Peter Czepiga is the founder of Flighted, an agency that helps DTC brands profitably scale their advertising on platforms like Meta, TikTok, and Google. He also runs his own brand, Ando. Flighted has worked with some of the most popular DTC brands spending between $50-300k per month on ads.

In this episode of DTC Pod, Peter shares his strategies for launching and scaling profitable ad campaigns on Meta for DTC brands. He covers how much to spend to prove out product-market fit, what types of creative work best, his approach to audience targeting, and how AI is impacting ad creative production. Peter also explains how DTC ad tactics can be applied to other business models like SaaS.

Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.

On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. Proving Product-Market Fit
2. Setting up Ad Accounts for New Brands
3. Budget and Assets Needed to Test Ad Creative
4. Creative Strategies for Successful Ads
5. AI in Ad Creative Generation
6. Applying DTC Ad Tactics to Other Business Models
7. Flighted’s Agency Model and Client Engagements

Timestamps
00:00 Peter's background in ecommerce and growth 
04:08 What is takes to prove product-market fit with ads 
09:57 Scaling ad budget after initial traction 
13:32 What is Meta Advantage+ campaigns and when to use it
16:10 How to manage ad frequency and exclusions
19:31 Creative mix: formats, messaging, placements
24:36 Messaging frameworks that resonate in ads
27:43 Tips for sourcing and creating ad creative 
32:31 AI-generated ad creative: potential and limitations 
38:28 Applying D2C ad tactics to SaaS and other businesses 
43:23 How Flighted works with clients 
45:32 Wrap up; how to connect with Peter

Show notes powered by Castmagic

Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  

Additional episodes you might like:

• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth

• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content

• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views

• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands

• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook

• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands

-----
Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?
Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.

Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?
Check out our newsletter here.

Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:
DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content

Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!

DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTok

Peter Czepiga - Founder of Flighted
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Irene Chen and Matthew Grenby are the co-founders of Parker Thatch, a luxury handbag and accessories brand they bootstrapped to 8-figures over the course of 20 years. Matt’s expertise spans tech, design, and marketing, while Irene brings deep fashion industry knowledge from working with powerhouse brands like Donna Karan and Calvin Klein.

In this episode of DTC Pod, Matt and Irene share how they navigated the shift from an e-stationery startup to eventually finding product-market fit with their signature luxury bags. They discuss key lessons learned in bootstrapping—the importance of market timing, how to manage inventory risks, and why flexibility and systems are critical when growing a brand.

Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.

On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. Founding and Evolution of Parker Thatch
2. Initial Business Concepts and Pivots
3. Strategies for Managing and Allocating Inventory
4. Importance of Flexibility in Business Operations
5. Bootstrapping and Capital Allocation
6. Building Systems for Scalability
7. Marketing and Demand Generation Strategies
8. Community and Customer Engagement

Timestamps
00:00 Matt and Irene's backgrounds before Parker Thatch 
06:55 Starting an e-stationery business in 2000
07:43 Pivoting to selling physical stationery and home goods 
9:00 Lessons on market timing and pivoting when starting a business
11:51 Changing company name from iomoi to Parker Thatch
13:52 Creating Parker Thatch's debut handbag
18:19 Bootstrapping, capital allocation, inventory decisions
22:08 Why early business success depends on flexibility and testing
25:53 Introducing leather bags and streamlining production
29:10 Why small businesses fail without systems
32:29 Shifting to systems thinking to enable business growth
35:07 Marketing strategies to drive customer demand
37:01 Building community and brand identity around "functional luxury"
42:34 Relationship dynamics as husband and wife co-founders
45:55 Key focuses for 2025 and beyond with PTTV 
47:48 Where to find and connect with Parker Thatch

Show notes powered by Castmagic

Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  

Additional episodes you might like:

• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth

• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content

• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views

• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands

• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook

• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands

-----
Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?
Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.

Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?
Check out our newsletter here.

Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:
DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content

Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!

DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTok  

Irene Chen and Matthew Grenby -  Co-Founders of Parker Thatch
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Caleb Alvarez is the founder of Shadow Light Studios, an agency specializing in high-converting paid and organic content. He has worked with major consumer brands like Monster Energy, Snapchat, and Samsung, as well as influencers like Tony Hawk, Logan Paul, Ice Cube, and many more.

In this episode of DTC Pod, Caleb breaks down how founders can create better content, build and scale a content engine, and strike the right balance between organic and paid content. He unpacks everything from finding your USP and mapping out content pillars to establishing a sprint-based production process. Caleb also shares how he helped scale Nectar Hard Seltzer from $2M to $5M in revenue using only organic content.

Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.

On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. Founder-Led Content Strategies
2. Building a Content Engine: Key Roles and Process
3. Systems for Creating and Managing Content
4. Agile Workflow for Content Creation
5. Social Media Content Types and Pillars
6. Optimizing Content for Conversions
7. Balancing Paid and Organic Marketing
8. Balancing Virality and Conversion Goals

Timestamps
00:00 Caleb's background and getting into content creation 
05:22 How Shadow Light Studios works with brands 
07:35 The power of founder-led content and storytelling 
12:44 Who should create founder-led content 
15:02 Key pillars for effective founder-led brand content
18:55 Balancing content creation as a founder with limited time
22:16 How to structure content teams and roles
28:40 Paid ads vs. organic content—how they work together
31:39 Building a content strategy and implementing a system
36:18 Managing content sprints and pipeline
43:01 Content that performs vs. content that converts
49:01 Lead capture and conversion optimization techniques
53:09 Wrap up and where to follow Caleb Alvarez

Show notes powered by Castmagic

Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  

Additional episodes you might like:

• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth

• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content

• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views

• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands

• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook

• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands

-----
Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?
Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.

Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?
Check out our newsletter here.

Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:
DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content

Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!

DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTok  

Caleb Alvarez - Founder of Shadow Light Studios
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Ben Matthews is a general partner at Night Ventures, an early-stage consumer VC fund, focused on culture, community, and creators. They have partnered with some of the most famous people on the internet including Mr. Beast, Kai Cenat, and Hasan Piker.

In this episode of DTC Pod, Ben and Blaine discuss:

• Lessons from incubating and investing in early-stage consumer companies
• The key elements of successful talent-driven brands, including audience fit and long-term commitment
• Choosing the right business opportunities based on market potential and operational feasibility
• Structuring effective partnerships between creators, operators, and investors
• The future of TikTok and emerging monetization avenues for content creators

Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.

On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. Business Launch and Growth
2. Talent-Driven Brands
3. Challenges in Creator Partnerships
4. Creator-Audience Relationship
5. Employment Trends and AI Impact
6. Content Commerce Trends
7. TikTok’s Future and Market Impact
8. Elements of Business Success
9. Incentive Structure in Partnerships
10. Importance of Having an Audience
11. Monetization Opportunities for Creators

Timestamps
00:00 Ben Matthew’s background and Night Ventures
06:05 Building business with talent: the case of Mr. Beast
10:54 What works in creator-brand partnerships
15:25 Picking the right talent to represent a brand
19:42 Picking the right business and products
23:01 Incubating early-stage consumer companies
30:07 Investing in early-stage consumer companies
33:03 Future trends in the creator-commerce space
35:19 Future trends in the content creator landscape

Show notes powered by Castmagic

Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  

Additional episodes you might like:

• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth

• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content

• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views

• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands

• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook

• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands

-----
Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?
Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.

Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?
Check out our newsletter here.

Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:
DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content

Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!

DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTok  

Ben Matthews - General Partner at Night Ventures
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Isabel Mendez is the founder and design director at Antara Studio, an award-winning full-service design partner for purpose-driven brands. 

With a focus on brand, content, and design, Isabel and her team help companies create cohesive and emotionally resonant identities across all touchpoints.

In this episode of DTC POD, Blaine and Isabel discuss:

• The three necessary phases for creating a brand identity
• What makes a good brand story and how brands can effectively communicate it
• How brands can adapt to trends while remaining true to who they are

Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.

On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. DTC Brand Design Trends
2. Stages of Brand Identity Building
3. Characteristics of a Good Brand Story
4. Consistency in Branding
5. Branding as a Holistic Process

Timestamps
00:00 Starting the design studio Antara
03:39 From freelancing to building a team
05:10 The basics of building a great brand
07:45 Branding as graphic communication
10:21 Owning assets vs having a brand
12:26 Phases of brand identity construction
16:21 What makes a good brand story
21:09 Brand case study: Star Fades International
25:15 Establishing a design story for brands
26:55 Brand application and consistency
29:48 Design trends and timelessness
33:33 What’s next for Antara

Show notes powered by Castmagic

Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  

Additional episodes you might like:

• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth

• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content

• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views

• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands

• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook

• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands

-----
Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?
Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.

Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?
Check out our newsletter here.

Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:
DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content

Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!

DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTok  

Isabel Mendez - Founder and Design Director of Antara Studio
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

John Sampogna is the co-founder and CEO of Wondersauce, a modern advertising agency that specializes in brand storytelling, paid media, e-commerce, and digital experiences.

In this episode of DTC Pod, John discusses brand storytelling strategies across all sorts of media channels. He shares insights on crafting impactful campaigns and tips for finding and leveraging undervalued marketing gems like connected TV, static out-of-home, and podcasts. 

We explore the importance of understanding target audiences, the 3-3-3 rule for keeping your messaging on point, and finding that sweet spot between top-of-funnel brand-building and lower-funnel performance tactics.

Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.

On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. Brand Storytelling Strategies
2. Buying and Crafting Campaigns
3. Linear vs Connected TV
4. Audience Understanding
5. 333 Rule for Messaging
6. Advertising Tactics and Budgeting
7. Undervalued Marketing Channels
8. Brand Story vs Product Story

Timestamps
00:00 John Sampogna’s background; Wondersauce vision
03:54 Serving Fortune 1000 businesses and DTC startups
06:05 Starting and scaling an advertising agency
10:11 What is brand storytelling and how can brands get it right
13:23 Media budgets and audiences in funnel strategy
18:44 Connected TV, static out-of-home, and podcasts
25:42 Strategizing for connected TV vs linear TV
28:58 Steps for creating an effective brand or product story
34:28 How Wondersauce onboard and work with clients

Show notes powered by Castmagic

Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  

Additional episodes you might like:

• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth

• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content

• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views

• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands

• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook

• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands

-----
Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?
Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.

Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?
Check out our newsletter here.

Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:
DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content

Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!

DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTok  

John Sampogna - CEO and Co-Founder of Wondersauce
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Haley Weidenbaum is the CEO and co-founder of Everhem, a DTC company specializing in custom window treatments, including shades and drapery. 

In this episode of DTC Pod, Haley discusses the strategies that have helped Everhem grow and differentiate itself in the market. She discusses the challenges of online shopping for custom products and how Everhem addresses them through thorough guides and customer support.

Haley also shares insights on Everhem's dual business mode—how they serve both interior designers and regular consumers, and how they adapt their offerings to meet the unique needs of each customer segment.

Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.

On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. Window Treatment Market Landscape
2. Everhem's Niche and Positioning
3. Interior Design Trends and Forecasting
4. Challenges in Custom Window Treatments
5. Business Operations and Customer Service
6. Designer and Consumer Experience
7. Initial Business Journey and Growth
8. COVID-19 Impact and Market Response

Timestamps
00:00 Haley Weidenbaum’s background in interior design
4:00 From doing interior design to starting Everhem
07:51 COVID and the home industry boom
08:40 Importance of providing exceptional customer service
13:45 Everhem as the one-stop shop for window treatment
19:01 Catering to regular consumers and trade partners
24:15 Prioritizing key markets, managing expectations strategically
27:34 Window treatment industry and where Everhem fits
34:19 Using trends to forecast supply chain & manufacturing
37:42 Logistics, packaging, unboxing experience
40:02 Next step for Everhem: building authentic relationships

Show notes powered by Castmagic

Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  

Additional episodes you might like:

• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth

• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content

• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views

• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands

• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook

• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands

-----
Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?
Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.

Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?
Check out our newsletter here.

Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:
DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content

Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!

DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTok  

Haley Weidenbaum - Co-Founder and CEO of Everhem
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Ismail Salhi is the co-founder and CEO of Wildgrain, a fast-growing DTC subscription service that delivers artisanal breads, pastries, and pasta directly to customers' doorsteps. 

In this episode of DTC Pod, Ismail shares his journey of rapidly scaling Wildgrain to over 80,000 subscribers since launching during the pandemic in 2020. He shares the key strategies that have driven Wildgrain's success: focusing on product quality, customer experience, and efficient operations.

Ismail discusses their decision to outsource baking to local bakeries—a move that  positioned them as a larger buyer than Whole Foods and Trader Joe's in some markets.

He also emphasizes the importance of investing in logistics tech to optimize product delivery and streamline processes. This focus on tech integration across all business areas has been crucial to their ability to scale effectively.

We also explore Wildgrain's customer acquisition strategies, which involve education marketing, meta, and influencers.

Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.

On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. Business Model and Sustainability
2. Entrepreneurial Advice
3. Logistics and Distribution
4. Customer Support Tools and Efficiency
5. Customer Acquisition and Retention
6. Product Development and Market Introduction
7. Tech and Operations Partnership
8. Seasonal Growth and Marketing
9. Consumer Behavior Dynamics
10. Marketing and Product Differentiation
11. Consumer Engagement and Customization
12. Scalability and Operational Management
13. Market Insights and Future Plans

Timestamps
00:00 Ismail Salhi’s background; Wildgrain’s founding story
04:24 From starting a home bakery to outsourcing production
07:23 Wildgrain’s product and customer experience
08:56 Working with partner bakeries and distribution centers
10:08 Building tech for reliable, temperature-sensitive deliveries
13:58 Automated system streamlines tasks across all departments
15:47 Initial customer acquisition, education marketing, influencers
20:06 Product mix and how it affects inventory 
23:07 Creating different custom boxes to cater to different diets
24:28 Optimizing product operations, automating, outsourcing
27:06 Shipping carriers, tech for allocating orders
28:42 Seasonal growth and effects on marketing spend
31:50 Ismail Salhi on running the business with his wife
33:41 Time and lifestyle management as a parent entrepreneur
36:14 Ismail Salhi’s advice for DTC founders

Show notes powered by Castmagic

Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  

Additional episodes you might like:

• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth

• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content

• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views

• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands

• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook

• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands

-----
Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?
Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.

Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?
Check out our newsletter here.

Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:
DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content

Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!

DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTok  

Ismail Salhi - Co-Founder and CEO of Wildgrain
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Christian Rivera is the founder of The Ecommerce Accountants, a firm that specializes in tax, accounting, and business structuring for e-commerce companies. Their clients include social media marketing agencies, dropshippers, digital marketers, Amazon automation, Amazon FBA, and internet coaches/gurus.

In this episode of the DTC POD, Christian explores key accounting issues that e-commerce businesses must address to succeed, such as sales tax compliance, revenue recognition, and inventory accounting. He also unpacks tax strategies that can help entrepreneurs set up smarter finances and maximize their profitability.

Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.

On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. E-commerce Accounting Challenges
2. Sales Tax Management
3. Revenue Recognition
4. Inventory Accounting
5. Financial Strategies and Advice
6. Inventory Management and Financing
7. Business Entity Structures
8. Growth Patterns of Successful Brands
9. Tax Planning and Optimization

Timestamps
00:00 Christian Rivera’s background and company
04:47 Accounting and tax for commerce brand
08:05 How sales tax works and where it applies
13:46 How every successful entrepreneur starts
16:44 VAs, agencies, and managing paid traffic
19:45 Inventory management for DTC brands
22:55 Strategies for inventory financing
25:16 Tax planning and optimization
27:57 S corp and LLC: difference and benefits
33:37 Tax strategies for foreign-owned businesses 
36:52 Puerto Rico's Act 60 tax incentive program
39:39 Tax strategies for American entrepreneurs
45:24 Christian Rivera’s advice for DTC founders

Show notes powered by Castmagic

Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  

Additional episodes you might like:

• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth

• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content

• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views

• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands

• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook

• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands

-----
Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?
Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.

Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?
Check out our newsletter here.

Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:
DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content

Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!

DTCPod Instagram
DTCPod Twitter
DTCPod TikTok  

Christian Rivera - Founder of The Ecommerce Accountants
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Zach Ranen is the co-founder of David, a protein bar brand which disrupted the market with 50% more calories from protein than any other bar and a groundbreaking dollar-to-protein ratio. 

In this episode of the DTC POD, Zach shares David's pre-launch and launch strategies, leading to 1M+ dollars in sales in the first week. This includes engaging with influencers like Peter Attia and Andrew Huberman and giving away 20,000 product samples. 

Zach also gives insights into their R&D process, how they built the David brand, their product-led approach to growth, and future plans.

Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.

On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. Pre-Launch and Launch Tactics
2. Product-Led Approach to Growth
3. Product Sampling Marketing
4. Influencer Partnerships
5. Viral Marketing Strategies
6. Brand Development 
7. Naming and Visual Identity

Timestamps
00:00 The idea behind David protein bars
05:59 From working in private equity to founding Raize and eventually David
16:55 Balancing taste with nutrition in developing David protein bars
24:22 David as a product-led company
27:52 Brand building for David: name, packaging, launch
35:04 Key lessons on manufacturing, distribution, product launch, and virality
43:53 David’s $10M seed funding, key investors, and influencers
48:10 Next steps for growth, channel allocation, strategy

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Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  

Additional episodes you might like:

• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth

• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content

• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views

• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands

• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook

• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands

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Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:
DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content

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Zach Ranen - Co-Founder and President at David
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic