DTC Podcast

Trung Pham, founder of RYSE, a smart-home innovation company, shares his impressive journey of raising over $10 million through equity crowdfunding. He reveals how he adapted direct-to-consumer ad strategies for investor outreach. Trung discusses the importance of a strong patent strategy to fend off competitors and highlights plans to monetize knockoffs with a lower-priced TikTok brand. He also tackles manufacturing flexibility to counteract tariffs, making a compelling case for equity crowdfunding's benefits in controlling business growth.

Taylor Cain from Pilothouse Meta Brain Trust, an expert in media buying, dives into the world of high-volume ad testing on Meta. He reveals how they test over 30 creatives weekly, balancing structure and agility in creative discovery. The conversation covers budget allocation strategies to manage risks, the evolving definition of 'net-new creative,' and the integration of AI with human oversight. They also discuss the challenges brands face in health marketing and why channel diversification is essential, especially as they prep for Q4.

Adam Miller, founder of Revel Bikes, dives into his journey of bootstrapping a premium mountain bike brand. He shares the challenges of navigating cash constraints and global distribution while maintaining strong customer relationships. The conversation highlights the power of innovative suspension technology, the importance of authentic storytelling, and how community-driven growth propelled the brand's success. Adam also discusses knowing when to refuse big orders to protect customer trust and the blend of passion and business strategy that shaped Revel's identity.

Delve into the complexities of California's CCPA and CPRA laws and their heavy penalties for non-compliance. Discover compliance thresholds, including revenue and data handling, that every business must meet. Learn about emerging privacy regulations in other states, the vital role of consent in data handling, and the implications for e-commerce operations. A compelling case study highlights the surprising impact of compliance on analytics. Explore future trends like AI-driven consent profiles that shape data privacy practices.

Andrea Ferber, Head of Marketing at Back to Nature, shares her extensive CPG background and insights on the brand's bold rebranding journey after its acquisition by Barilla. Discover how shifting from a ‘plant-based’ tagline to a 'Better-For-You Remix of Classics' revitalized consumer interest and sales. Andrea discusses the strategic importance of nostalgia, taste, and creative packaging in attracting broader audiences while managing brand risks. Tune in for valuable marketing lessons on building a distinctive identity and reconnecting with heritage!

Discover how AI can triple your creative productivity with innovative tools like ChatGPT and DALL·E! Learn to enhance client understanding through automated call transcripts and empathetic insights. Explore how Magnific.ai adds authenticity to visuals, and see how ChatGPT can navigate complex workflows seamlessly. Delve into the potential of custom AI agents for boosting emotional intelligence, while considering the future challenges of energy consumption in AI development. It's a transformative take on creativity and efficiency!

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupTrevor Zacny from Shiti Coolers joins the DTC Podcast to share how he and his brothers transformed a napkin joke into a viral sticker business, and then into the world’s first party cooler brand. This episode dives deep into humor-led branding, event-based growth, and the transition from parody to premium product.Shiticoolers.comYou’ll learn:Why humor can be a powerful differentiator in product categories saturated with status and performance brandsHow Shiti Coolers went from $0 to $320K in sticker sales in year oneHow events like NASCAR and country music festivals became revenue powerhousesThe importance of maintaining product quality in a humor-first brandBuilding community through social, SMS, and in-person eventsLessons on cash flow, capital allocation, and surviving growing painsWhy storytelling and founder-led content is their next big opportunityIf you’re thinking about growing a lifestyle brand, building a loyal following, or just want to learn how to make funny marketing actually drive revenue, this one’s for you.Did you know that 98% of your website visitors are anonymous? Instant powers next-level retention by identifying who they are and converting them into loyal shoppers. Sign up for a quick demo today to get 50% off and unlock a guaranteed 4x+ ROI: instant.one/dtcTimestamps00:00 - How Shiti Coolers Made $320K from Stickers02:00 - From Festival Joke to Full Lifestyle Brand05:00 - Launching the First Party Cooler07:00 - Lessons from the First Cooler Launch10:00 - Balancing Humor and Product Quality12:00 - Competing with Yeti Without Copying It15:00 - Building the Community Through Events and Social17:00 - In-Person Events vs. Paid Media Growth20:00 - Collaborations with Kid Rock, Realtree, and Bill Murray23:00 - Navigating Tariffs and Global Manufacturing25:00 - Working with Family as Co-Founders27:00 - Hitting a Cash Wall and Finding Strategic Investors30:00 - How They Choose the Right Events32:00 - Storytelling as a Growth Opportunity34:00 - Wholesale, Seasonality, and Global Expansion PlansHashtags#shiticoolers#dtcpodcast#founderstory#ecommercebranding#lifestylebrand#productlaunch#d2cmarketing#familybusiness#retailstrategy#tariffs#brandcommunity#humorinmarketing#eventmarketing#wholesalestrategy#coolerbrand Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Christina Chonody, Senior Director of Marketing at Hestan, a luxury cookware brand, reveals the secrets behind their impressive 40% repeat purchase rate. She discusses the power of culinary storytelling and strategic partnerships with chefs that enhance brand loyalty. Christina emphasizes how plain-text emails can outperform visually complex designs, highlighting the significance of genuine value over discounts. Listeners also learn about the benefits of Nanobond technology and segmentation strategies that drive retention and revenue growth.

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupIn this episode of the DTC Podcast, we’re joined by Garrick Tiplady, Global Head of SMB Group at Meta, and Yingying Kuang, Head of Ecommerce and Growth at Kitsch. They share practical insights into how AI tools are reshaping media buying—not replacing it, but making it more efficient and creative.From Zuckerberg’s recent comments about simplifying campaign setup to the real-world tactics Kitsch uses to launch 100 creatives a week, this episode is filled with straightforward strategies for scaling performance marketing. Garrick and Yingying discuss how Meta’s Advantage+ and GenAI Creative tools support human creativity and free up media buyers to focus on strategy and storytelling.Key insights:Why creative is targeting, and how AI helps scale itHow Kitsch leverages AI for creative production, testing, and analysisThe balance between automation and human strategy in performance marketingMeasuring incrementality and understanding attribution beyond last-clickPreparing for Q4 with proven creative and campaign strategiesThis is a must-listen for media buyers and marketers who want to leverage AI tools without losing sight of strategy, customer connection, and real business impact.Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/business/news/meta-advantage-explained-in-two-minutesTimestamps00:00 – How Kitsch approaches Meta's automation and creative strategy02:15 – Why creative diversification outperforms targeting hacks04:30 – Retargeting strategy and why it’s not one-size-fits-all07:00 – Meta’s view on freeing up time for creative strategy09:15 – Using Gen AI to boost creative volume and performance11:30 – Measuring incrementality with Meta tools and Northbeam14:00 – Multi-channel attribution and retail halo effects16:15 – Testing Q4 offers early and holiday creative strategies18:30 – How creators and partnership ads drive 15–25% higher ROAS20:30 – Final advice for mastering Meta media buying in 2025Hashtags#dtcpodcast#mediabuying#metaads#genai#ecommercemarketing#kitschbrand#advertisingstrategy#q4planning#creatorads#digitalattribution#incrementality#performancecreative Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Charlotte Trecartin, the founder of Char Charms, shares her incredible journey from crafting handmade drinkware accessories in her college dorm to securing deals with major retailers like Target and Dick's Sporting Goods. She reveals how starting scrappy can be an asset and discusses the role of TikTok and LinkedIn in her brand's rapid growth. Charlotte highlights the challenges of moving from prototypes to mass production and shares her vision for strategic collaborations with big names like Hello Kitty, showcasing innovative marketing strategies for budding entrepreneurs.