Episodit
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Sam Lee is the Vice President of Amazon DSP at Trivium, a full-service Amazon agency. With a background spanning Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Amazon PPC, Sam has developed deep expertise in Amazon DSP and has successfully managed advertising for over 200 brands.
In this episode of DTC Pod, Sam provides a comprehensive overview of Amazon DSP, its functionality, and its potential for driving brand growth. He shares practical insights on topics such as when brands should consider investing in DSP, what budget and review thresholds are recommended, and how to develop effective DSP strategies tailored to specific brand goals. Sam also emphasizes the importance of product differentiation, page optimization, and integrating Amazon DSP into a cohesive multi-channel marketing approach to drive overall sales growth.
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. Amazon DSP Overview
2. Budgeting for Amazon DSP
3. Amazon DSP Strategy
4. Tips for Amazon Success
5. Amazon Product Differentiation
6. Amazon Trends and OutlookTimestamps
00:00 Sam Lee’s background in Amazon DSP
03:38 What is Amazon DSP
05:24 Where Amazon DSP ads show up
06:24 Getting started with Amazon DSP advertising
08:17 Product-based Amazon DSP strategies
09:21 How Amazon DSP ads boost conversion rates
11:24 Leveraging Amazon’s first-party data through DSP
15:28 Creatives for Amazon DSP ads
17:04 Amazon DSP as part of the overall marketing strategy
20:19 Creating an Amazon strategy for a brand
22:11 Characteristics of brands that do well on Amazon
24:22 Amazon product trends in 2024
26:13 Amazon’s future, importance of holistic marketingShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokSam Lee - Vice-President of Amazon DSP at Trivium
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Aurelian Lis is the CEO of Dermalogica, a global skincare brand rooted in skin treatment expertise. With a background in atomic physics, laser optics, and extensive experience in the cosmetics industry, Aurelian has led Dermalogica to significant growth and innovation since taking the helm post-acquisition by Unilever.
In this episode of DTC Pod, Aurelian discusses the strategies that have driven Dermalogica's success, including delegating authority to the right people, empowering employees to innovate, and effectively integrating AI and machine learning across various functions. He stresses the importance of maintaining genuine personal connections with customers and staying true to the brand’s core values while proactively adapting to new trends, tech, and consumer preferences.
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. Growth Strategies
2. Innovation and AI Integration
3. Employee Empowerment
4. Global Team Structure
5. AI-Powered PersonalizationTimestamps
00:00 Aurelian Lis’s journey from physics to finance to skincare
06:04 Joining Dermalogica as the CEO
08:08 Dermatologica’s channels and decentralized structure
12:13 Delegating authority and pushing for innovation
18:09 Generative AI and face mapping
23:53 Dermalogica Tribe, technology, and the importance of human touch
30:36 Key learnings from 9 years with Dermalogica
33:33 Advice for DTC operators and foundersShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokAurelian Lis - Global CEO of Dermalogica
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
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Benjamin Witte is the founder and CEO of Recess, a beverage brand focused on creating products that promote relaxation and mental wellness. Inspired by the rise of functional ingredients like CBD, nootropics, and adaptogenic herbs, Benjamin saw an opportunity to pioneer a category of beverages that could help people unwind in a healthy way.
In this episode of DTC POD, Benjamin shares his journey of launching Recess and the key strategies that have contributed to its success, including a focus on efficient brand impressions and an omnichannel approach to distribution.
We discuss the significance of riding secular tailwinds, the advantages of having a broader mission when launching a brand, and the potential benefits and risks of a platform strategy.
The conversation also touches the future of the functional beverage space and the role that Recess aims to play in shaping it.
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. Product Launch and Market Timing
2. Brand Awareness and Media Strategy
3. Regulatory Challenges in the CPG Space
4. Supply Chain Evolution
5. Retail Expansion and Distribution Strategy
6. Building and Growing the Recess Team
7. Trends in the Beverage IndustryTimestamps
00:00 From working at startups to founding Recess
04:36 Trends at the early days of Recess
08:04 How UGC factored in the launch of Recess
10:02 Validating the idea behind Recess
11:44 Key learnings from the early days of Recess
14:20 Importance of brand impressions to beverage companies
16:51 Generating earned media through IG content
18:03 Trajectory of growth for the Recess team
21:17 Expanding Recess from just DTC to DTC and retail
22:52 Shifting to a more scalable supply chain model
24:15 Recess as a platform brand; expanding the product line
28:37 Insights on the non-alcoholic beverage trend
31:45 Mood powders as part of the Recess expansion strategy
33:48 What’s next for RecessShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokBenjamin Witte - Founder and CEO of Recess
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Rob Schutz is the co-founder of the unicorn Ro, a healthcare company that initially offered ED medications and later expanded into other products and services for sexual health, weight loss, fertility, hair, and skin. Prior to Ro, Rob was instrumental in the exponential growth of BARK/BarkBox, a now prominent subscription service for dog products. Currently, at Snagged.com, he is focused on helping businesses acquire premium domain names and digital assets.
In this episode of the DTC POD, Rob shares valuable insights into the growth strategies that have contributed to the success of both BARK/BarkBox and Ro. He discusses the importance of focusing on core, consistent marketing channels such as paid search, paid social, and email, while also allocating a separate budget for testing and exploring new, experimental strategies and channels.
Rob offers practical advice for founders and marketers, stressing the need to plan for scale, set and clearly communicate priorities, foster strong relationships between growth and marketing leaders, and structure teams effectively as the company experiences rapid growth. He also shares his expertise in domain brokerage, discussing strategies for acquiring and negotiating domain names to help build strong brand identities.
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. DTC Marketing Strategies
2. Optimizing Marketing Budget
3. Testing Marketing Channels
4. Digital Marketing Challenges
5. Building and Structuring Teams
6. Importance of Domain NamesTimestamps
00:00 Rob Schutz’s DTC experience: BARK/BarkBox, Ro, Snagged.com
07:37 Process of acquiring domain names
11:10 Why Rob Schutz founded Snagged.com
14:28 From User Acquisition Manager to VP of Growth at BARK/BarkBox
16:27 Lessons from BARK/BarkBox’s growth journey
20:56 Strategies for choosing and testing growth channels
26:09 Transitioning from BARK/BarkBox to Ro
29:00 Challenge with digital performance platforms in the early days of Ro
31:33 Rolling out Ro’s ED medication state-by-state, launching other products
35:47 Planning for scale around high quality of care
35:51 Iterations around how to structure the team as Ro scaled
41:47 Rob Schutz’s advice to founders
46:35 Sports sponsorship as a performance channel
48:10 Snagged.com’s domain servicesShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokRob Schutz - Co-Founder of Ro and Founder of Snagged.com
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Mina Elias is a multiple 7-figure seller in the supplement industry, investor, Amazon PPC expert, and founder of Trivium Group, a full-service Amazon agency. With his extensive experience in helping brands thrive on Amazon, Mina brings valuable insights to the conversation around expanding to emerging platforms like TikTok Shop and navigating the evolving e-commerce landscape.
In this episode of DTC Pod, Mina explores the potential of TikTok Shop as a powerful platform for reaching younger audiences and driving sales. He offers practical advice on setting up a TikTok Shop account, engaging affiliates to create authentic and compelling content, and leveraging competitor insights through tools like FastMoss to optimize ad strategies.
Mina also explores the synergistic relationship between TikTok Shop and Amazon, highlighting the positive impact on Amazon sales and organic ranking when brands effectively leverage external traffic from TikTok. He discusses the importance of setting realistic budgets for testing ad content on TikTok, emphasizing the need for brands to focus on quality content creation and authentic representation.
Throughout the conversation, Mina stresses the significance of adapting to the unique storytelling aspects of the TikTok platform to maximize success and cautions against overengineering content, as authenticity is key to resonating with the TikTok audience.
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. Amazon vs. TikTok Shop
2. TikTok Shop Basics
3. TikTok Shop Logistics
4. TikTok Affiliate Marketing
5. TikTok Competitive Analysis
6. Cross-Platform Effects
7. TikTok-Amazon IntegrationTimestamps
00:00 Mina Elias’ background in Amazon
03:34 TikTok and future shopping trends
06:12 How TikTok solved the content problem for brands
09:15 How TikTok merged affiliate and attribution
10:12 How to start selling on TikTok Shop: account and page setup, logistics
14:29 Affiliate marketing on TikTok: manual and automated outreach
17:42 Strategies for running ads with affiliate content
19:18 Budgeting for TikTok ads, data analysis with FastMoss
23:51 Finding the right TikTok creators for your brand
25:33 The impact of TikTok Shop on Amazon sales and organic rankingShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokMina Elias - Founder of Trivium Group and Chief Executive Officer at MMA Nutrition LLC
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Michelle Cordeiro Grant is an accomplished entrepreneur with a passion for creating innovative, community-based businesses. In 2016, she founded the intimates brand LIVELY and sold it three years later for $105 million. Following this successful exit, she pivoted to her next venture: GORGIE, a wellness energy drink.
In this episode of DTC Pod, Michelle shares valuable insights on building a successful DTC brand from the ground up. She discusses the importance of building a community around the brand, leveraging social media, and using data and customer feedback to drive product innovation.
Michelle also touches on the strategic decisions behind GORGIE's retail expansion, partnering with influential creators, and creating a magazine to inspire and connect with customers. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes authenticity, quality, and customer-centricity as crucial elements in establishing a strong brand identity.
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. Brand and Community Building
2. Data-Driven Product Development
3. Nurturing Retail Partnerships
4. Strategic Market Positioning
5. Defining and Capturing Your ICP
6. Organic Influencer Partnerships
7. The Intersection of Fashion and CPGTimestamps
00:00 Michelle Cordeiro Grant’s background; the idea behind GORGIE
03:46 How customer feedback factored in product and brand development for GORGIE
07:40 Community as a buzzword vs as part of brand identity
10:01 Community building as an integral part of brand building
11:28 How to keep an online community engaged; consumer vs community funnel
16:50 GORGIE’s partnerships: Erewhon, Whole Foods, Sprouts, H-E-B, etc.
20:05 Overlaps between two industries: fashion and CPG
22:14 The story and vision behind GORGIE’s magazine
23:57 Defining GORGIE’s ICP and building a brand around them
26:54 GORGIE’s growth channels, how they nurture top-of-funnel and retain customers
29:42 Year two of GORGIE: online and retail initiatives
31:19 Brand-creator partnerships and the importance of organic alignmentShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokMichelle Cordeiro Grant - Founder and CEO of GORGIE
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Noah Tucker is the founder of Social Snowball, an automated affiliate and referral marketing platform for e-commerce that drives significant revenue for over 2,000 brands, including Solawave, Obvi, and Javy Coffee.
In this episode of the DTC POD, Noah shares powerful strategies for brands to supercharge their affiliate programs and drive significant revenue growth. He covers how to find and choose the right influencers, why it’s important to keep the activation process as smooth as possible, what brands can do to keep affiliates engaged, and how to measure the success of an affiliate program.
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. The Evolution of Affiliate Marketing
2. Affiliate Marketing Challenges Faced by Brands
3. Affiliate Discovery, Activation, and Engagement
4. Affiliate Program Commissions
5. Attribution in Affiliate Marketing
6. Affiliate Marketing Trends and Future OutlookTimestamps
00:00 Evolution of the meaning of “affiliate” in e-commerce
05:07 Challenges brands face when running an affiliate marketing program
07:32 Strategies for affiliate activation: engagement flow and tier structures
11:52 Things that get influencers interested in working with a brand
15:09 Optimal affiliate marketing commission rates
15:49 How to choose the right influencer for affiliate partnership
19:18 Strategies for finding and recruiting affiliate partners
23:11 How to measure the success of an affiliate program
25:03 Affiliate marketing trends and future outlook
29:05 Attribution in affiliate marketing; a tool that prevents coupon code leaks
33:11 Key initiatives of Social SnowballShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokNoah Tucker - Founder of Social Snowball
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Ellen Marie Bennett is the founder and chief brand officer of Hedley & Bennett, a culinary lifestyle brand that started as a B2B company, offering high-quality aprons to professional chefs, and later expanded both its product line (to include other kitchen items) and customer base (now largely DTC).
In this episode of DTC Pod, Ellen shares her journey of starting the company while working as a line cook. She emphasizes the importance of a slow and steady approach to building a business, focusing on financial responsibility and gathering feedback from core customers to improve products.
Ellen discusses her strategic approach to marketing, building an engaged community, and expanding the brand through collaborations with chefs, influencers, and creators.
The conversation also touches on Hedley & Bennett’s expansion into DTC, their plans to go omnichannel, and how they’re investing sustainably for long-term success.
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. Grassroots Marketing
2. Strategic Financial Management
3. Customer Feedback in Product Development
4. Building a Brand Community
5. Product Seeding and Influencer Marketing
6. Expanding from B2B to DTC
7. Business Growth and SustainabilityTimestamps
00:00 How Hedley & Bennett came about
05:05 Why Ellen Marie Bennett started an apron brand
07:28 Financial lessons from the first years of Hedley & Bennett
15:03 Building a brand community
16:03 How Hedley & Bennett expanded from B2B to DTC
21:05 The importance of strong customer partnerships
24:13 Product seeding and influencer marketing
29:04 How customer feedback factors in the product iteration cycle
33:09 Prioritizing long-term brand vision and investmentsShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokEllen Marie Bennett - CEO and Founder of Hedley & Bennett
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Josh Piepmeier helps challenger brands outperform their fiercest competitors by targeting the highest-volume, most profitable keywords in their industry. With his company Meriwether, he crafts strategic SEO campaigns that drive immediate profits and build long-term, sustainable growth.
Josh’s SEO approach has successfully gone head-to-head with giants like Amazon, Tiffany’s, and Macy's for competitive purchase-intent keywords. His expertise has transformed businesses struggling to gain traction into thriving enterprises with significant customer acquisition from organic search results.
In this episode of DTC Pod, Josh provides real-world examples of how businesses have benefited from investing in SEO and offers advice for DTC brands looking to build an effective SEO strategy. We cover topics such as establishing topical authority, the relationship between ads and organic search traffic, and the impact of AI on SEO.
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. Importance of Investing in SEO
2. SEO Strategies for E-commerce Brands
3. When to Invest in SEO
4. Role of Branded Search in SEO
5. Relationship Between Ads and SEO
6. Topical Authority vs Domain Authority
7. The Impact of AI on SEO
8. E-commerce vs Non-E-commerce SEOTimestamps
00:00 Josh Piepmeier’s background
04:25 When brands should start investing in SEO
07:04 How to optimize for branded searches
10:36 Off-page SEO for new domains
13:54 E-commerce SEO vs standard SEO
16:58 Google AI updates and how it’s affecting SEO
20:16 On using AI for website content
22:46 How paid ads factor into SEO
26:03 How to create an effective SEO strategy
30:00 Importance of topical authority for small brands
33:20 Outcomes for brands that have focused on SEOShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokJosh Piepmeier - Founder of Meriwether
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Mina Elias is a multiple 7-figure Amazon FBA seller and renowned PPC expert. He is also the founder of Trivium Group, a company that helps brands navigate and dominate the Amazon marketplace.
In this episode of DTC Pod, Mina details a holistic approach to enhancing the presence and profitability of any brand on Amazon, focusing on three pillars: traffic, click-through rate, and conversion rate. He covers the factors affecting each of these metrics and how to drive growth at every stage of the Amazon sales funnel.
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. Strategies for New Amazon Brands
2. How to Grow Traffic, CTR, and CVR on Amazon
3. Factors that Affect Sales and Conversion on Amazon
4. How to Optimize for Paid and Organic Search on Amazon
5. Tips for Optimizing Amazon Product Listings
6. Ways to Increase AOV and LTV on AmazonTimestamps
00:00 Mina Elias’ background, how he started an Amazon agency
04:04 Three core pillars to scaling your brand on Amazon
05:39 Maximizing product visibility through strategic paid advertising
11:13 How to budget for Amazon spending
13:31 Tips for structuring Amazon PPC campaigns, setting up Amazon DSP
16:52 Growing your organic traffic on Amazon
19:33 Breaking in as a new brand; the importance of product differentiation
21:17 Seven factors that affect click-through rate (CTR) on Amazon
25:04 How price affects Amazon reviews and star ratings
27:33 Split testing discounts, coupons, and tracking profits
31:22 Best practices for optimizing Amazon product titles
32:21 Why choose Amazon FBA over FBM
33:34 How to earn the Amazon Best-Seller Badge
35:03 Factors that affect conversion rate on Amazon
36:45 Considering the buyer's perspective when creating an Amazon strategy
38:09 Optimizing videos on Amazon product listings
39:39 How to write effective Amazon bullet points
40:05 Amazon virtual bundles and how they affect conversion rate
42:51 Brand story; standard Amazon A+ Content vs Premium A+ Content
45:19 Leveraging user-generated content (UGC) to boost Amazon sales
46:25 Amazon Posts and Amazon Storefront
47:47 Importance of reviews with images on Amazon and how to get them
50:01 Ways to increase average order value (AOV) on Amazon
51:13 Ways to increase lifetime value (LTV) on Amazon
53:03 Testing and optimizing Amazon product listingsShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokMina Elias - Founder of Trivium Group and Chief Executive Officer at MMA Nutrition LLC
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Will Baumann is the co-founder and CEO of Fourthwall, a company that empowers creators to sell products online without needing to be e-commerce experts.
At Fourthwall, they handle sales tax, supply chain, customer support, and more so creators can focus on making content and growing their community.
In this episode of DTC Pod, Will shares his insights on the complexities of building a business out of one’s personal brand and how Fourthwall has been aiding this process for over 50,000 creators.
Will also touches on the power of creators today, the trends they’re seeing at Fourthwall in terms of product popularity and paid ad usage, and Fourthwall’s differentiation strategy, growth channels, and future plans.
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. E-commerce for Content Creators
2. Fourthwall’s Target Audience and Market Positioning
3. How to Get Started with Fourthwall
4. Merchandising Strategies for Creators
5. Growth Channels: Word-of-Mouth, Cold Outbound, SEO
6. Community-Driven Sales vs Paid Ads
7. The Power of Content CreatorsTimestamps
00:00 How Fourthwall helps creators build their businesses
06:39 What creators need to know about sales tax
09:50 Identifying a customer persona for Fourthwall
11:53 Steps to get set up with Fourthwall
14:09 Fourthwall then vs now, from manual to automated processes
18:12 Distribution trends on Fourthwall, community vs paid ads
19:05 The most popular products creators sell and how to scale
20:10 Starting a business vs creating a new revenue stream
22:04 Fourthwall’s future plans and growth projections
24:10 Positioning against Shopify and Pietra
25:44 How Fourthwall reaches its ICPs: word of mouth, cold outbound, SEOShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokWill Baumann - Co-Founder and CEO at Fourthwall
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Colin Flood is the Vice President of Marketing at Unreal Snacks, a better-for-you chocolate brand with widespread distribution across numerous retailers in the United States and an established direct-to-consumer platform.
At Unreal, Colin plays a pivotal role in scaling e-commerce and D2C operations, as well as in expanding their presence into major retailers like Costco, Target, and Walmart.
In this episode of DTC Pod, Colin Flood discusses the ups and downs of their marketing initiatives at Unreal, how they are bridging the gap between retail and digital customer experiences, and what their strategies are for data-driven marketing and budgeting across multiple channels.
We also explore how Unreal is leveraging community involvement and consumer networks to drive brand awareness.
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. DTC and Retail Marketing Strategies
2. Omni-Channel Presence
3. Retail and Digital Marketing Mix
4. Market Dynamics and Education
5. Amazon Strategy
6. Community Engagement
7. Consumer Network Growth
8. Customer Reactivation Strategies
9. Contextual Targeting
10. Marketing Team StructureTimestamps
00:00 Colin Flood’s background; experience in e-commerce, marketing, and branding
03:20 Unreal Snacks — mission & vision, retail & DTC strategy, then vs now
10:39 In-store and online marketing strategies
15:02 Creative ways to get in front of customers
18:39 Amazon strategy, shifting to FBA
22:49 Marketing team structure and responsibilities
24:27 Relationship between marketing, community, and social
28:16 Marketing goals, data, and budget allocation
31:04 Contextual targeting, new product launch, reactivation strategies
33:26 Challenges in low funnel marketing
35:03 Bridging customer experiences between retail and digital
36:47 New chocolate products, new retail partnershipShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokColin Flood - VP of Marketing at Unreal Snacks
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
David Hoffman and Samir Rayani co-founded Next Big Shop, where they leverage their expertise to analyze and interpret publicly available but hard-to-access e-commerce data for insights into retail success and product trends. As partners, they collaborate on developing data products that inform and guide direct-to-consumer strategies for various brands and industries.
In this episode of DTC Pod, David and Samir explore e-commerce trends, the significance of retail presence for certain product categories, and the intricacies of building and using data products to analyze market and sales data. They also cover the challenges faced when building data products, the role of data in measuring the success of brand strategies, and the need for precise data communication.
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. E-commerce Sales Data Analysis
2. DTC Brand Strategies
3. Seasonality and Market Trends
4. Data-Driven Decision-Making
5. Subscription Business Models
6. Data Product ChallengesTimestamps
02:15 David and Samir’s background and experience in building data products
08:31 What data says about commerce trends in 2024
15:03 One of the hottest accessories brand: Blenders
18:55 Alo in apparel, how data can help optimize inventory turnover
20:57 Comparing brand strategies and impact on sales
24:52 Comparing beauty brands: Jones Road, Thrive, Peach and Lily, P. Louise
30:32 Using data to confirm or invalidate assumptions
31:39 Trending DTC topics and best-selling products in 2024
36:03 The relationship between demand and supply share
38:59 Beverage brands, DTC and retail strategy
43:34 Subscription business model, how subscription factors in data on Next Big Shop
44:50 Retail distribution, using data to define success metrics
48:45 Challenges of building data productsShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokDavid Hoffman and Samir Rayani - Co-Founders of Next Big Shop
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
John Morgan is the founder of Pelagic, a unique agency of top tier operators that helps brands tackle supply chain, logistics & operations. Prior to starting Pelagic, he served as VP of Ops at Seed Health where he built the infrastructure behind one of the fastest growing modern health brands. Before getting into DTC he worked on the Falcon 9 rocket team at SpaceX. His expertise spans across optimizing supply chains for efficiency, sustainability, and growth, especially for early-stage companies.
In this episode of DTC Pod, John talks about the iterative nature of supply chain management and the need for startups to continuously adapt and refine their processes. He highlights the use of technology to streamline operations, the significance of understanding the complexities of global supply chains, especially under the strain of events like the COVID-19 pandemic, and shares a framework for setting up supply chains with a strong foundation in operational details and supplier partnerships.
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. Iterative Supply Chain Management
2. Third-Party Logistics Partnerships
3. Fractional Operations and Technology
4. Profitability and Cost Optimization
6. Impact of COVID-19 on Supply Chain
7. Future Tech in Operations
8. Building and Scaling Supply ChainsTimestamps
02:09 John Morgan’s background and experience working on SpaceX
06:39 Leading the operations at Seed Health
09:37 The effect of COVID on global manufacturing, supply chain, and operations
11:46 Pelagic as a supply chain service provider
13:15 How to get supply chain right from the get-go; mistakes to avoid
18:56 Adapting supply chains to growth and change
23:41 Hiring for supply chain, considerations for early-stage founders
26:35 Optimizing for profits vs quality, financial optimization of supply chains
30:26 What founders need to know before importing
33:55 Common mistakes to avoid in supply chain managementShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokJohn Morgan - Founder of Pelagic
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtiar are the co-founders of Good Girl Snacks, a company that has made a name for itself in the snack industry with a focus on creating modern, female-oriented branding, particularly with their product "Hot Girl Pickles."
Leah and Yasaman launched their brand by leveraging social media, especially TikTok, identifying a gap in the pickle market for their niche audience. Despite their lack of experience in the food and beverage industry, they were able to carve out a unique space and build a dedicated community around their brand through their knowledge of social media marketing and content creation.
In this episode of DTC Pod, Leah and Yasaman pull back the curtain on their content and marketing strategy. We gain insights into organic brand-building, how it contributes to maintaining authenticity and connection with an ad-averse Gen Z audience, and how they use it to get real-time engagement and feedback to refine and enhance their product line. We also learn the unique challenges and learning curves Leah and Yasaman faced in the CPG industry as they built Good Girl Snacks from the ground up.
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. Content Creation and Marketing Strategies
2. Overcoming Production and Operation Challenges
3. Engaging Gen Z through Authenticity
4. Branding and Niche Market Targeting
5. Learning From Industry with Consultancy Support
6. Building Community via Organic Social Content
7. Flexibility and Patience in Business GrowthTimestamps
02:00 Viral TikTok trends and how Good Girl Snacks started
04:21 From doing corporate work to launching a brand
07:21 Initial fears of starting a business
09:34 The white space in the pickle market
10:59 Picking a niche, catering to Gen Z consumers
13:28 Content strategy, leveraging brand stories and SEO
17:07 Good Girl Snacks’ content creation workflow then vs now
22:45 Balancing planned and spontaneous content
24:39 Content distribution; reels, stories, and grid strategy
27:59 Product development, hiring R&D consultants, the importance of community
31:34 Gathering customer feedback for iterative product development
34:21 Challenges and advantages of bootstrapping
36:21 Adapting marketing strategy to Gen Z consumer attitudes and behavior
38:53 Retaining authenticity while scaling, continuing to create low-lift content
41:22 Hiring consultants vs full-time employees
44:28 How to get the most out of startup advisors
47:33 Advice to future founders: be adaptable and patientShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokLeah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtiar - Co-Founders of Good Girl Snacks
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Christopher Hunter is a seasoned entrepreneur best known for creating Four Loko, a caffeinated alcoholic beverage that caused a stir across college campuses and beyond. Currently, he serves as the CEO of Koia, a leading plant-based protein drink company that has achieved over $100 million in annual retail sales nationwide.
In this episode of DTC Pod, we uncover tactics for rapid growth in the CPG space. Christopher highlights the importance of adapting to market shifts and consumer demands, which steered his brand from a costly initial direct-to-consumer model to a more sustainable retail focus, eventually re-introducing multi-packs for platforms like Instacart and launching shelf-stable products on Amazon.
With Koia now available in approximately 30,000 retail locations—including a recent nationwide partnership with Starbucks—Christopher reflects on the brand’s product development and scale-up process.
Shop Koia on Amazon.
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. Startup Challenges and Solutions
2. Retail Partnerships and Scaling
3. Adaptation to Regulations
4. Four Loko's Market Evolution
5. Koya's Strategic Growth
6. Distribution and Manufacturing Strategies
7. Direct-to-Consumer Shifts and TrendsTimestamps
01:48 Christopher Hunter’s background, how Four Loko and Koia started
07:14 From managing Phusion Projects to investing in Raw Nature 5 to creating Koia
09:28 How a partnership helped launch and scale Koia
12:12 Troubleshooting initial production challenges at Koia
14:41 Starting with natural retailers, then going to specialty and conventional ones
17:23 The evolution of Koia’s supply chain and operations
19:57 Moving from DTC to retail, addressing customer requests, discovering an opportunity to sell on Amazon
22:22 Expectations for Koia’s launch on Amazon, looking at product competition
25:41 Lessons learned from Four Loko, product iteration and scaling
31:16 Dealing with government agencies, building a solid business foundation
33:56 Consumer research and how it factors in making business decisions like product line expansionShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokChristopher Hunter - Co-Founder of Phusion Projects and Koia
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Kellen Roland served as first CEO of JOOPITER alongside Pharrel Williams and VP of Sales of Herschel Supply Co, and brings 18+ years of expertise in the luxury and consumer sectors. He has a triple role as a founder, investor, and strategic advisor. He fosters business growth through insightful leadership and AI integration, invests in promising businesses like TRUFF, and offers strategic advice to brands such as Slowtide.
With an acute sense of cultural trends and storytelling skills, he establishes authentic links between brands and audiences. Notably, he worked at Agenda Trade Show, Herschel Supply Co., and iamOTHER, founded The NTWRK Agency, and eventually built JOOPITER alongside Pharrell Williams. At present, he shares this extensive learning at his own consulting business, KRMC.
In this DTC Pod episode, Kellen Roland gives insights on building strong retailer relationships. He emphasizes the importance of delivering unique value to create lasting partnerships in retail. He also discusses negotiating techniques and the need to maintain a healthy balance of markups and margins, appealing to vendors while preserving brand profitability. Kellen encourages brands to be agile; taking customer feedback seriously and quickly adapting to changing preferences is key for success in the fast-changing DTC landscape. Through his strategic insights, Kellen cements the framework for a successful retail strategy that is as much about captivating storytelling as it is about shrewd business deliberations.
Join 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!
On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. Strategic DTC Brand Launch
2. Entrepreneurship and Relationship-Building
3. Agility and Adaptability in Retail
4. Ethics in CPG and Brand Responsibility
5. Traits of Highly Successful People
6. Practical Benefits of AI in Business
7. The Value of MentorshipTimestamps
01:30 Kellen Roland’s background, early career and passion
06:48 Herschel’s success, the importance of clear vision and timing
11:45 Creating win-win situations for retailers as a brand
13:01 How to pitch new products to retailers
17:04 Traditional brand launch versus modern direct-to-consumer approach
21:14 The importance of demand planning and brand agility
25:23 Brands to watch out for: Graza, Nguyen Coffee, Rocky’s Matcha, Goodles
32:52 Working with Pharell Williams on JOOPITER
35:53 Traits for leveling up to Kobe-level success
40:41 Commitment, resilience, and persistence amidst challenges
44:17 Using AI to manage schedules, solve problems, and scale operations
49:08 Coaching and revenue growth, building a consulting business
52:08 Seeking mentors, not copy-pasting success formulasShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokKellen Roland - Founder of KRMC
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Loren Castle is an entrepreneur and the founder of Sweet Loren's, a brand specializing in ready-to-bake cookie dough that is plant-based, gluten-free, nut-free, and non-GMO.
After being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 22, Loren Castle was motivated to create a line of sweets that aligned with her own desire for healthier, less processed treats made from real food ingredients. Baking served both as her therapy and a means of creative expression during her challenging times.
Sweet Loren's began in Loren's kitchen after her homemade chocolate chip cookie recipe received high praise, leading her to realize the potential of her products. Her business has grown significantly over the years, and she has successfully led the brand to offer a broad range of products catering to health-conscious consumers. Sweet Loren's products are now available in over 25,000 supermarkets.
This episode of DTC Pod explores how Sweet Loren’s became the #1 natural cookie dough brand in the US. We cover topics like scaling product production, identifying business opportunities, and integrating customer feedback into product development stages. Learn about their success from startup to leader in the CPG market.
Episode brought to you by More Staffing
Join 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!
On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. Tips for Scaling Product Production
2. Key Considerations for Product Line Expansion
3. Strategies for Successful Product Launches
4. How to Identify White Space Opportunities
5. Customer Feedback Integration in Product Development
6. Business Decision-Making and GrowthTimestamps
04:14 Starting Sweet Loren’s, the #1 natural cookie dough brand in the US
10:32 Discovering passion, becoming an entrepreneur, finding purpose
14:11 From solopreneurship to business leader
15:46 Deciding between opening a bakery vs entering the CPG market
16:39 Product development, choosing cookie dough as the first product
20:54 Customer feedback and its role in product iteration cycle
22:32 Shifting focus to customer needs, scaling Sweet Loren’s
24:58 Changing products to cater to food intolerances and allergies
32:28 Early stages of funding, bootstrapping, scaling
34:36 Evaluating business opportunities based on personal alignment
35:52 Figuring out the top five SKUs that are gonna sell
38:03 Launching Sweet Lauren’s first shelf-stable product
38:59 Launching other types of refrigerated doughs
41:16 Considerations for expanding Sweet Loren’s product offerings
43:14 Researching, identifying opportunities, developing products
46:55 Why team, experience, expertise, and data are vital for startup successShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokLoren Castle - CEO and Founder of Sweet Loren's
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Emmett Shine is the creative genius behind Pattern, taking the lead in shaping the narratives and aesthetics of its seven brands. He also co-founded a creative agency, Gin Lane, and oversaw its evolution in parallel with the burgeoning startup ecosystem that came to define New York's landscape.
In this episode, Emmett discusses Pattern Brands' approach to cultivating a unique identity for each brand within its family. He underscores the need to create specialized experiences for individual brands while exploring synergies across the portfolio. His dual focus on operations and creatives emerges as a cornerstone strategy, proving pivotal in his company's ongoing journey to build a robust and profitable direct-to-consumer ecosystem.
Join 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!
On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. Creative vs Operational Mindsets
2. Talent Recognition and Recruitment Strategies
3. Timeless Design Principles and Inspiration
4. DTC Brand Challenges and Strategies
5. Building and Scaling a Brand Family
6. Personal Growth and EntrepreneurshipTimestamps
00:00 Working with business founders, finding market opportunities
05:25 Starting Pattern Brands, buying businesses, launching a design agency
13:23 Finding and hiring the right talent
15:27 Emmett Shine’s background in design, creating timeless vs trendy designs
24:18 Launching two brands, Equal Parts and Open Spaces
28:31 Managing multiple brands: human resources and operations
33:50 Building specialized brands that cater to millennials
45:01 Focusing on consistency, quality, and iterative processes
46:34 Diverse projects in early stages, seeking new challengesShow 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
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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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokEmmett Shine - Co-Founder of Pattern Brands
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Our conversation with growth strategist Sabir Semerkant is filled with actionable insights on thriving in the e-commerce landscape.
Sabir’s approach to e-commerce growth is holistic. He emphasizes constant improvement and a strong understanding of one's business foundations. His advice invites brands to explore a growth path that's not reliant on temporary fixes but solidifies lasting customer relationships and strong business workflows.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get an expert’s take on fueling your strategy and growth.
Episode brought to you by More Staffing
Join 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!
On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. Sabir Semerkant’s 8D Method
2. The Importance of Mobile Optimization
3. Key Dimensions for E-Commerce Success
4. Storytelling in Marketing
5. Customer Experience and Branding
6. The Importance of Customer Centricity
7. Value Creation and Strategic Pricing
8. E-Commerce Platform Optimization
9. Growth and Operational Strategies
10. Logistics and FulfillmentTimestamps
10:48 Setting goals, improving KPIs every day by 1%
12:10 The Rapid 2X and Mastermind programs and the 8D Method
13:46 Consistent improvement vs. quick transient optimization dilemma
18:21 The importance of measuring all aspects of business for success
20:17 The risks of relying solely on paid advertising, the importance of building a brand
24:43 The dangers of discounting and how it could hurt a business
28:12 Storytelling in marketing, building an emotional connection with customers
32:32 Optimizing tech stack for attention span, earning audience engagement
37:44 Free tool for measuring site speed to improve performance and conversion
39:10 Mobile optimization and why it is important
42:25 Product positioning and brand building, paying attention to what customers care about
45:33 The importance of authenticity in branding
48:43 Putting customers at the center of a business, creating buyer personas
53:15 Strategic pricing, cultivating brand loyalty through content
01:00:11 Factors to consider when choosing the right tech stack
01:08:42 Choosing the right third-party logistics and operations partners
01:13:58 Finding and hiring the right people to help a business growShow 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 internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!
DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTokSabir Semerkant - Founder of GROWTH by SABIR
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic - Näytä enemmän
