🛍 DTC Daily - Wednesday, Jan 25

1 - DTC alcohol platform shakes up some investment

📰 TL;DR - Speakeasy Co. has raised an impressive $6.8 million, led by InvestBev. Speakeasy is an e-commerce platform designed exclusively for alcohol brands — like the Shopify of booze. This is their third successful round of funding and in a world where investment is getting harder to come by (more on that later) so hats off to them.

💡 Insight - In the increasingly crowded world of e-commerce, it only makes sense that specialized platforms are coming in to take on the one-size-fits-all vibe of Shopify, Woo, Big Commerce, etc. Speakeasy also has the edge by not just being a platform, but a fulfillment solution. It's worth keeping an eye out for platforms that specially cater to your space in the e-commerce world.

You can read the article here...

2 - Shopify pricing is going up 📈

📰 TL;DR - Shopify has announced pricing updates for 2023 and, you guessed it, prices are going up. The official blog post of course doesn't actually outline that increase — or even say it's increasing! — but using the power of archived pages we can see that, for monthly rates:

• Basic is going from $29 to $39

• Mid-tier is going from $79 to $105

• Advanced is going from $299 to $399

Keep in mind there's a discount for getting an annual plan.

💡 Insight - First, it's pretty annoying that Shopify didn't outline the changes more transparently but if you do that math, it's a 25% increase for the monthly basic plan. What you need to know though is that the new monthly rates don't go into effect until April 23. If you lock into an annual plan before that, you can keep the old rates for another year.

You can read the article here...

3 - VCs are getting cold feet with DTC investment

📰 TL;DR - According to Modern Retail, it's getting iffy out there for DTC start-ups seeking funds. Reportedly, the number of deals being made has dropped since last year as VCs turn their sights to consumer tech and enterprise software. As well, when they do go for the DTC space, they want proof that profitability — not just growth — is possible.

💡 Insight - Oof, it's tough out there. Based on this report, it sounds like investors are looking for a sure thing. That means if you're looking to raise funds this year, focus on showing a path to profit. Show investors that you're prepared to make some serious cash and have an efficient plan to get there.

You can read the article here...

4 - 1-800-Flowers launches marketplace

📰 TL;DR - Known best for disrupting the mom-and-pop florist game, 1-800-Flowers.com is launching "Gifts & More," a third-party marketplace for gift items. It features local sellers in new categories for the brand, like home decor and spa items. It comes just in time for Valentine's Day.

💡 Insight - Poking around the new section, the site design is lacking but there are definitely some draws for customers and brands alike. 1-800-Flowers has a Prime-like "Passport" membership for free shipping and does note when a product is shipped and sold by a third party. I also spotted some indie brands that sell on Etsy as well, for example. It's unclear what sort of fees or demand 1-800-Flowers asks of vendors, but it's certainly worth looking into if you sell gift goods.

You can read the article here...

5 - The rise and fall of sneaker resellers 

📰 TL;DR - Insider has a fascinating report on how sneaker resale just ain't what it used to be. During the pandemic, sneaker resellers found a booming business opportunity but a confluence of industry changes and events has had a killer effect. Between Kanye's breakup with Adidas, general inflation, and a crackdown on sneaker-buying bots, it's simply gotten much harder to make a buck.

💡 Insight - There are two things to note here. First, sometimes forces beyond our control — like a rapper going off the deep end — can have unexpected impacts on whole industries. The second is what this means for resale. As we've said before, resale is a growing category with a bright future, but the culture and particular circumstances around sneaker resale have made it a less viable path.

You can read the article here...

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