DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built

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 Strategies2. Optimizing Marketing Budget3. Testing Marketing Channels4. Digital Marketing Challenges5. Building and Structuring Teams6. Importance of Domain NamesTimestamps00:00 Rob Schutz’s DTC experience: BARK/BarkBox, Ro, Snagged.com07:37 Process of acquiring domain names11:10 Why Rob Schutz founded Snagged.com14:28 From User Acquisition Manager to VP of Growth at BARK/BarkBox16:27 Lessons from BARK/BarkBox’s growth journey20:56 Strategies for choosing and testing growth channels26:09 Transitioning from BARK/BarkBox to Ro29:00 Challenge with digital performance platforms in the early days of Ro31:33 Rolling out Ro’s ED medication state-by-state, launching other products35:47 Planning for scale around high quality of care35:51 Iterations around how to structure the team as Ro scaled41:47 Rob Schutz’s advice to founders46:35 Sports sponsorship as a performance channel48:10 Snagged.com’s domain servicesShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Rob Schutz - Co-Founder of Ro and Founder of Snagged.comBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon 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 Shop2. TikTok Shop Basics3. TikTok Shop Logistics4. TikTok Affiliate Marketing5. TikTok Competitive Analysis6. Cross-Platform Effects7. TikTok-Amazon IntegrationTimestamps00:00 Mina Elias’ background in Amazon03:34 TikTok and future shopping trends06:12 How TikTok solved the content problem for brands09:15 How TikTok merged affiliate and attribution10:12 How to start selling on TikTok Shop: account and page setup, logistics14:29 Affiliate marketing on TikTok: manual and automated outreach17:42 Strategies for running ads with affiliate content19:18 Budgeting for TikTok ads, data analysis with FastMoss23:51 Finding the right TikTok creators for your brand25:33 The impact of TikTok Shop on Amazon sales and organic rankingShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Mina Elias - Founder of Trivium Group and Chief Executive Officer at MMA Nutrition LLCBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon 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 Building2. Data-Driven Product Development3. Nurturing Retail Partnerships4. Strategic Market Positioning5. Defining and Capturing Your ICP6. Organic Influencer Partnerships7. The Intersection of Fashion and CPGTimestamps00:00 Michelle Cordeiro Grant’s background; the idea behind GORGIE03:46 How customer feedback factored in product and brand development for GORGIE07:40 Community as a buzzword vs as part of brand identity10:01 Community building as an integral part of brand building11:28 How to keep an online community engaged; consumer vs community funnel16:50 GORGIE’s partnerships: Erewhon, Whole Foods, Sprouts, H-E-B, etc.20:05 Overlaps between two industries: fashion and CPG22:14 The story and vision behind GORGIE’s magazine23:57 Defining GORGIE’s ICP and building a brand around them26:54 GORGIE’s growth channels, how they nurture top-of-funnel and retain customers29:42 Year two of GORGIE: online and retail initiatives31:19 Brand-creator partnerships and the importance of organic alignmentShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Michelle Cordeiro Grant - Founder and CEO of GORGIEBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon 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 Marketing2. Affiliate Marketing Challenges Faced by Brands3. Affiliate Discovery, Activation, and Engagement4. Affiliate Program Commissions5. Attribution in Affiliate Marketing6. Affiliate Marketing Trends and Future OutlookTimestamps00:00 Evolution of the meaning of “affiliate” in e-commerce05:07 Challenges brands face when running an affiliate marketing program07:32 Strategies for affiliate activation: engagement flow and tier structures11:52 Things that get influencers interested in working with a brand15:09 Optimal affiliate marketing commission rates15:49 How to choose the right influencer for affiliate partnership19:18 Strategies for finding and recruiting affiliate partners23:11 How to measure the success of an affiliate program25:03 Affiliate marketing trends and future outlook29:05 Attribution in affiliate marketing; a tool that prevents coupon code leaks33:11 Key initiatives of Social SnowballShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Noah Tucker - Founder of Social SnowballBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon 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 Marketing2. Strategic Financial Management3. Customer Feedback in Product Development4. Building a Brand Community5. Product Seeding and Influencer Marketing6. Expanding from B2B to DTC7. Business Growth and SustainabilityTimestamps00:00 How Hedley & Bennett came about05:05 Why Ellen Marie Bennett started an apron brand07:28 Financial lessons from the first years of Hedley & Bennett15:03 Building a brand community16:03 How Hedley & Bennett expanded from B2B to DTC21:05 The importance of strong customer partnerships24:13 Product seeding and influencer marketing29:04 How customer feedback factors in the product iteration cycle33:09 Prioritizing long-term brand vision and investmentsShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Ellen Marie Bennett - CEO and Founder of Hedley & BennettBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon 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 SEO2. SEO Strategies for E-commerce Brands3. When to Invest in SEO4. Role of Branded Search in SEO5. Relationship Between Ads and SEO6. Topical Authority vs Domain Authority7. The Impact of AI on SEO8. E-commerce vs Non-E-commerce SEOTimestamps00:00 Josh Piepmeier’s background04:25 When brands should start investing in SEO07:04 How to optimize for branded searches10:36 Off-page SEO for new domains13:54 E-commerce SEO vs standard SEO16:58 Google AI updates and how it’s affecting SEO 20:16 On using AI for website content22:46 How paid ads factor into SEO26:03 How to create an effective SEO strategy30:00 Importance of topical authority for small brands33:20 Outcomes for brands that have focused on SEOShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Josh Piepmeier - Founder of MeriwetherBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon 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 Brands2. How to Grow Traffic, CTR, and CVR on Amazon3. Factors that Affect Sales and Conversion on Amazon4. How to Optimize for Paid and Organic Search on Amazon5. Tips for Optimizing Amazon Product Listings6. Ways to Increase AOV and LTV on AmazonTimestamps00:00 Mina Elias’ background, how he started an Amazon agency04:04 Three core pillars to scaling your brand on Amazon05:39 Maximizing product visibility through strategic paid advertising11:13 How to budget for Amazon spending13:31 Tips for structuring Amazon PPC campaigns, setting up Amazon DSP16:52 Growing your organic traffic on Amazon19:33 Breaking in as a new brand; the importance of product differentiation21:17 Seven factors that affect click-through rate (CTR) on Amazon25:04 How price affects Amazon reviews and star ratings27:33 Split testing discounts, coupons, and tracking profits31:22 Best practices for optimizing Amazon product titles32:21 Why choose Amazon FBA over FBM33:34 How to earn the Amazon Best-Seller Badge35:03 Factors that affect conversion rate on Amazon36:45 Considering the buyer's perspective when creating an Amazon strategy38:09 Optimizing videos on Amazon product listings39:39 How to write effective Amazon bullet points40:05 Amazon virtual bundles and how they affect conversion rate42:51 Brand story; standard Amazon A+ Content vs Premium A+ Content45:19 Leveraging user-generated content (UGC) to boost Amazon sales46:25 Amazon Posts and Amazon Storefront47:47 Importance of reviews with images on Amazon and how to get them50:01 Ways to increase average order value (AOV) on Amazon51:13 Ways to increase lifetime value (LTV) on Amazon53:03 Testing and optimizing Amazon product listingsShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Mina Elias - Founder of Trivium Group and Chief Executive Officer at MMA Nutrition LLCBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon 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 Creators2. Fourthwall’s Target Audience and Market Positioning3. How to Get Started with Fourthwall4. Merchandising Strategies for Creators5. Growth Channels: Word-of-Mouth, Cold Outbound, SEO6. Community-Driven Sales vs Paid Ads7. The Power of Content CreatorsTimestamps00:00 How Fourthwall helps creators build their businesses06:39 What creators need to know about sales tax 09:50 Identifying a customer persona for Fourthwall11:53 Steps to get set up with Fourthwall14:09 Fourthwall then vs now, from manual to automated processes18:12 Distribution trends on Fourthwall, community vs paid ads19:05 The most popular products creators sell and how to scale20:10 Starting a business vs creating a new revenue stream22:04 Fourthwall’s future plans and growth projections24:10 Positioning against Shopify and Pietra25:44 How Fourthwall reaches its ICPs: word of mouth, cold outbound, SEOShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Will Baumann - Co-Founder and CEO at FourthwallBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon 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 Strategies2. Omni-Channel Presence3. Retail and Digital Marketing Mix4. Market Dynamics and Education5. Amazon Strategy6. Community Engagement7. Consumer Network Growth8. Customer Reactivation Strategies9. Contextual Targeting10. Marketing Team StructureTimestamps00:00 Colin Flood’s background; experience in e-commerce, marketing, and branding03:20 Unreal Snacks — mission & vision, retail & DTC strategy, then vs now10:39 In-store and online marketing strategies15:02 Creative ways to get in front of customers18:39 Amazon strategy, shifting to FBA22:49 Marketing team structure and responsibilities24:27 Relationship between marketing, community, and social28:16 Marketing goals, data, and budget allocation31:04 Contextual targeting, new product launch, reactivation strategies33:26 Challenges in low funnel marketing35:03 Bridging customer experiences between retail and digital36:47 New chocolate products, new retail partnershipShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Colin Flood - VP of Marketing at Unreal SnacksBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

David Hoffman and Samir Rayani co-founded Next Big Shop, where they leverage their expertise to analyze and interpret publicly available but hard-to-access e-commerce data for insights into retail success and product trends. As partners, they collaborate on developing data products that inform and guide direct-to-consumer strategies for various brands and industries.In this episode of DTC Pod, David and Samir explore e-commerce trends, the significance of retail presence for certain product categories, and the intricacies of building and using data products to analyze market and sales data. They also cover the challenges faced when building data products, the role of data in measuring the success of brand strategies, and the need for precise data communication.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. E-commerce Sales Data Analysis2. DTC Brand Strategies3. Seasonality and Market Trends4. Data-Driven Decision-Making5. Subscription Business Models6. Data Product ChallengesTimestamps02:15 David and Samir’s background and experience in building data products08:31 What data says about commerce trends in 202415:03 One of the hottest accessories brand: Blenders18:55 Alo in apparel, how data can help optimize inventory turnover20:57 Comparing brand strategies and impact on sales24:52 Comparing beauty brands: Jones Road, Thrive, Peach and Lily, P. Louise30:32 Using data to confirm or invalidate assumptions31:39 Trending DTC topics and best-selling products in 202436:03 The relationship between demand and supply share38:59 Beverage brands, DTC and retail strategy43:34 Subscription business model, how subscription factors in data on Next Big Shop44:50 Retail distribution, using data to define success metrics48:45 Challenges of building data productsShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  David Hoffman and Samir Rayani - Co-Founders of Next Big ShopBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

John Morgan is the founder of Pelagic, a unique agency of top tier operators that helps brands tackle supply chain, logistics & operations. Prior to starting Pelagic, he served as VP of Ops at Seed Health where he built the infrastructure behind one of the fastest growing modern health brands. Before getting into DTC he worked on the Falcon 9 rocket team at SpaceX. His expertise spans across optimizing supply chains for efficiency, sustainability, and growth, especially for early-stage companies.In this episode of DTC Pod, John talks about the iterative nature of supply chain management and the need for startups to continuously adapt and refine their processes. He highlights the use of technology to streamline operations, the significance of understanding the complexities of global supply chains, especially under the strain of events like the COVID-19 pandemic, and shares a framework for setting up supply chains with a strong foundation in operational details and supplier partnerships.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Iterative Supply Chain Management2. Third-Party Logistics Partnerships3. Fractional Operations and Technology4. Profitability and Cost Optimization6. Impact of COVID-19 on Supply Chain7. Future Tech in Operations8. Building and Scaling Supply ChainsTimestamps02:09 John Morgan’s background and experience working on SpaceX 06:39 Leading the operations at Seed Health09:37 The effect of COVID on global manufacturing, supply chain, and operations11:46 Pelagic as a supply chain service provider13:15 How to get supply chain right from the get-go; mistakes to avoid18:56 Adapting supply chains to growth and change23:41 Hiring for supply chain, considerations for early-stage founders26:35 Optimizing for profits vs quality, financial optimization of supply chains30:26 What founders need to know before importing33:55 Common mistakes to avoid in supply chain managementShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  John Morgan - Founder of PelagicBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtiar are the co-founders of Good Girl Snacks, a company that has made a name for itself in the snack industry with a focus on creating modern, female-oriented branding, particularly with their product "Hot Girl Pickles." Leah and Yasaman launched their brand by leveraging social media, especially TikTok, identifying a gap in the pickle market for their niche audience. Despite their lack of experience in the food and beverage industry, they were able to carve out a unique space and build a dedicated community around their brand through their knowledge of social media marketing and content creation.In this episode of DTC Pod, Leah and Yasaman pull back the curtain on their content and marketing strategy. We gain insights into organic brand-building, how it contributes to maintaining authenticity and connection with an ad-averse Gen Z audience, and how they use it to get real-time engagement and feedback to refine and enhance their product line. We also learn the unique challenges and learning curves Leah and Yasaman faced in the CPG industry as they built Good Girl Snacks from the ground up.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Content Creation and Marketing Strategies2. Overcoming Production and Operation Challenges3. Engaging Gen Z through Authenticity4. Branding and Niche Market Targeting5. Learning From Industry with Consultancy Support6. Building Community via Organic Social Content7. Flexibility and Patience in Business GrowthTimestamps02:00 Viral TikTok trends and how Good Girl Snacks started04:21 From doing corporate work to launching a brand07:21 Initial fears of starting a business09:34 The white space in the pickle market10:59 Picking a niche, catering to Gen Z consumers13:28 Content strategy, leveraging brand stories and SEO17:07 Good Girl Snacks’ content creation workflow then vs now22:45 Balancing planned and spontaneous content 24:39 Content distribution; reels, stories, and grid strategy27:59 Product development, hiring R&D consultants, the importance of community31:34 Gathering customer feedback for iterative product development34:21 Challenges and advantages of bootstrapping36:21 Adapting marketing strategy to Gen Z consumer attitudes and behavior38:53 Retaining authenticity while scaling, continuing to create low-lift content41:22 Hiring consultants vs full-time employees44:28 How to get the most out of startup advisors47:33 Advice to future founders: be adaptable and patientShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtiar - Co-Founders of Good Girl SnacksBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Christopher Hunter is a seasoned entrepreneur best known for creating Four Loko, a caffeinated alcoholic beverage that caused a stir across college campuses and beyond. Currently, he serves as the CEO of Koia, a leading plant-based protein drink company that has achieved over $100 million in annual retail sales nationwide. In this episode of DTC Pod, we uncover tactics for rapid growth in the CPG space. Christopher highlights the importance of adapting to market shifts and consumer demands, which steered his brand from a costly initial direct-to-consumer model to a more sustainable retail focus, eventually re-introducing multi-packs for platforms like Instacart and launching shelf-stable products on Amazon. With Koia now available in approximately 30,000 retail locations—including a recent nationwide partnership with Starbucks—Christopher reflects on the brand’s product development and scale-up process.Shop Koia on Amazon.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Startup Challenges and Solutions2. Retail Partnerships and Scaling3. Adaptation to Regulations4. Four Loko's Market Evolution5. Koya's Strategic Growth6. Distribution and Manufacturing Strategies7. Direct-to-Consumer Shifts and TrendsTimestamps01:48 Christopher Hunter’s background, how Four Loko and Koia started07:14 From managing Phusion Projects to investing in Raw Nature 5 to creating Koia09:28 How a partnership helped launch and scale Koia12:12 Troubleshooting initial production challenges at Koia14:41 Starting with natural retailers, then going to specialty and conventional ones17:23 The evolution of Koia’s supply chain and operations19:57 Moving from DTC to retail, addressing customer requests, discovering an opportunity to sell on Amazon22:22 Expectations for Koia’s launch on Amazon, looking at product competition25:41 Lessons learned from Four Loko, product iteration and scaling31:16 Dealing with government agencies, building a solid business foundation33:56 Consumer research and how it factors in making business decisions like product line expansionShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Christopher Hunter - Co-Founder of Phusion Projects and KoiaBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Kellen Roland served as first CEO of JOOPITER alongside Pharrel Williams and VP of Sales of Herschel Supply Co, and brings 18+ years of expertise in the luxury and consumer sectors.  He has a triple role as a founder, investor, and strategic advisor. He fosters business growth through insightful leadership and AI integration, invests in promising businesses like TRUFF, and offers strategic advice to brands such as Slowtide. With an acute sense of cultural trends and storytelling skills, he establishes authentic links between brands and audiences. Notably, he worked at Agenda Trade Show, Herschel Supply Co., and iamOTHER, founded The NTWRK Agency, and eventually built JOOPITER alongside Pharrell Williams. At present, he shares this extensive learning at his own consulting business, KRMC.In this DTC Pod episode, Kellen Roland gives insights on building strong retailer relationships. He emphasizes the importance of delivering unique value to create lasting partnerships in retail. He also discusses negotiating techniques and the need to maintain a healthy balance of markups and margins, appealing to vendors while preserving brand profitability. Kellen encourages brands to be agile; taking customer feedback seriously and quickly adapting to changing preferences is key for success in the fast-changing DTC landscape. Through his strategic insights, Kellen cements the framework for a successful retail strategy that is as much about captivating storytelling as it is about shrewd business deliberations.Join 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Strategic DTC Brand Launch2. Entrepreneurship and Relationship-Building3. Agility and Adaptability in Retail4. Ethics in CPG and Brand Responsibility5. Traits of Highly Successful People6. Practical Benefits of AI in Business7. The Value of MentorshipTimestamps01:30 Kellen Roland’s background, early career and passion06:48 Herschel’s success, the importance of clear vision and timing11:45 Creating win-win situations for retailers as a brand13:01 How to pitch new products to retailers17:04 Traditional brand launch versus modern direct-to-consumer approach21:14 The importance of demand planning and brand agility25:23 Brands to watch out for: Graza, Nguyen Coffee, Rocky’s Matcha, Goodles32:52 Working with Pharell Williams on JOOPITER35:53 Traits for leveling up to Kobe-level success40:41 Commitment, resilience, and persistence amidst challenges44:17 Using AI to manage schedules, solve problems, and scale operations49:08 Coaching and revenue growth, building a consulting business52:08 Seeking mentors, not copy-pasting success formulasShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Kellen Roland - Founder of KRMCBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Loren Castle is an entrepreneur and the founder of Sweet Loren's, a brand specializing in ready-to-bake cookie dough that is plant-based, gluten-free, nut-free, and non-GMO.After being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 22, Loren Castle was motivated to create a line of sweets that aligned with her own desire for healthier, less processed treats made from real food ingredients. Baking served both as her therapy and a means of creative expression during her challenging times.Sweet Loren's began in Loren's kitchen after her homemade chocolate chip cookie recipe received high praise, leading her to realize the potential of her products. Her business has grown significantly over the years, and she has successfully led the brand to offer a broad range of products catering to health-conscious consumers. Sweet Loren's products are now available in over 25,000 supermarkets.This episode of DTC Pod explores how Sweet Loren’s became the #1 natural cookie dough brand in the US. We cover topics like scaling product production, identifying business opportunities, and integrating customer feedback into product development stages. Learn about their success from startup to leader in the CPG market.Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Tips for Scaling Product Production2. Key Considerations for Product Line Expansion3. Strategies for Successful Product Launches4. How to Identify White Space Opportunities5. Customer Feedback Integration in Product Development6. Business Decision-Making and GrowthTimestamps04:14 Starting Sweet Loren’s, the #1 natural cookie dough brand in the US10:32 Discovering passion, becoming an entrepreneur, finding purpose14:11 From solopreneurship to business leader15:46 Deciding between opening a bakery vs entering the CPG market16:39 Product development, choosing cookie dough as the first product20:54 Customer feedback and its role in product iteration cycle22:32 Shifting focus to customer needs, scaling Sweet Loren’s24:58 Changing products to cater to food intolerances and allergies32:28 Early stages of funding, bootstrapping, scaling34:36 Evaluating business opportunities based on personal alignment35:52 Figuring out the top five SKUs that are gonna sell38:03 Launching Sweet Lauren’s first shelf-stable product38:59 Launching other types of refrigerated doughs41:16 Considerations for expanding Sweet Loren’s product offerings43:14 Researching, identifying opportunities, developing products46:55 Why team, experience, expertise, and data are vital for startup successShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Loren Castle - CEO and Founder of Sweet Loren'sBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Emmett Shine is the creative genius behind Pattern, taking the lead in shaping the narratives and aesthetics of its seven brands. He also co-founded a creative agency, Gin Lane, and oversaw its evolution in parallel with the burgeoning startup ecosystem that came to define New York's landscape.In this episode, Emmett discusses Pattern Brands' approach to cultivating a unique identity for each brand within its family. He underscores the need to create specialized experiences for individual brands while exploring synergies across the portfolio. His dual focus on operations and creatives emerges as a cornerstone strategy, proving pivotal in his company's ongoing journey to build a robust and profitable direct-to-consumer ecosystem.Join 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Creative vs Operational Mindsets2. Talent Recognition and Recruitment Strategies3. Timeless Design Principles and Inspiration4. DTC Brand Challenges and Strategies5. Building and Scaling a Brand Family6. Personal Growth and Entrepreneurship Timestamps00:00 Working with business founders, finding market opportunities05:25 Starting Pattern Brands, buying businesses, launching a design agency13:23 Finding and hiring the right talent15:27 Emmett Shine’s background in design, creating timeless vs trendy designs24:18 Launching two brands, Equal Parts and Open Spaces28:31 Managing multiple brands: human resources and operations33:50 Building specialized brands that cater to millennials45:01 Focusing on consistency, quality, and iterative processes46:34 Diverse projects in early stages, seeking new challengesShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Emmett Shine - Co-Founder of Pattern BrandsBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Our conversation with growth strategist Sabir Semerkant is filled with actionable insights on thriving in the e-commerce landscape.Sabir’s approach to e-commerce growth is holistic. He emphasizes constant improvement and a strong understanding of one's business foundations. His advice invites brands to explore a growth path that's not reliant on temporary fixes but solidifies lasting customer relationships and strong business workflows. Don’t miss this opportunity to get an expert’s take on fueling your strategy and growth.Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Sabir Semerkant’s 8D Method2. The Importance of Mobile Optimization3. Key Dimensions for E-Commerce Success4. Storytelling in Marketing5. Customer Experience and Branding6. The Importance of Customer Centricity7. Value Creation and Strategic Pricing8. E-Commerce Platform Optimization9. Growth and Operational Strategies10. Logistics and FulfillmentTimestamps10:48 Setting goals, improving KPIs every day by 1%12:10 The Rapid 2X and Mastermind programs and the 8D Method13:46 Consistent improvement vs. quick transient optimization dilemma18:21 The importance of measuring all aspects of business for success20:17 The risks of relying solely on paid advertising, the importance of building a brand24:43 The dangers of discounting and how it could hurt a business28:12 Storytelling in marketing, building an emotional connection with customers32:32 Optimizing tech stack for attention span, earning audience engagement37:44 Free tool for measuring site speed to improve performance and conversion39:10 Mobile optimization and why it is important42:25 Product positioning and brand building, paying attention to what customers care about45:33 The importance of authenticity in branding48:43 Putting customers at the center of a business, creating buyer personas 53:15 Strategic pricing, cultivating brand loyalty through content01:00:11 Factors to consider when choosing the right tech stack01:08:42 Choosing the right third-party logistics and operations partners01:13:58 Finding and hiring the right people to help a business growShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  Sabir Semerkant - Founder of GROWTH by SABIRBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Jennifer Liao’s journey with MìLà is nothing short of remarkable. From a grassroots project where they collected orders through Google Forms, it evolved into a successful venture that raised $21.5 million in its second round of funding.This episode doesn't just serve up the story behind MìLà’s signature frozen soup dumplings; it provides a feast of insights on the ingredients for business growth, fundraising, and the power of community-driven marketing.Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Fundraising Strategies and Investor Relationships2. Navigating Logistics for Frozen Food Distribution3. Product-Market Fit Testing4. Branding and Content Strategy Development5. Scaling Manufacturing 6. Leveraging E-commerce PlatformsTimestamps03:37 Experimenting with frozen soup dumplings06:17 How testing and running ad campaigns on Meta led to MìLà’s rapid growth14:59 Product-market fit testing, team expansion20:43 Establishing a team for content and branding28:00 Getting funded, setting realistic goals, and scaling for success35:52 The supply chain side of frozen, perishable goods37:22 Building infrastructure for proactive outreach38:46 Product innovation, retail expansionShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  -----Jennifer Liao - Co-Founder of MìLàBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

In this episode of DTC Pod, Nicolas Beaupré illuminates the strategies that propelled Mateina's growth in the North American market, where the lure of yerba mate was still largely undiscovered. He emphasizes the crucial role of grassroots efforts like word-of-mouth endorsements and community events in building a loyal customer base. Nicolas shares his journey of self-funding, supplemented later by keen investors, which allowed the brand to foster a robust direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales model. In developing Mateina's signature non-carbonated yerba mate beverage, he underscores the meticulous year-and-a-half-long process of trial and error with suppliers to fine-tune the recipe. Moving into the future, Nicolas envisions continuing to innovate and potentially expand Mateina's retail footprint.Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Yerba Mate as a Coffee Alternative2. Grassroots Customer Acquisition3. Self-Funding to Venture Capital4. DTC Revenue Strategy5. Product Development Journey6. Product Sourcing and Production7. Sales and Formulations8. Retail Partnerships9. Educational Marketing StrategyTimestamps03:27 Becoming acquainted with maté in South America05:54 Launching an e-commerce store that sells maté08:41 Introducing a ready-to-drink, cold maté to the market14:07 Educating customers on yerba maté15:51 From bootstrapping to getting private investors19:27 Product development — trials, mistakes, expansion23:57 Factors to consider when coming up with a new formula27:01 Mateina’s product line, inventory challenges32:18 Lessons on product form and communications strategy35:04 Andrew Huberman's role in launching Mateina in the US37:00 Aligning brand, creator, infrastructure, capital, and distribution43:39 Product education, word of mouth, and brand advocacyShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  -----Nicolas Beaupré - Founder & CEO at Mateina Yerba MateBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

In our conversation with Kevin Lavelle, he shares his ingenious approach to building his company, Mizzen+Main, into a fashion industry success. Initially, Kevin recalls the brute force marketing efforts that shaped the early days of the brand, from going door to door to attending events to get the product in people's hands. As their digital marketing and PR strategies matured, Kevin leveraged the power of strategic partnerships and influencer collaborations. Specifically, he cites the company's visibility boost through sponsorship deals, like the one with Tim Ferriss's podcast, and endorsement deals, like with athlete J.J. Watt.Looking into the future with his new venture, Harbor, Kevin discusses the strategies his team is taking to enter the market of baby monitors and pediatric telehealth.Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Influential Partnerships for Brand Growth2. Sustainable Growth Strategies3. Influencer and Celebrity Collaborations4. The Tim Ferriss Effect5.  Retail Strategy Insights6. Prelaunch Strategies and Inventory ManagementTimestamps02:13 Transitioning from Mizzen+Main to Harbor07:20 Lessons from building a customer base for Mizzen+Main12:42 The Tim Ferriss Effect, how a podcast propelled Mizzen+Main14:15 Signing an endorsement deal with J.J. Watt16:36 The necessity of authenticity and passion in successful partnerships20:06 Making personal connections for business success26:00 Creating technically complex, life-critical electronics29:03 Growing Harbor by creating valuable content for parents32:36 Wholesalers and their impact on business growth37:11 Preparing for the pre-launch of Harbor38:45 Building a waitlist with a refundable deposit to gauge demand42:17 Harbor’s vision to transform sleep and wellness for parentsShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok  -----Kevin Lavelle - CoFounder and CEO at Harbor, Founder and Chairman of the Board at Mizzen+MainBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic