S13 E11: Marketing, Mega-Catalogs, Mattresses, and More (with Jared Brody, EVP Marketing at Resident + Ashley Furniture)
What does it take to sell millions of mattresses and furniture pieces while reinventing how big brands market online?
Nik sits down with Jared Brody, the marketing leader driving explosive growth at Resident and Ashley Home. Jared traces his path from old-school direct marketing to managing massive ad budgets and leading a team that thrives on data, creativity, and speed.
He shares how he created an in-house agency for Ashley and improved media spending. Jared also breaks down how his team links online ads to real store sales and gets ready for big events like Black Friday.
And, how does he leverage AI? Turns out, you can use it to parse predictions and for creative generation.
Whether you’re new to DTC or a seasoned pro, this episode is for YOU.
AppLovin is the fastest growing ad platform for DTC brands. It enables brands to run ads in a variety of mobile games, reaching over 150M daily active users in the US and driving measurable performance at scale.
AppLovin Ecommerce Newsletter
Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips.
Check out the Nik’s DTC newsletter: https://bit.ly/3mOUJMJ
And if you’re looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the Limited Supply Slack Channel for Nik’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.
Follow Nik:
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma
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S13 E10: How to Maximize Your Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sales
Do you have a plan for BFCM? Or are you just flying blind?
Nik walks through his complete Black Friday Playbook: a detailed, 15 page, step-by-step breakdown designed to help brands maximize revenue while avoiding the common pitfalls of BFCM, including:
> Crafting compelling promotions without undercutting your own offers
> Website optimizations that boost conversions (and pass the “grandma test”)
> Smart approaches to bundles, discounts, and subscriber loyalty
> Email & SMS capture strategies that actually work
> The one thing most brands overlook: terms & disclaimers that save you headaches later
Nik also shares insider examples from brands like Jones Road, Jolie, and Ridge, plus clever UX tweaks and founder-driven emails that help build brand trust during the busiest shopping season of the year.
Whether you’ve already mapped out your BFCM campaigns or you’re scrambling to finalize the details, this episode is for YOU.
AppLovin is the fastest growing ad platform for DTC brands. It enables brands to run ads in a variety of mobile games, reaching over 150M daily active users in the US and driving measurable performance at scale.
AppLovin Ecommerce Newsletter
Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips.
Check out the Nik’s DTC newsletter: https://bit.ly/3mOUJMJ
And if you’re looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the Limited Supply Slack Channel for Nik’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.
Follow Nik:
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma
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29:41
S13 E9: Real DTC Stories to Learn From
Nik’s known as the DTC Guy…and for good reason.
He and Scott of the Highland Podcast break down some success stories, mishaps, and more of his career in the business. Nik’s helped scale some of the most recognizable consumer brands—from Hint Water, Rare Beauty to Taco Bell and Brightland—and in this conversation he opens the playbook on what actually works in modern marketing.
What IS the drunk grandma test? It’s Nik’s favorite tactic: a simple framework that forces brands to strip away jargon and make their value instantly understandable.
Plus, hear about the balance between organic and paid growth, the role of creative testing, and the mistakes brands make when scaling too quickly.
If you’re looking to capture attention and build trust this is the episode for you.
AppLovin is the fastest growing ad platform for DTC brands. It enables brands to run ads in a variety of mobile games, reaching over 150M daily active users in the US and driving measurable performance at scale.
AppLovin Ecommerce Newsletter
Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips.
Check out the Nik’s DTC newsletter: https://bit.ly/3mOUJMJ
And if you’re looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the Limited Supply Slack Channel for Nik’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.
Follow Nik:
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma
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1:28:36
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1:28:36
S13 E8: What the Best Brands Are Doing (And You Should Do It, Too)
Nik gets real about what it takes to build a brand that actually works in 2025.
The so-called “meta decline” isn’t killing ads, but bad creative and weak messaging are.
The brands winning today? They know how to turn customers into clients, build community, and create content that people actually care about.
Is a $2,500 budget enough? If you use it wisely, yes. Plus, learn how to crack organic growth before spending a dime on ads and spot product-market fit problems before they sink you.
And, Nik explains why whitelisting still crushes, how to test landing pages without wasting money, and what founder-led content should really look like.
If you’re looking to scale (or even stop burning cash), this is the episode for you.
AppLovin is the fastest growing ad platform for DTC brands. It enables brands to run ads in a variety of mobile games, reaching over 150M daily active users in the US and driving measurable performance at scale.
AppLovin Ecommerce Newsletter
Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips.
Check out the Nik’s DTC newsletter: https://bit.ly/3mOUJMJ
And if you’re looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the Limited Supply Slack Channel for Nik’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.
Follow Nik:
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma
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1:05:58
S13 E7: Why Your Website Isn’t Converting (and How to Fix It)
Struggling to turn traffic into sales?
In this tactical episode of Limited Supply, Nik breaks down the most common mistakes founders and marketers make and the simple fixes that can instantly boost conversions.
From website design flaws and weak creative assets to underused email flows and poor acquisition offers, Nik shares the quick wins he recommends to every brand he audits.
You’ll learn:
Why design and empathy are critical for first-time visitors
The role of strong assets in elevating websites, ads, and emails
Easy offer structures that lower friction for new customers
Whether you’re a scrappy startup or scaling fast, this episode gives you the checklist to maximize your traffic and set up every campaign for success.
AppLovin is the fastest growing ad platform for DTC brands. It enables brands to run ads in a variety of mobile games, reaching over 150M daily active users in the US and driving measurable performance at scale.
AppLovin Ecommerce Newsletter
Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips.
Check out the Nik’s DTC newsletter: https://bit.ly/3mOUJMJ
And if you’re looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the Limited Supply Slack Channel for Nik’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.
Follow Nik:
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma
So many DTC brands think nice PR is more important than honesty. But that’s not us.
I'm Nik, and I'm tired of all the hot air in our industry. This podcast is the behind-the-scenes conversation that gets to the heart of what DTC is really like.
Nik Sharma founded Sharma Brands - and has no reason not to call people out, and share his spicy takes. Joined by the most experienced names in the industry, these are the conversations you won’t hear anywhere else.
We’ll be diving deep into industry moves, autopsies on failed brands, and why we’re investing in certain companies. Episodes drop every Wednesday. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
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