTube in talks to stream four more live NFL games. Finally, we detail that, due to rising costs for servers, RAM, SSDs, and energy, Akamai has notified customers and partners of upcoming surcharges and contract renewal adjustments.Podcast produced by Security Halt Media

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupWe co-authored The Conversational Report with Postscript to understand one simple question: when shoppers text brands back, what happens next? The punchline is uncomfortable. Customers treat texting like a real conversation, but most brands treat replies like a support inbox, or ignore them entirely. That gap is where a lot of abandoned carts live.Role-based hook: For DTC founders and operators scaling past $1M who want SMS to do more than broadcast promos, and want replies to turn into revenue plus better creative and PDPs.Mike Manheimer from Postscript joins to break down what the data says, why brands struggle operationally, and how AI changes the economics of responding quickly.What we get into:Why brands misread replies as “support,” and why that kills revenueThe consumer expectation gap, plus why 26% real time reply rate is a gift for anyone who executesThe easiest way to start: add one question to your welcome flow and watch what comes backTurning reply data into a weekly insight loop for PDP, creative angles, and offer clarityWhat a real playbook looks like beyond “send more promos”Who this is for: Retention, growth, CX, and founders who know SMS works, but feel like it has not matured into what it should be.What to steal:The “question mark” strategy for welcome and abandoned cart flowsA reply triage model that does not require headcount explosionsA simple way to turn conversations into segments you can act onPostscriptMikeReportTimestamps00:00 Why brands are wasting SMS potential02:00 The gap between brand assumptions and shopper behavior04:14 Why SMS should be treated like sales, not support06:00 The staffing problem behind slow SMS replies08:10 How Postscript's conversational AI actually works11:20 Why fast replies create a better buying experience13:05 The LTV upside of real SMS relationships15:10 How to write SMS flows that get real responses18:12 The revenue and ROI from conversational SMS21:35 Why PDPs cannot answer every shopper question25:05 How SMS conversations create better customer insights31:20 The best conversational SMS playbook for brands37:45 Why one-way SMS is becoming obsoleteSubscribe 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

Jason Wong is the Founder and CEO of Paking Duck, which provides custom packaging solutions for DTC brands. Before launching Paking Duck, he built and scaled multiple DTC ventures, including Saucy, an end-to-end sourcing and logistics company, and the beauty brand Doe Lashes, which reached significant valuations under his leadership. Jason started his career as a teen entrepreneur in blogging, affiliate marketing, and e-commerce before expanding into international logistics, manufacturing, and supply chain operations. In this episode… Most founders obsess over ads, creative, and conversion rates — but overlook the one thing every customer physically touches. Packaging is often treated as a cost to minimize rather than an asset to optimize. How can the box on your customer's doorstep increase retention, reduce costs, and drive revenue? Packaging manufacturing expert and e-commerce entrepreneur Jason Wong maintains that packaging can be a growth lever. He explains that packaging should be designed as a marketing channel inside the home — something customers proudly display, turning it into a mini billboard that keeps your brand top of mind. Jason advises founders to engineer packaging strategically by reducing dimensional weight to lower shipping costs, reinforcing structural integrity to prevent refunds and chargebacks, and designing with storytelling in mind to strengthen brand perception. When approached holistically, packaging moves from a backend expense to a compounding growth asset. In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris sits down with Jason Wong, Founder and CEO of Paking Duck, to discuss how packaging drives e-commerce growth. Jason explains why packaging is a revenue driver, how smarter structural design reduces shipping costs and damage, and the common mistakes founders make when optimizing purely for cost.

In this episode, host Kalie Moore talks with Bastian Bergmann, Co-founder & COO of Solsten, about the collision between gaming and branding, and why most companies still don't know how to show up in games without feeling like an ad. With 3B+ people playing worldwide and gaming still capturing only ~5% of global ad spend, Bastian argues the opportunity isn't awareness, it's audience strategy. Kalie and Bastian break down why gaming is the only medium that truly spans every demographic, from Gen Alpha to “silver surfers,” and why brands fail when they lead with stereotypes or build empty “brand worlds” instead of experiences grounded in what players actually want.They also explore why gaming should be treated as a real conversion channel, even if measurement hasn't fully caught up yet, and how platforms like Roblox and UEFN will be pushed toward clearer attribution as more dollars move in. Bastian shares standout examples like The New York Times' games-led subscription growth and Chipotle's Roblox activations that drove real-world sales and loyalty signups. For studios and creators, the takeaway is clear: know your audience deeply, design integrations that are brand-agnostic but partnership-ready, and pitch brands with real segmentation and fit, not vague “access to gamers.” The episode closes with what's next at Solsten: Alaris, an AI tool powered by Solsten's psychological dataset, plus an upcoming API layer aimed at unlocking deeper personalization across games, matchmaking, recommendations, and advertising.We'd like to thank Neon – a global payments and e-commerce platform designed to help game publishers earn more money and gain independence from app stores – for making the episode possible. Neon's DTC platform handles everything from webshops and checkout to global payments, tax, and compliance, with full transparency and all-in pricing. Learn more:https://www.neonpay.com/?utm_source=Naavik-Sponsorship-General&utm_medium=Paid-Sponsorship We'd also like to thank modl.ai for making this episode possible! Using a combination of computer vision, reasoning models, and feedback loops, modl:QA+ autonomously explores builds, detects bugs, and generates actionable reports that sync directly with your existing workflows. To learn more, visit modl.ai.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.Who's On:Guest - Bastian Bergmann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bergmannbastian/Host - Kalie Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaliemoore/ Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Casey O'Quinn is the founder of Gravity Digital, a family-owned marketing agency that has served direct-to-consumer family businesses for 25 years. He works alongside multiple family members including his father, wife, sister, cousins, and in-laws across several ventures including the agency, healthcare, and real estate. Casey built his firm on a unique revenue-share model where his team only gets paid when clients grow, challenging the traditional agency retainer approach.SHOW SUMMARYIn this episode, Jonathan Goldhill is joined by Casey O'Quinn, founder of Gravity Digital, a family-owned agency serving family-owned DTC brands for 25 years, about marketing as capital allocation that can drain family wealth and strain relationships when spent on vague retainers without measurable return. Casey contrasts traditional hourly/retainer agency models with Gravity Digital's revenue-share approach, where the agency is paid only on growth above a baseline, aligning incentives and enabling investment in creative, websites, and testing. They discuss protecting “the family farm,” handling generational risk tolerance, patience and education around digital channels, and a “seven-figure blueprint” formula (customers × frequency × average order value) emphasizing ads for scalable acquisition, email/SMS for repeat purchases, and upsells for AOV. Key metrics include new customer acquisition cost, lifetime value, new vs returning customers, and cautious use of ROAS amid attribution limits, plus integrating marketing into EOS scorecards and quarterly testing.KEY TAKEAWAYSFamily before business: Make a commitment to walk away from the business before letting it damage family relationships—this principle forces better conflict resolutionRevenue share model: Align agency incentives with client outcomes by only getting paid when clients grow, rather than fixed retainers that don't ensure resultsMarketing as investment: View marketing spending through the lens of capital allocation and ROI, not just as an expense line itemNAC is critical: Understanding your New Customer Acquisition Cost and being willing to spend MORE than competitors (while staying profitable) is how you win at scaleSimple growth formula: Revenue = Customers × Frequency × Average Order Value. Focus on these three levers systematicallyTest before committing: Start with small tests and let data drive decisions rather than assumptions, especially when navigating generational disagreementsFailure is feedback: Marketing experiments that don't work aren't failures—they're learning opportunities to "fail forward"Patience + transparency: Success in family business marketing requires educating all generations, managing different risk appetites, and showing early wins to build trustQUOTES"We would walk away from the business before we let it come between us." — On family business priorities"He who is willing and able to spend the most to acquire a customer wins." — On competitive advantage in customer acquisition"Good marketing can't fix a bad product." — On fundamental business requirements"The cheapest customer you'll ever get is the one you already have." — On the value of repeat business and frequency"Marketing and innovation produce results. Everything else is just a cost." — Peter Drucker quote on business fundamentals"Protect the family farm—that's the family business." — On preserving generational wealth and avoiding capital drain"Failure is just feedback." — On reframing marketing experiments"Marketing is half art, half science, half left brain, half right brain." — On the dual nature of effective marketingConnect and learn more about Casey O'Quinn.https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyoquinn/If you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe, review, and share with a friend who would benefit from the message. If you're interested in picking up a copy of Jonathan Goldhill's book, Disruptive Successor, go to the website at www.DisruptiveSuccessor.com

DTC and eCommerce brands are facing rising ad costs, climbing CAC, and tighter margins in 2026. If your growth strategy still depends on cheaper paid media, it is time to adjust.In this episode of Bottom Line, Cody sits down with Chris Hall, founder of Ecomm Cowboy and former Shopify operator, to break down the new DTC operating system for profitable growth.He shares three strategic shifts brands must make as paid media gets more expensive:• Generate more organic and low cost traffic• Increase LTV through smarter product development• Cut overhead and operate leanIf you run a Shopify brand or lead an eCommerce marketing team, this episode is a practical blueprint for navigating rising ad costs and building sustainable growth.Subscribe for more conversations on DTC strategy, eCommerce marketing, paid media, and LTV optimization.

If you're just getting started with e-commerce and you're wondering how to actually scale with limited cash and no audience, this episode is for you. I get asked this all the time: "Nathan, how do I get started when I only have a small budget?" Here's the truth: most founders tattoo their business idea to their arm. They fall in love with the brand, the product, the vision — and they hold on even when the unit economics don't work. But after launching Healthish to $1 million a year at close to 40% net margins, and helping thousands of DTC brands inside Foundr, I know exactly what works. In this episode, I break down the exact playbook I'd use if I were starting a brand new e-commerce business tomorrow with no audience and just a $10,000 budget. This is strategic, tactical, and based on what I've done and what I've seen work inside the Foundr ecosystem. Here's what you'll take away: Why high-margin products are non-negotiable — aim for 70-80% gross margin, lightweight, easy to ship How to allocate $2,500 to influencer seeding: gifting to 50-100 nano/micro influencers for UGC and organic reach The AI tool stack that lets you run lean: Manus, ChatGPT, Notion AI, Triple Whale, Canva Pro, and AdCreative.ai Why I'd spend $2,000 testing paid ads on warm audiences and messaging before scaling — not chasing 10x ROAS on day one How to build one strong product landing page using tools like Unbounce, ClickFunnels, or Shogun instead of a massive Shopify site The $2,000 emergency fund strategy: reserve cash for unexpected wins, scaling inventory, or paying creators who blow up If you're sitting on $10K and wondering where to start, or you've already launched but your unit economics don't work, this episode will show you the modern playbook for building a profitable DTC brand using AI, influencers, and smart budgeting. If you're loving this solo series, I'd love to hear your feedback. Email me directly at nathan@foundr.com — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it. SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started. HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+ Start your $1 trial → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING? → Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ → Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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

Dr. Mark Young, the Founder and CEO of Jekyll & Hyde Advertising, a powerhouse agency that's been helping challenger consumer brands break through the noise and scale into household names with billions of revenue and exits for nearly three decades.He's also the host of the CPG insiders podcast, the number 2 podcast in all consumer packaged goods niche.Mark is also the author of a new book 27 Unbreakable Rules of Retail, how to build a $100M+ brand in brick and mortarMark is not your average marketer — his background blends neuroscience, persuasion, and behavioral psychology with decades of hands-on experience in CPG and direct-response advertising. Through his agency, Jekyll & Hyde, he's helped hundreds of emerging brands launch, grow, and dominate retail shelves and online marketplaces.Highlight Bullets> Here's a glimpse of what you would learn…. Importance of brick-and-mortar retail in the consumer products industry.Challenges faced by e-commerce brands in a competitive market.Strategies for successfully entering physical retail spaces.The significance of product differentiation and authenticity in retail.The impact of traditional media, especially television, on brand awareness and consumer demand.The concept of SKU rationalization and its role in retail product selection.The necessity of creating consumer demand before approaching retail buyers.Understanding the economics of media buying and the Media Efficiency Ratio (MER).The principle of "Who Not How" in building a successful business team.The role of AI as a collaborative tool in enhancing business strategies.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Dr. Mark Young, CEO of Jekyll and Hyde Advertising. Mark shares his expertise on building $100 million consumer brands in brick-and-mortar retail, emphasizing that 80% of product sales still occur offline. He discusses the challenges of retail entry, the importance of unique, premium products, and the power of TV advertising to drive demand. Mark also highlights the value of expert partnerships and leveraging both human intuition and AI, offering actionable advice for e-commerce brands aiming to succeed in physical retail.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Prove Demand Before Approaching RetailersBuild real consumer pull through DTC + paid media (TV, social, influencers). Retail buyers want evidence of demand, not Amazon screenshots. Come in with a buyer-ready pitch showing how you'll drive traffic to their stores.Position Your Product as a Clear Upgrade or Category ExpanderEnsure your SKU hits at least one winning lever:Premium trade-up (higher-margin, innovative)Demographic expander (brings new shoppers)Category expander (increases consumption)If your product is a “me-too” item, it won't make it onto shelves.Build a Retail-Ready P&L With Strong Margins & Media PlanYou need minimum 5:1 markup and a funded media strategy (TV recommended) to support retail sell-through. Retailers expect marketing that drives velocity—without it, your product risks getting cut during SKU rationalization.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comAmazonChatGPTShopifyHelium 10IRI (Information Resources, Inc.)Meta AdsWRTVJekyll+Hyde LabsCPG InsidersThinking, Fast and Slow"Who Not How" by Dan Sullivan and Ben Hardy"The Science of Scaling" by Dr. Ben HardyPrimal IntelligenceWalmartShark TankThe Home DepotDan SullivanSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist's Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King's Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast

DescriptionWhat does it take to build an organic, grain-to-glass distillery in the heart of the White Mountains? In this episode of the Bourbon Lens, we sit down with Chris Burke, co-founder and master distiller of Cathedral Ledge Distillery, to explore the intersection of organic distillation and historic standards.Chris pulls back the curtain on the "Bottled-in-Bond Act" and explains why this 1897 quality standard is the backbone of their production philosophy. We dive into the complexities of organic grain sourcing, the nuances of their mash bills, and how their specific maturation environment in New Hampshire creates a flavor profile you won't find in Kentucky.You'll learn about the technical side of barrel selection, the importance of seasonal labeling, and how Cathedral Ledge is navigating the challenges of direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales and legislation. From the first drop of the hearts to the final tasting notes, this conversation is an essential guide for anyone interested in the transparency, entrepreneurship, and artistry behind modern American whiskey.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Cathedral Ledge Distillery06:13 The Importance of the Bottled-in-Bond Act13:25 Maturation and Barrel Selection in the Northeast18:48 Crafting Unique Whiskey: Mash Bills & Process25:33 Marketing Strategy & Direct-to-Consumer Sales33:17 Tasting Preferences & Favorite Pours

Tune in as host Nichel, shares an update on her journey that success is not a destination; it is a state of Sovereignty in her Manifesto. In this episode, entrepreneur and creative director Nichel Anderson breaks down the "MOLIAE Mothership" strategy for Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) success. After decades of seeding, the direct alignment is here. Nichel has built the Portal herself over these years and all platforms are open and ready from MOLIAE.com to MOLIAEBeauty.com of the MA'at Principles and from MOLIAEWorld.com of Digital expression to Mint.MOLIAEWorld.com on the Ethereum blockchain, the mothership is tuning into this new wave frequency DTC movement. Explore the link to the MOLIAE Manifesto and learn how to connect to a community-driven model that bypasses the "decision loops" of the old guard.   ✨ THE PORTAL IS OPEN – TAKE THE LEAP:  

Back from TPM, the team dives into the biggest forces reshaping ocean shipping right now.This week's episode covers:Demand data and a widening imbalance on Asia to Europe, plus what that means for headhaul pricingHow parcel and DTC trade lanes are shifting as brands rethink sourcing and resilienceThe latest on IEEPA being ruled unlawful, what “refunds” might actually mean, and why the importer of record mattersSection 122 tariffs, the 150 day clock, and what comes nextThe Strait of Hormuz disruption, end-of-voyage declarations, cargo being discharged at alternate ports, and the surge of emergency surchargesWhy some fuel surcharges risk being blunt, not trade-specific, and potentially duplicative for shippers already paying variable fuel mechanismsHow index-linked contracts and freight derivatives can help manage exposure when markets reprice fast

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupDr. Kathrin Hamm (PhD Economics) didn't set out to be a founder. She just wanted to sleep. One ugly “medical” weighted blanket fixed her insomnia… then made her realize the whole category was stuck in 30-year-old design, plastic beads, and overheating. So she rebuilt it from scratch with a chunky-knit, breathable form factor that looks like home decor, not a pharmacy product.Role-based hook: For DTC founders building a new category (or trying to escape the “Meta-only” trap) and scaling from early traction into real distribution.In this episode we get tactical on:Why Bearaby launched on Kickstarter to bypass “what even is this?” cold traffic frictionHow the product design (breathable chunky knit) became the marketingThe early growth engine: gifting + press + interior design circles, before paidA surprisingly underrated channel: TV/Netflix set placements as free cultural reachWhat changed on Meta: why creative strategists + creative diversity is now non-negotiableEurope expansion lessons: language, sleep habits, visuals, and humor are not transferableWho this is for: founders + marketers selling anything that requires education (sleep, wellness, new formats, “never seen this before” products).What to steal:Launch new categories where early adopters already are (Kickstarter) so you can teach before you sellBuild an earned pipeline (editors, designers, set decorators) that compounds for yearsTreat each country like its own market: copy, visuals, and cultural jokes includedTimestamps00:00 Bearaby origin story02:08 Discovering weighted blankets for sleep04:18 Why old weighted blankets failed08:05 Selling out the first 800 blankets10:10 Turning weighted blankets into a lifestyle brand14:20 Why Kickstarter and gifting worked18:15 Getting Bearaby onto Netflix sets20:45 Scaling through DTC, Amazon and retail24:45 Expanding Bearaby into Europe29:05 Germany launch and viral egg hats32:20 How Meta creative changed34:35 Dealing with copycats37:35 New product innovation beyond blankets42:00 Where Bearaby is headedSubscribe 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

Is Your Brand Built to Last or Just Built to Sell? Most brands treat retail as a "shiny" trophy, but the reality is that expansion often breaks your margins before it builds your brand. In this RETHINK Retail sit-down, host Gail Rodwell-Simon talks with Brett Gallagher, COO at Nulastin, about the disciplined path from a 2010s DTC startup to a true omnichannel player. They dig into the "ugly" side of growth: why your house must be in order before you expand and how to prove your brand actually matters when you aren't "screaming into Meta". The Reality Check: - The distractions of retail: Why opening new channels can drain your core team if you aren't ready. - The Brand Passport: How to make your customer reviews and social proof travel across every platform. - Testing your reach: Using marketplaces to prove your marketing has omnichannel "pull". - The 2-week rule: Why waiting for quarterly board meetings to check your metrics is a mistake in today's market. Stop the "growth at all costs" cycle. Listen to the conversation to see how to scale without losing your soul or your profit.

This episode is sponsored by eFulfillment Service, a family-owned 3PL that has been in the business for over 25 years. They handle everything from FBA prep and Amazon overflow warehousing to direct-to-consumer fulfilment, and have built their entire model around making things simple for growing sellers.There are zero setup fees, no minimum order requirements, and no long-term contracts. You only pay for what you use.Stop letting logistics throttle your Amazon sales. Start an 8-week risk-free trial today:https://www.efulfillmentservice.com/vendlab/Shipping is often an afterthought, but it plays a critical role in the growth and success of any eCommerce business. It is the final touchpoint between the seller and the customer and has a major impact on customer satisfaction, trust and repeat purchases. Offering the right shipping options can improve the customer experience and help differentiate your brand from competitors.In this episode, we discuss:• How important shipping really is for eCommerce growth• What shipping options you should offer customers• Free shipping vs paid shipping• When to send orders tracked vs untracked• Shipping thresholds and how they influence basket size• International shipping options• Returns and whether they should be free• When fulfilment houses make sense for scaling brands• Channel based shipping strategies for marketplaces and DTC stores

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupJacob (Head of Meta at Pilothouse) joins Eric to break down what Meta's actually rolling out right now, what's hype, and what's worth testing. They get into CASC (combined awareness + sales), Meta's new AI “business assistant,” and a super practical creative testing feature that can even help you split-test landing pages without nuking social proof.For DTC founders + performance marketers scaling spend who need creative variety and cleaner measurement in Meta.In this episode, you'll learn:Why most accounts are trending video-heavy (think ~70/30 video/static), and where statics still make sense (hint: retargeting).What CASC is trying to solve (awareness + sales in one campaign) and who's most likely to get access first.How Meta's AI assistant can speed up reporting… and why you still need to fact-check it.How to use Meta's ad-level creative testing to quickly find winning hooks (and kill losers fast).A sneaky use case: split-test URLs (homepage vs PDP vs collection vs presell) using the same ad.Who this is for:Operators managing Meta at $50K+/mo who are feeling the “Andromeda” shift and need more creative throughput without turning the account into spaghetti.What to steal:Run 5-hook tests on one hero concept before you film 10 more “new” creatives.Use ad-level creative testing to test landing pages while keeping comments/likes intact.Treat AI insights as a junior analyst: fast drafts, then human verification.Timestamps:00:00 CASC explained and why Meta is combining awareness with sales02:05 Why consolidation and bigger budgets matter more in the Andromeda era04:05 Who CASC is for and when it makes sense to test05:10 Creative strategy for upper funnel: intent buckets and first 2 seconds08:05 Meta AI Business Assistant: what it can answer inside Ads Manager11:25 Creative Testing at the ad level: how the new feature works13:55 Using Creative Testing to split test landing pages without losing social proof16:10 Attribution changes: engaged views and Meta taking less credit18:25 Rollout notes and how to start using these updatesSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF591Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

After a corporate career rooted in fashion and media, Aplós Co-Founder and CEO David Fudge is now helping to move the non-alcoholic industry beyond simple imitation. In this conversation, we explore how Aplós is creating a sophisticated new flavor language using ingredients like yuzu, basil, and dandelion, designed to act as a lead in premium cocktails rather than a 1:1 alcohol proxy.We dive into topics like the strategic choice of using THC-free, broad-spectrum hemp in their first offering, to how the brand's serene, minimalist aesthetic serves as a much-needed antidote to modern, high-stress culture. David also shares a little about the Aplós roadmap for 2026 and his vision for a "bar of the future" that prioritizes intentional rituals over intoxication.Key Takeaways:The "Lead" Spirit: Why Aplós was built to perform like a primary spirit in complex mixology, developed alongside mixology legend Lynnette Marrero.Function Without the High: The decision to lean into broad-spectrum hemp (0% THC) for its stress-relieving properties while (thus far) avoiding the psychoactive effects of THC.Cracking the Balance: A look at the R&D behind their spirits versus their RTD (ready-to-drink) cans, and which one was harder to break the code on.2026 Growth: Scaling through "long-game" brand building and moving from DTC roots to a broader footprint in retail and Michelin-starred hospitality.Mentioned in this episode:Aplós We'd like to thank our sponsor, Go Brewing! Use code NATION15 to get 15% off your order on either their delicious N/A beer, or their THC brand, Easy Man.  We'd love your feedback!

Most brands are investing millions in creating seamless, generous customer experiences. But what if a small fraction of your customers are exploiting that generosity, forcing your best, most loyal customers to unknowingly pay an 'abuse tax' through higher prices or stricter policies? Agility requires moving beyond static, one-size-fits-all policies and embedding real-time intelligence into the moments that matter. It's about empowering teams to adapt not just to who the customer is, but what they intend to do right now. Today, we are here at eTail Palm Springs and we're going to talk about a massive, and often invisible, threat to brand profitability and customer loyalty: post-purchase abuse. While brands have spent years optimizing the path to purchase, the moments that happen after the sale—returns, refunds, and support interactions—have become a significant source of margin leakage, pitting the goals of the CX team against the financial health of the business.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Breanna Moreno, Head of CX at NoFraud. About Breanna Moreno Breanna Moreno is CX Architect at NoFraud, where she helps ecommerce brands reduce post-purchase fraud and policy abuse while empowering customer experience teams to operate more strategically. With more than 13 years of experience building and scaling high-growth CX organizations, Breanna previously served as Vice President of CX and the first employee at True Classic, leading the support function through rapid DTC expansion and transforming it from a reactive cost center into a data-driven driver of brand performance. Today, she brings that brand-side perspective to NoFraud, serving as a bridge between fraud prevention technology and the frontline teams responsible for protecting revenue, loyalty, and customer trust. Breanna Moreno on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breanna-moreno-183a8459/ Resources NoFraud: https://www.nofraud.com/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703 Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code AGILE at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://aglbrnd.co/r/c43e68ce5cfb321e Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74 Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

The old DTC playbook is dying. And most brands don't even realize it yet.In this episode, Nik sits down to talk about how DTC has evolved, why lean and profitable is the new thing, and what the next five years of ecom will actually look like. Nik explains the shift toward what he calls performance branding, where brand and measurable performance work together instead of competing for budget. They break down the real growth ceilings brands hit at $5M, $20M, and beyond - and why performance marketing alone eventually stops working. They also cover tariffs, shipping arbitrage, hidden 3PL fees, inventory risk, app bloat, Shopify's evolution, and why context and operator skill will matter more than ever. If you're building a brand in 2026 and beyond, this episode is a blueprint for staying lean, fast, and culturally relevant in a world where everyone has access to the same tools. Roku pioneered streaming on TV. We connect users to the content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising.roku.com/limitedsupply⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips.   Check out the Nik's DTC newsletter: https://bit.ly/3mOUJMJ   And if you're looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the Limited Supply Slack Channel for Nik's most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

Phillip and Brian get deep on a week when everything felt a little unhinged: Shopify's AI sidekick started building custom apps, Iran allegedly took out AWS data centers mid-Claude-outage, and the McDonald's CEO went mega-viral just days after Phillip prophesied it. Underneath the chaos, a throughline emerges: the things we've used to measure value (view counts, credit card rewards, third-party apps, and AI contracts) are quietly expiring. Culture is first. Then comes commerce. This SKU Is Delicious Key takeaways: Shopify Sidekick can now build one-off apps on demand, raising real questions about the future of third-party SaaS. AI geopolitics is here: data centers are now strategic infrastructure, and the "human in the loop" question has military stakes. Meta's move to invoicing ends years of free credit card rewards for brands running paid social,  — and that party's been winding down anyway. MrBeast's long-form view counts are down 50% YoY, even with heavy paid promotion; the algorithm has shifted to interest-based, not subscriber-based. Media buyers optimizing for CPMs are chasing non-real traffic. — Rrecovering a sense of propriety is the only way back. In-Show Mentions: How MrBeast Dominated 2025 Using Advertising Phillip's Big Arch burger virality prediction Get on the list for the Future Commerce x Shoptalk After Party Associated Links: Check out Future Commerce on YouTube Check out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and print Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce world Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Neal sits down with Samantha Pantazopoulos, co-founder of Vizer, to unpack the company's pivot from a consumer fitness rewards app to a B2B retail demand engine used by brands like Olipop and Health-Ade.What started as a mission-driven app tying workouts to food bank donations evolved - through COVID, retailer shutdowns, and customer pull - into a platform helping brands drive measurable retail velocity across Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, and beyond.This conversation dives into what it really takes to pivot, how offers power demand generation, and why grocery may be one of the most complex - and fascinating - battlegrounds in tech today.Key Topics* How Vizer pivoted from consumer app to enterprise CPG platform* Why COVID forced a rethink of the original marketplace model* The fragmented world of grocery offers: paper, rebate, retailer apps, and beyond* Turning marketing impressions into measurable retail conversions* Compressing the funnel with QR codes, paid media, and off-site offers* The tension between DTC, Amazon, and in-store retail strategies* Why data in CPG has historically lagged behind DTC* How brands are thinking about AI in retail* What drives trial and long-term retention in grocery* Creative campaigns: sweepstakes, surprise-and-delight, and experiential activationsLinks & Resources* VizerConnect on LinkedIn* Samantha Pantazopoulos This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

“95% of AI pilots fail. I lived that, full stop.” Craig Foldes (Founder of ChatWalrus, fmr. Global Head of AI at Crocs) and Matt Kruer (CIO at Bissell) join host Sean Frank to explore the state of AI within enterprise versus DTC brands. The conversation covers how to find + celebrate the 10% of employees who are AI power users, what it looks like when adoption works, and why this is “for the rebels.” They debate whether AI is the great equalizer or a quiet advantage, unpack which parts of the AI hype cycle are overblown, and make the case that the people who learn to master these tools now are the ones who will win, in their careers and in their companies. Craig Foldes https://www.chatwalrus.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-foldes-1b949b96/ Matt Kruer https://x.com/matthew_kruer https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-kruer-9a90b716/ Powered By Fulfil https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu Aftersell https://9ops.co/4i3bb5 Richpanel https://9ops.co/richpanel Northbeam https://www.northbeam.io/ Saras Analytics https://bit.ly/9OP-Ytdesc Postscript https://9ops.co/postscript Operators Newsletter https://9operators.com/

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupOn this episode of the DTC Podcast, Eric sits down with Josh Suggs, founder of StreetTalk, and they break down how “Conversation Creative” is helping consumer brands appeal to today's audience preferences for raw, unscripted authenticity in their social feeds, while combatting headwinds brought on by Meta's Andromeda update. We talk frameworks, question design, editing loops, and why StreetTalk interviews drive KPI improvements across the full-funnel in under 45 seconds.Visit StreetTalk.com to get your brand out of the boardroom and into the streets!In this episode, we get into:How StreetTalk interviews can move someone from awareness → consideration → conversion in ~45 secondsThe difference between “random reactions” and direct response street ads (problem/solution, value props, use case)How StreetTalk briefs, shoots, edits, and tests concepts across major citiesWhere this fits inside an ad account (creative pillars + authenticity as a needed lane)What stops brands from doing it themselves (systems, reps, data, consistency)If you're a brand with product-market fit already, running UGC, and looking to scale with creative diversity on Meta/TikTok/YouTube, this episode is a must-listenTimestamps0:00 Street Talk sells authenticity with street interview ads2:00 Josh's origin story: Tabs Chocolate to first street reviews4:00 Building Street Talk fast with referrals (80 brands in a summer)6:00 Why man-on-the-street ads convert (full funnel in 45 seconds)8:00 Making street interviews direct response (hooks, pain points, value props)10:00 Where this fits in your ad account (creative diversity + authenticity)12:00 Results and wins (PrizePicks, ROAS improvements, scaling spend)14:00 Pricing, who it's for, and why brands can't easily DIY it16:00 The operational machine behind Street Talk (hosts, training, logistics)18:00 Platform playbook: Meta, TikTok, YouTube, TV, and repurposing clipsSubscribe 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

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

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

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

Are your new product launches driving incremental revenue or just shifting money around? Connor Rolain, Head of Growth at HexClad, and Connor MacDonald, CMO at Ridge, dig into one of the most under-discussed challenges in DTC: how and when to introduce new products into your paid acquisition channels. From HexClad's cocktail shaker launch to Ridge's tattoo-inspired wallet designs, they break down real decisions they're making right now. Geo lift tests, channel holdouts, MER vs. ad-level performance, blended business unit analysis, and cross-category buying. The conversation centers on operationalizing category expansion in paid — building frameworks for when to scale, when to hold, and how to make smarter allocation decisions across categories.Powered By:Motion Creative Strategy Bootcamphttps://motionapp.com/2026-creative-strategy-bootcamp-paid?utm_campaign=marketing-operators&utm_medium=sponsor&utm_content=creative-strategy-bootcamp-2026&utm_source=marketing-operators-podcastPrescient AIhttps://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanelhttps://9ops.co/richpanelAftersellhttps://9ops.co/4i3bb5Haushttps://www.haus.io/operatorsOperators Newsletterhttps://9operators.com/

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

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

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

Julian Tcherassi is the founder of Magiktea, the first USDA Organic & Wildlife Friendly certified palo azul tea brand in the world.  Under his leadership, Magiktea has grown from a small independent startup into a nationally recognized wellness brand, now available in over 1,000 health food stores nationwide.  Passionate about natural remedies and sustainability, Julian started Magiktea with the mission to share sustainably sourced palo azul so that everyone can enjoy Mother Nature's most magical tea.  In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro [02:06] Spotting an opportunity from personal experience [02:56] Starting a business through personal readings [05:06] Prioritizing retail over DTC for early traction [06:53] Offering consignment as visibility strategy  [10:31] Callouts [10:41] Embracing rejection as early sales training [14:43] Sponsor: Klaviyo [16:49] Learning advertisement tactics from founders [18:41] Optimizing website to support conversions [26:46] Sponsor: Intelligems [25:46] Improving listings to outshine competitors [29:26] Leveraging Amazon for exposure and sales [33:25] Sponsor: Electric Eye [34:31] Analyzing your brand for the winning message Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Fluorescent alkaline palo azul tea magiktea.com/ Follow Julian Tcherassi linkedin.com/in/julian-serrano-tcherassi-97a891156/ Get your free demo klaviyo.com/honest Book a demo today at intelligems.io/ Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect 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!

What happens when finance meets fashion—with comfort at the center? On this episode of Shoe In Show, Scott Gabrielson, Founder of Oliver Cabell, shares how his brand is challenging traditional footwear models through tech-driven design, a direct-to-consumer foundation, and a disciplined no-funding approach. Scott reflects on his journey from finance to fashion, Oliver Cabell's evolution from DTC to retail, and how comfort, craftsmanship, and transparency are reshaping what modern consumers expect from premium sneakers. With special guest: Scott Gabrielson, Founder, Oliver Cabell Hosted by: Matt Priest and Sandi Mines

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupVida Delrahim (ex-Nike marketing leader) built WeNatal after two miscarriages, zero satisfying answers, and a pretty wild realization: fertility isn't just “a women's problem,” and the market was full of either overpriced clinic-only options or low-dose “pretty” prenatals that don't move the needle.This episode is about two things: the product gap (his + hers fertility support, done like adults) and the go-to-market gap (how you grow a sensitive health brand without playing the paid media arms race).Role-based hook: For DTC founders building trust-heavy products (supplements, wellness, personal care) who can't or won't outspend VC brands.Tactical takeaways:Why WeNatal built around a medical board + research transparency instead of influencer “seeding”The doctor + midwife + doula channel as the real “creator engine”How premium packaging accidentally became UGC bait (and drove organic sharing)Why paid media flopped for them, and what worked better: education, SEO, panels, masterclasses, emailWhat “small batch, no fillers” actually means operationally (and why most brands avoid it)Who this is for:Founders/marketers in regulated or trust-sensitive categories who need compounding growth, not a one-time launch pop.What to steal:Build a lead magnet that's actually useful (their free fertility masterclass model) → then nurture with emailGo win practitioner trust one office at a time (and let that credibility cascade into PR + podcasts + referrals)Make your packaging something people want on the counter (compliance = retention)Timestamps00:00 Why WeNatal exists02:00 Miscarriage, Hashimoto's, and the wake-up call05:00 Men's role in fertility and what the research says07:00 Treating fertility like a team sport11:00 The fertility crisis and why it's tied to overall health16:00 Building the product: medical board, formulation, manufacturing18:00 How WeNatal grew without paid ads23:00 Pre, during, and postnatal use and retention26:00 Education-led growth: blogs, masterclass, panels, email30:00 Integrity vs hype in the supplement industry34:00 What's next: Protein Plus and 2026 product bets37:00 OutroSubscribe 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

Tomorrow is election day for the 130th district Democratic Town Committee in Bridgeport! Meet the first line candidates and find out more about the role of the DTC in local elections!

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

In this episode of Retention Chronicles, Mariah sits down with Meredith Mills-Merritt, founder and CEO of The Original Southside, a spirit-based, certified organic ready-to-drink cocktail built to challenge the status quo of the alcohol industry .Meredith shares how a family summer recipe evolved into a fast-growing CPG brand, why the RTD category is more confusing than consumers realize, and how ingredient transparency became her competitive edge. We unpack the difference between malt-based beverages and true spirit-based cocktails, the realities of launching in a saturated but growing category, and what it takes to build brand trust in a three-tier distribution system.We also dive into:Why education-first marketing is her primary acquisition strategyHow organic social and in-store tastings drive early tractionWhat retention looks like across DTC and retailWhy customer experience matters even more in a high-friction shipping categoryThe two unexpected consumer cohorts fueling growthIf you're building in CPG, navigating restricted goods, or thinking about how to balance brand awareness with retention, this episode is a masterclass in patience, precision, and raising the bar.

Creative volume isn't the unlock. Better messaging is.In this episode of eCommerce Evolution, Brett sits down with Nate Lagos (CMO of Adapt Naturals, former Head of Growth at Original Grain) to break down how great storytelling drives real performance.From selling wooden watches through emotional positioning… to increasing AOV by reframing gift messaging… to building ads that scale without “fatigue” — this episode is a masterclass in understanding why customers actually buy.If you're a DTC founder, CMO, or operator tired of launching more ads without improving results, this conversation will recalibrate how you think about copy, positioning, and brand personality.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Intro(05:05) Nate's origin story, and why storytelling became a “performance lever”(07:40) Selling the story behind the materials (10:30) Customer motivation deep dive: status, identity, and gift-giving (15:05) Creative quantity vs quality(19:05) Finding the real “why”: research methods (23:10) Brand as “personality”(30:10) Testing surprises + valence/intensity framework(37:15) Practical frameworks: adjective formula—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Request a Free Strategy Session: https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact Relevant Links:Nate's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagosAdapt Naturals: https://adaptnaturals.comOriginal Grain: https://www.originalgrain.com/Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

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

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

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

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

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

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