The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

604: (Solo) What Labubu and Apple Can Teach You About Scarcity Marketing


Listen Later

Think scarcity is just a marketing gimmick? Used properly, it’s one of the fastest ways to increase perceived value, build community, and grow sales—without racing to the bottom on discounts.


In this episode, I break down the scarcity and drop-model strategies I’ve seen work at the highest level—from Apple launches and cult collectible brands to Greta Van Riel’s Fifth Watches—and how we’ve used similar principles at Foundr and with our students. You’ll learn how to create authentic urgency that customers trust (and respond to), not the fake scarcity that kills credibility.


Here’s what you’ll take away:

• The difference between authentic scarcity and gimmicks (and why it matters)
• The drop model play: waitlists, fixed windows, and limited quantities
• Why unpredictability + rarity (e.g., chase variants) increase desire and UGC
• How to pair scarcity with community loops (referrals, trading, VIP access)
• The golden rule: set clear rules and never break them or you’ll train people not to buy
• Practical examples you can deploy this week: VIP waitlists, bonus windows, micro-drops


If you implement even one of these—like a real waitlist plus a fixed buying window—you’ll see more urgency, cleaner launch spikes, and a brand that feels worth waiting for.

This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at [email protected] — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it.


SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS

Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started.


HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER

Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+

Start your $1 trial → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING?

→ Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

→ Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


BOOST REVENUE WITHOUT MORE ADS

We use Aftersell for simple post-purchase offers that lift sales fast.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://try.aftersell.app/ptiz4gnmvff7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started.


CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN

Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES

YouTube → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/foundr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/podcast⁠

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Foundr Podcast with Nathan ChanBy Foundr Media

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

562 ratings


More shows like The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

View all
The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast by Pat Flynn

The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast

3,454 Listeners

The GaryVee Audio Experience by Gary Vaynerchuk

The GaryVee Audio Experience

16,835 Listeners

Capitalism.com with Ryan Daniel Moran by Capitalism.com

Capitalism.com with Ryan Daniel Moran

727 Listeners

Shopify Masters by Shopify

Shopify Masters

380 Listeners

Entrepreneurs on Fire by John Lee Dumas of EOFire

Entrepreneurs on Fire

3,826 Listeners

Marketing School - Digital Marketing and Online Marketing Tips by Eric Siu and Neil Patel

Marketing School - Digital Marketing and Online Marketing Tips

1,260 Listeners

The Martell Method w/ Dan Martell by Dan Martell

The Martell Method w/ Dan Martell

583 Listeners

The Game with Alex Hormozi by Alex Hormozi

The Game with Alex Hormozi

4,449 Listeners

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

8,985 Listeners

My First Million by Hubspot Media

My First Million

2,641 Listeners

The Startup Ideas Podcast by Greg Isenberg

The Startup Ideas Podcast

206 Listeners

The UpFlip Podcast by UpFlip

The UpFlip Podcast

255 Listeners

Build with Leila Hormozi by Leila Hormozi

Build with Leila Hormozi

933 Listeners

Moneywise by Hampton

Moneywise

651 Listeners

BigDeal by Codie Sanchez

BigDeal

789 Listeners