DTC Pod: The Baby Gear Brand Making Waves + Electric Flosser Shaking Up Oral Care!

13TH OCTOBER 2023

Hey DTC Pod, beware Friday the 13th! Keep an eye out for a dip in Amazon sales, but let's not go witch hunting this superstitious date just yet. Who knows, maybe it's just some mischievous goblins playing with our numbers! 🤷🏼

This week, we're thrilled to have Scott Crumrine, the brains behind Guava Family, a DTC baby gear brand that's making waves. In this episode, we explore:

• The art of leveraging industry events for brand visibility.

• The transition from wholesale to a DTC model.

• Navigating the challenges of shipping and delivery.

• The magic of customer recommendations in brand growth.

• and more…

Dive in, share your thoughts, and reach out anytime.

This Week’s DTC Pod Guest

#293- A Product First 8 Figure Baby Brand

In this episode of DTC POD, we are joined by Scott Crumrine, the founder and CEO of Guava Family, a direct-to-consumer baby gear company that focuses on solving the challenges of traveling for parents. Scott shares his journey of identifying a niche within an already innovative market, understanding the challenges of the industry, and designing products that solve real problems for parents.

We delve into the strategies Scott used to break through in the competitive baby category, transition from wholesale to direct-to-consumer, and create buzz and momentum for his brand.

NEWS

👉🏻 Electric Flosser Flaus Attracts $2M to Disrupt Oral Care

Oral health brand Flaus just secured $2M in seed funding led by YETI Capital to support the launch of its game-changing electric flosser. (4 minute read)

Inspired by founder Samantha Coxe's own dental issues from skipping floss, Flaus leverages sonic vibrations and premium floss to make flossing 5x faster and easier. With the global oral care market approaching $70B and consumer demand for better solutions, Flaus is poised to disrupt traditional floss with its innovative electric offering.

Read more here 🔗 

👉🏻 Department store Showfields files for bankruptcy

Retailer Showfields filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to focus on profitability at remaining stores. (2 minute read)

The company closed locations in Manhattan and Miami after being plagued with low revenue during the pandemic. Showfields aims to restructure finances and grow with potential European expansion.

Read more here 🔗

👉🏻 Olaplex CEO Departs Amid Sales Slump and Lawsuits

Haircare brand Olaplex CEO is stepping down after sales dropped 48%.

The CEO led Olaplex growth and 2021 IPO before recent struggles. The company now faces lawsuits over alleged hair damage. An interim CEO will takeover until a new executive starts in 2024. Turning around sinking sales and reputation will be critical tasks.

Read more here 🔗

Other News + Resources

👉🏻 Birkenstock prices IPO at $8.6 billion valuation amid market uncertainty 👡💰 (2 minute read)
Birkenstock priced its NYSE IPO at $46 per share, valuing the company at $8.6 billion. The footwear brand enters the public market as stocks of some younger brands have struggled. But Birkenstock's growth and loyal customer base could make it an attractive investment. (link) 

👉🏻 How Eyewear Brand uses TikTok to drive more than a quarter of its sales (4 minute read)
Eyeglass startup Pair Eyewear drives over 25% of sales from viral TikTok videos. Showcasing snap-on magnetic frames, Pair has leveraged organic content and influencer marketing. International expansion is next, potentially using TikTok Shop for frames. (link)

👉🏻 Direct-to-consumer brands shift strategies with "connect-to-consumer" model 🛒 (2 minute read)
Pure direct-to-consumer brands that sold mainly online are evolving. Companies like Gymshark and Kylie Jenner creatively engage customers across platforms while still selling online. Connecting with shoppers on multiple channels is key. (link)

👉🏻 5 Latinx-owned wellness brands to support during Hispanic Heritage Month (3 minute read)
For Hispanic Heritage Month, shop Latinx-owned wellness brands. Many founders leverage natural ingredients from Latinx healing practices. Sexual wellness brand Bloomi, menstrual health firm Xula and clean body care company Nopalera are top options, and you may even discover new remedies rooted in ancient wisdom. (link)

X of The Week

$300m Creative Scaling Framework for DTC Brands

For DTC brands looking to enhance their creative ad strategy, Darius Kunca (@DariusKunca) is offering his mini-masterclass on scaling high-performing ads. Drawing on his expertise driving $300 million in revenue, it's a helpful resource for marketers aiming to optimize their creative output and data analysis.

Tool of The Week

Many are familiar with Unbounce, but have you heard of Smart Copy by Unbounce?

This tool is designed to revolutionize your content creation within the landing page software. It promises high-quality, engaging, and professional copy. Whether for your company website, an engaging blog, or a compelling email campaign, Smart Copy is here to assist.

DTC Event

Last week, we hosted the "Creator & Commerce" event in L.A in collaboration with TryNow. The evening was buzzing with vibrant connections and engaging conversations.

To everyone who dropped by and added to the vibe, you rock!

DTC Job Positions

Join ILIA as Director of Digital Product & eCommerce

ILIA seeks a leader to transform their online shopping experience, emphasizing e-commerce strategy and user experience. Candidates should have 7+ years in Shopify Product Management. The role offers a competitive salary, flex time, and health benefits.

Want to advertise with us? Check out our rates