Direct-to-consumer or D2C model of business is when you sell your products and services directly to your end consumers without selling them via a wholesaler, retailer, distributor, or any other means. As consumers continue to flock online for their purchases, direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales are becoming increasingly popular. Digitally native brands are using DTC sales to make a name for themselves with loyal customers.
For a long span of time in the marketing industry, wholesale marketing has affected the brand-consumer relationship. But nowadays, brands have understood the need and advantage of direct interaction with consumers. That is why Direct-to-consumer marketing or DTC marketing has come into the picture. DTC marketing gives brands an incredible chance to interact with their customers regularly whenever they are selling something to the customer.
It empowers brands in building trust and real relationships with consumers online. Direct-to-consumer models enable brands to get all the essential data related to their audience demographics, customer inclinations, and market trends that help them in running more personalized campaigns to enjoy better conversions. This way of offering an online shopping experience gives online retail businesses greater control over their sales, allowing for more personalization and higher customer satisfaction. The DTC model is also quite cost-effective.
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What is Direct-to-Consumer Business Model?
Direct-to-consumer Model or DTC involves selling products and goods directly to the consumers without any presence or help of some intermediary person like a retailer or small shoppers. This kind of marketing is a perfect way to create a loyal customer-brand relationship.
And also DTC marketing helps in creating fruitful communication between the brand and the consumer. DTC marketing has already one of the foremost names in the field of the e-commerce market. Small enterprises mainly use this type of marketing as it is cost-effective to sell it to consumers without the extra cost of having a middleman.
It helps small-scale industries broadly. It has made marketing so much better. Consumers are also happy to be able to communicate with their favorite brands and have their opinion presented in front of them so directly. This has allowed businesses to get valuable customer feedback that they can then use to optimize brand loyalty.
Why is DTC Marketing more acceptable for brands?
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing is becoming increasingly popular among brands, as it allows them to forge stronger customer relationships and build a more direct connection with their customers.
DTC marketing involves selling products directly to consumers, instead of just relying on traditional retail channels such as physical stores or retail partners. This has a number of benefits for brands, as it helps them to –
- Gain more control and insight into their customer base
- Understand their wants and needs better
- Develop closer relationships with them
- Optimize direct-to-consumer sales, etc
Here we will discuss the reasons behind it. So here are some reasons why DTC marketing is being popular day by day.
1) Formation of the loyal customer-brand relationship
Direct-to-consumer marketing starts a loyal bond between the consumer and the brand or the seller. In this marketing, the brand or seller gets to interact directly with the consumers who are not present in wholesale marketing or B2B marketing. Hence this makes the buying and selling of goods way easier and business more satisfying.
2) Direct Communication with their customers
In DTC marketing, there is no presence of any middleman. Hence the brands get to connect and communicate directly with their customers. The customers also share an opinion about their experience or any suggestions. They remain updated about information about any new product line.
3) Prevention of loss of customer data
In wholesale marketing, the brand does not have direct access to its customer data. The data comes through the middleman or the intermediary person to the business owner. It leads to the loss of customer data about the selling and buying of goods.
4) Saving extra costs caused by the intermediary
The middleman or intermediaries cost the right amount of value in their role. When you are opting for Direct-to-consumer marketing, you cut off all these extra costs and make it easy and economical. That is why Direct-to-consumer marketing is the best marketing choice for small enterprises.
5) Getting the current information about the products
DTC marketing keeps the customers updated on the current information about the product available in the market. It is advantageous in companies where there is a new change in the product line every season. This way, there is not any lateness in reaching the information to the customer.
6) Maintenance of the reputation of the Company
In DTC marketing, as the company serves directly to the customer, it can make its image and keep the company’s status high. When a mediator is present, the company has no control over how the intermediaries have shaped its image in front of the customers. And also the customers don’t get the chance to get the right and current information promptly.
Who uses Direct-to-Consumer Model?
You have learned about what is Direct-to-consumer marketing, and you have learned why it has got its place where it is now. But if there were nobody to use DTC in marketing, there would not be any marketing in the first place. So here we will see who the people or the businesses are that opt for DTC marketing in the first place.
1) Small Industries
Small industries are the best to use this kind of marketing. The main features of this marketing, e.g. cost-effectiveness, control over the customer data, or maintenance of the image of the company is the main reason why this is the first choice of small enterprises.
These enterprises use direct Communication with the consumers to form a loyal consumer-brand relationship, and that helps not only maintain the traffic of customers but also to increase the race.
2) Big Brands
Gone are the days when the big brand preferred to use the old wholesale marketing. Modern brands prefer to keep in touch with their consumers and have control over their customer data. Many big brands now have enlisted their names under the trend of Direct to customer marketing.
Modern customers also want to stay updated every minute about any product launch in the market or if any brand is bringing any new product line to the market. And in this era of the ever-changing product line, DTC marketing is the best choice for brands.
3) Entrepreneurs & Startup Owners
New-age entrepreneurs, innovators, and startup owners are also the primary users of the Direct-to-consumer model, as they find it more affordable and interactive to meet their target audiences.
Direct-to-consumer model also provides essential data and reports about the target market base that helps entrepreneurs to create personalized products and services as per the inclinations and preferences of their audiences. They also find the DTC approach more effective in meeting the right consumer.
Points to follow if you are switching to DTC marketing
Let us have a quick look at some tricks to rule over the market with DTC marketing –
1. Pay heed to your USP
No matter what you sell or what strategy you use always maintain the uniqueness of your service. It will be the reason the consumer will remember you differently.
2. Offer Personalized Experience
Always try to give a personalized experience to the customers to make them feel that they are also a part of your journey. It would help if you didn’t forget that customers are not only simple consumers of your goods here they walk through the path of your success beside you.
3. Sole problems of your target niche
Focus on solving the common problem of regular people. Common men are the primary source of the customer. But once you focus on the everyday challenge of a common man, they will relate to your company better.
4. Ask Customers to share their experiences
Ask customers to do their reviews about their experience with you. Post their reviews on your website and different social media. Ask the customers to make a video speaking about their experience with your product and post it on your website as well as all the social media accounts of your company.
5. Use Social Media Platforms to widen your reach
Use social media to reach more public. Social media is the new place to increase marketing skills. Post different product line changes or new products on your company’s social media accounts and make more people aware of your company and the latest product launch of your business.
6. Analyze the strategies of your competitors
Take a view of the approach used by the older ones in the market. There is no way you can succeed at the first chance without even taking any help from the previous winners in this field. So gear up and study the strategies used by past companies who are already successful in this area of work.
7. Have a hassle-free Supply
Keep an uninterrupted supply of products. If there is an increased demand for your product, but you fail to supply it to the customers, you fail for sure. The lack of supply eventually leads to the loss of customers. Hence whatever the way make sure of the uninterrupted supply of the post.
8. Always prioritize your key data
Have your control and sharp watch on the customer data. As for how many sales took place and how many new customer-brand relationships started, check all these data at regular intervals. Keeping an eye on this data is crucial as it helps you assess your performance and make any modifications if needed.
Let us now have a look at some top hacks to get started with Direct-to-consumer Model –
Here is a video by Marketing91 on Direct To Consumers.
Tips to Market Directly to Consumers
- Your product and marketing endeavors should address the pain points of target audiences
- Opt for a Subscription-based business model
- Have a free and easy return policy
- Incorporate a content-first methodology
- Use Influencer Marketing and incentivize your existing customers for spreading the word
- Try to create a viral video or another form of content
- Ask online shoppers to share experiences by uploading different types of content
- Run an SEO campaign and use effective hashtags
- Use Social Media Channels and run different online ads as your DTC marketing efforts
- Offer end-to-end personalized experience to your target audience to optimize customer loyalty
- Use various online marketing methodologies to generate leads and widen your reach
- Run Social Media Ads on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube sorts of social media platforms
Examples of DTC Brands
Some of the top brands with successful DTC models are –
1) Warby Parker
This eyewear brand offers an online try-on system and a free home try-on program. They offer prescription glasses as well as sunglasses and are known for their unique designs.
2) Casper
This mattress company offers a range of different mattress sizes and types, as well as pillows. They provide free shipping and returns for customers who don’t like the product. Their adept use of digital marketing makes them one of the most popular DTC companies.
3) Glossier
This beauty brand is popular for its unique approach to online-only sales and direct-to-consumer marketing. Glossier offers a range of makeup and skincare products as well as helpful tips on its website to make the customer journey hassle-free and personalized.
4) Everlane
This clothing company offers modern basics that are ethically sourced. Existing as well as new customers can shop from a variety of styles that are both comfortable and good for the environment.
5) Dollar Shave Club
This subscription-based grooming service provides customers with a personalized package of hair, skin, and body care products. They offer free shipping and have a range of products to choose from.
6) Allbirds
This company is known for its comfortable but stylish shoes made from sustainable materials. Their DTC strategy provides customers with a convenient way to shop for shoes and has them delivered right to their door.
7) Harry’s
This is another subscription-based grooming service that allows customers to customize their orders of razors, creams, and shaving supplies. They provide quality products at an affordable price with an emphasis on sustainability.
8) Birchbox
This company offers a monthly subscription service that sends customers samples of beauty and skincare products. It is a great way to try out new items without having to buy full sizes at the store.
9) Outdoor Voices
This is a direct-to-consumer activewear brand that offers unique and comfortable apparel for an active lifestyle. They strive to make clothing that can be used in all types of activities, both indoors and outdoors.
10) Brooklinen
This online retailer specializes in bedding, bath, and loungewear products. They offer high-quality fabrics at an affordable price without compromising on quality or design. Their DTC strategy allows them to offer customers direct access to their products, creating a more convenient and personalized shopping experience.
Conclusion!
Direct-to-consumer marketing has started taking most of the market of the retailers and intermediaries who used to sell the products as the middle man. And with time proceeding, this is only going to increase its prevalence in the market.
Preferably in the future, direct-to-consumer marketing will increase more and has so much better scope in marketing. We hope the article helped solve your queries about D2C marketing.
After going through the material, we hope you have gained enough knowledge about D2C and several facts about it.
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