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Retention Over Acquisition: The Key to Sustainable Growth

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In today’s newsletter 

  • 8 Factors that most brands don’t consider when working with creators

  • Your next sale is sitting in your inbox

  • Trends for DTC brands: do them or skip them? Here’s the answer!

  • The smarter way for DTC brands to drive repeat revenue

  • Becoming Pinteresting—taken literally

  • Increase your DTC margin 4-15% with coupon protection

  • Latest News: The truth about incentivized reviews: benefits, Risks, and best practices & more…

    Let's dive into it!👇

Need FREE Strategy advice?

8 Factors that most brands don’t consider when working with creators

A really good thread by Alex on some of the important factors you’d need to consider while trying to work with the creators and the influencers.

Check out the full thread on X here.

Your Next Sale Is Sitting in Your Inbox

I know a lot of brands obsess over getting more customers. More traffic, more ads, more new eyeballs. But the easiest sale? It’s usually the person who’s already bought from you.

I’m not saying don’t run paid ads. You should (and if you do it right, they’ll bring in new revenue). But if you’re constantly churning through new customers without giving them a reason to stick around, you’re working way harder than you need to, and burning more money than you should.

Here’s how to turn past buyers into repeat buyers:

  1. Follow up with actual value. Your post-purchase email should not just confirm the “order”. Send something they’ll actually read, like usage tips, a quick thank you video, or even a "Hey, your order’s on the way!" with a casual touch. I wrote a 5-Day series of emails on this last week, that you can find here.

  2. Make the second purchase effortless. If they liked your product, don’t make them go hunt for it again. A well timed email with a reorder button, a bundle offer, or even a “People who bought X also loved Y” nudge can do wonders. Your job is to make it as easy possible for them to buy again, and make the entire process seamless & frictionless.

  3. Talk to your customers like they matter. Nobody wants to feel like they’re just an order number. Some of the great brands actually send personal check-ins, exclusive offers for repeat buyers, and even the occasional "We appreciate you" messages.

  4. Paid ads + retention = magic. Here’s where most brands go wrong—you know, they either pour everything into acquisition or over focus on retention and leave the paid ads behind. The real game is getting them in and keeping them engaged. Retargeting past buyers with upsells, new launches, or just a reminder that you exist? That’s where the magic happens.

It’s not Growth (paid ads, organic, etc.) Vs Retention channels (Email/SMS, etc.). Magic happens when you make these channels work together in sync.

Need help with building out your email flows and campaigns? Book a free call with me.

Need help with building out your paid ads and structures? Book a free call with Sai.

Trends for DTC Brands: do them or skip them? Here’s the answer!

Jumping on trends can boost your brand—if done right. But is it worth it? 

Learn how Uber Eats nailed it and discover a 24-hour framework to stay ahead without burning cash. 

The smarter way for DTC brands to drive repeat revenue

What if you could drive 15% more repeat purchases, without the headache of building customized flows?

Black Crow integrates with your existing email & SMS tool, identifies customers that need a nudge to repurchase and determines the precise timing to trigger a pre-built flow.

Drive traffic to custom branded storefronts personalized to every shopper, showcasing the products they are most likely to buy.

Black Crow is so confident you’ll get results that they’re offering a $100 gift card to Shopify brands with $2M+ in GMV to get a demo.

Becoming Pinteresting—taken literally

One of the most exciting social media collaborations this March? Primark x Pinterest.

Let’s be real, no modern home makeover happens without a Pinterest mood board. Primark has taken this reality and turned it into an opportunity, launching a “customer-first” collaboration with Pinterest to bring its home collection to life. This partnership doesn’t just make Primark’s homeware more discoverable, it bridges the gap between digital inspiration and real-world shopping.

How Are They Bringing the Collab to Life?

The Good Old Giveaway
What better way to get people involved than a Pinterest-inspired giveaway?
The rules: Create a collage using at least one product from Primark’s new homeware collection and share it on primarkpinterest.com. The prize? A £500/€600 gift card!

A simple but effective way to engage their audience, encourage user-generated content, and create a micro-community around their homeware line.

Pinterest Boards Turned Shopping Guides

At the heart of this campaign is Pinterest’s brand-new collage feature, allowing users to manifest, plan, shop, and curate their dream home aesthetics in an interactive way.

The Pinterest boards were divided into three trending home decor styles:

🏡 Cosy Cottage – Inspired by romantic charm, wild florals, and soft pastels, tapping into the 170% surge in Pinterest searches for “cosy cottage bedroom.”
 Minamaluxe – Clean, chic, and modern, aligning with the rising trend of elevated minimalism.
🌸 Dainty Décor – A soft, feminine aesthetic featuring subtle florals and delicate accents.

Why This Works

With 12M+ UK Pinterest users actively engaging with home decor, this campaign is a masterclass in meeting consumers where they already are on Pinterest, dreaming up their perfect space. By seamlessly integrating shopping into inspiration, Primark isn’t just selling homeware; it’s selling a lifestyle.

Would your brand benefit from a platform-first collaboration like this?

P.S. Want to jump into other trends? Watch my next lesson here. Comments are open for anyone who needs my help!

Increase your DTC margin 4-15% with coupon protection

KeepCart: Coupon Protection partners with D2C brands like Quince, Blueland, Vessi and more to stop/monitor coupon leaks to sites/extensions like Honey, CapitalOne, RetailMeNot, and more to boost your DTC margins

Overpaid commissions to affiliates and influencers add up fast - Get rid of the headache and revenue losses with KeepCart.

📰IN THE NEWS

Incentivized reviews, where brands offer rewards for customer feedback, can boost review volume and engagement. However, they must be handled ethically to avoid misleading consumers and comply with platform guidelines. Ethical incentivized reviews can enhance credibility, increase trust, and improve product perception, but mishandling them can damage brand reputation and lead to penalties.

A new Tubi report reveals that Gen Z prefers free, ad-supported streaming platforms over traditional cable and subscription services. They prioritize variety, convenience, and cost savings, making AVOD platforms like Tubi a top choice. If you're targeting Gen Z, focusing ad spend on AVOD platforms can maximize reach and engagement while aligning with their viewing preferences.

Have any questions that you need help with?

Ask here - look out for Friday’s issue where Ibrahim will answer them.