Analysis
It’s not just vibes—mid-2025 has turned the screws on DTC marketing budgets. In April, 54% of businesses froze or cut marketing spend. That number jumped to 61% among retail brands specifically (DTC Times). Operators aren’t panicking. They’re pivoting—toward smarter retention plays, cheaper acquisition hacks, and
Analysis
Father’s Day 2025 just became the highest-grossing in U.S. history—$24 billion in total spend, up from $22.4B last year (NRF). Despite economic pressure, 47% of consumers spent more than they did in 2024, with the average shopper dropping $199.38 per gift. The highest-spending demo? 35–
Analysis
When e.l.f. Beauty announced its $1 billion acquisition of Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand Rhode in May 2025, the DTC world did a collective double take. A two-year-old brand. Minimal SKUs. Built on TikTok. Worth 10 figures? That’s not just a win for celebrity-powered marketing—it’s
Analysis
In April, a tariff tsunami slammed global supply chains. The U.S. dropped a sweeping 10% tariff on most imports—then followed with a jaw-dropping 145% rate on Chinese goods just days later (China Briefing, 2025). For DTC brands, the impact was immediate: China-to-U.S. cargo volumes plunged by up