Limited Supply

Latest Episodes:

S8 E6: Racist or Righteous? Unpacking the Hate Against Chinese Companies May 29, 2024

Show notes

We can’t escape TikTok Shop, and chances are good neither can you. But is it actually working for the brands that are using it? And what does their AoV look like?

Nik also breaks down TikTok Shop’s shift to QVC-like ads as the boys debate the latest trends and happenings in TikTok Shop. How much do affiliates get paid anyway?

But let’s get down to brass tacks—because the guys are wondering whether or not the US government is trying to ban Shein for legitimate reasons or if they’re just plain racist against Chinese companies. Sure they might have a case for banning TikTok, but is there any merit to restricting the fast fashion empire from selling products in the US? Is Shein sourcing its raw materials from dubious sources or is it all just a bunch of smoke without fire?

Then, Nik and Moiz make the case for why DTC businesses need to start looking outside the US market for sales. Why aren’t more brands considering selling in other countries? And how come most marketing agencies aren’t interested in bringing brands to other nations?

Plus, Moiz unleashes the smartest business idea he’s ever had… or the dumbest idea he’s ever had. Take your pick.

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00:00:38 - Live Streams Focused on Products

00:06:46 - TikTok Embraces Live Streaming Trend

00:12:27 - How TikTok Customizes Comments Algorithm

00:14:48 - US Government Targets Chinese Businesses

00:20:57 - Expanding Internationally

00:22:13 - Europe Dominates Amazon US Traffic

00:25:02 - Opportunities for Brands in Amazon

00:28:31 - Creating a Business for GLP Medications

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 and Moiz’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.

Follow Nik:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

Follow Moiz:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/moizali

S8 E5: Cart Promo Hacks, Old School vs. New School DTC Brands, and Capitalizing on Private Labels May 22, 2024

Show notes

Who can possibly resist the “add two more leggings to your cart—and get the third one free” offer?

Nik and Moiz discuss the power of cart promos—what do the best offers look like, and what are the game-changing moves brands are taking to capitalize on cart deals? They dive into the curious case of Halara, and unravel how the influencer-based brand leveraged cart deals, TikTok, and influencers to compete with the likes of Shein and Fashion Nova.

Then the guys break down the rise of new DTC brands—what sets companies like Strawberry Milk Mob and Crown Affair apart from their predecessors like Warby Parker and Bonobos? How has the DTC landscape changed so drastically in such a short period of time? Is this the death of huge campaigns and the shift to slow audience validation?

And later, Nik wonders whether there’s room for companies to start utilizing private label brands more often. Is there a world where a franchising type of mindset can work for DTC? Or has Nik completely lost his mind?

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 and Moiz’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.

Follow Nik:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

Follow Moiz:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/moizali

S8 E4: The Dirty Truth About Fad Products (We're Looking at You, Prime Energy) May 15, 2024

Show notes

Polish up your POG collection because Moiz is still trying to pawn off his slammer at an absurdly high price to anyone gullible enough to buy it.

In this week’s ep, the guys debate the sustainability of fad businesses. What’s the lifespan of the average fad—and is it wise to hop on the bandwagon before it dies out? Nik and Moiz break down the ways to build a sustainable and discuss whether or not brands like Prime Energy and Stanley are poised to fade into oblivion soon.

The boys also explore the pain points of distribution in the beverage world and the potential pitfalls of private equity takeovers. Is there any way a brand won’t go to shit after a private equity takeover? Does flooding the market with knock-off fad products ever work?

And later, the guys dive into the latest trends in social media marketing, including the difficulty of going viral through TikTok shops, building a timeline for CRO changes, and outwitting the competition by dominating the funnel on Google Maps.

00:01:04 - Protein Shake Brand Acquired for $280M

00:07:00 - Private Equity's Impact on Wellness Industry

00:13:39 - Prime Sales Decline

00:20:51 - Stanley Cup: Fad or Sustainable?

00:23:49 - Building Businesses on Fads: The Truth

00:31:30 - TikTok Shops Increase Revenue Cuts

00:43:11 - Cutthroat Lead Gen Strategy

00:47:24 - Innovative Furniture Company with Local Tryouts

00:49:42 - Business Timeline Creation: A Must-Have

00:55:03 - Private Label Brands and TikTok Marketing

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 and Moiz’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.

Follow Nik:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

Follow Moiz:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/moizali

S8 E3: Analytics vs. Creative: Which Matters More? with Nood’s VP of Marketing Bryan Cano May 08, 2024

Show notes

Nik’s live from the Whalies and talking to one of DTC’s brightest minds—Nood’s VP of Marketing, Bryan Cano.

In this jam-packed special episode, Bryan and Nik unravel marketing’s greatest mysteries. Are analytics marketing’s best attempt at science-ing the shit out of great creative? Are analytics mostly BS or are they the greatest tool in your DTC marketing belt? And if they are, what’s the #1 message you should be taking away from your analytics?

Bryan also uncorks the secrets of scaling Nood from $0 to $60 million in less than two years. How did doubling down on TikTok pay dividends for the nascent company? And what are the platforms Bryan swears by?

Plus, stay tuned as he and Nik field questions from the audience and unpack the virtues of being more methodical, balancing your ROAS and MER, and avoiding TikTok ad fatigue.

00:01:07 - Nood’s Journey to $60 Million

00:02:29 - TikTok Spending Strategy for Success

00:04:26 - Using Different Attribution Models in Marketing

00:09:11 - Diversifying Channels: TikTok vs. Meta

00:12:25 - Understanding Media Consumption for Effective Advertising

00:14:46 - Avoid Wasting Money on Clicks

00:18:45 - Building a Resilient Brand with Press

00:20:27 - Optimizing In-Store Sales with Budget

00:25:21 - Optimizing Tech Stack for Brand Success

00:28:19 - Landing Page Testing Platform Recommendations

00:29:40 - Audience Q&A Session

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 and Moiz’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.

Follow Bryan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryancano/

Follow Nik:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

Follow Moiz:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/moizali

S8 E2: How an Investor Thinks About an IPO (& Dirty Tricks for Founders to Beat Them at Their Own Game) May 01, 2024

Show notes

How did category-leading brands like Caraway and Mejuri rise to rapid DTC success? Nik and Moiz break apart the brand playbook and dive into Facebook’s top suggestions for creating more effective ads. How can celebrity testimonials and advertorials take your brand to the next level?

Then, find out exactly how investors think about IPOs. Moiz analyzes the biggest conflicts of the founder-investor relationship when it comes to going public. What do you need to know to protect your own interests?

And finally, Nik and Moiz break down the fastest-growing shopping categories in the Meta landscape, discussing the value of various brands in the e-commerce space and dissecting the different ways they can be acquired or go public.

00:01:02 - Amazon's Use of Anonymous Tracking

00:05:46 - Heat Map: Revenue-Driven Analytics Tool

00:07:29 - Absurdly High Valuations for Software Companies

00:13:20 - CEO-Investor Incentive Disconnect at IPO

00:17:20 - Fastest Growing Meta Categories Revealed

00:21:23 - Predicting Mattress Conversion Rates and AOV

00:23:57 - Utilizing Celebrity Testimonials in Marketing

00:26:17 - Experiment with Colors and Models for Audience Reach

00:28:48 - Facebook's Approval: Analyzing CPM Trends

00:33:33 - Building Category Leading Brands in Marketing

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 and Moiz’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.

S8 E1: News Break: The Death of Cereal, Outdoor Voices Goes Bankrupt, Selecting Ad Agencies Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

Moiz is amped. Ok… So Moiz is always amped, but this time he’s EXTRA amped and ready to ditch the gym to hop on the Ozempic bandwagon. So what if he doesn’t *actually* need it?

The boys wonder what happens when millions of Americans stop chowing down on that extra box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch once the Ozempic kicks in— is this the beginning of the end for big snack brands like General Mills and Kellogg’s, or can they find a way to prepare for the impending snackopalypse? Can big box brands deal with the skinny-fication of America?

And what the heck is happening with Outdoor Voices? Just when you thought there couldn’t be any more drama with the fledgling company, the troubled athleisure brand managed to finally hit rock bottom. How did the newly bankrupt company handle the firing of its entire staff? Not well. Let’s just say not well.

Plus, Nik and Moiz discuss the volatility in Facebook ads affecting the entire market, what to consider when selecting an ad agency, and tell the tale of some rich, really old dude named Nelson Peltz and his erratically alpha share-buying habits.

00:01:28 - Facebook Volatility and Business Updates

00:06:42 - Gender Targeting Challenges in Marketing

00:14:35 - Mastering Content Creation for Facebook Ads

00:15:34 - Warming Up Creatives in Marketing

00:23:21 - TikTok Usage Declines as Shops Rise

00:26:37 - Vetting Agencies for Facebook Ad Management

00:32:29 - Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Facebook Ads Agency

00:34:27 - Outdoor Voices Rumored Bankruptcy Raises Ethical Concerns

00:45:47 - Tesla's Advertising Spending Skyrockets in 2023

00:46:39 - Ozempic Threatens Big Snack Industry

00:54:53 - The Curious Case of Nelson Peltz and Disney

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 and Moiz’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.

Follow Nik:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

Follow Moiz:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/moizali

S7 E12: Listener Mailbag: Lessons From Failure, Going to War with Your 3PL, and Building a Kickass Landing Page Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

As a CEO, failure is imminent. So just… Don’t make the same mistakes twice like Moiz, ok?

It’s another Q&A episode, and Nik and Moiz are tearing into some of your best questions from their Slack channel.

What are the five questions all landing pages must have? What’s the best way to manage your Facebook ads? And what the heck do CEOs actually do all day anyways?

Moiz gets personal and reveals the one mistake he made TWICE. Why is it the sexiest business ideas that are always the ones most doomed to failure?

And later, Nik and Moiz explain why talking to people who have had negative experiences with your 3PL is vital before selecting your supplier. Why is Moiz sharpening his knives at the thought of some of his old suppliers?

Yeah. He’s preparing for war this week. Tune in to find out why.

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00:03:21 - Thrasio Faces Bankruptcy After Failed Deal

00:06:04 - Effective Landing Page Structure Tips

00:15:35 - Daily Life of a Busy Entrepreneur

00:23:14 - Managing Cash Flow Amid Facebook Ads Downturn

00:32:15 - Learning from Failure: The Key to Success

00:37:25 - Optimizing Profit vs. Product Fit

00:42:18 - Efficient Ways to Find Suppliers

00:47:23 - Exploring Resources for Product Sourcing

00:49:58 - Limited Supply Podcast Season Eight Coming Soon

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 and Moiz’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.

Follow Nik:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

Follow Moiz:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/moizali

S7 E11: An SMS Marketing Masterclass with Postscript Co-Founder Alex Beller Mar 13, 2024

Show notes

Limited Supply: 🚨FLASH NEWS 🚨

Postscript President is selling the secrets to his SMS success.

Listen in with us!

Or text STOP to opt-out.

Get in loser, we’re going texting.

In this ep, Moiz is breaking down everything you need to know about leveraging SMS to drive your revenue and accelerate your DTC’s growth. Alex Beller, co-founder of Postscript, stops by for some one-on-one time with Moiz, to reveal how his little startup that could grew to compete with the likes of giants like Klaviyo and Attentive. What is Postscript doing to set the stage for longevity that Attentive and Klaviyo aren’t?

Alex and Moiz discuss the ins and outs of SMS marketing for e-commerce brands, tackling every nitty gritty detail you need to succeed. What’s the importance of conversational messaging? What are the challenges of pricing in the SMS space? How should you be thinking about segmentation?

And later, they touch on the role of investors, unravel the power of community engagement, and make some intriguing predictions about the future of SMS marketing.

Give customers more choice—and save your margins—with Postscript CashBack.

This is the better alternative to coupons.

Postscript is the DTC darling of SMS for a reason—they’re in the biz of making brands more money–more efficiently. Learn more at postscript.io/limited

00:01:33 - How Postscript Started Making Thousands

00:06:45 - Deciding Pricing: Email vs. Texts

00:07:47 - Postscript Raises $375K in Funding

00:12:40 - Differentiating Between Postscript, Attentive, Klaviyo

00:16:13 - Increase Conversion Rate with Onsite Opt-In

00:21:40 - Differentiating SMS Products with Conversational Messaging

00:23:40 - Understanding the 160-Character Limit Mystery

00:24:56 - Differences in Text Messaging Platforms

00:37:30 - Text Message Campaigns vs. Flows: Volume Insights

00:38:04 - Brands Underutilizing Text Message Marketing

00:42:34 - Incentivizing Trained Salespeople for E-commerce

00:46:37 - Scalable Text Messaging for Sales

00:56:12 - Unique Strategies for Early Client Acquisition

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 and Moiz’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.

Follow Alex:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-beller-70452852/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ringmybeller

Follow Nik:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

Follow Moiz:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/moizali

S7 E10: This Simple Hack Produces a 78% Better ROAS Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

Listen up kiddies, and let Nick and Moiz tell you the story of ages past.

Back in their day, before you had to worry about finding a MAX-9 brochure sitting in the plane seat in front of you, you used to look forward to busting open the germ-covered pages of the Skymall catalog on plane flights. Where else could you order a ton of crap you never knew you needed?

But Skymall, and the catalog disappeared. Now, Facebook catalog ads are determined to fill the void of flipping pages upon pages of products. Nik and Moiz dive into the nitty gritty details of why your DTC can't afford not to harness the power of Facebook catalog ads before explaining how to implement them the right way. Is it a smart move for your DTC? And just how much can they boost your ROAS?

Then, the guys discuss if Klaivyo is becoming obsolete. With diminishing stock prices since the company IPO’d, is it possible the service is finally ending its stronghold over the DTC community?

Plus, Nik shares the top subscription stoppers that hinder customers from signing up for subscription services and later, he and Moiz tackle the Thrasio bankruptcy.

Give customers more choice—and save your margins—with Postscript CashBack.

This is the better alternative to coupons.

Postscript is the DTC darling of SMS for a reason—they’re in the biz of making brands more money–more efficiently. Learn more at postscript.io/limited

00:01:14 - Effective Facebook Catalog Ads and Subscription Strategies

00:02:12 - Creating Effective Facebook Catalog Ads

00:16:32 - Klaviyo Doubles High-Paying Customers in 2023

00:27:24 - Overcoming Subscription Barriers in Marketing

00:32:29 - Why People Cancel Consumable Subscriptions

00:40:02 - Make Unsubscribing Easy for Customers

00:44:26 - E-commerce Aggregator Thrasio Declares Bankruptcy

00:52:21 - Klaviyo's Inventory Management

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 and Moiz’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.

Follow Nik:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

Follow Moiz:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/moizali

S7 E9: Crush Your CRO with These 20 Elite Tips Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

Struggling to convert customers?

Then this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.

Nik and Moiz open up their game-winning playbook to reveal their top 20 secrets for optimizing your conversion rates.

Learn how to improve your website’s performance through their time-tested tactics that skyrocketed Native Deodorant and Sharma Brands to the top of the DTC game. Elevate and optimize your e-commerce site through the power of social proof, high-functioning UX design, a smooth checkout process, and the authority of great copy, as Mr. Sharma himself dispenses 20 of his elite entrepreneurial tricks.

Plus Nik and Moiz discuss the the factors that can make or break a celebrity brand. Why do some influencer brands (*cough* Rare Beauty *cough*) have staying power while others fall? The devil, it seems, is in the distribution details…

Give customers more choice—and save your margins—with Postscript CashBack.

This is the better alternative to coupons.

Postscript is the DTC darling of SMS for a reason—they’re in the biz of making brands more money–more efficiently. Learn more at postscript.io/limited

00:00:01 - 20 CRO Tips for Success

00:01:47 - JVN Sells for $1.25 Million

00:02:47 - Celebrity Partnership Pros and Cons

00:11:48 - Optimize Paid Social Traffic for Mobile

00:14:37 - Analyze User Behavior with Heatmaps

00:21:21 - Incorporate Social Proof Throughout Your Website

00:24:54 - Highlight Risk Reversals on Checkout Pages

00:30:12 - Using Large, Bright Imagery Draws Attention

00:32:00 - Make Discounts Visible for Better Conversions

00:35:06 - Declutter Your Site for Success

00:42:34 - Using Comparison Charts for Effective Marketing

00:44:59 - Properly Test and Measure Everything

00:47:06 - Creating Unique Social Proof Strategies

00:50:39 - Testing Coupon Codes for Better Conversions

00:51:25 - Consistent Messaging: Key to Success

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 and Moiz’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.

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