In 2016, Curt Nichols started Glade Optics as a side project while working at a market research firm. As he helped consumer-facing companies navigate the shift from physical to digital stores, he saw brands unlock massive returns by applying DTC principles to highly commoditized product categories. In this episode, we're chatting with Curt to learn how he launched Glade and grew it from a seasonal business into a year-round leader in mountain gear, using targeted community outreach, deep customer insights, and targeted post-purchase upsells.We'll also hear from the CEO of CartHook, Emily Foreman, on how brands can replicate these post-purchase offers to collect untapped revenue and drive higher AOV.

Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:

How Curt started Glade Optics

How Curt got the manufacturing process started

The seasonality of Curt’s business

Why Curt decided on goggles

What a partnership looks like in Curt’s industry

How the Glade Optics catalog has evolved

How to drive a strong customer experience with CartHook

How CartHook uses credit card information

The impact of the iOS update

How Curt utilizes CartHook connections

The biggest failure on post-purchase expenses

The biggest lessons learned in using CartHook

How people use CartHook to increase order value

How launching sunglasses has helped even out sales through the year

Lead time between new products

Number one advice for other brands

Resources:

Curt Nichols

Glade Optics

Emily Foreman

CartHook