DTC Podcast

Bryan Porter, Co-founder & Chief E-commerce Officer of Simple Modern, shares insights on growing a leading drinkware brand while spending just 5% on ads. He reveals their innovative strategies for organic growth, focusing on brand trust and product variety. The discussion highlights their successful expansion from Amazon to major retailers like Target and how TikTok virality boosted their sales. Porter also introduces their new electrolyte brand, Trevi, emphasizing the importance of customer loyalty in driving sustainable growth.

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup🚨 Meta just updated Advantage+ campaigns – what does this mean for DTC brands? 🚨Advantage+ has been Meta’s push toward AI-driven ad automation, but with new updates rolling out, advertisers need to adjust their strategies to stay ahead.On this episode of the DTC Podcast, we sit down with Pilothouse's Meta ads expert Taylor Cain to break down what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and the best strategies to maximize Advantage+ performance.What You’ll Learn:📊 The Key Changes in Meta’s Latest Advantage+ Update🔎 How to Analyze Audience Segments to See Where Your Budget is Really Going🎯 Cost Caps & Bidding Strategies That Still Work in an AI-Driven Ad System📢 Creative & Landing Page Best Practices for Higher ROAS🚀 How to Blend Advantage+ With Business-As-Usual Campaigns for More ControlMeta is simplifying the ad-buying process, but are these changes actually better for advertisers? Tune in to learn how to stay in control, optimize your spend, and scale smarter.🎧 Listen now and stay ahead of Meta’s evolving ad system!Timestamps:00:00 – Meta’s latest Advantage Plus updates02:10 – Why Meta is removing customer caps04:45 – How Advantage Plus impacts ad performance07:30 – Best practices for structuring campaigns10:15 – Creative strategy and audience segmentation13:00 – The role of cost caps in Meta ads15:45 – Social proof and Advantage Plus benefits18:30 – Using landing pages effectively in Meta campaigns21:20 – Future of business-as-usual campaigns vs. Advantage PlusHashtags:#MetaAds #FacebookAds #AdvantagePlus #DigitalMarketing #Ecommerce #PerformanceMarketing #PaidSocial #AdvertisingTips #SocialMediaMarketing #AdStrategy 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

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupSMS marketing is one of the most profitable yet underutilized channels in DTC. But too many brands either under-send out of fear or over-send without strategy. On this episode of the DTC Podcast, Postscript’s Sam Melnick joins us to share how AI, segmentation, and conversational commerce are reshaping SMS into a true revenue-driving channel.Find out more about Postscript here: https://postscript.io/ In this episode, you’ll learn:The biggest mistakes brands make with SMS & how to fix themAI-powered SMS: How real-time message optimization drives a 20% revenue liftSegmentation strategies that maximize retention & conversionsHow leading brands like Jones Road Beauty personalize SMS at scaleWhy SMS is outperforming email for many brands on peak sales daysThe future of AI-driven SMS—including Postscript’s new “Shopper” AI agentIf you’re serious about SMS as a revenue channel, this episode packed with actionable insights is a must-listen.Timestamps:00:00 - Why SMS is the next must-have owned channel02:00 - The biggest SMS mistakes brands make04:30 - Smart segmentation strategies for SMS07:00 - How Jones Road Beauty personalizes SMS at scale09:30 - AI-driven SMS optimization and testing12:00 - Scaling conversational commerce with AI15:00 - SMS vs. email: key differences and advantages18:30 - Maximizing revenue with product drops and urgency21:00 - SMS deliverability, compliance, and industry trends24:00 - Why best-in-class SMS solutions outperform all-in-one platforms27:00 - Postscript’s AI and product innovation roadmapHashtags:#SMSMarketing #EcommerceGrowth #DTCBrands #MarketingStrategy #AIinMarketing #ShopifyBrands #RetentionMarketing #ConversationalCommerce #Postscript #DTCpodcast #TextMarketing #MarketingAutomation #CustomerEngagement 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

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup📢 What if you could scale a DTC brand without spending a dollar on paid media?That’s exactly what Amy Tucker, founder of Salty Britches, did. What started as a homemade anti-chafe solution for her son turned into a multi-channel brand used by ultra runners, triathletes, the military, and outdoor adventurers—all without following the traditional paid ad playbook.🔹 How she turned a personal problem into a national product.🔹 The role of organic ambassadors & independent retailers in her growth strategy.🔹 Why she said NO to big-box retail in favor of 500+ independent stores.🔹 How a conversation with a Marine Raider led to military procurement.🔹 Her recent (and reluctant) foray into paid ads & what's working.If you're a DTC founder looking to build a brand with deep customer loyalty and organic traction, this episode is a must-listen.🎧 Tune in now to learn how to scale by saying YES to the right opportunities.Timestamps:00:00 – The power of organic brand growth02:05 – How Salty Britches started from a personal need05:50 – Building a product with real customer demand12:30 – The impact of independent retailers vs. big box stores18:45 – Ultra running and military adoption of the brand24:20 – The role of ambassadors in brand expansion30:10 – Why Salty Britches avoided traditional advertising35:40 – Running effective ads after years of organic growth42:05 – The future of marketing: community vs. paid media48:15 – Final thoughts and brand insightsHashtags:#DTC #ecommerce #entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #startupstory #marketing #branding #directtoconsumer #socialmediamarketing #digitalmarketing #founderjourney #brandbuilding #ads #organicgrowth #businessgrowth #ecommercemarketing #saltybritches #chafingcream #ultrarunning #militarygear 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

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupThe era of faceless brands is over. Consumers don’t just want to buy products—they want to connect with the people behind them.In this episode, Aves, Creative Lead at Pilot House, breaks down why DTC founders must take an active role in content creation to build brand affinity, lower CAC, and scale their brand more effectively.🚀 Key Insights from the Episode:Your face is your competitive advantage. Founder-led content builds trust and differentiates your brand.Stop overthinking it. Grab your phone, record a short video, and start testing.The power of repetition. Your audience won’t remember your story unless you tell it over and over again.Optimize for conversion. Don’t send founder-led ad traffic to a generic PDP—create a dedicated founder story landing page.Consistency wins. Post every day to create lasting brand equity and engagement.If you’re a founder struggling with rising acquisition costs or brand differentiation, this episode will change how you think about content marketing.Timestamps:00:00 Intro: The power of founder-led content02:05 Why founders should be the face of their brand04:30 How to create engaging founder content07:15 The impact of personal storytelling on brand growth10:40 Using organic and paid content together14:20 Optimizing the post-click experience17:50 Consistency is key: Posting daily for growth21:30 Leveraging your founder story for brand affinity24:10 Why repetition works in social media26:00 Final thoughts and call to actionHashtags:#DTC #EcommerceMarketing #BrandBuilding #FounderLedContent #SocialMediaMarketing #MarketingStrategy #PaidSocial #OrganicGrowth #EntrepreneurTips #BusinessGrowth #ContentCreation #MetaAds #TikTokMarketing #Storytelling #DigitalMarketing #StartupTips 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

Taylor Holiday, Managing Partner at Common Thread Collective, discusses the evolving landscape of e-commerce growth. He emphasizes the need for brands to pivot from revenue chasing to focusing on profitability and sustainable development. Taylor shares insights on efficient ad spending, the significance of launching new products for growth, and how AI can enhance agency operations. He also touches on the future of Meta Ads and the benefits of maintaining a lean yet talented team in navigating the complex market.

In this discussion, Dougie from Pilothouse shares his expertise in YouTube marketing for DTC brands. He emphasizes viewing YouTube as a demand generation tool rather than just for immediate conversions. Dougie uncovers common pitfalls in YouTube advertising, such as neglecting brand awareness. He also highlights Google's new measurement tools that promise better tracking of ad success. Furthermore, he outlines how to craft compelling ads tailored to different stages of the marketing funnel, enhancing both engagement and long-term growth.

Kim Gamez, founder of Soberish, transformed her passion for non-alcoholic products into a thriving DTC brand, racking up over $1M in sales without paid ads. She discusses crafting viral content on TikTok and Instagram, turning organic reach into a marketplace success. Kim emphasizes the importance of humor in engagement and the power of community-driven marketing. She highlights the benefits of repurposing content and shares insights on navigating the challenges of selling hemp-derived products in a competitive landscape.

Jordan Gordon, an email and retention expert at Pilothouse, discusses crucial strategies for improving customer engagement. He emphasizes the importance of tracking lifecycle metrics beyond just revenue, identifying the three key stages: promotional, customer, and category lifecycles. Jordan warns about the pitfalls of discount strategies that can erode margins and highlights how a growing revenue line may not signify health. Understanding these metrics is key to maintaining customer loyalty and achieving sustainable growth.

Curtis Matsko, Founder and CEO of Portland Leather Goods, shares his journey of scaling a DTC leather brand to 9 figures. He emphasizes that 'velocity wins,' highlighting the importance of rapid decision-making over perfection. Curtis explains his hiring framework that promotes continuous team development and reveals that 92% of his ad spend is on Meta and Google, ignoring TikTok. He also discusses vertical integration as a growth strategy and the truth about luxury leather products, showcasing how authenticity gives his brand a competitive edge.