Direct-to-Consumer / Customer Acquisition

Direct-to-consumer pioneers are refashioning themselves with new logos, slogans and revamped product lines to broaden their reach and build a legacy, without fully abandoning their original propositions.

The western wear brand, known for its swanky cowboy boots, is opening a 4,500-square-foot outpost in SoHo amid a broader retail expansion as it seeks to reach $1 billion in sales by 2030.

With many labels investing in the concept of 'community', and consumers becoming more sceptical of the brands they buy from, companies are pushing local events and initiatives that reinforce their values to maintain a grip on die-hard fans.

Linking online and offline selling channels increases the odds of turning fickle shoppers into a loyal following.

Labels that crossed the nine figure sales mark despite tougher market conditions are blending new and old school brand-building tactics to create long-lasting legacies as they move beyond that number.

In 2024, survivors of the e-commerce reckoning used consumer data to make wiser investments and focused on building profitable, desirable brands that offer more than low prices and convenience.

With rising competition to acquire and retain customers online, digitally native start-ups are determining how to strike a balance between developing their own e-commerce features in-house and partnering with external software providers.

Start-ups like Quince and Italic that sell affordable basics made in the same factories as high-end brands are generating massive growth in appealing directly to middle-class shoppers who don’t want to resort to Shein hauls.