Episodes
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Isabel Mendez is the founder and design director at Antara Studio, an award-winning full-service design partner for purpose-driven brands.
With a focus on brand, content, and design, Isabel and her team help companies create cohesive and emotionally resonant identities across all touchpoints.
In this episode of DTC POD, Blaine and Isabel discuss:
The three necessary phases for creating a brand identityWhat makes a good brand story and how brands can effectively communicate itHow brands can adapt to trends while remaining true to who they areInteract 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 Brand Design Trends
2. Stages of Brand Identity Building
3. Characteristics of a Good Brand Story
4. Consistency in Branding
5. Branding as a Holistic ProcessTimestamps
00:00 Starting the design studio Antara
03:39 From freelancing to building a team
05:10 The basics of building a great brand
07:45 Branding as graphic communication
10:21 Owning assets vs having a brand
12:26 Phases of brand identity construction
16:21 What makes a good brand story
21:09 Brand case study: Star Fades International
25:15 Establishing a design story for brands
26:55 Brand application and consistency
29:48 Design trends and timelessness
33:33 What’s next for AntaraShow 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 TikTokIsabel Mendez - Founder and Design Director of Antara Studio
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
John Sampogna is the co-founder and CEO of Wondersauce, a modern advertising agency that specializes in brand storytelling, paid media, e-commerce, and digital experiences.
In this episode of DTC Pod, John discusses brand storytelling strategies across all sorts of media channels. He shares insights on crafting impactful campaigns and tips for finding and leveraging undervalued marketing gems like connected TV, static out-of-home, and podcasts.
We explore the importance of understanding target audiences, the 3-3-3 rule for keeping your messaging on point, and finding that sweet spot between top-of-funnel brand-building and lower-funnel performance tactics.
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 Storytelling Strategies
2. Buying and Crafting Campaigns
3. Linear vs Connected TV
4. Audience Understanding
5. 333 Rule for Messaging
6. Advertising Tactics and Budgeting
7. Undervalued Marketing Channels
8. Brand Story vs Product StoryTimestamps
00:00 John Sampogna’s background; Wondersauce vision
03:54 Serving Fortune 1000 businesses and DTC startups
06:05 Starting and scaling an advertising agency
10:11 What is brand storytelling and how can brands get it right
13:23 Media budgets and audiences in funnel strategy
18:44 Connected TV, static out-of-home, and podcasts
25:42 Strategizing for connected TV vs linear TV
28:58 Steps for creating an effective brand or product story
34:28 How Wondersauce onboard and work with clientsShow 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 Sampogna - CEO and Co-Founder of Wondersauce
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Missing episodes?
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Haley Weidenbaum is the CEO and co-founder of Everhem, a DTC company specializing in custom window treatments, including shades and drapery.
In this episode of DTC Pod, Haley discusses the strategies that have helped Everhem grow and differentiate itself in the market. She discusses the challenges of online shopping for custom products and how Everhem addresses them through thorough guides and customer support.
Haley also shares insights on Everhem's dual business mode—how they serve both interior designers and regular consumers, and how they adapt their offerings to meet the unique needs of each customer segment.
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. Window Treatment Market Landscape
2. Everhem's Niche and Positioning
3. Interior Design Trends and Forecasting
4. Challenges in Custom Window Treatments
5. Business Operations and Customer Service
6. Designer and Consumer Experience
7. Initial Business Journey and Growth
8. COVID-19 Impact and Market ResponseTimestamps
00:00 Haley Weidenbaum’s background in interior design
4:00 From doing interior design to starting Everhem
07:51 COVID and the home industry boom
08:40 Importance of providing exceptional customer service
13:45 Everhem as the one-stop shop for window treatment
19:01 Catering to regular consumers and trade partners
24:15 Prioritizing key markets, managing expectations strategically
27:34 Window treatment industry and where Everhem fits
34:19 Using trends to forecast supply chain & manufacturing
37:42 Logistics, packaging, unboxing experience
40:02 Next step for Everhem: building authentic relationshipsShow 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 TikTokHaley Weidenbaum - Co-Founder and CEO of Everhem
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Ismail Salhi is the co-founder and CEO of Wildgrain, a fast-growing DTC subscription service that delivers artisanal breads, pastries, and pasta directly to customers' doorsteps.
In this episode of DTC Pod, Ismail shares his journey of rapidly scaling Wildgrain to over 80,000 subscribers since launching during the pandemic in 2020. He shares the key strategies that have driven Wildgrain's success: focusing on product quality, customer experience, and efficient operations.
Ismail discusses their decision to outsource baking to local bakeries—a move that positioned them as a larger buyer than Whole Foods and Trader Joe's in some markets.
He also emphasizes the importance of investing in logistics tech to optimize product delivery and streamline processes. This focus on tech integration across all business areas has been crucial to their ability to scale effectively.
We also explore Wildgrain's customer acquisition strategies, which involve education marketing, meta, and influencers.
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. Business Model and Sustainability
2. Entrepreneurial Advice
3. Logistics and Distribution
4. Customer Support Tools and Efficiency
5. Customer Acquisition and Retention
6. Product Development and Market Introduction
7. Tech and Operations Partnership
8. Seasonal Growth and Marketing
9. Consumer Behavior Dynamics
10. Marketing and Product Differentiation
11. Consumer Engagement and Customization
12. Scalability and Operational Management
13. Market Insights and Future PlansTimestamps
00:00 Ismail Salhi’s background; Wildgrain’s founding story
04:24 From starting a home bakery to outsourcing production
07:23 Wildgrain’s product and customer experience
08:56 Working with partner bakeries and distribution centers
10:08 Building tech for reliable, temperature-sensitive deliveries
13:58 Automated system streamlines tasks across all departments
15:47 Initial customer acquisition, education marketing, influencers
20:06 Product mix and how it affects inventory
23:07 Creating different custom boxes to cater to different diets
24:28 Optimizing product operations, automating, outsourcing
27:06 Shipping carriers, tech for allocating orders
28:42 Seasonal growth and effects on marketing spend
31:50 Ismail Salhi on running the business with his wife
33:41 Time and lifestyle management as a parent entrepreneur
36:14 Ismail Salhi’s advice for DTC 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 TikTokIsmail Salhi - Co-Founder and CEO of Wildgrain
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Christian Rivera is the founder of The Ecommerce Accountants, a firm that specializes in tax, accounting, and business structuring for e-commerce companies. Their clients include social media marketing agencies, dropshippers, digital marketers, Amazon automation, Amazon FBA, and internet coaches/gurus.
In this episode of the DTC POD, Christian explores key accounting issues that e-commerce businesses must address to succeed, such as sales tax compliance, revenue recognition, and inventory accounting. He also unpacks tax strategies that can help entrepreneurs set up smarter finances and maximize their profitability.
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 Accounting Challenges
2. Sales Tax Management
3. Revenue Recognition
4. Inventory Accounting
5. Financial Strategies and Advice
6. Inventory Management and Financing
7. Business Entity Structures
8. Growth Patterns of Successful Brands
9. Tax Planning and OptimizationTimestamps
00:00 Christian Rivera’s background and company
04:47 Accounting and tax for commerce brand
08:05 How sales tax works and where it applies
13:46 How every successful entrepreneur starts
16:44 VAs, agencies, and managing paid traffic
19:45 Inventory management for DTC brands
22:55 Strategies for inventory financing
25:16 Tax planning and optimization
27:57 S corp and LLC: difference and benefits
33:37 Tax strategies for foreign-owned businesses
36:52 Puerto Rico's Act 60 tax incentive program
39:39 Tax strategies for American entrepreneurs
45:24 Christian Rivera’s advice for DTC 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 TikTokChristian Rivera - Founder of The Ecommerce Accountants
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Zach Ranen is the co-founder of David, a protein bar brand which disrupted the market with 50% more calories from protein than any other bar and a groundbreaking dollar-to-protein ratio.
In this episode of the DTC POD, Zach shares David's pre-launch and launch strategies, leading to 1M+ dollars in sales in the first week. This includes engaging with influencers like Peter Attia and Andrew Huberman and giving away 20,000 product samples.
Zach also gives insights into their R&D process, how they built the David brand, their product-led approach to growth, 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. Pre-Launch and Launch Tactics
2. Product-Led Approach to Growth
3. Product Sampling Marketing
4. Influencer Partnerships
5. Viral Marketing Strategies
6. Brand Development
7. Naming and Visual IdentityTimestamps
00:00 The idea behind David protein bars
05:59 From working in private equity to founding Raize and eventually David
16:55 Balancing taste with nutrition in developing David protein bars
24:22 David as a product-led company
27:52 Brand building for David: name, packaging, launch
35:04 Key lessons on manufacturing, distribution, product launch, and virality
43:53 David’s $10M seed funding, key investors, and influencers
48:10 Next steps for growth, channel allocation, strategyShow 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 TikTokZach Ranen - Co-Founder and President at David
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Ariana Farahani is the founder and CEO of Plant Press, a fast-growing functional beverage brand offering a healthier alternative to traditional energy drinks.
In this episode of DTC Pod, Ariana shares her journey of developing Plant Press from a homemade recipe to a nationally distributed product. She discusses the importance of gathering consumer feedback and iterating on the product based on data, which led to pivotal changes like focusing solely on clean caffeine and adjusting flavors.
Ariana also goes into the strategic decisions behind Plant Press's distribution strategy, from securing early retail partnerships with local bodegas and fitness centers to navigating the complexities of working with broadline distributors, including the key growth channels that proved successful early on.
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 Development and Iteration
2. Marketing and Distribution Strategies
3. Funding and Capital Allocation
4. DSD vs Broadline Distributors
5. Market Trends and Consumer Preferences
6. Company Growth and Retail ExpansionTimestamps
00:00 From studying medical cannabis to founding a caffeine brand
04:11 Early days of Plant Press, producing the minimum viable product
06:21 Key iterations in the manufacturing process of Plant Press
09:05 Using quantitative and qualitative customer feedback
10:48 Getting Plant Press to stores: key accounts and strategy
13:31 Self-funding, seed fundraising, and capital budgeting for Plant Press
19:23 Direct store delivery (DSD) vs broadline distribution
21:50 The need fo in-store product sampling and demos for CPG brands
24:52 Energy drink trends: emphasis on clean energy, hydration
27:42 Changing consumer preferences and how big players can catch up
30:32 Plant Press’ expansion to new distribution channels
32:04 What’s next for Plant PressShow 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 TikTokAriana Farahani - Founder & CEO of Plant Press
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
Shri Kanase is the founder of Yoru Marketing, a boutique agency that specializes in Google Ads for e-commerce brands. Prior to this, he successfully scaled his e-commerce brands to over $3.5 million in four years. With extensive first hand experience, Shri has guided 23,000+ store owners via his YouTube channel and established one of the fastest-growing blogs in the e-commerce and PPC space.
In this episode of DTC Pod, Shri shares his insights on developing effective Google Ads strategies for e-commerce brands. He covers key topics such as initial campaign setup, Google Ads learning phase, keyword targeting, budgeting, ad placement focus, and ongoing optimization. Shri also discusses his "TPS approach" for testing, ensuring profitability, and scaling successful campaigns.
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. Ad Platform Differences
2. Google Ads Keyword Strategy
3. Algorithmic Learning Period in Google Ads
4. Budgeting for Google Ads
5. Google Ads Bidding Strategy
6. Testing and Scaling Google Ads Campaigns
7. Google Ads Placement Strategy
8. Google Ads for YouTube
9. Google Ads Campaign OptimizationTimestamps
00:00 Shri Kanase’s boutique marketing agency
03:51 Fundamentals of Google Ads
07:35 Launching a Google Ads campaign for the first time
10:43 How to do keyword research for Google Ads
13:55 Google Ads budget and bidding strategy
19:01 How and when to reward or punish Google algorithm
21:10 Best practices for Google Ads placement
22:45 Creating effective Google Ads creatives
24:49 Tips for running Google Ads campaign on Youtube
26:51 Feed-only approach to Performance Max campaigns
29:52 TPS approach: testing, profitability, scaling
34:46 How to win with Google Ads in 2024Show 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 TikTokShri Kanase - Founder & CEO at Yoru Marketing
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic -
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 -
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
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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 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 - Show more
