DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built

Mina Elias shares Amazon SEO strategy emphasizing keyword optimization and advertising flexibility. Discussed topics include driving traffic to Amazon, product detail page optimization, and the impact of click-through rates. Insights on leveraging external traffic, improving conversion rates, and navigating Amazon's competitive landscape.

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!Juan Meisel is the Founder and CEO at Grip Shipping, a pioneering Direct-to-Consumer eCommerce for perishable products. After serving as the Head of Logistics of Buterbox, he launched Grip which has since processed over a billion dollars' worth of perishable goods through their innovative platform, and now offers comprehensive fulfillment services, reducing shipping costs by an impressive 30%.On this episode, we'll cover everything about perishable logistics, how Butcherbox solved for these challenges at scale, and how brands can tap into the same infrastructure through Grip with low minimum volume requirements for fast growing perishable goods brands.On this episode of DTC pod we cover:1. Optimizing perishable goods shipping2. Cutting shipping costs significantly3. Scaling fulfillment network strategy4. Unique challenges in perishable logistics5. Importance of data-driven decision making6. Evolving market for online perishables7. Building versus partnering in logisticsTimestamps00:00 Early team member bootstrapped Butcherbox, now scaling Grip.05:49 Shipping perishable goods quickly causes many challenges.09:18 Fragmented warehousing systems, leading to shipping issues.14:18 Challenges with dynamic shipping and manual processes.16:10 Early companies failed due to profit challenges.19:40 Identified shipping needs, led to market connection.22:21 Understanding problems, team support, and evolving markets.27:44 Optimizing perishable shipping for increased profitability.29:08 Software innovation drives substantial reduction in shipping costs.35:16 Focus on defending and scaling company culture. Shownotes 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 and our 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 ---Juan Meisel - Founder and CEO at Grip ShippingBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Josh Durham, founder of Aligned Growth, shares insights on scaling influencer programs for 7 & 8 figure DTC brands. Topics include prioritizing paid social, negotiating consistency with creators, testing budgets, sourcing 100-200 creators weekly, and optimizing influencer content. Strategies for influencer marketing, building relationships in niche markets, and utilizing tech stack effectively are discussed.

Cherene Aubert is the VP of Digital and E-commerce at ILIA Beauty, a skincare-powered makeup brand which has taken the beauty industry by storm as it's quickly scaled past 100M in revenue.In this episode, we sit down with Cherene to discuss some of the most successful strategies that the most successful brands use to grow.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. Brand Differentiation in the Beauty Industry2. Embracing Organic Revenue Growth3. Strategic Marketing Shifts4. Cherene Aubert's Professional Background and Role at Ilia Beauty5. Understanding the Beauty Market Landscape6. Analyzing and Measuring Sales Performance7. Brand Awareness and Advertising Effectiveness8. Utilizing the OKR Framework in Marketing Strategies9. Optimization of Landing Pages and Offers10. Media and Content Strategy11. Trends and Team Collaboration in Social Media MarketingTimestamps00:00 Transition to Ilia for faster growth.04:52 Overseeing marketing, brand, and retail strategies.10:07 Beauty market segmentation: fickle vs. loyal consumers.12:59 Storytelling unlocks human connection in brand marketing.14:52 Early start, focus on financial planning.18:59 Building a legacy brand with team support.23:04 SEO, link building, PR, affiliate, non-paid channels.27:45 Influencer marketing expands reach and audience diversity.30:31 Teams collaborate to create and promote content.33:48 Obsession with capturing attention in social feed.36:35 Beauty, profitability, growth, customer acquisition, conversion optimization.41:45 Prioritizing landing page creation for brand impact.43:18 Maximize user retention with native landing pages.Shownotes 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 and our 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 ---Cherene Aubert - VP of Digital and E-commerce at Ilia BeautyBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Allegra Poschmann is the CEO & Design Director at Pact, a design led, development driven studio that creates digital experiences.In this episode, Allegra shares her journey of substantial growth in the design industry and the compelling success of the nap dress. Listen as we explore the unique approaches to customer engagement and personalized brand experiences that are defining modern retail.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. Introduction to Allegra Poschman2. The Success of the Nap Dress3. Creating Unique Customer Experiences4. Personalization Strategies5. The Connection between Online and Offline Experiences6. Pact's Approach to Client Relationships7. Collaborations and Projects8. Balancing Initiatives and Partnerships9. Strategic Focus and Client Onboarding10. Interest in AI and Brand Consistency11. Ingredient Showcase and SEO12. Understanding the Customer and Founder’s Vision13. Success with Visionary Brands and FoundersTimestamps00:00 Small studio job changed career trajectory, company founded.05:35 Designers listen to clients for e-commerce insight.09:11 Improved metrics, long-term partnership, strategic direction.12:20 Optimizing Shopify capabilities for marketing science-focused products.13:32 Matina focuses on unique single origin sourcing.16:40 Using active ingredient to promote legitimacy in SEO.21:43 Understanding customer values and tailoring approach.25:59 Fashion brand grew, focused on unique products.29:20 Avoid replicating it, focus on personalized experiences.30:23 Personalization strategy works for studs' piercing studios.35:37 Businesses merging tech and physical products seamlessly.39:08 Curiosity about AI and brand product focus.40:55 Glossier brand focused on enhancing natural beauty. Shownotes 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 and our 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 ---Allegra Poschmann - CEO & Design Director at PactBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Discover how Bart built Dad Gang, a fatherhood community through streetwear. Learn about the success of the brand, organic marketing strategies, the appeal of Dad Gang hats, and nurturing a community-centric brand. Hear about Bart's journey from freelance to agency, creating high-quality hats, and the exponential growth of Dad Gang to 90,000 hats in just 1.5 years.

Sam Rattner is the CEO and Co-Founder at Showroom, a vertical-specific search engine for fashion. Leveraging AI, it crawls brands big and small and hosts their inventory, amounting to millions of pieces.  Previously Sam founded Vigtory, a sports betting company which he sold to Fubo for $40 Million at age 23.In this episode, Sam Rattner joins us to break down the innovative concepts behind his company, Showroom, aimed at reshaping the online shopping experience. We discuss how AI will impact retailers and shopping experiences alike.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. Concept and Mission of Showroom2. Showroom's Business Model3. Consumer-Centric Approach in Ecommerce4. Innovation in Online Shopping Experience5. Challenges with AI in Fashion Ecommerce6. Fundraising and Business Growth Strategies7. The Importance of Data Standardization8. Ecommerce Platform Differentiation9. AI's Role in Enhancing Consumer Experience10. User Interaction with Showroom11. Market Analysis and Positioning12. Conversion from Impulse to Intent-Based Shopping13. Vertical Search Versus Horizontal Search PlatformsTimestamps00:00 Predicted growth of sports betting in the US.05:47 TikTok shop is entertainment, not reliable shopping.07:40 Consumer focus, market validation, advertising challenges discussed.10:11 Many start searches on Google, Pinterest, and Showroom.15:13 Value proposition: conversational, personalized, efficient online shopping.19:50 Understanding consumer journey, owning customer, informing decisions.22:37 Innovate to make a thousand times better.24:19 Consider business goal before raising capital strategically.27:19 GPT integration problem: diverse data sources, costs.31:00 Data standardization, unbiased company relationships with all brands.33:57 Launching beta, big waiting list, market-ready by March.Shownotes 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 and our 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 ---Sam Rattner - Co-Founder and CEO at ShowroomBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

John Coogan is the Founder at Lucy, an innovative company in the nicotine industry, offering safer alternatives to smoking.In this episode, we discuss strategies for scaling production, taking products to market, generating buzz, navigating regulation, nailing retail distribution, and leveraging digital content to grow brands. And that's not all – we'll also get a glimpse into John's personal journey as a creator - where he's built a YouTube channel with almost 400,000 subscribers - as he covers startups in documentary style breakdowns.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. Starting a Company through Kickstarter2. Product Development and Business Struggles3. Growth and Market Response4. Manufacturing and Distribution5. Regulatory Hurdles and Nicotine Product Innovation6. Marketing and Brand Building7. John's Professional Journey8. Tackling Nicotine Addiction9. Insights from Market Trends and Consumer Demand10. Founding Soylent and Pivoting Business DirectionTimestamps00:00 Started a startup, joined Y combinator, flopped.08:03 Silicon Valley programmer pivots to protein shakes.10:15 Soylent named after dystopian Sci-Fi movie reference.14:29 Brought in advisor, introduced to copacker. Fatal error.18:12 Struggle to meet deadline amid viral attention.20:37 Positive profile led to successful product launch.22:16 Barely any time, huge oh, shit moments.27:35 CPG genre, product, problem-solving, Shopify, retail, omnichannel31:23 Nicotine industry transitioning from unregulated to regulated.35:12 Nicorette product unchanged for decades, now on Amazon.36:31 DTC Pod joins HubSpot podcast network.39:05 FDA assesses product safety for public health.44:32 Swedish Match, Zyn, acquired by Philip Morris.46:38 Customer data, targeting key regions, sales strategy.50:09 Meeting creators, learning needs, gaining credibility.Shownotes 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 and our 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 Coogan - Founder at LucyBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Joel Padron, COO and Partner at Homestead Studio, talks about scaling brands, focusing on financial targets, leveraging user-generated content in DTC, and practical marketing advice. They discuss partnering criteria, marketing strategies, creative content, customer perspective, landing page tactics, and more.

Rikin Diwan, CMO and Chief Growth Officer at soona, talks about the intersection of AI and human creativity in content creation, storytelling and authenticity in marketing, evolving market and content production, financial acumen in business, performance-based marketing, creator relationships and distribution channels, marketing at Uber, adaptive marketing playbooks, consistency in company messaging, and the platform and tools offered by soona.