Maker Movement Comeback, Corona Virus Take by Sequoia, Department Store Strategy, DTC It's Complicated, Easy eCommerce Over, Mailchimp Acquires Publication
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The Maker Movement Is Making a Comeback
Consumer goods startups have been in the headlines for failing the expectations of shareholders and customers. Turns out makers are the antidote for recent threats to the space.
By relying too heavily on contract manufacturers, and overemphasizing brand marketing as a primary differentiator, businesses have missed out on strategic opportunities to set their companies apart with one-of-a-kind products that are bolstered by a compelling founder’s story.
We quickly developed an established following that served as the basis for growth that would disrupt our competition, which was comprised of brands that struggled to win customer loyalty with their effectiveness and differentiate themselves with their packaging, scent offerings, and formulations.
Coronavirus: The Black Swan of 2020
Here is a note that we sent to Sequoia founders and CEOs today to provide guidance on how to ensure the health of their business while…
While The Fed and other central banks can cut interest rates, monetary policy may prove a blunt tool in alleviating the economic ramifications of a global health crisis.
Having weathered every business downturn for nearly fifty years, we’ve learned an important lesson — nobody ever regrets making fast and decisive adjustments to changing circumstances.
America's department stores are still trying to get the formula right
It has been a mixed bag for America's department store chains reporting 2019 holiday-quarter results. But one thing is clear. These companies are still trying to get the formula right to bring shoppers to stores.
Macy's in February said it planned to shut 125 stores over the next three years, cut 9% of its corporate workforce and close some offices in Cincinnati and San Francisco, in order to generate about $1.5 billion in annual savings — which will be fully realized by the end of fiscal 2022.
If more Americans end up holed up at home, avoiding human interaction and crowded public venues over fear of catching the virus, they will likely cut back spending on apparel, handbags, shoes and other discretionary items.
The Path to Success Looks More Complicated for DTC Brands
How the next wave of companies will need to evolve in order to be profitable.
Each promised to use the powers of the internet for good while taking away market share from the entrenched incumbent conglomerates like Unilever and retailers like Gap, which were largely creating siloed ecommerce strategies from brick-and-mortar shops, with a much less direct relationship with consumers.
Brandless, which offered everyday household items in minimalistic packages at low prices, abruptly halted operations because the “fiercely competitive direct-to-consumer market has proven unsustainable for our current business model.” And Edgewell abandoned its $1.37 billion acquisition of Harry’s razor company after the FTC sued on grounds that the deal was bad for consumers.
The Easy Days of eCommerce are Over. This Is How You Can Prepare For The Future.
In an emergency situation, we always regress to the level of our training. Unfortunately, many digital marketing and eCommerce practitioners do not have the training to navigate a maturing eCommerce industry.
The discipline of eCommerce and digital marketing has evolved over a ten year period of relatively low competition, where the total pie was growing as consumers rapidly adopted online shopping.
Ecommerce growth was being driven by a shift in consumer behavior more than the grand strategy or revolutionary product of any individual online seller - maybe with the exception of Amazon.
Why Mailchimp is buying a business magazine
If you don’t know Courier yet, you will soon.
Unlike other business magazines and websites that have devolved into puffery, snark, and clickbait, Courier focuses on positive, substantive profiles, trend pieces, advice, and how-to articles.
I’m a longtime tech and business journalist, and I’m excited to focus my attention on how technology continues to profoundly change how things are created, experienced, bought, and sold.