Limited Supply Nik Sharma & Moiz Ali
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- Business
So many DTC brands think nice PR is more important than honesty. But that’s not us.
We're Nik & Moiz, and we're tired of all the hot air in our industry. This podcast is the behind-the-scenes conversation that gets to the heart of what DTC is really like.
Nik Sharma founded Sharma Brands, and Moiz Ali’s company Native was acquired by P&G for $100M. We have no reason not to call people out, and share our spicy takes. This is the conversation you won’t hear anywhere else, with two of the most experienced names in the industry.
We’ll be diving deep into industry moves, autopsies on failed brands, and why we’re investing in certain companies. Episodes drop every Wednesday. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Unravel the complexities of fulfillment with Red Stag - a 3PL that guarantees zero shrink, zero mispicks, and zero missed shipments. Backed by performance assurances, they ensure excellence in every order —Literally, RedStag offers coverage at no additional cost for any guarantee that is missed AND $50 reimbursement per instance for the inconvenience. Discover why Red Stag isn't just another fulfillment provider - visit redstag.com/limited today
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S8 E5: Cart Promo Hacks, Old School vs. New School DTC Brands, and Capitalizing on Private Labels
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?
Unravel the complexities of fulfillment with Red Stag - a 3PL that guarantees zero shrink, zero mispicks, and zero missed shipments. Backed by performance assurances, they ensure excellence in every order —Literally, RedStag offers coverage at no additional cost for any guarantee that is missed AND $50 reimbursement per instance for the inconvenience. Discover why Red Stag isn't just another fulfillment provider - visit redstag.com/limited today.
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)
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
Unravel the complexities of fulfillment with Red Stag - a 3PL that guarantees zero shrink, zero mispicks, and zero missed shipments. Backed by performance assurances, they ensure excellence in every order —Literally, RedStag offers coverage at no additional cost for any guarantee that is missed AND $50 reimbursement per instance for the inconvenience. Discover why Red Stag isn't just another fulfillment provider - visit redstag.com/limited today.
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
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.
Unravel the complexities of fulfillment with Red Stag - a 3PL that guarantees zero shrink, zero mispicks, and zero missed shipments. Backed by performance assurances, they ensure excellence in every order —Literally, RedStag offers coverage at no additional cost for any guarantee that is missed AND $50 reimbursement per instance for the inconvenience. Discover why Red Stag isn't just another fulfillment provider - visit redstag.com/limited today.
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)
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.
Unravel the complexities of fulfillment with Red Stag - a 3PL that guarantees zero shrink, zero mispicks, and zero missed shipments. Backed by performance assurances, they ensure excellence in every order —Literally, RedStag offers coverage at no additional cost for any guarantee that is missed AND $50 reimbursement per instance for the inconvenience. Discover why Red Stag isn't just another fulfillment provider - visit redstag.com/limited today.
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
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.
Unravel the complexities of fulfillment with Red Stag - a 3PL that guarantees zero shrink, zero mispicks, and zero missed shipments. Backed by performance assurances, they ensure excellence in every order —Literally, RedStag offers coverage at no additional cost for any guarantee that is missed AND $50 reimbursement per instance for the inconvenience. Discover why Red Stag isn't just another fulfillment provider - visit redstag.com/limited today.
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
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