ASOM Pod EP39: Is Direct to Consumer Dying? Hard Truths About eCommerce as a Business Model in 2025
In this episode of The ASOM Pod, hosts John Roman (CEO of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO of Praella), Bryan McDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma's Pride), and Jimmy Kim (CEO dig into the ever-changing world of DTC businesses. Is the DTC model on life support, or is it just shedding its old skin and evolving? The crew doesn’t hold back as they unpack the biggest mistakes DTC brands keep making—like betting everything on paid ads, failing to diversify, and ignoring what customers actually want.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- The real reasons DTC brands are struggling (spoiler: it’s not just rising ad costs)- The danger of treating performance marketing like a religion- Why jumping into retail just because can backfire—hard- How to spot the “Know-It-All Founder” syndrome before it tanks your company- Lessons from brands that flopped (and how to avoid their fate)
If you’re running a DTC brand (or thinking about starting one), this episode is a must-listen.
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Big shoutout to our sponsors who make this podcast possible!
Omnisend — With 125,000+ eCommerce merchants, Omnisend is the all-in-one email & SMS marketing platform built to deliver seamless, personalized experiences with ease. Learn more at https://www.omnisend.com/
Nacelle — Transform your eCommerce store with AI-powered product recommendations that understand your customers’ actual behaviors, not just their purchases. Learn more at https://www.nacelle.com
Workspace6 — The best community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators. Why struggle alone? Other founders have already solved your biggest challenges. Learn more at https://www.workspace6.io
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00:00 Teaser Trailer
02:11 Welcome to the ASOM Pod
04:54 DTC: Is It Dying?
15:30 The Rise and Fall of Smile Direct Club
22:08 Casper: The Mattress Revolution
27:36 Falling Asleep in Public
28:19 13 Sins That Killed the DTC Business
30:44 Overconfidence in Branding
31:28 The Illusion of Customer Centricity
32:36 Data Company Pitfalls
33:36 Digital Media Addiction
34:23 Discount Addiction
34:34 Performance Marketing Religion
36:30 Retail FOMO
39:08 Tech Company Trap
42:32 Jumping Around Syndrome
43:06 Missed Financial Projections
45:31 Ignoring Parental Advice
46:38 The Know-It-All Founder
48:50 Guess That Business Game
51:54 Wrapping Up and Next Episode Teaser
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Follow Jimmy Kim at:
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IG: https://www.instagram.com/@yojimmykim
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Follow Bryan MacDonald at:
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-macdonald-ct
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Follow John Roman at:
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IG: https://www.instagram.com/@johnnyromes
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmroman
Follow Amer Grozdanic at:
X: https://www.twitter.com/@AmerGrozdanic
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-grozdanic
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@amergrozdanic
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amergrozdanic
Contact us at hello@asompod.com for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information!