Analysis
In 2025, direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands find themselves navigating a divided landscape: some sectors are enjoying a boom, while others face significant challenges. As operators on Shopify are acutely aware, the current environment demands agility and insight. So, where is growth flourishing, and where is it stalling? Let's dive
Analysis
In the dynamic world of Shopify DTC brands, the ongoing debate between email and SMS marketing is more pertinent than ever. Both channels are essential players in the e-commerce toolkit, each offering unique advantages for retention and revenue generation. Email has long been the reliable workhorse, while SMS is the
Analysis
SEO isn’t dead, but it’s definitely not what it was last quarter. Google’s AI-powered Search Generative Experience (SGE) is changing the rules—fast. Instead of rewarding your hard-won #1 rankings with traffic, Google now answers many queries directly on the results page, no click required. If your
Analysis
If you’re running a DTC brand in 2025, BNPL isn’t just another button at checkout—it’s how millions of Americans expect to pay. U.S. shoppers financed $82.4 billion in online purchases using BNPL in 2024, up nearly 10% YoY (Reuters). By August 2025, we’d
Analysis
Remember when free returns were the DTC cheat code? They lowered buyer anxiety, fueled “bracketing” (buying multiple sizes, planning to return most), and helped brands win first-time shoppers. But what started as a trust-builder has become a margin-eater. 63% of consumers now buy with the intention to return extras, up
Analysis
Q4 is coming in hot—and if you’re running a DTC brand on Shopify, you already know what that means: digital ad prices are about to hit escape velocity. In 2024, display ad CPMs jumped nearly 40% year-over-year by late Q3, setting the stage for an even wilder holiday
Analysis
2025 is forcing DTC operators to grow up fast. If the old game was “how quickly can you scale?,” this year’s proving it’s about how well you run what you already have. New data from Deposco shows 86% of mid-size brands now get up to half their revenue
Analysis
Shipping just got more expensive—and DTC operators are already feeling it in their P&Ls. On July 13, USPS rolled out its second rate increase of the year, raising Ground Advantage by 7.1% and adding a new $4 surcharge on “nonstandard” packages like poster tubes, large boxes,
Analysis
In 2025, DTC operators aren’t bragging about CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost) anymore. They’re talking TER, MER, and payback windows. With funding tightening and e-commerce growth cooling, Shopify brands are being held to a new standard: capital efficiency. You’re not judged on how fast you grow—but how
Analysis
The numbers don’t lie. After a relatively strong Q1, many DTC brands on Shopify are watching sales stall out this summer. But is it just another sluggish July—or the start of a broader reset? From rising tariffs and margin pressure to consumer confidence cratering, the mid-2025 picture is
Analysis
Most DTC brands are trying to squeeze 10% growth out of bloated acquisition costs. A few are casually racing to $50 million. In a June 19 breakdown, Eli Weiss dissected the new class of rocketship brands—DTC startups hitting $30–$50M in revenue within one or two years (Eli Weiss)
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