Top 2024 resources on direct
Best direct resource in 2024.
Learn more about direct to improve your e-commerce strategy.
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3 Types of Competitors to Watch (+ How to Find Them)
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According to a 2020 survey, most businesses have an average of 29 competitors. Do you know who yours are?
Topics: businesses, solve, search, customers, competition, types, direct, ways, competitors, example, watch, identify. -
Boost ROI with intent data and personalized multichannel marketing campaigns
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With automation and intent data, brands can more easily connect with leads, prospects, and customers at a personal, intimate level.
Topics: intent, campaigns, real, personalization, roi, marketing, direct, mail, data, digital, personalized, multichannel, automation, boost, marketers, techcrunch. -
Direct Mail Replaces Facebook for Barbeque Seller
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Lea Richards launched Pig of the Month, a direct-to-consumer seller of barbeque, in 2010. The company has thrived, with dozens of meat products and outsourced logistics for other merchants.
Topics: free, start, mail, big, replaces, ship, good, direct, facebook, getting, bacon, seller, weve, working, barbeque. -
Direct Public Offerings: Unconventional but Gaining Traction
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The initial public offering has a challenger. Known as a direct public offering or direct listing, this technique avoids involvement from investment bank underwriters that buy shares at a set price in an IPO and then sell them to their clients. In a DPO, a private company lists itself on a stock exchange but does not raise money.
Topics: direct, public, price, unconventional, sell, offerings, company, dpo, raise, shares, stock, traction, investors, ipo, gaining. -
Direct seller Avon broadens digital focus
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Beauty & home goods direct seller Avon has announced advancements in its digital sales tools.
Topics: focus, zijderveld, support, seller, digital, build, entrepreneurs, tools, digitisation, direct, sales, broadens, avon, beauty. -
Direct to Consumer Trends: Up & Coming Brands Succeeding with DTC
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Think about the first time you purchased furniture. Chances are you trudged along in a warehouse or department store, making…
Topics: customers, customer, winning, brands, dtc, product, directtoconsumer, source, brand, experience, direct, furniture, trends, consumer. -
Direct vs. Indirect Competition, Explained
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Competition is essential for growth, but only when a business properly evaluates its competitors and betters itself to keep up. Even in marketing, analyzing the competition is healthy and can help inspire you to learn and adapt the business to better meet consumer needs.
Topics: indirect, competition, different, products, competitors, direct, help, social, marketing, explained, chicken, vs. -
European brands: relying on marketplaces isn’t sustainable
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54 percent of European brands think their ecommerce potential is crippled by their logistical capabilities. And that’s why many retailers and brands turn to online marketplaces. But they also think that relying on marketplaces isn’t sustainable and want to shift the balance more to their own ecommerce channels. Accenture and… Continue reading
Topics: relying, marketplaces, isnt, sales, european, think, sustainable, companies, brands, online, direct. -
Everything You Need to Know About Slack
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If you work in an office, chances are that you've heard of Slack, or you might even be using it right now.
Topics: know, message, direct, search, slack, channels, messages, need, notifications, files, team, set. -
Holiday Email Marketing Trends, Examples for 2021
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It's the busiest time for email marketing. Retailers are preparing and sending their holiday campaigns. Most use proven, tried-and-true email tactics. In this post, I'll review a few email marketing examples in this 2021 season from leading retailers.
Topics: trends, mail, examples, marketing, proven, direct, rewards, emails, holiday, subject, lines, email. -
How Brand Management Has a Direct Impact on Your Bottom Line
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If your business was a person, your brand would be its personality. It’d be how you introduce yourself to new friends (er, customers) and how you build a trusting relationship with them. Your brand is a living, breathing entity … and it’s your job to help it grow and improve.
Topics: include, notable, brand, management, line, branding, assets, company, impact, agency, marketing, direct, customers. -
How This Direct To Consumer Fashion Brand Found Its Product Market Fit
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Aaron Luo and Carmen Chen Wu are the complementary co-founders behind handbags maker, Caraa. With Aaron looking after finances and Carmen applying her CFDA award-winning design skills, the duo has built a direct to consumer brand that combines fashion with function. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Aaron Luo of Caraa shares the importance of having a complementary partner, testing your ideas in the market, and how to find an ideal pricing model.
More
Topics: lot, consumer, think, sourcing, market, direct, brand, fashion, start, thats, product, customers, really, different, fit. -
How This Direct to Consumer Brand Disrupted the Cookware Industry
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Childhood friends Chip Malt and Jake Kalick are the complementary co-founders behind Made In. With Chip’s experience in ecommerce and data analytics and Jake’s third-generation expertise in cookware manufacturing, the duo created a company that disrupted the kitchenware industry. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Chip Malt of Made In shares his insight into key metrics to monitor, why showcasing the makers behind products was important, and how the cookware industry was disrupted.More
Topics: industry, kind, direct, marketing, going, consumer, brand, think, really, things, cookware, disrupted, products, product, lot. -
How This Direct to Consumer Brand Disrupted the Handcrafted Footwear Industry
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Velasca, one of the first Italian direct-to-consumer brands, shares its journey of disrupting the handcrafted footwear industry. From building relationships with shoemakers to creating relatable yet entertaining content to scaling its physical retail presence, Velasca highlights the steps it’s taken to build its business from a personal need. More
Topics: footwear, shoes, business, velascas, jacopo, shoemakers, direct, velasca, industry, disrupted, retail, customers, brand, team, handcrafted, enrico, consumer. -
How This Direct to Consumer Suits-Maker Disrupted the Wedding Industry
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When Jeanne Foley was planning her wedding and plagued with logistics, pricing, and fit issues when trying to find ideal suits for her groomsmen, she was motivated to create a brand of black tie attire that costs the same as rentals. Together with childhood friend Diana Ganz, the duo launched The Groomsman Suit. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Jeanne and Diana share why SEO and customer service is crucial for the growth of their company.More
Topics: customers, wedding, really, weve, marketing, great, business, suit, thats, consumer, industry, disrupted, suitsmaker, customer, direct. -
How to Be a Good Manager [Data + Expert Tips]
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Why do people really quit their jobs?
Topics: employees, tips, good, project, sales, manager, work, expert, help, data, direct, team, managers. -
How to Create Video Ads That Sell
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Direct response video ads on YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, and similar platforms have the potential to drive shoppers to your ecommerce site and help your company sell more.
While the creative substance ...
Topics: potential, youtube, direct, company, response, sell, ads, seconds, create, target, video, ad. -
How to Give Off Good Boss Energy, According to 8 HubSpot Leaders
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We all know "good boss energy" when we see it.
Topics: leaders, need, according, hubspot, youre, good, manager, direct, boss, team, energy, privacy, hubspots. -
How to Leverage YouTube Advertising for Your Direct Response Campaign
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While brand advertising on YouTube has been around for a while now, adopting the platform for direct response B2B advertising is relatively new.
Topics: action, leverage, viewers, video, target, targeting, campaigns, advertising, ad, campaign, youtube, direct, response. -
How to be a Good Leader [Research + Expert Tips]
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Good leadership is vital for the long-term success of your organization.
Topics: leadership, leaders, leader, team, tips, expert, direct, research, members, good, positive, youre, work. -
Indian traders lobby for ban on Flipkart, Amazon sales
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The Confederation of All India Traders is asking the government to ban pending sales events to be held by e-commerce rivals Amazon and Flipkart.
Topics: traders, ecommerce, lobby, ban, amazon, retailers, online, sales, flipkart, confederation, cent, violate, foreign, indian, direct. -
Interesting Advertising Experiments HubSpot Tried in 2020 [+ Takeaways for Marketers]
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The other day, I was on a run and listening to my trusty Spotify playlist. Lo and behold, in between two of my favorite pump-up jams, I hear a HubSpot audio advertisement trickle through my headphones.
Topics: direct, ads, experiments, interesting, channels, hubspot, marketers, team, advertising, tried, takeaways, awareness, work, hulu, brand. -
Perch acquires Web Deals Direct for $100M+ to boost to its Amazon roll-up play
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On the heels of raising $775 million earlier this year, Perch has made a big acquisition that will bring on a number of new brands and operations infrastructure to enhance its position in the race to roll up smaller merchants that sell and fulfill sales through Amazon. The company has acquired Web Deals Direct, an […]
Topics: acquires, perch, web, sales, team, deal, bring, play, deals, million, techcrunch, rollup, amazon, boost, brands, direct. -
Raising Funds Becomes Easier with New SEC Rules
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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has modified rules that affect how companies can raise capital via direct listings and equity crowdfunding. Previously, in a direct listing, a company could sell existing shares (from employees and private investors) on public stock exchanges.
Topics: rules, funds, raise, investors, ipo, easier, shares, raising, million, sec, listing, companies, direct. -
Restaurant search engine FoodBoss adds support for direct delivery from restaurants
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FoodBoss aims to be something like Kayak for online food ordering — the place where you can search across different service and apps to find the lowest prices and fastest delivery times. One limitation, however, is the fact that the service was limited to third-party services like Uber Eats and Postmates, with no way to […]
Topics: order, engine, delivery, ordering, support, service, dibenedetto, thirdparty, restaurant, search, services, direct, foodboss, restaurants, adds. -
Seven DTC eCommerce Trends in 2022
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The world of digital commerce is constantly changing, and with the rapid shift to online retailing as a result of the COVID pandemic, 2022 promises to be no different. With this trend in online shopping, the DTC eCommerce industry will only continue to grow. In 2021, U.S. direct-to-consumer (DTC) eCommerce sales reached 129 billion, and are projected to reach 151 this year. Now isn't that crazy!
As DTC businesses continue to prioritize digital commerce experiences, brands are facing more market competition than ever. With that being said, in this blog, I will give a general overview of seven major DTC eCommerce trends you should keep an eye on for your brand to succeed in 2022.
What is DTC eCommerce?
DTC eCommerce is an eCommerce business model in which brands sell directly to their end customers, as opposed to using third-parties such as wholesalers, distributors, or other retailers. There are many benefits of selling direct to consumers, including:
Differentiation: Having full power on decisions, brands can better differentiate themselves as well as their products in the marketplace.
Boosted Customer Loyalty: As a result of the direct relationship brands can facilitate with customers, they can build a more loyal customer base.
Better Customer Experiences: By being able to have a close relationship with consumers, brands are able to collect direct feedback from them that can be used to create better customer experiences in the future.
Direct Control: Without having to rely on parties to sell their products, DTC businesses are able to have direct and full control over their pricing, products, and branding.
An example of a DTC eCommerce brand is Glossier, a company in the beauty industry, which uses the platform Contentful to facilitate their sales channels. Through Contentful and social media, Glossier has created a strong, loyal customer base and enhanced customer experiences. Their instagram page consists of 2.6 million followers with a content mix of customer reviews, product promotions, and influencer partnerships to draw in more customers. Today, Glossier is a billion dollar brand company that sells online beauty products, branching into millennial and Gen Z target audience through brick-and-mortar shops to provide the best brand experience possible.
Top 7 DTC eCommerce Trends
1. Social and Live Commerce for Expanded Shopping Experiences
Shopping on social media platforms and livestreams has become increasingly popular in recent years. According to Swirl, from 2015 to 2020, revenue from online video commerce went from $3.5 billion to $17.6 billion, and that number is expected to be $25 billion by 2023. Platforms such as Instagram offer tags on photos that direct consumers to a brand’s website, where they can quickly purchase the product they were viewing. This immersive shopping experience appeals to consumers as they are able to purchase products that are endorsed by their favorite celebrities or influencers. Livestream shopping is similar to QVC (a televised shopping service that showcases live retail programming 24/7), but consumers now have access to the products at their fingertips.
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2. Consumers Becoming Increasingly Sustainability Conscious
Sustainability is at the forefront of consumers’s minds nowadays and companies are following suit. According to a global survey, "66% of global consumers would pay more for sustainable businesses and products." With that being said, many brands are becoming environmentally conscious and shifting away from plastic in packaging and now include the origin of materials used, as well as information on how to recycle them. In addition, many companies now include data about their carbon footprint with their customers. Overall, these trends depict the shift in consumer and brand consciousness toward our natural environment, leading to a bright future for eCommerce businesses.
3. Omnichannel Shopping Leading to Better Customer Retention
According to Omnisend, “customer retention rates are 90% higher for omnichannel versus single channel.” An omnichannel approach to eCommerce is being adopted by companies to make the customer experience more convenient. For example, allowing a customer to shop online but return in-store guarantees that the customer has a seamless shopping experience. Furthermore, integrating digital channels enables a company to maintain a consistent brand appearance across all devices.
4. Personalization Means Better Brand Experiences
Personalizing the customer experience increases the likelihood that the customer makes a purchase and has a positive experience with the brand. According to Accenture, “74% of consumers would find ‘living profiles’ valuable if they could be used to curate the experiences, offers, and products they receive.” With direct access to customer data, such as browsing history, interests, and searches, brands are able to create unique experiences like hosting a live stream event or even creating a hologram. The ability to personalize also allows companies to more easily adapt to trends, by making changes such as new colorways for products.
5. Delivery and Return Policies Will Become a Key Service Differentiator
Studies have shown that delivery fees and return policies are important factors when customers are choosing where to shop. According to Forrester, “about three out of five French, UK, and US online adults prefer retailers that offer free return shipping; about two out of five prefer retailers that provide refunds via the original form of payment.” Free delivery and free returns are services that customers strongly desire, and can cause customers to choose one brand over another. Brands who care about the customer experience should invest in streamlining their delivery and return processes.
6. AI Creates Innovative Ideas
AI plays a significant role in omnichannel planning, which enables companies to capitalize on business opportunities in real time. Machine learning is especially useful in forming the demand plan for product attributes, marketing events, and style or color forecasts for the lifecycle of a product. AI automates these processes and drastically reduces the time needed for planners to create manual “SKUs”.
7. Subscriptions Build Up Customer Loyalty
As DTC eCommerce continues to grow, many companies have adopted a subscription model that has shown great success with traditional retailers. A subscription eCommerce service offers consumers a lower-cost way to buy what they need. Around half of companies surveyed in 2019 stated that they would implement subscription services to boost customer retention.
What’s Next for DTC eCommerce?
DTC eCommerce offers tremendous opportunities for brands due to the growing trend in online shopping. Large retailers such as Nike have already begun to shift their focus to appealing to the needs of online shoppers. The cost savings achieved through DTC eCommerce is directly transferred to the consumer, which leads to people preferring DTC eCommerce brands over traditional retailers.
Also, DTC eCommerce allows companies to be more adaptable and in control of their distribution. In a fast-paced world where trends are ephemeral, a digital presence is vital. Digital commerce enables DTC brands to keep up with consumer trends and gives them a significant advantage over traditional retailers.
Above are just a few of the DTC eCommerce trends that represent how companies are adjusting to the post-pandemic digital world. As companies adopt these trends of sustainability, AI, and personalization, DTC eCommerce will continue to become an approach more companies will look to expand to. For more information on DTC eCommerce, check out our DTC eCommerce page here.
Topics: companies, products, consumers, shopping, brand, seven, customer, ecommerce, direct, trends, brands, dtc. -
Six Direct Response Copywriting Tips (and Examples)
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Connecting with potential customers is critical to boost interest in your website and drive sales conversions.
Topics: content, copywriting, action, direct, compelling, tips, response, examples, copy, companies, boost, offer. -
TechCrunch+ roundup: Creative capital, live-shopping strategy, new name + logo
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Extra Crunch is now TechCrunch+. In addition to updating our name and logo, we’re offering military, student and government membership discounts and have expanded access to new regions. Also, Extra Crunch Live, our weekly video series with investors and founders, is now TechCrunch Live — and you don’t need to be a member to join […]
Topics: brands, week, techcrunch, live, wilhelm, need, venture, liveshopping, logo, capital, strategy, writes, direct, creative, roundup. -
Warby Parker makes it clear that direct listings are unicorn-friendly
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Warby Parker not only listed, but did so at a price point that was above its final private-market valuation, and its shares appreciated rapidly during its first day of trading.
Topics: clear, dtc, makes, venturebacked, unicornfriendly, parker, listings, direct, warby, ipo, public, rapidly, slightly, model, techcrunch, listing. -
What Are Direct Costs & How Do They Differ From Indirect Costs?
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It's surprisingly inexpensive to start a business today — as little at $5,000, reports Fortunly. However, as encouraging as that is to aspiring business owners, the costs to run that business every day are a bit more complex.
Topics: data, business, direct, indirect, product, youll, costs, company, differ, need, cost. -
What Is a Direct Response Ad?
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What led you to make your most recent purchase? Were you wishing for something for a while and decided to just go for it? Were you casually browsing a store and saw something you liked? Or were you browsing and an advertisement from a business convinced you that you need to buy it right then and there?
Topics: direct, track, users, marketing, response, specific, ad, action, campaigns, ads, offer. -
Why Ikea and Nike have walked away from Amazon
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When major global brands like Ikea and Nike announce they are exiting a major global platform like Amazon, it is clear that a strategic shift is in the making
Topics: amazon, ikea, marketplace, brands, away, brand, walked, market, amazons, nike, looking, direct. -
‘Assisted Conversions’ in Google Analytics Are Attribution Gold
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Google Analytics "Assisted Conversions" reports are hidden attribution gold deep in the platform's conversion analysis tools. While most Analytics reports show the immediate source ("last click") of traffic and conversions, Assisted Conversions identify the relationship between all channels and conversions.
Topics: gold, conversions, conversion, assisted, click, value, direct, analytics, channel, attribution, channels, interaction, google.