Stop Treating All Visitors alike
Hello everyone, Rebecca here,
Being a part of a community is about learning from each other's experiences and understanding and sharing what you have in common. So here’s what we currently know about ours…
79% of our community is actively seeking investment.
96% want to enhance customer experience.
72% say brand awareness is their biggest challenge.
78% are advertising or planning to advertise on TikTok.
With new trends, social media platforms and endless options to add to your Shopify tech stack, it can feel like constantly trying to hit moving targets.
This is why we are revamping Gamechangers.
Our next Gamechangers, happening on September 26th at Westworks in West London, is set to be our most interactive yet.
We’re introducing roundtable discussions, in-depth Q&A sessions, and more opportunities to connect with fellow DTC leaders.
We’ll also be sending out topic questions ahead of time to ensure you’re ready to dive straight in and make the most of the day.
We created Gamechangers because so many brands shared their struggles with staying on top of the latest in DTC marketing. With this new format, there’s even more opportunity to learn, share, and grow together with your peers in the industry.
Also, onto more exciting news, —we're now on Google!
As you know, one of the best ways to connect and reach new audiences is through the world’s most popular search engine—Google!
As we are ever expanding our DTC Live community, across borders and waters, we want any scroller-byer or potential member to really understand the essence of DTC Live. At its core, it is all about Inspiration | Education | Connection. Plus, let’s not forget we bring together the world’s leading eCommerce and retail brands. This is the part where you come in!
If you’ve ever worked with us, attended a Gamechangers event, or participated in one of our conferences, we’d love for you to share your experience by leaving a review on our sparkling new Google page.
Your feedback helps others discover the essence of what makes DTC Live special!
Did you know 97% of visitors browse but don’t immediately buy? That's a lot of missed opportunities!
It's time to shake things up in your eCommerce approach. Join our webinar to get ready for BFCM 2024 by learning how to segment your customers by their realtime intent and engage with them more effectively.
Ready to see those add-to-cart and conversion rates soar?
We'll dive into how AI-driven personalisation can work magic on your Shopify store, boosting those add-to-cart rates by 4X and doubling your conversion rate. But that’s not all—this webinar will also reveal how understanding customer intent can dramatically improve your ad performance. With Q4 just around the corner, this is your chance to implement strategies that could lead to a record-breaking quarter for your eCommerce business.
Grab your tickets here.
Now onto today’s topics
The July Sweet Retail Index is in - How to adjust your summer strategy
How Can Your Brand Thrive on Amazon’s Competitive Marketplace?
Are You Ready to Go Mobile-First? 75% of Shoppers Have Already Switched!
A lot of founders hate filming content, especially for ads
The July Sweet Retail Index is in - How to adjust your summer strategy
As summer heats up (with it being the hottest day of the year on Monday!), so do the opportunities to heat up your brand’s growth.
We’ve just wrapped up July, and we’ve got the latest from the Sweet Online Retail Index.
With 53% of brands in the benchmarking group seeing year-on-year growth and an average sales boost of 7%, it’s clear that there’s a lot to be excited about.
But it's important to not stop now, but rather keep the momentum going. Let’s get into it.
Homeware & Garden: Your Time to Shine
The Houseware, Home Furnishings & Garden sector absolutely crushed it in July. With 63% of brands growing year-on-year and an impressive 20% bump in sales, it’s the sector to watch. Bedding, Linen & Textiles, along with Interior, Art & Decorative, led the way with 35% and 11% growth, respectively.
Your Move : If you’re in this space, now’s the time to double down. Push those high-performing categories with targeted marketing campaigns. Think about offering bundles or exclusive deals to drive up that average order value (AOV). And hey, why not add a touch of summer with limited-edition collections?
Food & Beverages: Raise a Glass to Growth
Food & Beverages had a fantastic month, with a 17% average sales growth. The Beverages subsector, especially, is bubbling up nicely with a 16% increase in sales and a 9% boost in AOV.
Your Move : Time to tap into that spending mood! Whether it’s premium products, curated bundles, or seasonal specials, get creative in showcasing what makes your brand a must-have. And if you’re not already offering subscriptions, now’s the perfect moment to start.
Fashion & Apparel: Tailor Your Strategy
Fashion was a mixed bag this July. Overall, there was a modest 4% growth, but if you’re in Footwear or Lingerie & Nightwear, you’re in luck—those subsectors saw growth of 22% and 20%.
Your Move : Zero in on what’s working. If you’re seeing success in certain categories, lean into those trends. Personalised marketing can be a game changer here—use your customer data to send targeted promotions that hit the right notes.
Where There’s Room to Grow
Health, Beauty & Fitness: Time for a Makeover
The Health, Beauty & Fitness sector hit a bit of a slump with a 4% decline in sales. It seems like fewer customers were hitting that “buy” button.
Your Move : Time to reconnect with those lapsed customers. Think about launching targeted campaigns with personalised offers to bring them back. And don’t shy away from partnering with influencers or introducing fresh, trendy products to revitalise interest.
Jewellery and Pet Supplies: Small Wins, Big Opportunities
Jewellery managed a 4.4% growth despite a dip in AOV, while Pet Supplies stayed almost flat with just 0.5% growth.
Your Move : If you’re in Jewellery, emphasise the story and craftsmanship behind your pieces—customers love knowing what makes their purchase special. For Pet Supplies, consider expanding your range with innovative products that cater to pet owners’ desires for quality. After all, who doesn’t want the best for their furry friends?
Data is Your Best Friend
Take a page out of Rowen & Wren’s book.
This British handmade furniture brand used growth forecasting with Sweet Analytics to validate their strategies, explore new channels like direct mail, and ended up with a 30% uplift from new customers. Pretty sweet, right?
Your Move : Get into the habit of using growth forecasting. By plotting out different scenarios and digging into key metrics like AOV and customer acquisition costs, you’ll be in a much better position to make smart, strategic decisions that keep your brand on track.
Want to find out more? Check out sweetanalytics.com
Recommended by LinkedIn
How Can Your Brand Thrive on Amazon’s Competitive Marketplace?
Amazon’s impact on e-commerce is hard to ignore. With a vast customer base and an expansive reach, it’s a platform that can significantly boost your brand’s visibility and sales. For DTC brands looking to grow, Amazon offers a powerful way to connect with customers and scale your business.
We all know that running a business comes with its fair share of challenges—especially when it comes to standing out online. While Amazon’s marketplace can be competitive, the potential to reach new customers and boost your sales makes it a crucial part of your strategy. Think of Amazon as a tool to help you expand your reach, much like setting up shop in a new neighbourhood with high foot traffic.
Success on Amazon isn’t just about putting your products out there and hoping for the best. It’s about crafting a strategy that resonates with shoppers and represents your brand well.
Managing your Amazon presence is vital for protecting your brand’s reputation and ensuring consistent representation.
Effective management of listings, pricing strategies, and customer interactions helps uphold your brand’s identity and trustworthiness in the digital marketplace.
What are the key strategies for selling on Amazon?
Amazon Vendor: Suitable for brands accustomed to wholesale models, where Amazon directly purchases inventory.
Amazon Seller (FBM/FBA): Offers flexibility and control over listings, pricing, and branding. Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) utilises Amazon’s logistics network to provide superior customer experiences and boost sales.
Third-Party Management: Collaborating with experienced third parties, such as 3PL providers, can optimise your Amazon strategy by leveraging specialised knowledge and Resources.
Ignoring Amazon means missing out on significant sales opportunities and market visibility. While challenges like price competitiveness and data ownership need careful consideration, strategic management can mitigate risks and maximise rewards.
If you want to learn more, at Sprint Logistics, specialise in e-commerce fulfilment, empowering brands to navigate
Amazon’s marketplace effectively. Don’t just consider Amazon; embrace its potential strategically. With expertise in Amazon FBM SFP and Prime fulfilment, they can help make your ecommerce flow.
Are You Ready to Go Mobile-First? 75% of Shoppers Have Already Switched!
Where do you make purchases - on your phone or laptop?
Previously it was always a case of the computers and laptops were for making purchases whilst your phone was simply for calling.
However, that has now shifted into a mobile-first world. Did you know that around 75% of customers are shopping via mobile devices because it saves time? If your mobile experience is lagging, it's time to optimise it.
With an average e-commerce conversion rate of just 2.5% to 3%, every element of your mobile site must be optimised to convert every possible visitor.
Let's get into some best practices that could help you edge out the competition.
Speed is King
A Google study revealed that cutting down load time from 13 seconds to 10 seconds could boost customer advocacy by 10%. Reducing it further to 3 seconds boosts advocacy by a whopping 26%! Lightning-fast load times aren’t just nice, they’re necessary.
One-Page Checkout
Simplify the path to purchase. A one-page checkout minimises steps and reduces the risk of cart abandonment.
High-Quality Images and Zoom
Product visualisation is key. Use high-quality images and enable zoom functionality to allow customers to view product details clearly, enhancing trust and reducing returns.
Responsive Design
Your site must look great and function flawlessly on any device. Responsive design adapts to any screen, ensuring a seamless user experience that can increase engagement and conversion rates.
Simplified Navigation
Mobile users don’t want to hunt through menus. A clean, clear navigation system, with a sticky header and a prominent search bar, can guide them directly to what they need.
Clear, Concise Descriptions
Space is limited, and attention spans on mobile are short. Keep your product descriptions brief but informative—highlight essential features and benefits crisply.
Security Features
Highlight security badges and trust seals during the checkout process. This reassures customers that their transactions and personal data are safe, which is crucial for conversion.
Leverage Personalisation
Tailor recommendations and content based on user behaviour and past interactions. Personalisation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a proven strategy to increase relevance and drive sales.
Remember, the mobile shopping landscape is always evolving. Use A/B testing to try out new features and interfaces and see what resonates best with your audience. Stay agile—keep what works, ditch what doesn’t, and always be on the lookout for new ways to delight your mobile shoppers.
A lot of founders hate filming content, especially for ads
This is a real opportunity missed for brands, because if done properly, ‘founders story’ ads are a cheat code for Meta performance.
As a founder you’re creating a product, building a brand and establishing your place in the market.
Your story is directly linked to your business’s fabric and is one of your biggest assets, USE IT.
Why Founders Story Ads are performing so well in our ad account:
People want to buy from people. Having a backstory shows that your brand is not a faceless corporation
A founder story showing WHY you started the brand builds a sense of purpose customers can get behind
Communicate pain points you as a founder had before starting the brand can be relatable to your audience
All of these above compound to creating ads that convert.
Here’s a script you can steal:
I encountered a problem with…
It was challenging because …
I tried different solutions, including…, but none were effective.
That’s when I discovered the … solution.
Now, my life is significantly better, and …
That's it for this week!
Thank you for reading :)
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We'll be back with more growth strategies and insights for eCom and tech brands next week.