D2C Diaries

In this episode of The D2C Diaries, we’re joined by Danil Saliukov, CEO and co-founder of Incense, the leading UGC creator platform. Danil takes us behind the scenes of the UGC revolution, sharing insider insights on TikTok Shop, the future of AI in content creation, and what it takes to craft winning creator strategies.We dive into:1️⃣ Why the term "UGC" is overused and how it’s evolving for modern brands.2️⃣ The TikTok Shop goldmine: how it’s revolutionising e-commerce by blending affiliates, influencers, and paid media.3️⃣ AI-generated UGC: authentic evolution or ethical disaster?4️⃣ The power of whitelisting influencer handles to boost ad performance.5️⃣ How to craft killer UGC briefs that set creators up for success.6️⃣ Why building an affiliate army is key to scaling on TikTok Shop.If you’re a brand, marketer, or creator looking to stay ahead in the fast-moving world of D2C, this episode is packed with actionable insights and expert advice.Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/SLOLXBe3vqMFollow Danil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danil-saliukov/Insense: https://insense.pro/Follow Loukas on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/TRI8BTwitter: https://x.com/LoukasHambiFollow Olly on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/kPrqOTwitter: https://x.com/oliverwhudsonFollow D2C Diaries on socialsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@d2c.diariesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/d2c_diaries/

In this episode of The D2C Diaries, we’re joined by Dan Temm, COO of Puresport, to uncover how they’ve built one of the most authentic and powerful fitness communities in the UK - and turned it into a growth engine for their DTC brand.What started as a simple lunchtime run with 4 friends has evolved into flagship run clubs in London, Manchester, and Glasgow, with 100+ community leaders and thousands of runners showing up consistently every week. No process. No strategy. Just authentic community building.We dive deep into:1. Why building real connections (90% connection, 10% exercise) has been central to their brand growth.2. Their mission to break the “quick-fix mentality” by promoting long-term health through exercise, quality supplements, and social connection.3. How Puresport maintains consistency and trust by empowering 100+ community leaders.4. Why they paused their £30K/month ad spend seeing no revenue drop, and how they use paid media to amplify, not replace, community-driven growth.4. How Puresport develops products that align with their values, focusing on efficacy over trends.5. Plans for expanding run clubs, increasing offline presence at events, and exploring external funding.Puresport proves that authentic community-building is the strongest lever for any DTC brand. If you’re a founder, marketer, or entrepreneur looking to build a brand people genuinely love, this episode is for you.📺 Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/gal4h3odWh8Follow Dan on LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/GjZ4xhttps://puresport.co/https://www.instagram.com/puresport/Follow Loukas on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/TRI8BTwitter: https://x.com/LoukasHambiFollow Olly on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/kPrqOTwitter: https://x.com/oliverwhudsonFollow D2C Diaries on socialsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@d2c.diariesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/d2c_diaries/

What does it really take to leave a corporate career behind and build a thriving DTC brand with no experience? In this episode, we sit down with Arjun Sofat, founder of Free Soul, to dive into his incredible journey.From learning e-commerce on YouTube to managing his own ad accounts and taking bold bets on TikTok Shop, Arjun shares the highs, lows, and lessons of building a brand that’s reshaping female wellness.Arjun opens up about:1️⃣ Transitioning from banking to entrepreneurship with zero safety net.2️⃣ Why consumer obsession drives every decision at Free Soul.3️⃣ The impact of betting early on TikTok Shop as the future of social commerce.4️⃣ How focusing exclusively on female wellness created a thriving community.5️⃣ The principles that guide his team.This episode is packed with actionable insights on resilience, focus, and innovation in the DTC space. Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or just love an inspiring success story, this one’s not to be missed.🎧 Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/IVNIyTepuOsFollow Free Soul on socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freesoulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/freesoulFollow Loukas on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/TRI8BTwitter: https://x.com/LoukasHambiFollow Olly on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/kPrqOTwitter: https://x.com/oliverwhudsonFollow D2C Diaries on socialsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@d2c.diariesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/d2c_diaries/

In this episode, we break down our step-by-step process for crafting high-performing ad creatives that drove a brand to 400% growth! From identifying where your creative sits in the funnel to leveraging proven frameworks and ideating game-changing concepts, we’re sharing the blueprint for ad success.Here’s what we cover:1. Funnel Stages: Tailoring creative to each stage.2. Persona & Angles: Targeting the right audience with impactful messaging.3. Frameworks vs. Swings: Balancing data-driven and bold creative ideas.4. Concept Building: Turning insights into actionable ad concepts.5. Strategic Buckets: Leveraging improvements, competitors, and organic wins.6. Testing & Learning: Measuring, refining, and scaling what works.If you’ve ever struggled to connect your creative process to real results, this episode will give you the clarity and structure you need to build ads that convert. If you’re planning for your next big campaign, this is your ultimate guide to winning ad strategies.Watch on Youtube📺: https://youtu.be/4B0EGwqBn8wFollow Loukas on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/TRI8BTwitter: https://x.com/LoukasHambiFollow Olly on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/kPrqOTwitter: https://x.com/oliverwhudsonFollow D2C Diaries on socialsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@d2c.diariesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/d2c_diaries/

In this episode of D2C Diaries, Loukas and Olly dive deep into the exact research blueprint that drives our high-performing ad campaigns. If you want to unlock better creative performance and make the most of your existing assets, this is a must-watch.Episode Focus: Our Exact Research Blueprint for Crafting Winning AdsHere’s what we cover:1. Turning Reddit threads and social listening into actionable insights2. How to mine customer reviews and comments for winning hooks3. Breaking down the steps to optimise your creative strategy4. Why ongoing research is the key to staying ahead in D2C5. Practical tools and frameworks you can use todayThis episode is packed with insights to help you better understand your audience, refine your creative, and unlock bigger results.Don’t miss this deep dive - tune in now to get a behind-the-scenes look at the research process that powers our most successful campaigns!🎧 Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@d2cdiariesFollow Loukas on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/TRI8BTwitter: https://x.com/LoukasHambiFollow Olly on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/kPrqOTwitter: https://x.com/oliverwhudsonFollow D2C Diaries on socialsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@d2c.diariesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/d2c_diaries/

Matt Kelly, founder of Spacegoods, joins Loukas and Olly for an unfiltered conversation about the “Valley of Death” journey from £10M to £100M. From retail strategies to the challenges of working with VCs, this episode is packed with actionable insights for scaling brands with intention.Episode Focus: The £10M to £100M Journey: Scaling D2C BrandsWe cover: Retail Strategies: Insights into leveraging retail to amplify D2C success VC Funding: The pros, cons, and lessons learned from raising capital and working with investors Building Community: How a strong brand community fuels growth and retention Founder Relationships: The balance between personal relationships and running a business Strategic Hiring: Why hiring the right team is essential for scalingWhether you’re in the early stages of scaling or ready to take your business to the next level, this episode is packed with real-world tips, hard truths, and actionable strategies.🎧 Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@d2cdiariesFollow Matt: https://x.com/matthuciushttps://spacegoods.com/Follow Loukas on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/TRI8BTwitter: https://x.com/LoukasHambiFollow Olly on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/kPrqOTwitter: https://x.com/oliverwhudsonFollow D2C Diaries on socialsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@d2c.diariesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/d2c_diaries/

Loukas sits down with Fred, Creative Director at Hambi Media, to reveal how founder-led content can skyrocket brand authority, trust, and engagement. Whether it’s organic strategies or high-impact ads, they break down the playbook for scaling brands with authentic stories in just 50 minutes.Episode Focus: Using founder story content to drive brand growthThey cover:➡️ Importance of founders as the face of the brand, boosting trust and authority➡️Organic Content Strategies: Odd Muse founder Aimee Smale➡️ Storytelling techniques, consistent messaging, and founder lifestyle as brand identity➡️ Objection handling in ads and specific founder ad formats➡️ Power of documenting vulnerable moments and transparency in founder storytelling➡️ Transition to paid content strategy: How founder story ads drive growth ➡️ Ad Framework: Problem, Want, Threshold, Founder Introduction, Product Introduction, Benefits🎧 Watch on Youtube: Follow Loukas on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/TRI8BTwitter: https://x.com/LoukasHambiFollow Olly on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/kPrqOTwitter: https://x.com/oliverwhudsonFollow D2C Diaries on socialsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@d2c.diariesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/d2c_diaries/

The founders of Soar Group reveal their exact strategy behind hiring a team of A- players to help you to scale your D2C brand to 7-figures🤯Download our incredible 100+ resource Black Friday packages belowDownload our Black Friday Performance Care Package for FREE ➡️ https://www.soarwithus.news/2024-bf-cm-care-packageDownload our Black Friday Creative Playbook for FREE ➡️ https://www.hambimediasolutions.com/bfcm-2024-performance-creative-guideThey cover:➡️Scaling challenges and hiring 30+ team members in 2024➡️HR and management success at the agency➡️Key hiring mistakes for D2C founders➡️Progression roadmaps and team motivation➡️Building standardised interview processes➡️Importance of vetting and culture fit in hiring➡️Effective performance feedback and empowermentListen on Spotify:Follow Loukas on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/TRI8BTwitter: https://x.com/LoukasHambiFollow Olly on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/kPrqOTwitter: https://x.com/oliverwhudson

Download our incredible 100+ resource Black Friday packages below..Download our Black Friday Performance Care Package for FREE ➡️ https://www.soarwithus.news/2024-bf-cm-care-packageDownload our Black Friday Creative Playbook for FREE ➡️ https://www.hambimediasolutions.com/bfcm-2024-performance-creative-guideAnother solo episode with Olly and Loukas talking all things creative.They cover:- Takeaways from the DTC agency dinner sponsored by Triple Whale- The role of AI in creative optimisation - Obvi case study in using AI in static ads- Answering the question; is it inspiration or stealing?- Pushing the boundaries on high-production ASMR creatives- Creative trends: Founder stories and podcast style adsWatch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/THNPfEoU2t0?si=tfzx066GJLo1BGg6 Follow Loukas on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/TRI8BTwitter: https://x.com/LoukasHambiFollow Olly on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/kPrqOTwitter: https://x.com/oliverwhudson

Download our incredible 100+ resource Black Friday packages below..Download our Black Friday Performance Care Package for FREE ➡️ https://www.soarwithus.news/2024-bf-cm-care-packageDownload our Black Friday Creative Playbook for FREE ➡️ https://www.hambimediasolutions.com/bfcm-2024-performance-creative-guideThis is the Black Friday / Cyber Monday episode you've been waiting for. In this jam-packed episode, we’re sharing everything we’ve learned from managing 8-figure campaigns across some of the biggest DTC brands across Black Friday. We dive deep into what worked in 2023 and what you need to do to win big this year, so e-commerce brands can work smarter, not harder.They cover:-Biggest performance and creative learnings of 2023-The standout Black Friday case studies from 2023-How we made TEV £3M in 2 days-The psychology behind discount strategies-Answering the question: should every brand participate in Black Friday / Cyber Monday-The EXACT audit process Soar use on every client-Mastering retention: how to keep customers coming backIf this episode wasn't already enough, as promised, Soar and Hambi have released their 'behemoth' Black Friday / Cyber Monday care package to help DTC brands scale up this BFCM. Links above!Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2-kTIqr7zEFollow Loukas on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/TRI8BTwitter: https://x.com/LoukasHambiFollow Olly on socials:LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/kPrqOTwitter: https://x.com/oliverwhudsonFollow Jamie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-ingham/Follow Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-wright-324737216/Follow Fred on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fred-ezekiel-76018a111/