Episodes
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On this episode of the DTC Podcast, we sit down with Samantha Rayner, founder of Better Basics, a mission-led household goods brand focused on reducing plastic and toxins. With years in the consumer product space and a deeply personal story, Samantha shares how Better Basics grew from a purpose-driven idea into a brand that resonates with eco-conscious consumers.
Key takeaways from this episode:
Building a Mission-Led Brand: Why sustainability needs to align with product design and function.
Leveraging Vulnerability: The "Save Our Business" campaign that nearly sold out their inventory through authentic storytelling.
Pivoting to a Drop Model: How Better Basics plans to create urgency, reduce waste, and scale intentionally in 2025.
Samantha also talks about the role of community in building a brand and why organic growth through partnerships and storytelling has outperformed paid ads for them. Listen in for actionable insights on navigating the challenges of running a mission-driven, bootstrapped DTC brand.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Starting the DTC Podcast with Samantha Rayner
02:00 - The mission behind Better Basics
05:00 - Tackling plastic and ingredient challenges
07:30 - Partnerships as a growth strategy
10:00 - Bootstrapping challenges and focusing on SKUs
15:00 - Moving to a drop model and pre-orders
18:30 - Authenticity in marketing and the "Save Our Business" campaign
23:00 - Lessons learned from selling out inventory
26:00 - The importance of standing for something as a brand
Hashtags:
#BetterBasics #SustainableLiving #EcoFriendlyProducts #DTCMarketing #PlasticFree #SmallBusinessJourney #MissionDrivenBrand #Entrepreneurship #ProductDrops #MarketingTips
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In this All Killer No Filler episode, Dougie from Pilothouse’s Google team shares invaluable insights from Google’s latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday data. From e-commerce growth to late-stage holiday strategies, learn how to position your brand for success in the critical Super 5 shopping period (Dec 20–24).
Key Takeaways:
E-commerce vs. Retail: Online sales grew 8% during Cyber 5, while retail remained flat.
Super 5 focus: Prioritize convenience-driven messaging (shipping, pickup, gift cards) to capture late-stage shoppers.
Category leaders: Apparel, toys, and personal care dominated Cyber 5 gifting trends.
PMAX and YouTube: How to maximize awareness and demand generation ahead of major shopping events.
Canada Post strike impact: Why reliable shipping messaging outperformed discounts in the Canadian market.
Discover actionable strategies to optimize your holiday campaigns and close the year on a high note.
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Introducing Pongamia Oil: A Sustainable Seed Oil Alternative
In this episode of the DTC Podcast, we’re joined by Ashley Kleckner, Chief Growth Officer at TerViva, a company revolutionizing sustainable agriculture with Pongamia oil. TerViva transforms beans from the regenerative Pongamia tree into sustainable food ingredients, offering healthier and eco-friendlier alternatives to traditional seed oils.
Key Takeaways:
What is Pongamia Oil? A mid-oleic oil rich in omega-9 fatty acids, perfect for culinary applications from bars to salad dressings.
Sustainability Benefits: Pongamia trees restore degraded soils, require minimal resources, and provide economic opportunities for farmers.
Industry Challenges: Learn how TerViva tackles scalability and cost pressures while maintaining sustainability goals.
B2B Partnerships: Examples like Aloha Bars showcase how brands can integrate impactful ingredients while maintaining quality and consumer appeal.
Discover why functional, sustainable food systems start with better ingredient choices and scalable solutions. Learn more at https://terviva.com/
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introducing Ponova Oil and the Seed Oil Debate
[02:00] TerViva's Regenerative Pangamia Super Tree
[05:00] Comparing Ponova Oil to Traditional Seed Oils
[09:00] Scaling Sustainable Food Ingredients with Partners
[15:00] Challenges in Food Supply Chains and Procurement
[21:00] Functional Benefits of Ponova Oil and Flour
[28:00] Empowering Sustainable Decisions in the Food Industry
Hashtags:
#Sustainability #SeedOilAlternatives #RegenerativeFarming #PonovaOil #HealthyFats #DTCBrands #FoodInnovation #CPGMarketing #CleanIngredients #TerViva
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In this episode of the DTC Podcast, Eric Dyck sits down with Jordan Gordon, host of TWBERP (The World’s Best Email and Retention Podcast) and Retention Director at Pilothouse, to unpack the latest email marketing trends and retention strategies following Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM).
Subscribe to the World's Best Email and Retention Podcast (TWBERP)➝ https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/twberp
Jordan shares groundbreaking insights into how inbox providers like Gmail and Yahoo are tightening spam filters by selectively targeting segments of email lists. These changes demand a more refined approach to email marketing—what Jordan calls “sniper segmentation.”
Marketers will learn why untargeted campaigns are becoming obsolete, how to avoid Gmail’s spam pitfalls, and why focusing on flows and automations is the key to maximizing deliverability and ROI in 2024.
Key Takeaways:
BFCM Wins and Losses: Discover why nimble, online-native brands thrived while legacy brands struggled.
Sniper Segmentation: Learn how to ensure your most engaged audiences see your emails while avoiding spam folder pitfalls.
The Future of Segmentation: Why AI-driven tools will dominate email marketing—and how to stay ahead by understanding segmentation fundamentals today.
If you’re ready to adapt your email strategy for a smarter, more competitive digital landscape, this episode is a must-listen.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Banner Year for Shopify and E-Commerce Growth
[02:00] Email Inboxing Changes: Spam Filters and AI Impact
[04:30] Black Friday Cyber Monday Retention Insights
[07:00] Gmail’s Sniper Segmentation and New Rules
[09:30] Automations vs Campaigns: Switching to Flows
[14:00] Dedicated vs Shared IP for Email Success
[18:00] Email Fight Companion: Analyzing Brand Emails
Hashtags:
#Ecommerce #BlackFriday2024 #CyberMonday2024 #ShopifySuccess #EmailMarketing #AIinMarketing #RetentionStrategies #DigitalMarketing #DTCGrowth #MarketingTips
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In this episode of the DTC Podcast, we’re joined by Martin Forde, Founder and Principal of Forde Consulting. With a background as a key player in the rapid retail expansion of Dr. Squatch, Martin now helps consumer brands navigate the challenges of scaling into retail.
Martin shares how Dr. Squatch evolved from a DTC powerhouse to a retail juggernaut, breaking into major retailers like Walmart with bold strategies that continue to inspire.
Key insights include:
The Retail Advantage: How treating retail as a customer acquisition channel fuels overall growth.
Endcap Success: The design strategy that turned a bold, disruptive retail display into a velocity machine.
Data-Driven Expansion: Using DTC data to validate retail strategies and negotiate with major partners like Walmart.
Seasonal Products: Leveraging special releases to secure off-shelf placement and drive demand.
Omni-Channel Synergy: Why having a presence on every platform—from Walmart to TikTok Shop—ensures long-term viability.
Tune in to learn how to take your DTC brand to the next level by mastering retail expansion.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Martin Forde and Dr. Squatch's retail strategy
03:00 - Martin's career journey and joining Dr. Squatch
06:00 - Key factors behind Dr. Squatch's DTC and retail success
10:00 - Retail launch strategy: Walmart and beyond
15:00 - Leveraging end caps and seasonal products for retail success
20:00 - Transitioning to omnichannel and building demand in retail
26:00 - The importance of brand awareness for scaling DTC and retail
30:00 - Advising brands on retail expansion and consumer insights
33:00 - How to approach retailers and build key partnerships
Hashtags:
#RetailStrategy #DirectToConsumer #OmnichannelMarketing #BrandAwareness #DrSquatch #EcommerceTips #RetailExpansion #DTCGrowth #ConsumerInsights #ScalingBrands
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In this All Killer No Filler episode of the DTC Podcast, Eric Dyck sits down with Clifford and Rob from Pilothouse to dissect the early results of Black Friday 2024 on Amazon and explore the platform's evolving ad strategies. From the challenges posed by Amazon’s new broad-matching behaviors to the impact of tariff changes, this episode is a masterclass for DTC marketers looking to refine their Amazon playbooks.
Key Takeaways:
Amazon’s new ad targeting quirks: Why you need to scrutinize search term reports more closely than ever.
Branded vs. generic ROAS: How to avoid blending data and ensure growth-oriented decision-making.
Tariff preparedness: Why U.S.-based sellers may hold an advantage in the coming years.
Learn why it’s critical to stay vigilant in managing ad spend and how Pilothouse keeps their clients ahead of the curve on Amazon.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Amazon Marketing Cloud
02:00 - Early Black Friday Returns and Trends
04:30 - Amazon's Broad Match Ads Explained
08:00 - Challenges with AI in Amazon Advertising
12:30 - Amazon Hall and its Implications for Sellers
16:00 - No New Amazon Fees and Scamming Tools
19:00 - Black Friday, Cyber Monday 2024 OutlookHashtags:
#AmazonMarketing #BlackFriday2024 #CyberMondayDeals #AmazonAdvertising #EcommerceTrends #AmazonSellers #AIinMarketing #AmazonFBA #DigitalMarketing #EcommerceGrowth
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In this episode of the DTC Podcast, we’re joined by Markus, a founding team member of Four Sigmatic, and Dave Colina, founder of O2 Hydration, to discuss their latest venture, CPG Fast Track. This innovative coaching community helps early-stage CPG founders scale effectively by combining expert mentorship, peer support, and actionable strategies.
Key themes include:
Bridging the knowledge gap: Why early-stage founders need affordable coaching and community resources.
Tangible wins: How CRO audits and branding exercises have led to dramatic conversion rate improvements.
Omnichannel evolution: Why CPG success now requires retail strategies, optimized DTC funnels, and authentic brand storytelling.
Whether you’re running a $100K or $1M CPG business, this episode is packed with insights to help you grow. Listen in to learn how to balance paid media, branding, and community support to achieve sustainable success.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to CPG FastTrack
02:00 - Building a Coaching Community for Entrepreneurs
04:00 - The Origins of Four Sigmatic and O2 Hydration
07:00 - Challenges Facing CPG Founders Today
09:00 - Success Stories and Key Value Drivers in Cohorts
12:00 - The Importance of Brand Consistency Across Channels
14:00 - Strategies for Scaling DTC Brands
Hashtags:
#CPGFastTrack #Entrepreneurship #DTCBrands #StartupGrowth #BrandConsistency #ScalingStrategies #EcommerceTips #CommunityBuilding #PodcastAdvertising #CPGInsights
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Welcome to the DTC Podcast, where we focus on practical tactics for scaling your DTC business. This week, Eric Dyck is joined by Pilothouse’s social team—Taylor Cain, Aves, and Jacob—to dive into the strategies that power top-performing Q4 sales ads.
Key Takeaways:
Creative Variety Matters: Balance raw CGC with polished brand imagery to address every awareness stage.
Urgency Wins: First impressions count. Optimize the first second of your video and use countdowns to drive action.
Landing Pages Are Key: Simplify the buyer journey with deal-specific pages and clear CTAs.
Discover how to test, iterate, and keep your campaigns fresh during Black Friday and beyond. From quirky creative ideas to catalog ad best practices, this episode delivers actionable insights for DTC marketers.
Topics Discussed:
The pros and cons of avoiding sales in your growth phase.
How to diversify creative for different stages of customer awareness.
Why catalog ads deserve a prominent spot in your strategy.
The magic of reusing old high-performing ads with new overlays.
Ready to make your ads stand out this Q4? Tune in for expert advice and actionable tactics.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction to Great Sales Ads
2:15 Diversifying Creative for BFCM Success
4:40 The Psychology of Running Sales
7:00 Types of Creative: CGC to Branded Content
11:30 Using Last-Minute Urgency in Creative
14:20 Optimizing Landing Pages for High Conversion
17:45 Testing and Rotating Past Winning Ads
20:00 Effective Use of Catalog Ads
23:00 Adding Urgency: Countdown Timers and Last Chance Creative
27:45 Dot Style Ads: Capturing Attention with Design
Hashtags:
#DTCMarketing
#EcommerceTips
#BlackFridayAds
#SalesStrategies
#CreativeAds
#MetaAds
#HolidayMarketing
#AdCreativeTips
#PerformanceMarketing
#DigitalAdvertising
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TikTok Shops are rewriting the rules of e-commerce, and the numbers don’t lie—$1.5 billion in US sales in the summer of 2023 alone. In this special episode of the DTC Podcast, we team up with Charlie Grinnell, Co-CEO of RightMetric, to unveil a groundbreaking report on TikTok Shops. This exclusive research, conducted over summer 2023, provides fresh, actionable insights into what’s working (and why) on this fast-growing platform.
Download the report and follow along: https://rightmetric.co/tiktok-shop
Whether you're new to TikTok or looking to refine your strategy, this episode is a must-listen for DTC professionals ready to take advantage of this massive opportunity.
Key Highlights:
Why TikTok Shops are unique: The platform seamlessly combines content and commerce, creating an addictive shopping experience unlike any other.
Fresh, exclusive data: This collaborative report between RightMetric and DTC analyzes $1.5 billion in sales data from Summer 2023—offering insights no one else has.
Who’s succeeding: Beauty, women’s wear, health, and electronics are among the top-performing categories, with creator-driven content leading the charge.
How to win: Learn how to leverage creators, live streams, and strategic content production to maximize revenue.
Big opportunity for small brands: Major players haven’t entered TikTok Shops yet, giving early adopters a first-mover advantage.
Why listen now? This report is fresh, actionable, and data-driven. If you’re in e-commerce, TikTok Shops could be your next big growth channel.
Follow Charlie on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliegrinnell/
Timestamps:
00:00 - TikTok vs. Snapchat: Time Spent and User Demographics
02:00 - TikTok Shop: Key Selling Strategies
05:00 - Live Streams Driving Sales on TikTok
09:00 - TikTok’s Unique Algorithm and Content Strategy
15:00 - Top TikTok Shop Categories and Revenue Insights
20:00 - Creator Marketing and Affiliate Strategy on TikTok
25:00 - TikTok Shop Challenges and Best Practices
Hashtags:
#TikTokMarketing
#EcommerceGrowth
#TikTokShop
#ContentStrategy
#AffiliateMarketing
#LiveStreamingSales
#DigitalCommerce
#TikTokAlgorithm
#DTCBrands
#CreatorEconomy
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Hello and welcome to the All Killer No Filler DTC Podcast! Today, we're thrilled to have Dougie from Pilothouse’s Google Ads team. With Q4 well underway and Black Friday just around the corner, Dougie shares critical insights for optimizing Google Ads performance during the busiest shopping period of the year.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why Google’s slower platform dynamics require earlier budget and bid adjustments.
How to avoid costly mistakes during and after Black Friday.
Pro tips like using strike-through pricing to boost ad effectiveness.
If you're ready to make your Google Ads campaigns thrive this Black Friday, don’t miss this episode.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction to Google Ads for Black Friday
2:05 - Key Google Ad Budget Strategies
4:30 - Preparing for Black Friday: Budgets and CPAs
6:55 - Avoiding Mistakes During Black Friday
9:20 - Using Scripts and Real-Time Data
12:45 - Post-Black Friday Campaign Adjustments
15:10 - Tools and Tips for Real-Time Attribution
17:30 - Black Friday Expectations for 2024
19:55 - Closing Thoughts and Consumer Trends
Hashtags:
#BlackFridayAds
#GoogleAdsTips
#EcommerceMarketing
#HolidaySales2024
#DigitalMarketingStrategy
#CyberMondayDeals
#GoogleAdvertising
#PPCStrategies
#DTCBrands
#Q4Marketing
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Welcome to the DTC Podcast, where Eric interviews Meg Higgins from Avalara. With over 10 years in the SaaS space, Meg has focused her career on cross-border e-commerce, empowering mid-market and growing DTC brands to navigate the complexity of sales tax compliance. As Avalara’s SVP of Global Partnerships, she explains how Avalara’s tax compliance solutions help brands mitigate risk with automated, scalable solutions. This episode delves into the risks brands face when ignoring proper tax calculation and why Avalara’s tools are a game-changer for those scaling rapidly.
Get started here ➝ https://www.avalara.com/us/en/products/integrations/shopify.html?partnerID=0014000000MH3woAAD&campaignID=701Uz00000NNphJIAT&connectorID=a0nUz000003MOA1IAO&utm_medium=web_referral&utm_source=partner&utm_content=+Link
Key Takeaways:
Sales Tax Complexities: With over 13,000 tax jurisdictions, Avalara helps businesses avoid costly tax miscalculations.
Marketplaces and Compliance: Avalara supports marketplace sellers by automating tax obligations, which is crucial given changing marketplace facilitator laws.
Reducing Risk with Automation: Avalara’s API-integrated tools automate tax compliance, saving brands time and reducing audit exposure.
Avalara for Shopify: Avalara for Shopify supports merchants by automating tax obligations, helping Shopify users stay compliant with ease as they grow.
Practical Examples: From bagel slicing to chocolate bars, small tax nuances can add up—hear real-world tax pitfalls and how Avalara helps brands avoid them.
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to Avalara’s Role in Global Compliance
2:10 - Complexities of Cross-Border E-Commerce Compliance
4:50 - Understanding Economic Nexus and Marketplace Facilitation Laws
7:25 - Biggest Tax Compliance Mistakes for Growing DTC Brands
10:15 - Avalara’s Tools and Partnerships for Streamlining Compliance
12:30 - Future Tax Compliance Trends for E-Commerce
Hashtags
#DTCpodcast #EcommerceCompliance #TaxCompliance #CrossBorderEcommerce #MarketplaceFacilitation #SalesTax #EconomicNexus #OnlineBusiness #Avalara #EcommerceTips #TaxAutomation #GlobalBusiness #Shopify #SaaS #EcommerceTrends #BusinessGrowth
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Manly Bands started with a problem familiar to founder John—a lack of compelling men’s wedding bands. Now a thriving DTC jewelry brand, Manly Bands offers unique rings made from materials like meteorite and deer antler. In this episode, John discusses how he and his team scaled rapidly, especially during the pandemic, and why recent years have focused on profit optimization.
Key Insights Include:
Building with Customer Input: Testing creative designs through direct customer feedback to ensure resonant products.
Expanding Lifetime Value: From women’s rings to groomsmen gifts, diversifying product lines has helped boost average order value.
Mastering Tech and Optimization: Moving to a headless Shopify site and utilizing AI-powered tools to streamline operations and enhance the customer experience.
Creative Licensing Partnerships: Unique brand collaborations with Jeep and Jack Daniels to appeal to men’s individual personalities.
Timestamps:
00:00 - The Importance of Perceived Value in Wedding Rings
02:00 - The Manly Bands Origin Story
05:00 - Unique Designs and Alternative Materials
08:00 - Early Success with Facebook Ads
11:00 - Navigating the COVID Wedding Boom
14:00 - Optimization Strategies Post-Pandemic
18:00 - Expanding Top-of-Funnel Channels
22:00 - Bringing Manufacturing In-House
26:00 - Leveraging Collaborations with Big Brands
30:00 - Black Friday Strategy and Q4 Trends
35:00 - Using AI for Review Management and Efficiency
Hashtags:
#ManlyBands #WeddingRings #EcommerceGrowth #BlackFridayDeals #CustomerExperience #SmallBusiness #MensStyle #UniqueDesigns #DigitalMarketing #AIinBusiness #DirectToConsumer #MadeInAmerica #BrandCollaborations #ShopifyOptimization #CreativeMarketing #DTCPodcast
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In this AKNF edition of the DTC Podcast, we’re joined by Pilothouse’s Jordan Gordon, Director of Retention and Email Marketing. Hot on the heels of launching his own show under the DTC Podcast Network, Jordan shares powerful insights from TWBERP (The World’s Best Email & Retention Podcast). Learn how to turn email into a sustainable revenue machine by optimizing key steps like deliverability, segmentation, and monthly messaging.
SUBSCRIBE TO TWBERP➝ https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Mof4UScME42Xga3Rq6x0M
Highlights from this episode:
Four Pillars of Email Revenue: Inboxing, welcome sequences, funnel support, and maintaining a steady frequency of monthly messages.
Why Repeat Purchasers Fuel Growth: Jordan explains why retention drives both revenue and long-term acquisition stability.
Essential Black Friday Tips: Start early, stay consistent, and focus on high-impact messaging to capture maximum wallet share.
Keep It Simple: How leading brands avoid unnecessary complexity in design and segmentation for a streamlined, effective email program.
Jordan’s actionable insights make this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to take their DTC email strategy to the next level. Search “TWBERP” to catch all of Jordan’s top tactics or listen in to this episode of the DTC Podcast for an all-killer breakdown!
Timestamps
0:00 Introduction to AKNF with Jordan Gordon
2:00 Importance of Email as a Buffer in Marketing
5:00 Structuring Effective Email Campaigns
8:00 Building Customer Relationships through Themed Email Content
10:00 Why Consistency Matters in Brand Marketing
13:00 Key Black Friday Insights for Email Marketers
15:00 Strategies for Email Segmentation and Privacy Updates
18:00 Preparing for Big Events with Pre-Planned Email Drops
21:00 Anchoring and Cognitive Bias in Marketing
24:00 Where to Get More from TWBERP
Hashtags
#EmailMarketing #RetentionStrategies #EcommerceGrowth #DTC #CustomerEngagement #MarketingTips #Podcast #BlackFridayPrep #SEO #DigitalMarketing
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Welcome to the DTC Podcast! In this episode, brand strategist and cultural commentator Eugene Healey, known for his insights on Instagram and TikTok as @eugbrandstrat, joins us to break down the latest findings from “The Awareness Advantage,” a report by Tracksuit and TikTok for Business. Eugene discusses the report’s key insights into how brand awareness fuels better performance metrics and why brands should abandon the outdated “brand vs. performance” debate. This episode digs into strategies for building sustainable brand equity, the critical role of cultural alignment, and actionable tactics for DTC brands to stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Download the report: https://www.gotracksuit.com/au/report/the-awareness-advantage
Eugene explains why integrating brand-building with performance marketing isn’t just smart; it’s essential. Tracksuit’s report reveals how brand awareness amplifies performance marketing effectiveness, leading to higher conversion rates and more efficient ad spend. We also explore Eugene’s thoughts on creating cultural resonance, niche-at-scale strategies, and why chaotic content alone won’t make a brand memorable.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction to Eugene Healey and Brand vs. Performance
2:05 Creativity Over Budget on New Media Platforms
4:20 Duolingo’s Success and Unhinged Brand Marketing
6:45 Deep vs. Broad Strategy for Brand Building
9:10 The Shift to Offline Experiences as Luxury Goods
11:45 AI’s Impact on Brand Building and Social Proof
14:20 Fragmented Content Strategy in Modern Branding
16:55 Navigating the Future of Brand Building in DTC
19:20 The Challenges of Being a Brand Creator Today
Hashtags:
#BrandBuilding #MarketingStrategy #DTCBrands #ContentCreation #NewMedia #BrandVsPerformance #SocialMediaMarketing #CreativityInBranding #AIGeneration #DigitalMarketing
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In this episode of the DTC Podcast, Pilothouse’s Amazon specialists, Rob and Clifford, dive into the nuances of Amazon’s “cold start” problem and how to leverage the “honeymoon phase” to make new products stand out. They also reveal expert tips on maximizing profitability during Amazon’s high-traffic sales events. Tune in to learn how effective listing variation structures and strategic bidding can dramatically impact your brand’s Amazon success.
Key takeaways:
Cold Start & Honeymoon Phase: Why Amazon gives new products an algorithmic “honeymoon” period and how to optimize your listing to capitalize on it.
Variation Strategy: How to structure product variations (like colors or sizes) to streamline customer experience and drive conversions.
Sales Season Strategies: Techniques to minimize ad costs during peak sales events and boost overall profit.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction & Importance of Amazon Variation Structure
2:10 Understanding the Amazon Cold Start Problem
4:35 The Role of Amazon’s Honeymoon Phase for New Products
7:00 Optimizing Product Listings to Rank in Searches
9:15 Effective Use of Variation Structures for Better Shopping Experience
11:40 Prime Day Strategy: Profitability and Bidding Tips
14:05 Maximizing Amazon Ad Spend During Q4 and Black Friday
Hashtags:
#AmazonSellingTips #EcommerceStrategy #AmazonSEO #PrimeDay2024 #AmazonProductLaunch #AmazonVariations #DTCMarketing #AmazonOptimization #BlackFriday2024 #AmazonSales
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Hello and welcome to the DTC Podcast! Today, we’re excited to have Nick Lamothe, Senior Director of Custom Footwear at Crocs, join us. Nick’s role is all about transforming the way Crocs approaches customization for B2B and team markets, adding value for corporate clients, sports teams, and more.
In this episode, we explore:
How Crocs leverages customization to tap into B2B and team markets
Key strategies in lifecycle marketing and partnerships that support customization growth
The process behind scaling a custom product offering within a major global brand
Let’s dive in and explore how custom footwear is changing the game for Crocs.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: Custom Crocs and UGC with Nick Lamothe
02:00 - Nick’s Career Journey from Adidas to Crocs
06:00 - The Rise of Custom Crocs for B2B and Sports Teams
10:00 - Organic Growth and Lead Generation in Custom Footwear
14:00 - Customization Challenges and Future Innovation with AI
18:00 - Partnering with Creators for Limited Edition Crocs
21:00 - Expanding Customization Globally and Operational Goals
25:00 - Perceived Value of Custom Crocs for Brand Partnerships
27:00 - Closing Thoughts: Endless Possibilities with Custom Crocs
Hashtags:
#CustomCrocs #DTCpodcast #NickLamothe #CrocsCustomization #EcommerceGrowth #UserGeneratedContent #DigitalMarketing #BrandCollaborations #FootwearTrends #PersonalizedProducts
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Welcome to the DTC Podcast, where Pilothouse’s Adam and Zavire share essential marketing "don'ts" to help brands optimize their Q4 efforts and avoid costly pitfalls. With Q4’s unique pressures on ad spend and competition, they outline common campaign missteps and how to stay agile in the high-stakes holiday season.
Key Insights:
Set Realistic Goals: Look at last year’s data and set clear, achievable KPIs to stay grounded.
Start Planning Early: Use Q2 and Q3 for testing so Q4 is for execution, not experimentation.
Competitor Awareness: Monitor competitor strategies to avoid unnecessary cost hikes.
Strategic Discounting: Skip discounts on best-sellers; maximize profit where it’s impactful.
Adapt Your Creative: Update ads to align with seasonal changes, even with minor tweaks, to boost engagement.
Holistic Budgeting: Don’t neglect the full funnel—retargeting and top-of-funnel investments lead to more sustainable results.
Tune in to make sure you’re prepared to dodge these Q4 missteps and optimize each dollar you spend this season.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro & The Biggest Q4 Don'ts
02:10 - Importance of Realistic Goals
04:50 - Starting Early for Q4 Success
07:20 - Competitor Activity Awareness
10:15 - Budgeting Wisely for Increased CPMs
12:30 - Avoid Discounting Best Sellers
15:10 - Leveraging Urgency and Scarcity
18:25 - Don’t Run Out of Stock
21:05 - Adapting Creative for the Season
23:45 - Recognizing Regional & Cultural Holidays
25:30 - Full-Funnel Strategy for Q4
27:00 - Avoid Excessive Testing During Q4
Hashtags:
#Q4Marketing
#HolidaySalesStrategy
#MarketingDonts
#DigitalAdvertising
#Q4Tips
#EcommerceGrowth
#ConsumerInsights
#MarketingStrategy
#CompetitiveAnalysis
#ConversionOptimization
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In this episode, Eric interviews Elery Pfeffer, CEO & Founder of Nift, and Geoff Sanders, CMO of Firstleaf, on how Nift’s targeted gifting platform helps Firstleaf scale its wine subscription business.
Geoff shares how Firstleaf has increased its investment in Nift 10x over two years while maintaining strong unit economics, a challenge many DTC brands face in a competitive marketplace.
Scale User Acquisition Reliably with Nift's Gifting Network: https://www.gonift.com/business/
Try Firstleaf's Wine Subscription on a special deal: https://www.firstleaf.com/dtcpodcast
Key insights you’ll learn:
How Nift’s gift-based approach works for publishers and advertisers.
The power of scaling customer acquisition while maintaining profitability.
How Nift’s data-driven targeting improves customer acquisition efficiency.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction to Firstleaf and Nift Partnership
2:00 Challenges in Scaling Firstleaf's Wine Subscription Service
4:00 Nift’s Unique Gifting Model Explained
6:00 Advantages of Combining Customer Discounts and Media Spend
8:00 Optimizing Customer Acquisition Cost with Nift
10:00 Importance of Testing New Channels and Scaling with Nift
12:00 Selecting the Right Brands and Publishers for Gifting
Hashtags:
#Firstleaf #NIFT #WineSubscription #CustomerAcquisition #DigitalMarketing #GiftingStrategy #EcommerceGrowth #SubscriptionModel #BrandCollaboration #DTCMarketing #MarketingTrends #BusinessGrowth #TopOfFunnel #CustomerExperience #WineClub
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In this episode of the DTC Podcast, we sit down with Marco Canora, founder of Brodo, a leading bone broth brand. Marco shares the journey of how he took his passion for cooking and transformed a small window serving broth in New York City into a thriving direct-to-consumer bone broth business. As a celebrated chef with over 30 years of culinary experience, Marco explains how he combined his expertise in nutrition with traditional broth-making methods to build Brodo.
Throughout the episode, we explore how Brodo grew from selling broth to busy New Yorkers to becoming a powerful DTC broth brand. Marco reveals the secrets behind scaling a food business without compromising the quality of the broth. He dives deep into the importance of storytelling, product education, and maintaining traditional cooking methods in the competitive bone broth category.
Key takeaways include:
How Marco transitioned from a brick-and-mortar restaurant to a DTC broth business.
Why maintaining traditional broth-making techniques is key to Brodo’s success.
The role of storytelling in building customer loyalty and driving broth sales online.
If you're looking to learn how to grow a DTC food brand while staying true to your product's roots, this episode is packed with valuable insights from one of the leading voices in the bone broth space.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction to Marco Canora and Brodo’s Journey
2:30 The Origins of Brodo’s Bone Broth Window
5:00 Marco’s Health Journey and Brodo’s Impact
8:20 Transitioning from Shops to Direct-to-Consumer
11:00 Scaling and Marketing Brodo through Meta Ads
14:00 Importance of Storytelling in Building Brodo’s Brand
16:30 The Future of Brodo: Expanding Direct-to-Consumer
Hashtags:
#BrodoBroth #BoneBroth #DTCPodcast #DirectToConsumer #MarcoCanora #HealthyEating #BrothBenefits #EcommerceGrowth #FoodEntrepreneur #NYCRestaurant #WellnessJourney #OrganicProducts #DTCGrowth #StorytellingMarketing #NutritionFacts
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In this episode of the All Killer No Filler DTC Podcast, we’re diving into some of the most common and "spooky" mistakes in media buying with Pilot House’s digital marketing team: Taylor Cain, Aves, and Grayson Rudzki. These experts share insights on how to optimize ad performance by avoiding simple yet costly errors that frequently plague ad campaigns.
Key Takeaways Include:
Creative Alignment: How disjointed messaging between ads and landing pages is burning your ad budget.
Ad Copy Best Practices: Why revisiting and testing your ad copy, headlines, and even emoji use is critical in today's fast-scrolling environment.
Funnel Continuity: How creating a cohesive experience from the ad click to the post-click can dramatically increase conversions.
Retargeting Done Right: Why retargeting ads should provide something new, not just reintroduce your brand.
These tactical insights can help you take your media buying and ad strategies to the next level, especially as Q4 approaches.
https://oldmediaisdead.com/the-written-word/2015/10/29/top-ten-most-cryptic-and-esoteric-new-emoji
Timestamps:
[00:00] Avoiding Early Ad Mistakes
[02:30] The Power of Proper Ad Copy and Headlines
[05:00] Building Alignment in Ad Campaigns
[08:00] Effective Calls to Action
[11:30] Spooky Ad Retargeting Pitfalls
[14:00] Dynamic Product Ads (DPAs) and Frames for Q4
[16:30] Fun Halloween Costume Ideas from the Team
Hashtags:
#MetaAds
#AdOptimization
#AdCopyTips
#CreativeMarketing
#DigitalMarketing
#Retargeting
#DynamicProductAds
#DTCMarketing
#Q4AdStrategies
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