As 2023 marches forward, one can hardly shake off the feeling of being perched on the edge of a new economic epoch, where modern norms, rules, and notions are put under political scrutiny. The pulsating digital economies, spearheaded by China’s behemoth direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands and tech giants like Shein, Temu, and TikTok, are waging a battle of economic influence and cybersecurity.
A cautionary tale, perhaps: if Nike pulls the plug on its DTC emphasis, omnichannel strategies may be the way to go. In February 2022, we detailed Nike’s push towards direct-to-consumer channels in a report called “Omnichannel Nirvana“, explaining:
