Limited Supply

Do you need to know how to code to create an app? Hint: you don’t.

Nik sits down with Billy Howell, founder of Stupid Simple Apps, to unpack the booming trend of vibe coding—a radically accessible way to build custom web apps using AI, with little to no coding experience.

Billy shares his personal evolution from failing a college coding class to running a thriving app agency, thanks to tools like Replit, Cursor, and ChatGPT. They talk about how operators and founders are bypassing bloated SaaS costs, building internal tools fast, and solving real business problems in record time.

And, what exactly is an API? Billy breaks it down. 

Whether you’re a DTC brand operator, indie hacker, or just AI-curious, this is the blueprint for building fast, selling smart, and skipping the gatekeepers.

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

How do you turn a simple product into a seven-figure business without breaking the bank on ads? What makes a story-driven brand stand out in today’s crowded digital landscape?

Nik sits down with journalist and media personality Benjamin Gottlieb to explore storytelling, consumer psychology, and brand building. They talk about how founders can think like journalists, the importance of clarity in communication, and why marketing should always be personal, not for the masses.

Plus, how good does your hook actually have to be? It’s overlooked, but super critical. Nik says hooks should be testable, tailored, and transferable across platforms. A hook that performs organically on TikTok might become the foundation of your next paid campaign. And if grandma—or someone three shots deep at the bar—can understand it? You're doing it right.

If you're a founder, marketer, or creative looking to scale without losing your voice, 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

New season, new mailbag. Nik’s got your questions and answers.  

We're kicking off the new season with a listener Q&A straight from the Limited Supply Slack community. Nik tackles your biggest questions on all things ecom, retail, and growth, like:

– How to successfully transition from DTC to retail

– The smartest ways to create content that actually drives in-store sales

– Where to find great marketing talent (Hint: it's not LinkedIn or Upwork)

– What to do when your Meta ads are getting clicks, but no conversions

– How much budget to allocate for testing new channels

– Winning strategies for apparel brands

– Creative (and not-so-creative) ways to get press and boost social proof

Plus, just how important is quality content? It’s EVERYTHING. Nik shares how it can make or break your brand. 

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

You’ve got questions. Nik’s got answers. 

In this Listener Mailbag, Nik answers questions about hiring, AI tools, video ads, and more. How do you assess Marketers when you decide to bring someone onto your team? Why are Triple Whale and Motion The Next Big Things in DTC? What’s the deal with Shopify themes? Get ready for open source, creator-lead bots in ecom.

Plus, think you need video to run paid ads? Think again. Nik gives the blueprint for making static ads work, how to analyze ad funnel performance in Meta, and what role UGC (especially founder-led) still plays in 2025.

And, Nik outlines tiered strategies for scaling $20M+ brands. That’s a TON of money—put it into something that moves the needle. 

Omnisend - email & SMS marketing so good, it’s boring! You’ve got enough exciting stuff to worry about. Let us be the reliable platform you can depend on. Make an average $68* for every $1 you spend. Start for free!

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://your.omnisend.com/limitedsupply

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.

How do you build a powerful, parent-first brand in one of the most emotionally charged industries? 

In this episode of Limited Supply, Nik goes behind the scenes with Sam Springfield, Senior Director of Content at Bark, the parental controls tech company helping families navigate the digital world. 

Sam breaks down why Bark prioritizes educational storytelling over fear-based messaging, and how they produce high-performing social, blog, and video content—including launching their own podcast. How do you leverage these things for brand awareness? How do you get these avenues to convert?

Plus, Sam shares some hot takes on why not every trend is worth chasing, how brands can minimize revision hell with freelancers, and why AI won’t replace marketers—it’ll just make us smarter and faster.

And, Nik and Sam reveal what’s overrated in the DTC space. 

Omnisend - email & SMS marketing so good, it’s boring! You’ve got enough exciting stuff to worry about. Let us be the reliable platform you can depend on. Make an average $68* for every $1 you spend. Start for free!

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://your.omnisend.com/limitedsupply

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

Are your ads converting? Is conversion rate a vanity metric? What’s the deal with split testing?

This week’s guest, Dylan Ander, loooooves websites, conversions, ads, and more—and he’s even known as the CRO Guy. He founded Heatmap.com to help brands get real-time behavior on their websites. 

Nik and Dylan dive deep into why most brands obsess over ad creative but ignore the real moneymaker: the website. Dylan unpacks the fundamentals of user psychology, shares the truth about what CRO actually means (spoiler: it’s not just button colors), and breaks down how he approaches copywriting, landing pages, and full-site redesigns without relying on guesswork. 

Plus, in the age of AI, are analytics ever going to go away? Dylan doesn’t think so.  

Omnisend - email & SMS marketing so good, it’s boring! You’ve got enough exciting stuff to worry about. Let us be the reliable platform you can depend on. Make an average $68* for every $1 you spend. Start for free!

Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://your.omnisend.com/limitedsupply

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

Live from SubSummit 2025, FabFitFun co-founder and co-CEO Michael Broukhim joins Nik to unpack the wild journey from political web design to pioneering subscription commerce.

1 in 6 women have been FabFitFun subscribers at one point—a feat that Michael knows is all about connection, curating the right products, and helping other brands grow in the process. He explains subscription commerce has matured. How has FabFitFun differentiated itself?

The company is the “inverse of TJ Maxx” as Michael likes to say. TJ Maxx is more like a treasure hunt, while in the subscription box world, the treasure comes to you. FabFitFun also aims to have products at the beginning of the product cycle instead of end-of-season like many discount stores. Why does timing have to be perfect? 

Plus, why do new CEOs need to be a little paranoid about their business? Michael and Nik share why braving positive growth and some setbacks are inevitable. 

Omnisend - email & SMS marketing so good, it’s boring! You’ve got enough exciting stuff to worry about. Let us be the reliable platform you can depend on. Make an average $68* for every $1 you spend. Start for free!

Visit ⁠⁠https://your.omnisend.com/limitedsupply

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

How did Nik start Sharma Brands? Why did he pivot from tech to DTC? Does he actually know Pitbull personally?

If you missed Nik’s talk at Ecom North in Canada, have no fear, it’s here. He’s breaking down his backstory: from taking a gap year and never going to college to joining an agency in New York, Nik’s worked A LOT.  It didn’t happen overnight. 

Nik and his team build trust by problem solving and providing great client service. For example, he shares the Five Minute Rule: if a client messages you before midnight on a weekday, you owe them a response within five minutes. Sounds serious? It totally is—but that’s how you gain credibility in the DTC world. 

Plus, what’s the difference between in-house, agency, and freelancing? The truth is, it really depends. Some brands might even need a combination. And, Nik shares his formula on positioning, subscription models, and audience perception. 

Omnisend - email & SMS marketing so good, it’s boring! You’ve got enough exciting stuff to worry about. Let us be the reliable platform you can depend on. Make an average $68* for every $1 you spend. Start for free!

Visit ⁠https://your.omnisend.com/limitedsupply

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

There’s been a lot of things affecting ecom lately: tariffs, social media algorithms, AI, the list goes on. How do we navigate all of it?

Nik’s setting the scene and breaking down ecom’s best practices. Margins are already thin and advertising costs are going up. So, making creative and quality content is a way to stand out. Being on top of analytics, data, and operations are a way to manage everything to the best of your ability. Should you hire an agent? Do you need to rethink your tech stack? 

Also, Nik explains TikTok Shop tactics and affiliates. There’s more relevance to TikTok Shop reviews than you might think, especially because they don’t allow fake reviews. 

Plus, influencers are still effective when it comes to driving brand awareness. Enter: seeding. It’s more than just networking and building, it’s a recipe for success. Influencers don’t even need to be TikTokers; some are vloggers, bloggers, newsletter writers, and LinkedIn thought leaders. 

Finally, what’s the key to high ROI? Nik shares why it might be something we’re not even thinking of.

Request access to the slide deck here: https://nik.co/9

Omnisend - email & SMS marketing so good, it’s boring! You’ve got enough exciting stuff to worry about. Let us be the reliable platform you can depend on. Make an average $68* for every $1 you spend. Start for free!

Visit https://your.omnisend.com/limitedsupply

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

Real-time tracking might be fading, but media measurement is entering a new era.

Nik’s got Michael True, CEO of Prescient AI on this week’s episode to talk about how modern brands can confidently allocate budget, quantify impact, and optimize media spend using Media Mix Modeling (MMM). It’s about top of the funnel measurement. How do you use the data the right way? What’s a halo effect? What does Cardi B have to do with this? 

From building predictive models for the music industry to managing $200M+ in monthly media spend across e-commerce, retail, and CPG brands, Mike shares why MMM is no longer a once-a-year tool. 

Plus, Nik explains why good reporting = good storytelling. And for brands, this is a NEED when it comes to breaking it down for others. 

Prescient AI is the world’s smartest marketing decision engine, powered by the most dynamic MMM. Forecast, test, optimize, and scale top-of-funnel spend with confidence.

Visit ⁠https://prescientai.com/limited⁠ 

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