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DTC Podcast | Ep 515: How Shiti Coolers Turned a Joke Into a $320K Sticker Business and Built the First Party Cooler Brand
Subscribe to DTC Newsletter – https://dtcnews.link/signup
Trevor Zacny from Shiti Coolers joins the DTC Podcast to share how he and his brothers transformed a napkin joke into a viral sticker business, and then into the world’s first party cooler brand. This episode dives deep into humor-led branding, event-based growth, and the transition from parody to premium product.
Shiticoolers.com
You’ll learn:
Why humor can be a powerful differentiator in product categories saturated with status and performance brands
How Shiti Coolers went from $0 to $320K in sticker sales in year one
How events like NASCAR and country music festivals became revenue powerhouses
The importance of maintaining product quality in a humor-first brand
Building community through social, SMS, and in-person events
Lessons on cash flow, capital allocation, and surviving growing pains
Why storytelling and founder-led content is their next big opportunity
If you’re thinking about growing a lifestyle brand, building a loyal following, or just want to learn how to make funny marketing actually drive revenue, this one’s for you.
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/dtc
Timestamps
00:00 – How Shiti Coolers Made $320K from Stickers
02:00 – From Festival Joke to Full Lifestyle Brand
05:00 – Launching the First Party Cooler
07:00 – Lessons from the First Cooler Launch
10:00 – Balancing Humor and Product Quality
12:00 – Competing with Yeti Without Copying It
15:00 – Building the Community Through Events and Social
17:00 – In-Person Events vs. Paid Media Growth
20:00 – Collaborations with Kid Rock, Realtree, and Bill Murray
23:00 – Navigating Tariffs and Global Manufacturing
25:00 – Working with Family as Co-Founders
27:00 – Hitting a Cash Wall and Finding Strategic Investors
30:00 – How They Choose the Right Events
32:00 – Storytelling as a Growth Opportunity
34:00 – Wholesale, Seasonality, and Global Expansion Plans
Hashtags
#shiticoolers
#dtcpodcast
#founderstory
#ecommercebranding
#lifestylebrand
#productlaunch
#d2cmarketing
#familybusiness
#retailstrategy
#tariffs
#brandcommunity
#humorinmarketing
#eventmarketing
#wholesalestrategy
#coolerbrand
Subscribe to DTC Newsletter – https://dtcnews.link/signup
Advertise on DTC – https://dtcnews.link/advertise
Work with Pilothouse – https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse
Follow us on Instagram & Twitter – @dtcnewsletter
Watch this interview on YouTube – https://dtcnews.link/video
View all episodes
Subscribe to DTC Newsletter – https://dtcnews.link/signup
Trevor Zacny from Shiti Coolers joins the DTC Podcast to share how he and his brothers transformed a napkin joke into a viral sticker business, and then into the world’s first party cooler brand. This episode dives deep into humor-led branding, event-based growth, and the transition from parody to premium product.
Shiticoolers.com
You’ll learn:
Why humor can be a powerful differentiator in product categories saturated with status and performance brands
How Shiti Coolers went from $0 to $320K in sticker sales in year one
How events like NASCAR and country music festivals became revenue powerhouses
The importance of maintaining product quality in a humor-first brand
Building community through social, SMS, and in-person events
Lessons on cash flow, capital allocation, and surviving growing pains
Why storytelling and founder-led content is their next big opportunity
If you’re thinking about growing a lifestyle brand, building a loyal following, or just want to learn how to make funny marketing actually drive revenue, this one’s for you.
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/dtc
Timestamps
00:00 – How Shiti Coolers Made $320K from Stickers
02:00 – From Festival Joke to Full Lifestyle Brand
05:00 – Launching the First Party Cooler
07:00 – Lessons from the First Cooler Launch
10:00 – Balancing Humor and Product Quality
12:00 – Competing with Yeti Without Copying It
15:00 – Building the Community Through Events and Social
17:00 – In-Person Events vs. Paid Media Growth
20:00 – Collaborations with Kid Rock, Realtree, and Bill Murray
23:00 – Navigating Tariffs and Global Manufacturing
25:00 – Working with Family as Co-Founders
27:00 – Hitting a Cash Wall and Finding Strategic Investors
30:00 – How They Choose the Right Events
32:00 – Storytelling as a Growth Opportunity
34:00 – Wholesale, Seasonality, and Global Expansion Plans
Hashtags
#shiticoolers
#dtcpodcast
#founderstory
#ecommercebranding
#lifestylebrand
#productlaunch
#d2cmarketing
#familybusiness
#retailstrategy
#tariffs
#brandcommunity
#humorinmarketing
#eventmarketing
#wholesalestrategy
#coolerbrand
Subscribe to DTC Newsletter – https://dtcnews.link/signup
Advertise on DTC – https://dtcnews.link/advertise
Work with Pilothouse – https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse
Follow us on Instagram & Twitter – @dtcnewsletter
Watch this interview on YouTube – https://dtcnews.link/video