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Chew on This - Digestable DTC Content

Chew on This - Digestable DTC Content
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Chew on This - Digestable DTC Content
The ultimate podcast tailor-made for DTC founders seeking practical insights to elevate their business game. In each episode, we serve up bite-sized, digestible content loaded with actionable tips, strategies, and success stories. Whether you’re navigating the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce, mastering customer acquisition, or fine-tuning your brand strategy, ‘Chew on This’ has got you covered. Hit play and let’s chew on the essential ingredients for DTC success together.
The ultimate podcast tailor-made for DTC founders seeking practical insights to elevate their business game. In each episode, we serve up bite-sized, digestible content loaded with actionable tips, strategies, and success stories. Whether you’re navigating the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce, mastering customer acquisition, or fine-tuning your brand strategy, ‘Chew on This’ has got you covered. Hit play and let’s chew on the essential ingredients for DTC success together.
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Instant helps brands unlock millions in incremental revenue by turning opted-in shoppers into loyal customers. Start supercharging retention today 👉 bit.ly/chewxinstantWe’re proud to partner with Instant for this season of Chew on This. Trusted by 500+ DTC brands like ThirdLove, Truly Beauty, and Liquid I.V., Instant revolutionizes retention with high-performing AI-powered email flows that are personalized to each shopper and optimized to send at the right time.
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🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands. 🔗 https://getrecharge.com/
🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands. 🔗 https://getrecharge.com/
🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands.🔗 https://getrecharge.com/
🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands.🔗 https://getrecharge.com/
🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands.🔗 https://getrecharge.com/
🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands.🔗 https://getrecharge.com/
🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands.🔗 https://getrecharge.com/
🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands.🔗 https://getrecharge.com/💪 Authenticity is Key: RP Strength’s success stems from embracing authenticity and showcasing the founders’ personalities, creating engaging and educational content that resonates with their audience.📈 YouTube as a Growth Engine: YouTube has become RP Strength’s primary organic growth driver, surpassing Instagram in terms of brand awareness and lead generation.🗣️ Social Proof is Crucial: While the use of before-and-after photos has diminished, RP Strength continues to leverage social proof via reviews, testimonials from athletes, and their growing subscriber base.🎯 Strategic Content & Paid Ads: RP Strength uses a blended approach, utilizing organic YouTube content for top-of-funnel awareness and paid ads for targeted retargeting and bottom-of-funnel conversions.📱 App Development & Retention: Continuous product development, based on user feedback and addressing friction points within the app, is critical for retaining customers and building lifetime value.0:00 - Intro1:24 - RP Strength3:08 - Building audience trust6:15 - Marketing strategies and social proof10:01 - Shift to pay-to-play12:29 - Enhancing engagement on YouTube14:09 - Branding impact on audience growth17:10 - Collaboration with competitors19:33 - Customer retention and upselling strategies24:07 - Product development through customer engagement24:48 - Impact of simplicity on customer retention25:41 - User experience in app development27:09 - Evolution of content creation and community engagement30:28 - Genius Shot32:01 - Building a fitness ecosystem36:03 - Hypertrophy and its relevance in marketing39:02 - Maintaining virality in marketing strategies41:12 - Focusing on core offerings for success43:36 - Money-back guarantee to build customer trust47:04 - Active user engagement as a key performance indicator48:24 - Final chewFollow us, subscribe to our newsletter, and to see our exclusive merch check outhttps://chewonthis.io/Ron Shah - https://twitter.com/obviceoAsh Melwani - https://twitter.com/ashvinmelwaniChew On This - https://twitter.com/chewonthisdtc
🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands.🔗 https://getrecharge.com/🍻 Building BERO with Tom Holland: CEO of Bero, John Herman, details the collaborative process with Tom Holland, highlighting their mutual respect, trust, and shared vision for the brand, despite Holland’s demanding film schedule. Communication and alignment on key decisions were crucial.🎯 Strategic Retail Partnerships: John describes how BERO secured placement in major retailers like Target, emphasizing the importance of a compelling brand story, operational capabilities, and Tom Holland’s authentic connection to the product.📈 Launch Week Success and Beyond: John covers the excitement and challenges of BERO’s launch week, highlighting the importance of having a solid team and a well-defined post-launch business strategy.🗣️ Marketing and Messaging: John discusses BERO’s marketing strategy, which balances leveraging Tom Holland’s celebrity status with a focus on brand lifestyle and inclusivity, aiming to build a brand that can stand on its own.💡 Key Advice for Founders: John offers valuable advice for entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of asking for what you need, even if it seems unreasonable, and having a long-term vision for the business.0:00 - Intro1:47 - John Herman's background3:31 - Challenges of growth and innovation in the beverage industry5:40 - John's journey starting a beverage brand6:37 - Building a beverage brand in a competitive market8:19 - Creating a high-quality product that tastes like beer10:02 - Customer retention and driving revenue through upsells14:01 - Impact of celebrity influence17:54 - BERO launch week22:21 - Pressure and expectations following product launch22:51 - Launching regionally in the beverage market23:10 - Teamwork and connections in marketing25:10 - Planning for the brand's launch week26:09 - Long-term vision and sustainable growth28:07 - Storytelling in brand marketing30:02 - Settling for shelf space without a solid launch plan31:05 - Consumer feedback for product improvement33:10 - Celebrity influence vs brand independence39:12 - Managing inventory and forecasting for success42:00 - Market trends and competition in the non-alcoholic beverage space44:20 - Final chewFollow us, subscribe to our newsletter, and to see our exclusive merch check outhttps://chewonthis.io/Ron Shah - https://twitter.com/obviceoAsh Melwani - https://twitter.com/ashvinmelwaniChew On This - https://twitter.com/chewonthisdtc
🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands.🔗 https://getrecharge.com/💡 Building a Category: Bushbalm’s success stems from identifying and creating a new category (“bikini line skincare”), establishing themselves as experts, and building a strong brand identity.📈 Multi-Channel Strategy: The company’s growth is attributed to a diverse approach, including D2C, wholesale partnerships (waxing salons), and major retail partnerships (Ulta). They strategically manage the cross-promotion of these channels.🤝 Retail Partnerships: Securing retail partnerships requires a strong brand, consistent sales data, and addressing retailer needs. Investing in retail-specific marketing (signage, in-store promotions) is key.🗣️ Influencer Marketing: While one-off influencer collaborations can be helpful, building long-term relationships and providing influencers with valuable brand information yields better results.🗣️ Customer Feedback is Crucial: David stresses the importance of seeking early customer feedback and iterating on products and brand messaging based on this feedback.0:00 - Intro1:00 - David's background andstart with Bushbalm2:38 - Bushbalm's focus on bikini line skincare4:01 - Revamping product signage after feedback5:08 - Bushbalm's unisex and affordable product design10:14 - Expanding product line12:25 - Understanding retail buyers and their concerns14:03 - Bushbalm's experience on Dragon's Den16:10 - Bushbalm's post-Dragon's Den success17:31 - Growth through Facebook ads21:48 - Building long-term relationships through gifting rather than one-off promotions22:34 - Organic conversations and PR in marketing25:00 - Effectiveness of in-store signage for retail marketing26:05 - Is retail signage worth the investment?29:00 - Impact of retail presence on online sales and customer retention31:11 - Growth of Bushbalm Pro34:05 - Bushbalm's first live shopping event37:04 - Potential growth of Bushbalm Pro alongside DTC39:30 - Creating a new sales category40:04 - Challenges posed by competitors42:29 - Final chewFollow us, subscribe to our newsletter, and to see our exclusive merch check outhttps://chewonthis.io/Ron Shah - https://twitter.com/obviceoAsh Melwani - https://twitter.com/ashvinmelwaniChew On This - https://twitter.com/chewonthisdtc
🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands.🔗 https://getrecharge.com/🎉 Organic Marketing Power: Avani's success is largely attributed to creative organic marketing, resulting in viral moments and significant brand awareness. Her strategies included leveraging local mommy groups, personalized outreach to potential influencers, and candidly sharing unexpected opportunities (like the interaction with Nita Ambani).🗣️ Customer-Centric Approach: Modi Toys' product development is heavily influenced by customer feedback. Avani actively solicits opinions and uses them to inform new product ideas and features. She even plans to interview customers directly to better understand their motivations.📈 Unexpected Virality: The interview showcases the power of authentic, unscripted content. A short, impromptu video reaction to a message from Nita Ambani’s team garnered millions of views, highlighting the unpredictable nature of viral marketing.🎯 Iterative Learning: Avani openly discusses her continuous learning process. She acknowledges early marketing mistakes and the ongoing challenges of paid advertising, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience and adaptation.👪 Building a Brand with Values: Modi Toys’ success stems from a strong foundation of cultural values and a focus on creating products that resonate deeply with their target audience of parents and children. This authenticity shines through in their marketing and has fostered strong customer loyalty.0:00 - Intro1:00 - Who is Avani Sarkar?5:00 - The inspiration for Modi Toys9:04 - Importance of organic marketing12:18 - Meeting Nita Ambani15:13 - Getting products to influential people22:06 - Importance of customer retention24:56 - Development of a Bluetooth add-on for toys25:40 - Understanding the core demographic and customer motivations29:08 - Organic marketing and the challenges of paid advertising30:30 - In-house talent for managing creative and performance aspects of marketing33:02 - Staying focused on effective platforms like Instagram36:11 - Maintaining an email list for ongoing customer communication39:41 - Engaging the audience with cultural content42:02 - Product development and understanding customer needs46:01 - The timelessness of toys and their appeal across different age groups49:34 - Final chewFollow us, subscribe to our newsletter, and to see our exclusive merch check outhttps://chewonthis.io/Ron Shah - https://twitter.com/obviceoAsh Melwani - https://twitter.com/ashvinmelwaniChew On This - https://twitter.com/chewonthisdtc
🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands.🔗 https://getrecharge.com/🍸 Viral Success: A million dollars in revenue within 90 days from a single viral TikTok video. This initial success highlighted the potential but also the volatility of relying solely on organic reach.📈 Multi-Channel Marketing: Nowadays utilizes a balanced approach, combining organic social media content (TikTok, Instagram) with paid media (Meta, App Lovin), influencer marketing (primarily through product sampling), and a strong direct-to-consumer (DTC) presence to reach a wide audience.⚖️ Navigating Regulations: The brand strategically focuses on consumer benefits and avoids direct mention of cannabis to navigate the strict advertising limitations in the industry. They prioritize compliance and responsible marketing.🛍️ Omnichannel Strategy: A blend of DTC sales, which provides valuable data and profitability, and wholesale partnerships with liquor stores offers a diversified approach to market reach and sustainability.🔮 Future Vision: Plans for continued product expansion, including limited-time offerings (LTOs) and potentially exploring other functional beverage categories beyond THC, while maintaining a premium brand image.0:00 - Intro1:14 - Going to market with limited funding5:05 - Having viral content6:21 - Breakthrough success8:46 - Ron's experience with Nowadays10:22 - Good product vs. good marketing12:45 - The impact of DTC 14:02 - Building organically19:01 - Product safety testing23:33 - Pivoting and learning from failures24:58 - Brand awareness and revenue generation26:06 - Sending products to influencers for organic exposure29:02 - Finding the right influencers who resonate with the target audience32:06 - Product safety and effectiveness34:06 - Premium products to stand out in a competitive market36:23 - Successful influencer partnerships to drive engagement39:00 - Subscription models to encourage repeat purchases41:18 - Product expansion based on consumer preferences45:50 - Final chewFollow us, subscribe to our newsletter, and to see our exclusive merch check outhttps://chewonthis.io/Ron Shah - https://twitter.com/obviceoAsh Melwani - https://twitter.com/ashvinmelwaniChew On This - https://twitter.com/chewonthisdtc
🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands.🔗 https://getrecharge.com/In S5 E2 of “Chew on This”, Ron and Ash are joined by Michael Wieder, Co-founder, President, and CMO of children’s lifestyle brand Lalo. Michael discusses his journey from sports and entertainment to founding Lalo, highlighting the brand’s focus on timeless design and emotional connection with parents. He details Lalo’s marketing strategies including catalog management, customer retention, and influencer collaborations, while also addressing challenges like competition, algorithm changes, and the complexities of expanding into retail chain Target. The conversation emphasizes the importance of building trust, understanding customer needs, and creating a strong brand identity in a competitive market.✨ Timeless Design: Lalo prioritizes a timeless aesthetic over fleeting trends, focusing on creating products that will endure.👶 Emotional Connection: Lalo connects with parents through the emotional aspects of parenthood, making marketing more impactful.📈 Omni-channel Strategy: Lalo successfully navigated a multi-channel approach, expanding from DTC to Amazon and now Target, highlighting the importance of adapting marketing strategies across different platforms.🤝 Influencer Marketing: Lalo leverages influencer marketing effectively, focusing on authentic relationships and organic content generation rather than solely paid promotions.👨👩👧👦 Customer-centric Approach: Lalo prioritizes building strong customer relationships, treating each customer uniquely and responding empathetically to their needs.0:00 - Intro1:10 - Michael's journey creating Lalo4:04 - Understanding the target audience in the parenting space6:07 - Building a brand through emotional connections8:31 - Shift in the market after bankruptcy of major baby product retailers10:03 - Strategies for expanding product distribution and customer engagement12:12 - Creating products that meet consumer needs and preferences15:03 - Timeless design in product development19:03 - Customer loyalty and repeat purchases23:33 - Importance of authentic content on social media24:11 - Focusing on customer engagement rather than promotions28:11 - Balancing cash flow and product demand30:08 - Having a supportive team in a fast-paced environment32:03 - Launching products in major retailers like Target34:01 - Importance of visual merchandising in retail spaces36:01 - Influencers for brand awareness and community building39:01 - Gifting products to create authentic content42:00 - Building relationships with customers46:09 - Final chewFollow us, subscribe to our newsletter, and to see our exclusive merch check outhttps://chewonthis.io/Ron Shah - https://twitter.com/obviceoAsh Melwani - https://twitter.com/ashvinmelwaniChew On This - https://twitter.com/chewonthisdtc
🔁 Recharge - Drive more revenue from your subscription strategy with meaningful insights, dynamic subscriber experiences, and a subscription core trusted by over 20,000 brands.🔗 https://getrecharge.com/💥 Meta’s Algorithm Shift: Recent algorithm changes have significantly impacted ad performance, requiring marketers to retest creatives, landing pages, and funnels. The old strategies are no longer working as effectively.🎥 Content Consumption Shift: The trend towards authentic, organic-style video content, mirroring TikTok Shop’s format, necessitates a move away from high-production value content and static ads.💡 Tactical Adaptations: Try creating new ad accounts, pixels, and Facebook/Instagram pages to isolate new product launches and avoid conflicting audience targeting. Separating data for different product lines is important.🎁 Bundling for Increased AOV: Bundling complementary products is presented as a strategy to increase average order value (AOV) and counter the rising costs of Meta advertising.🤝 Creator Collaboration & Personalization: Developing personalized products and experiences with top-performing creators is highlighted as a high-impact strategy to drive revenue and build deeper customer relationships.0:00 - Intro1:39 - Meta's marketing strategies and changes2:54 - Adapting to Meta's algorithm changes3:34 - Shift in content consumption influenced by TikTok5:11 - Using creators for storytelling in marketing6:00 - Improving content quality and engagement12:02 - Adapting to new marketing processes15:04 - Strategies for targeting different customer segments19:04 - Retention and LTV for e-commerce brands22:05 - Product bundling as an effective marketing strategy22:56 - Activating influencers in marketing strategies23:30 - Bundling products to enhance sales24:41 - Effectiveness of influencer boxes in driving engagement27:09 - Benefits of personalized scripts for influencer marketing29:01 - Successful launch with a creator's custom landing page30:03 - Limited edition products featuring creators' images32:45 - Creating signature flavors for products34:10 - Replicating successful creator collaborations39:24 - Challenges of maintaining a cohesive brand image43:01 - Final chewsFollow us, subscribe to our newsletter, and to see our exclusive merch check outhttps://chewonthis.io/Ron Shah - https://twitter.com/obviceoAsh Melwani - https://twitter.com/ashvinmelwaniChew On This - https://twitter.com/chewonthisdtc
In the season 4 finale of Chew on This, Ron, Ash, and Ankit are joined by Sahil Bloom, writer and entrepreneur, to discuss his journey from zero followers to publishing his first book, “The Five Types of Wealth.” Bloom shares his experiences building an audience on Twitter, transitioning to a newsletter, and ultimately writing a book that explores five key areas of well-being: financial, time, social, mental, and physical wealth. He emphasizes the importance of identifying “mispriced opportunities,” prioritizing genuine authenticity in content creation, and understanding that life’s priorities shift across different seasons. He also discusses the process of traditional book publishing, the challenges of maintaining a long-term writing project, and the importance of balancing various aspects of life rather than solely focusing on financial success.
📖 The Five Types of Wealth: Bloom’s book explores financial, time, social, mental, and physical wealth, emphasizing the importance of balancing these aspects throughout different life seasons.
📈 Building in Public: He advocates for authentically sharing one’s journey and learnings online as a powerful marketing strategy, though cautions against using it solely for ego-boosting.
🤔 Prioritizing Energy: Bloom stresses identifying and maximizing “energy-creating” tasks versus “energy-draining” ones, as a key to productivity and overall well-being.
⏳ Time as the Most Valuable Asset: He highlights the importance of time wealth, emphasizing that even immense financial wealth can’t buy back lost time.
🧘 Balancing Life’s Dimensions: Bloom underscores the need for a holistic approach to life, avoiding the pitfall of sacrificing other areas for singular pursuits like financial success.
0:00 - Intro
1:14 - Sahil Bloom, writer and entrepreneur
2:14 - Transitioning from a finance career to writing a book
4:20 - The chaos of career paths during the pandemic
7:18 - The concept of creating value for others
9:11 - Shifting focus to a more authentic writing approach
10:51 - The challenges of writing a book compared to social media
15:19 - The differences between traditional and self-publishing
26:40 - The goal of making a lasting impact through writing
32:43 - The importance of prioritizing different aspects of life during specific windows of time
34:40 - The significance of maintaining important relationships, even during busy work periods
36:16 - Individual journeys and personal transformations
39:10 - Different types of wealth
41:03 - Time is the most precious resource
43:15 - The importance of self-awareness in managing energy levels and tasks
49:15 - Identifying and limiting energy-draining tasks
52:14 - The balance between building a business and sharing experiences publicly
57:34 - Teaching children about delayed gratification for long-term success
59:10 - Sahil Bloom's daily routine
1:03:00 - Final chew
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📨 Sendlane - Tired of paying for hosting unnecessary contacts on your email list? Thats why we switched to Sendlane where we are only charged for the number of contacts we send to. You will unlock huge savings by signing up with them.
🔗 https://sendlane.com/chewonthis
Follow us, subscribe to our newsletter, and to see our exclusive merch check out
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Ron Shah - https://twitter.com/obviceo
Ash Melwani - https://twitter.com/ashvinmelwani
Chew On This - https://twitter.com/chewonthisdtc
In this episode of Chew on This, Ron, Ash, and Ankit discuss their goals and predictions for e-comm in 2025. Key themes include the increasing difficulty of relying solely on paid advertising (especially on Meta), the necessity for product innovation and uniqueness to stand out in saturated markets, the growing importance of building an owned audience through creator collaborations and “building in public,” and the need for higher margins to support more diversified marketing strategies. They also touch on the challenges posed by evolving advertising platforms like TikTok Shop and Meta’s changing policies regarding health and wellness brands.
📈 Increased Difficulty of Paid Advertising: The founders emphasize the rising cost and diminishing returns of paid advertising, especially in saturated markets like supplements. They highlight the need to diversify marketing strategies and build owned audiences.
💡 Product Innovation is Key: Brands must prioritize unique, proprietary, and high-value products to differentiate themselves. The era of easily marketing commoditized goods is over. Significant investment in R&D is crucial.
🤝 Creator Economy Dominance: Leveraging creators and influencers to build brand awareness and reach target audiences is paramount. “Building in public” and cultivating an owned audience are essential for long-term success.
📊 Platform Diversification: The discussion emphasizes the need to move beyond reliance on Meta and explore other channels like AppLovin, YouTube, and Pinterest, while acknowledging the challenges and costs associated with each.
🤔 Evolving Platform Policies: Meta’s tightening policies on health and wellness advertising, particularly regarding targeting specific medical conditions, present significant challenges for brands in this sector.
0:00 - Intro
1:51 - Creating convenient and consumable products
3:11 - Brand differentiation in saturated markets
4:17 - Product uniqueness is essential for success
5:29 - Innovating to stand out in 2025
7:10 - Channel influence on consumer trends
9:31 - Changed prerequisites for launching a product
12:02 - Differentiation is crucial as competition increases
19:02 - Adapting to market changes and consumer behavior
22:19 - Differences in advertising algorithms
23:34 - Effectiveness and evolution of advertising channels
25:07 - Measuring the impact of advertising on revenue
29:30 - Recommendations for diversifying advertising strategies
31:02 - Targeting specific medical conditions in advertising
35:06 - Balance between safety and usefulness in content
37:15 - Producing quality products and unique marketing strategies
39:01 - Evolution of knowledge access and learning methods
41:30 - Final chews
Sponsored by:
📨 Sendlane - Tired of paying for hosting unnecessary contacts on your email list? Thats why we switched to Sendlane where we are only charged for the number of contacts we send to. You will unlock huge savings by signing up with them.
🔗 https://sendlane.com/chewonthis
Follow us, subscribe to our newsletter, and to see our exclusive merch check out
https://chewonthis.io/
Ron Shah - https://twitter.com/obviceo
Ash Melwani - https://twitter.com/ashvinmelwani
Chew On This - https://twitter.com/chewonthisdtc
This episode of Chew on This features Sahand Dilmaghani, CEO and founder of Terra Kaffe, a high-end espresso machine company. Sahand discusses his journey from investment banking and electric vehicles to creating a luxury coffee product, highlighting the challenges and successes of building a hardware business. He emphasizes the importance of strong customer relationships, community building, and data-driven marketing strategies in overcoming the unique obstacles of a high-ticket item in a crowded market. The conversation covers product development, marketing channel selection (direct-to-consumer, Amazon, retail), customer acquisition costs, community building on Facebook, and fundraising. Sahand shares valuable lessons learned, including the importance of staying close to the customer and avoiding perfectionism.
☕ Building a High-End Hardware Brand: Sahand details the complexities of designing, sourcing, manufacturing, and marketing a premium-priced espresso machine, emphasizing the iterative design process and the importance of early market validation.
📈 Data-Driven Marketing & Customer Relationships: Sahand showcases a unique approach to marketing a high-ticket item, relying heavily on strong customer relationships, word-of-mouth marketing (30% of sales attributed to it!), and a vibrant online community to drive sales and brand loyalty. This approach allows for direct feedback, informing product development and marketing strategies.
🗣️ Community Building as a Marketing Tool: The power of a strong, engaged customer community is emphasized. Sahand shares how he uses his personal cell phone number to connect with customers and leverage their enthusiasm for word-of-mouth marketing, creating an “unfair advantage.”
💰 Fundraising and Financial Discipline: Sahand discusses his approach to fundraising, emphasizing the importance of having a clear vision, setting realistic milestones, and being judicious in capital allocation.
🤔 Lessons Learned: Sahand shares a key learning - avoiding letting perfectionism hinder progress and emphasizing the importance of getting the product “done” and then iterating based on feedback.
0:00 - Intro
1:10 - Sahand's background in hardware creation
2:05 - Transition from finance to a startup
3:08 - Personal experience with consumer preferences in the coffee market
4:20 - Building a technology moat in a visceral purchase category
6:02 - The complexity of hardware development
8:09 - Validation of product-market fit through consumer engagement
11:09 - Launching the first version of the product
12:14 - Testing new channels
15:12 - Challenges marketing against established legacy brands
17:00 - Evolution of marketing strategies over the past 5 years
18:20 - Community-oriented approaches drive significant interest
19:18 - Engaging with the community to understand consumer needs
20:27 - Customers as brand evangelists
22:13 - Importance of customer feedback through surveys
24:11 - Identifying growth opportunities to overcome market challenges
25:04 - Building social media communities to enhance customer engagement
27:02 - Amplifying marketing efforts through word-of-mouth
28:04 - Importance of fiscal discipline
34:57 - Understanding the audience is key
35:08 - Final chew
Sponsored by:
📨 Sendlane - Tired of paying for hosting unnecessary contacts on your email list? Thats why we switched to Sendlane where we are only charged for the number of contacts we send to. You will unlock huge savings by signing up with them.
🔗 https://sendlane.com/chewonthis
Follow us, subscribe to our newsletter, and to see our exclusive merch check out
https://chewonthis.io/
Ron Shah - https://twitter.com/obviceo
Ash Melwani - https://twitter.com/ashvinmelwani
Chew On This - https://twitter.com/chewonthisdtc