D2C is an operating model, not merely a webshop

Direct-to-consumer, from mail-order catalogs to its heydays, digitally native vertical brands with the likes of Warby Parker, Dollar Shave Club, Casper Mattresses, the subsequent Shopify-fueled Chinese manufacturers selling directly to the Western consumers.

wave to an over dependence on meta ads that most of the DTC brands have been struggling with ad tracking limitations becoming harder endless copycats and overcrowded marketplace yet to this day we see new players popping up it's a very attractive channel for many fast-moving consumer goods manufacturers dealing with shrinking margins

as most of us do

Today, I'm speaking with Matthijs Okthaba, an expert in this space, having worked for names such as Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, and Halion currently.

And his specialty is consumer health.

And that's actually how we met several months ago, consulting for a B2B manufacturer looking to go D2C.

We'll talk a bit on the shared experiences there on the project.

But more important, we'll be delving into the many examples that Matthijs has for us in this space and how to go D2C.

So Matthijs, let's start by the beginning.

I think this is one that you've heard many times.

I'm a manufacturer.

I manufacture some products, right? I probably have a product that I'm very proud of.

And I'm like, why would I be selling this through other channels, through stores? They take a lot of money.

It's super expensive.

Let me just build a Shopify shop and put it out.

there stop me if I'm wrong come on