DTC Pod: The Haircare Revolution, Barbie Takes Over and Ramon's Big W 🚀

A quick note:

Hey DTC Pod! Buckle up for a DTC Pod interview with Robbie Salter, a man on a mission to shake up the haircare world. And you know we’ve got you covered with the top DTC news 📰.

Plus, Ramon scores big with Soona's Trend.io acquisition!

Thoughts? Holler at us on Twitter or [email protected].

- Blaine, Ramon, & the DTC POD team ✌️

This Week's DTC Pod Guest
#281 - Robbie Salter, Jupiter - Building A Disruptive DTC Haircare Brand

Robbie Salter is the co-CEO and co-founder of Jupiter, a scalp health brand that has revolutionized the hair care industry. Robbie and his team have successfully developed top-notch scalp care products that are free of harmful chemicals and safe for color-treated and chemically treated hair. Before Jupiter, Robbie worked in the film and television industry and received his JD and MBA from Northwestern University.

📰 DTC & eCommerce News

Soona Acquires Trend.io - It's a big day for our very own DTC Pod co-host, Ramon Berrios, as Soona acquires his brainchild, Trend.io. Trend.io, a leader in user-generated content, will now amplify Soona's virtual creation platform. This synergistic merge extends Soona's creative community, harnessing the talents of Trend's 1,000+ creators. The acquisition underscores Soona's commitment to pricing transparency, operational innovation, and quality content. Expect more seamless project creation and affordable, flexible licensing. This marks Soona's first acquisition, and a huge milestone for Ramon. Read more here.

Seth Goldman’s Return to Tea - Honest Tea's legendary co-founder, Seth Goldman, is back in the tea business, one year after Coca-Cola discontinued his original brand, Honest Tea. Goldman, undeterred, launched Just Ice Tea with Barry Nalebuff, sharing the same ethos and bottle design as its predecessor. Despite the "gut punch" of losing Honest Tea, the new venture has experienced rapid growth, replicating the success it took Honest Tea nearly a decade to achieve in just one year. Just Ice Tea now stands as a proud successor to Honest Tea, leading the natural channel as the best-selling iced tea in Whole Foods and making a splash in conventional grocery outlets. Read the full Retail Brew article here.

Barbie Fever - There's an epidemic sweeping the retail sector, and it's all because of Barbie. As anticipation builds for the new live-action Barbie film, over 100 brands have gone full Barbiecore, with DTC brands like Béis and MeUndies even launching Barbie-themed collections. Fast fashion, food & beverage, startups - the pink wave is unstoppable. Retailers like Bloomingdale's are even setting up Barbie pop-up shops. It's all part of Mattel's IP strategy, harnessing the massive Barbie brand and its pop culture momentum to bring customers flocking. For more on this trend, read the full article here.

Skims Rising - Last week, Time Magazine named Skims, the shapewear and loungewear brand, among the 100 most influential companies. Founder Kim Kardashian, previously shunned by the fashion industry, has remarkably turned Skims into a multi-billion dollar business. Skims raked in $400M in sales by the end of 2022, primarily via its direct-to-consumer channel. The company's influence continues to grow, with plans for expansion and new collaborations. What started as a pursuit for inclusive and fashionable shapewear has now redefined the industry, positioning Skims as a powerful contender in the global market. Read the full Time Magazine article here.

Tweet of The Week

Dan Toomey (@dhtoomey) hilariously investigates why all celebrities now have brands. Featuring insights from @emilyheyward, @mrsharma, and @imkylecooke of Bravo TV's "Summerhouse". Don’t miss this @goodworkmb episode!

DTC Event

NRF NEXUS JULY 10-12 - Garner invaluable insights from industry leaders this coming month in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. This exclusive gathering spotlights omnichannel strategies, AI automation, and MarTech innovation. Discover how industry giants employ AI and catch keynotes by Kara Swisher and Kate Ancketill. Register by July 7.

Interested in being a guest? Sharing a cool event? Suggestions on how to improve the pod? Email us at [email protected]