Limited Supply

Nik Sharma
Limited Supply

So many DTC brands think nice PR is more important than honesty. But that’s not us. I'm Nik, and I'm 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 has no reason not to call people out, and share his spicy takes. Joined by the most experienced names in the industry, these are the conversations you won’t hear anywhere else. 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.

  1. S12 E2: Getting Creative In a Hard Field (with Andrew Deitsch of BRĒZ)

    6D AGO

    S12 E2: Getting Creative In a Hard Field (with Andrew Deitsch of BRĒZ)

    Make no mistake, beverage is one of the hardest fields in DTC. Can you cut through the noise?  Nik’s got Andrew Deitsch, the Creative Director of drink company BRĒZ, on this week’s episode to talk the creative process in such a large and difficult field. Andrew’s a huge proponent of making 3D models to bring his ideas to life. With a team of designers and 3D renders, Andrew is able to help the visuals of their products become the first thing anyone notices.  Plus, how can you incorporate AI into your workflows? While you don’t want AI to create the entire strategy or design for you, you can definitely use it to fill in the gaps in media buys, ideation, and more.  And, how do beverage companies make the drinks look so ice cold and visually appealing? The secret is really a spray bottle and a creative director. Do you need lots of money to make it look good? Not necessarily.  Prescient AI is the world’s smartest marketing decision engine, powered by the most dynamic MMM. Forecast, test, optimize, and scale top-of-funnel spend with confidence. Visit https://prescientai.com/limited  Don’t forget to check out Nik’s helpful hacks here: nik.co/tiktokads nik.co/everydaydose 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’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

    34 min
  2. S12 E1: Entrepreneurship, Creative, Crowdfunding, and More (with Kevin O’Leary of Shark Tank)

    APR 9

    S12 E1: Entrepreneurship, Creative, Crowdfunding, and More (with Kevin O’Leary of Shark Tank)

    New season, new guests. This episode’s guest has worked with Mr. Beast, Selena Gomez, and more—and you’ve definitely seen him on your own TV.  Nik’s got Kevin O’Leary of Shark Tank to give us the run down of entrepreneurship, creativity, and crowdfunding. He’s done everything from low-budget ads to working with multimillion dollar commercials. Why does creativity still matter, and how does bad creative affect the whole project? It matters more than we think. Is crowdfunding still relevant today?  Plus, why are some celebrity brands failing? The truth is, people smell BS from a mile away. The audience knows whether it's authentic or not, and that makes or breaks the products’ success.  And, what’s Kevin’s REAL opinion on Poppi after choosing not to invest in it on Shark Tank? He shares what he thinks of the product and why Shark Tank is the American Dream personified. Prescient AI is the world’s smartest marketing decision engine, powered by the most dynamic MMM. Forecast, test, optimize, and scale top-of-funnel spend with confidence. Visit https://prescientai.com/limited    Don’t forget to check out Nik’s helpful hacks here: nik.co/tiktokads nik.co/everydaydose 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’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

    32 min
  3. S11 E12: Unlocking Revenue and Scaling a Startup (with Liam Millward, CEO + Co-founder at Instant)

    MAR 27

    S11 E12: Unlocking Revenue and Scaling a Startup (with Liam Millward, CEO + Co-founder at Instant)

    What do Toys R Us and The Oodie have in common? They work with Instant, one of Australia’s fastest growing startups.   Nik’s got their CEO + Co-founder, Liam, to tell us everything about unlocking revenue, scaling, and developing a product that’s growing so fast. How is Instant redefining email marketing and using AI to do it? What does e-com look like in the future when we use even more AI? It doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.  Plus, let’s talk about retargeting strategies. A ton of brands are leaving money on the table when it comes to retargeting and poor optimization strategies. How can you revamp your processes to make sure you’re getting the money you want?  And, find out the secret to a 30-40x increase in ROI.  Instant turns browsers into buyers by supercharging your retention marketing. Double Your Revenue: Capture 2-3x more abandonment signals to power targeted re-marketing flows. Remembers your opt-ins: Keep opted-in shoppers remembered for longer while keeping Klaviyo updated. Automated Re-Marketing: Instantly notify your email or SMS platform when a subscriber abandons your site, triggering automated flows to bring them back. Learn from Instant at instant.one/limited Don’t forget to check out Nik’s helpful hacks here: nik.co/tiktokads nik.co/everydaydose 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’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

    41 min
  4. S11 E11: Listener Mailbag: AOV, Product Concepts, Marketing Talent, and More

    MAR 19

    S11 E11: Listener Mailbag: AOV, Product Concepts, Marketing Talent, and More

    You asked, Nik’s answering.   First, what’s up with increasing AOV? It really all starts with messaging that turns into leads. Encouraging people to subscribe or encouraging them to buy products that are commonly purchased together are two ways to amp it up. How should bundling work? Should you A/B test? Plus, how should you test new product concepts before launching? Nik gives two examples: one that’s quick and easy (if you have the $$, of course), and another that requires more time to grow organically, but costs way less.  And, find out how YOU can spot the greatest talent in marketing, besides stalking people on LinkedIn.  Instant turns browsers into buyers by supercharging your retention marketing. Double Your Revenue: Capture 2-3x more abandonment signals to power targeted re-marketing flows. Remembers your opt-ins: Keep opted-in shoppers remembered for longer while keeping Klaviyo updated. Automated Re-Marketing: Instantly notify your email or SMS platform when a subscriber abandons your site, triggering automated flows to bring them back. Learn from Instant at instant.one/limited Don’t forget to check out Nik’s helpful hacks here: nik.co/tiktokads nik.co/everydaydose 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’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

    41 min
  5. S11 E10:  Breaking Down the Marpipe Report: Catalog Ads + DPA

    MAR 12

    S11 E10: Breaking Down the Marpipe Report: Catalog Ads + DPA

    Nik did a DPA report with everyone’s favorite ad software, Marpipe. And it’s time to share what he found.  First, let’s start off with catalog ads: they’re actually carpool lanes, and you’re only running in the carpool lane if you’re paying for it or have others on board. How does this relate to catalog ad options? How do they run on their own? Plus, TikTok and Snapchat are working to improve their DPAs and catalog ads—which means things like this are probably going to become uniform across platforms. They’re starting to understand traits and tags that will help them sell more. How can you use this to your advantage if you’re selling via social? What’s the future of catalog ads? (Hint: they’re not going away anytime soon.)  And, find out how a simple “Add to Cart” test can affect behavior.  Instant turns browsers into buyers by supercharging your retention marketing. Double Your Revenue: Capture 2-3x more abandonment signals to power targeted re-marketing flows. Remembers your opt-ins: Keep opted-in shoppers remembered for longer while keeping Klaviyo updated. Automated Re-Marketing: Instantly notify your email or SMS platform when a subscriber abandons your site, triggering automated flows to bring them back. Learn from Instant at instant.one/limited  Don’t forget to check out Nik’s helpful hacks here: nik.co/tiktokads nik.co/everydaydose 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’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

    25 min
  6. MAR 5

    S11 E9: The Truth About Offshore Hiring

    Nik’s putting his hiring manager hat on. Don’t believe everything you hear about offshore hiring—in his experience, it’s been pretty positive, and it can help YOU scale in ways you would have never thought possible.  Finding offshore help requires a ton of flexibility and skill. In Nik’s experience, not only do his hires need to know Figma, Meta Ads, and other tools, but they also need to work unconventional hours like nights and weekends. There are also orgs like Oceans that can connect you to people overseas who are ready for the challenge.  Plus, how do you create a job description that gets others excited? What does success look like and how does communication work when they’re over 10,000 miles away?  And, you need to have a strategy when it comes to PTO, benefits, and more. How do you prepare for that?  Instant turns browsers into buyers by supercharging your retention marketing. Double Your Revenue: Capture 2-3x more abandonment signals to power targeted re-marketing flows. Remembers your opt-ins: Keep opted-in shoppers remembered for longer while keeping Klaviyo updated. Automated Re-Marketing: Instantly notify your email or SMS platform when a subscriber abandons your site, triggering automated flows to bring them back. Learn from Instant at instant.one/limited Don’t forget to check out Nik’s helpful hacks here: nik.co/tiktokads nik.co/everydaydose Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips.   Check out 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’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

    30 min
  7. S11 E8:  Why You NEED to Work with Influencers

    FEB 26

    S11 E8: Why You NEED to Work with Influencers

    Nik’s advocating for YOU to work with influencers.   It’s no secret that influencer marketing has so many pros, especially in this digital age. There are people who create great content—content that could include your brand and your products. There are influencers with an already existing loyal fanbase, where there’s a good chance they’ll be interested in your brand.  Nik shares how he finds the influencers to work with: he starts with TikTok and YouTube. The key? Find smaller vloggers or someone similar. They’re storytellers, used to speaking to the camera, and are the most natural when it comes to uploading.  Plus, what’s a good price to offer or negotiate? Like most questions, it depends on factors like follower size, engagement, etc. How do you reach an agreement? And, how can CPG brands differentiate themselves from their competitors? Innovation, distribution, and technology are all factors.  Instant turns browsers into buyers by supercharging your retention marketing. Double Your Revenue: Capture 2-3x more abandonment signals to power targeted re-marketing flows. Remembers your opt-ins: Keep opted-in shoppers remembered for longer while keeping Klaviyo updated. Automated Re-Marketing: Instantly notify your email or SMS platform when a subscriber abandons your site, triggering automated flows to bring them back. Learn from Instant at instant.one/limited Don’t forget to check out Nik’s helpful hacks here: nik.co/tiktokads nik.co/everydaydose 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’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

    31 min
  8. S11 E7: Telemedicine and Subscriptions

    FEB 19

    S11 E7: Telemedicine and Subscriptions

    Nik’s answering YOUR questions and DMs—from going to live launch events to becoming a source of knowledge, there’s so much to discuss.  First, Meta Ads’ new policies are affecting telemedicine and health advertising on their platforms, including hair loss solutions, SSRIs, and even certain male medications. How is this going to affect the older generation who lean into Facebook for information on what to buy? Brands seem to be getting around it by being just that: a brand. With name recognition, upper funnel attention may actually be a way to get around these policies.  Plus, Nik has a secret for subscription-based brands: landing pages. The goal is to minimize the number of clicks users have to go through. Jumping through hoops to get a subscription? That’s not fun. Test your landing pages and see how the journey can be tighter.  And, Nik talks about relationships. What’s the relationship like between you and your repeat customers? Are you providing them with just a product, or do you add on experiences and education?   Instant turns browsers into buyers by supercharging your retention marketing. Double Your Revenue: Capture 2-3x more abandonment signals to power targeted re-marketing flows. Remembers your opt-ins: Keep opted-in shoppers remembered for longer while keeping Klaviyo updated. Automated Re-Marketing: Instantly notify your email or SMS platform when a subscriber abandons your site, triggering automated flows to bring them back. Learn from Instant at instant.one/limited Don’t forget to check out Nik’s helpful hacks here: nik.co/tiktokads nik.co/everydaydose 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’s most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

    30 min
4.9
out of 5
146 Ratings

About

So many DTC brands think nice PR is more important than honesty. But that’s not us. I'm Nik, and I'm 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 has no reason not to call people out, and share his spicy takes. Joined by the most experienced names in the industry, these are the conversations you won’t hear anywhere else. 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.

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