DTC Podcast

• Bonus: Navigating the Tariff Regime with Passport's Alex Yancher: Duty Drawbacks, International Logistics, and the Arbitrage Opportunity Abroad

  Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupIn this episode of the DTC Podcast, Eric interviews Alex Yancher, Co-founder & CEO of Passport, a leading global ecommerce provider powering end-to-end growth for fast-growing DTC brands. Alex breaks down the seismic shifts caused by recent tariff increases, how duty drawback programs work, and why every DTC brand is now — whether they realize it or not — a global brand.Key Takeaways:The US tariff floor is rising to 30–50%, reshaping cost structures for brands.Duty drawback offers a refund path — but only if your inventory data is airtight.Smart DTC brands are moving inventory directly into high-performing international markets.Localizing checkout and language increases conversion rate abroad.DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipping avoids post-delivery sticker shock, improving customer experience and LTV.Learn how Passport is helping brands like Dolls Kill, HexClad, and others navigate this new era of global DTC.📦 Learn more about Passport: passportglobal.comTimestamps00:00 How DTC Brands Can Bridge the Global Sales Gap02:05 Impact of Tariffs on International Ecommerce Logistics04:20 Understanding Duty Drawback Programs for Cost Recovery06:45 Challenges of Shifting Manufacturing Back to the US09:50 De Minimis Policy Changes and Implications for Ecommerce12:20 Conversion Strategies for International Sales14:40 Leveraging Cost Per Click Arbitrage for Global Expansion17:15 Impact of Postal Leniency on Cross-Border Ecommerce20:00 Strategies for Smooth International Customer ExperiencesHashtags#DTC#InternationalEcommerce#GlobalExpansion#Tariffs#Logistics#DutyDrawback#EcommerceMarketing#ConversionOptimization#CPCArbitrage#PostalLogistics Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

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• Ep 511: IQBar's Will Nitze CPG Playbook: From Rapid Product Market Fit Iteration to Omnichannel Scale

  Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupIn this episode, IQBAR founder Will Nitze shares his journey from burnout in the corporate world to launching a bar brand rooted in cognitive nutrition. He walks through the steps that took IQBAR from kitchen counter tests to Amazon bestseller and retail mainstay.What you’ll hear is less about hacks and more about the fundamentals: why starting online mattered, how feedback drove product-market fit, and what it really takes to scale profitably in CPG today.Key topics include:Launching DTC to validate demand and iterate fastWhy clean label and plant protein were non-negotiablesPackaging shifts driven by real-world feedbackScaling into retail once logistics and cost structures were optimizedViewing DTC as one piece of an omnichannel puzzleIt’s a grounded roadmap from someone who’s done the work—no shortcuts, just thoughtful strategy.Did you know that 98% of your website visitors are anonymous? Instant powers next-level retention by identifying who they are and converting them into loyal shoppers. Sign up for a quick demo today to get 50% off and unlock a guaranteed 4x+ ROI: instant.one/dtcTimestamps:00:00 – How IQBAR started from a personal health journey02:55 – From kitchen experiments to product-market fit07:10 – Why the brain-focused bar category was a white space12:10 – DTC vs Amazon vs retail: channel strategy evolution17:45 – Profitability, scaling, and efficient COGS in CPG22:50 – Brand evolution: packaging, messaging, and keto pivot27:10 – Retail shelf strategy and planogram insight31:25 – Podcast and display ads as top-of-funnel growth levers34:45 – DTC Twitter, omnichannel mindset, and business realism37:55 – Exit strategy, Mars dreams, and post-exit vision41:00 – Tariffs, supply chain chaos, and CPG realitiesHashtags:#IQBAR#dtcpodcast#consumerpackagedgoods#ecommercegrowth#omnichannelstrategy#dtcbrand#scalingcpg#founderjourney#brandbuilding#podcastmarketing#supplychainchallenges#cleanlabelproducts#retailstrategy#amazonads#shopifysuccess Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

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• Ep 510: Inside Pilothouse’s YouTube Strategy: Segmenting Campaigns for Scalable Growth | AKNF

  Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupIn this episode of the DTC Podcast, Eric Dyck sits down with Dougie and Adam from Pilothouse to talk about how to properly structure YouTube ad campaigns for long-term brand growth.Dougie and Adam share the evolved Pilothouse perspective on YouTube—not as a direct response platform, but as a powerful top-of-funnel awareness channel. Learn how structuring campaigns based on funnel stages, matched with tailored creative and measurement, can lead to more efficient spend and more impactful marketing.Key Takeaways:Why 80–90% of YouTube spend should be top-of-funnelHow to segment users into unaware, aware, consideration, and actionThe importance of creative matching for each funnel stageHow to track impact via Brand Search Lift and Google measurement toolsWhy a minimum $10K investment is required to see true performance from YouTubeIf you’re using YouTube like it’s search or shopping, this episode might shift your entire approach.Did you know that 98% of your website visitors are anonymous? Instant powers next-level retention by identifying who they are and converting them into loyal shoppers. Sign up for a quick demo today to get 50% off and unlock a guaranteed 4x+ ROI: instant.one/dtcTimestamps00:00 Scrappy content is outperforming polished YouTube ads02:00 Shift to demand gen campaigns and YouTube Shorts strategy04:00 Google’s most impactful scrappy ad example07:00 Why organic-looking creative builds more trust09:00 Brands mimicking UGC for TV and YouTube performance12:00 Man-on-the-street ad formats and scripting tactics15:00 Best practices for capturing authentic reactions17:00 Key ad structures: hook, face, CTA, and humor20:00 How to retarget viewers and build down-funnel sequences22:00 Geo-targeting and brand saliency measurement toolsHashtags#YouTubeAds#UGCMarketing#DTCMarketing#PerformanceCreative#MediaBuying#VideoAdvertising#MarketingPodcast#CreativeStrategy#AdSequencing#BrandGrowth Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

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• Bonus: How Talkable Cuts CAC with Referral Loops and Wallet-Based Sharing

  Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupIn this episode of the DTC Podcast, we sit down with Jeremy Foreshew from Talkable to explore how brands can leverage referral marketing to drive sustainable growth.Key Insights:The Decline of Traditional Advertising: Challenges with rising digital ad costs and the shift towards owned channels.Referral Marketing Mechanics: Understanding the components of a successful referral program.Innovations in Referral Sharing: Introducing Talkable Wallet for seamless mobile referrals.Case Studies: Real-world examples of brands achieving significant CAC reductions.Strategic Implementation: Best practices for timing, segmentation, and offer structuring.Takeaways:Referral marketing can dramatically lower acquisition costs.Personalized and timely referral offers enhance customer engagement.Innovative tools like Talkable Wallet make sharing effortless and effective.If you’re a DTC brand looking to build effective referral programs that reduce acquisition costs, enhance customer loyalty, and simplify the referral process to drive sustainable growth, this episode is a must listen.Turn your existing customers into a high-performance revenue channel. Get connected with a Talkable referral expert at www.talkable.comTimestamps00:00 - Why referral marketing reduces risk and boosts ROI02:00 - The problem with paid acquisition in today’s ad landscape04:00 - How referral loops drive compounding customer growth06:00 - $500M in revenue from one Talkable client case study08:00 - The Talkable Wallet and how it solves real-world sharing10:00 - Crafting irresistible offers that drive actual referrals12:00 - How white-glove service removes the need for internal headcount14:00 - Identifying the “moments of delight” for peak referral success17:00 - Referral marketing mistakes: set-it-and-forget-it, generic offers20:00 - Creative placement ideas: packaging, QR codes, yard signs22:00 - Viral loops and LTV: why referrals outperform paid ads24:00 - Framing referral marketing to get CFO and CEO buy-inHashtags#referralmarketing#customeracquisition#dtcpodcast#talkable#ecommercemarketing#brandgrowth#retentionmarketing#d2cbrands#lifetimevalue#performancebranding#ownedmedia#viralgrowth#marketingstrategy#emailmarketing#customerloyalty Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

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• Ep 509: Tea Time at the Whitehouse: How Art of Tea Scaled Through Story and Quality

  Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupIn this episode of the DTC Podcast, we’re joined by Steve Schwartz, founder of Art of Tea. From starting with a backpack and a phone bill to serving Google HQ and the White House, Steve’s journey is rooted in deep product integrity and radical education.Listen in to discover how blending Ayurvedic principles with luxury sourcing has positioned Art of Tea as a quiet giant in the wellness beverage space.What you’ll learn:The logistics of sourcing and storing elite-quality tea ingredientsHow subscription, loyalty, and a mobile app drive retentionThe unexpected ROI of writing a founder-focused brand bookWhy brand partnerships with Hollywood and the White House matterDid you know that 98% of your website visitors are anonymous? Instant powers next-level retention by identifying who they are and converting them into loyal shoppers. Sign up for a quick demo today to get 50% off and unlock a guaranteed 4x+ ROI: instant.one/dtcTimestamps0:00 Intro and Origin Story of Art of Tea2:30 The Hero’s Journey: From Caregiver to Tea Entrepreneur6:10 Breaking into Hospitality: Wolfgang Puck and Caesars Palace9:00 The Truth About Supermarket Tea11:00 Tea as a Health Ritual and Mindful Practice14:00 Launching DTC with Dreamweaver and Early Lessons18:00 Blending Tea with Ayurvedic Principles21:00 Growing Through Education and Teaching at Conventions24:00 Subscription and Loyalty Programs That Work26:00 Using Events, PR, and a Mobile App for Brand Awareness29:00 Collaborations with Paddington, Dune, and the White House34:00 Long-Term Vision and Staying Mission-Aligned38:00 Final Advice for Founders and EntrepreneursHashtags#DTCpodcast #ArtOfTea #TeaBusiness #FounderStory #EcommerceStrategy #SubscriptionModel #TeaEducation #ConsumerBrand #SteveSchwartz #TeaCulture #WholesaleToDTC #BrandBuilding #MindfulBusiness #ProductQuality #SustainableGrowth Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

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