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Newsletter: DTC Brands, Secondaries, and Swifties

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DTC Power List: Secondary Interest Tracked (n=97) | December 5

802 Brands Analyzed

Recent Memos

Memo: DTC Brands And Secondaries

It’s not farfetched to argue that brands are capable of attracting consumer attention and commerce in ways that resemble traditional media and entertainment companies. A Vuori yoga studio would be in high demand for daily classes. An LMNT trail run series would attract enthusiasts in a number of cities known for outdoor activity. Both of… Continue reading →

December 2, 2023December 5, 2023

Web Smith

Deep Dive: Two DTC Brands

Both companies set out to take on Nike and Adidas. The eventual divergence of their paths can be attributed to a number of differences in decisions: funding methods, geographies, early adopters, and design philosophies. But what ultimately set one shoe brand up for international dominance ($8+ billion market cap) and the other into survival mode… Continue reading →

November 15, 2023November 15, 2023

Web Smith

Strategy: Goodwill, Brand Altruism, and Circularity

In a world increasingly conscious of its consumption footprint, the need for sustainability in retail has never been more pronounced. Since its inception in 1902, Goodwill Industries has stood as a bastion of communal thrift and charity, where gently used items find new life in the hands of appreciative consumers. Known for its sprawling network… Continue reading →

November 6, 2023November 7, 2023

Web Smith

Memo: Shopify Owns DTC

But what does that really mean? Increasingly, it’s something different than you may think. Let’s face it: October’s Nike Strength launch was underwhelming. Part of the reason was the site’s basic build on Shopify. That’s no Shopify diss; it’s representative of the state of direct-to-consumer retail. Not only is Shopify’s year-over-year command of the DTC… Continue reading →

November 3, 2023November 4, 2023

Web Smith

NEW: The Five-Part Forecast Series (September 2023)

The Study

Recent Member Briefs

Member Brief: Birfurcation and The Annals of American Commerce

In the ever-evolving tapestry of American society, the retail sector serves as both a mirror and a catalyst of the prevailing economic climate. My earlier musings in “The Gilded Age 2.0” touched upon the seismic shifts in socioeconomics and their reverberations in the realm of retail. Today, as illuminated by a recent USA Today piece… Continue reading →

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023

Web Smith

Member Brief: A.I. in Retail, Advertising, and Life

Will we always value human-made creativity in advertising and marketing? The answer to that question is complicated. In April 2021, computer scientist, podcaster, and artificial intelligence researcher Lex Fridman tweeted the following. Fridman’s Law states: Humans have been gradually merging with AI for 20+ years. At some point in this century, as a collective intelligence… Continue reading →

November 10, 2023November 13, 2023

Web Smith

Member Brief: DTC and Hope

Campaign performance data has been a struggle to track, but that will not slow retail media’s continued growth. In today’s volatile business environment, brands close to or beyond profitability are perpetually on the hunt for innovative ways to enhance their Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA). Campaign performance be damned – if EBITDA… Continue reading →

November 1, 2023November 2, 2023

Web Smith

Member Deep Dive: Nike’s Strength Stack

In the annals of corporate history, few tales are as captivating as the genesis of Nike. This member brief is designed exclusively for Executive Members, to make membership easy, you can click below and gain access to hundreds of reports, our DTC Power List, and other tools to help you make high level decisions. Join… Continue reading →

October 20, 2023October 21, 2023

Web Smith

The Monday letter. Join your colleagues.

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