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#59 The Least Boring Weekly Newsletter
Good Morning readers!🌞
Have you begun your search for Valentine's Day gifts? Or do you have everything ready? 🎁
San Francisco are you ready for a ride like no other? Cruise is now inviting the public to test its self-driving cars in one American city. They have already welcomed their first group of riders to experience the magic✨🎩✨ of a fully driverless car in San Francisco. 🚘
Watch this video to see how users got lucky and got a chance to check out this incredible experience. 🥳
Almund's newsletter will let you in on all kinds of tips for D2C brands and much much more.
Alright, so let's get right to it!
This newsletter is going to dive into :
🌏 Social Commerce Is A $1.2 Trillion Opportunity And The Next Global Shopping Revolution
👌 Easy Peasy, Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Campaigns!
🙎 BRAND of the week - SEPHORA
📜 Top reads for this week
👩🏻💼 Plenty of jobs awaiting you!
So, scroll down already to THE VERY END & read up on what's yet to come your way!
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WHAT’S COOKING, HUH?
The internet is undergoing a societal revolution on a worldwide scale. Nearly all of the world's 4.8 billion internet users, or 4.5 billion people, are also on social media. (that's a lot🤯)That means that 57 percent of the world's population uses social media. 🤳
While organizations recognize the value of social media as part of their marketing strategy, they may be unaware of the ramifications of the online social revolution.
That's what social commerce takes care of. It keeps people where they want to be by allowing social media users to shop while connecting with friends, reading news, and watching videos all in the same spot.😻
Social commerce is the next digital retail revolution, and it will have the same dramatic impact on people's shopping habits as internet shopping had twenty years ago. 💳
When the complete shopping journey is conducted on a social media platform, from product discovery to check-out, it is referred to as social commerce.
According to a new Accenture report, worldwide social commerce sales totaled $492 billion in 2021, but are predicted to nearly treble by 2025, reaching $1.2 trillion. (Woah😮)
Brands that were early adopters of social commerce understand its potential. Sephora, for example, was one of the first retailers to offer Instagram Shopping, which allows shoppers to make purchases directly from the Instagram app. During the summer, it collaborated with Facebook on a weekly series of live stream shopping shows. 💄
Oliver Wright, Accenture’s global consumer goods and services lead believes we’ve barely scratched the surface of what social commerce can become. “Any brand, large or small, and any individual can now become or create a ‘brand’ of their own and reach a market directly,” he says. “This gives consumers more control. It gives power back to the people.”
He further concludes by saying “Social commerce is a democratizing force that is driven by creativity, ingenuity, and power of people. It empowers small brands and individuals and makes big brands reevaluate their relevance.
The implications cut across every consumer category, across products and services, and will impact every platform, brand, and retailer. These players need to put ‘people’ at the heart of their strategies and embrace this rich ecosystem with new partnerships and business models.” (Can't wait to see where it goes😍)
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SPONSORED
The cost of not having a mobile app
Did you know that 81% of all eCommerce traffic and 71% of all orders came from mobile devices? Stores that have a mobile app see increased retention, conversion rates, and engagement with their customers.
If your site is mobile optimized already, you may be thinking why exactly you need a mobile app!
Mobile sites are nothing but scaled websites. They have longer loading times and are not interruption-proof. They have whopping cart abandonment rates, some as high as 98%. Though easily accessible and cost-effective, a mobile site just doesn't cut it when it comes to converting the traffic. Mobile sites just can't offer the seamless shopping experience that most apps do. If you’re still not convinced, here are some stats that may change your mind
201 minutes/month spent on mobile apps vs. 10.9 minutes/month on mobile sites
58% of millennials say they prefer purchasing only through apps
6% conversion rate on app vs. 2.3% conversion rate on mobile sites
40% more order value on mobile apps
But, the most important fact is the average cart abandonment rate is around 85%. That’s a lot of money left on the table!
Mobile apps, on the other hand, can cut your cart abandonment by as much as four times. The app is more user-friendly, saves information so shoppers don't need to enter details again, and offers a delightful experience. Further, your mobile app is a marketing channel in itself: you can send push notifications, do live sales, and more.
Some of our customers have seen as much as 8600% ROI with a mobile app.
Build a mobile app in 60 minutes, without writing a single line of code
A mobile app is the natural course of action if you’re looking to meet the needs of both current and future customers. With Vajro you can use simple drag and drop functions to build an app layout that mirrors your websites. Start your risk-free, 60-day trial today.
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Easy Peasy, Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Campaigns!
⏰IT’S TIME⏰
But it’s never too late…
The year 2021 was over in a flash and January is long gone, a little too early. If you missed out on planning something special for your customers this Valentine’s Day, we’d say - don’t sweat it. There are plenty of last-minute campaigns that you can put together for your beloved customers to make them feel all too special this season of love. 😍
So, sit back, get ready to take notes, and enjoy this idea-fuelled section to cheat sheet to a wholesome Valentine’s Day for your DTC business!
When building Valentine’s Day strategy, there are a few things to keep in mind that ultimately shape the campaign model, messaging, and products for your DTC business. Here are some things we’d like you to pay attention to:
👉🏼 It’s Not Just About Flowers Anymore
In 2021, Valentine’s Day sales amounted to $21.8B on gifts which included products ranging from skincare and beauty products to weighted blankets and orthopedic chairs. People are no longer bound to the rigid mentality of gender-conforming gifting traditions and are openly choosing gifts keeping in mind their partner’s wellbeing.
👉🏼 Run An Email Campaign
Using an email drip campaign in the days leading up to the V-day can surely increase the traffic to your website. With each email, you can increase the number of incentives your customers would get when they shop from you, helping them make their choice easier.
👉🏼 Don’t Hesitate To Show Urgency
It is estimated that about 60% of shoppers shop last minute. It is a no-brainer then; it would only be ideal for you to drive urgency through your campaign messaging to persuade them into shopping online.
👉🏼 Make It Easy For Them To Notice The Deal
They are in a hurry, they don’t have much time, they want a good deal—this is incentive enough for you to make it easy for them to acknowledge your deals and offers right when they click on your website. Use website banners on your landing pages to attract such customers.
👉🏼 Use Push Notifications
Push notifications are a great way to attract customers’ attention when running a campaign. They are easier to create and deploy, making the plan even more efficient.
👉🏼 Don’t Limit Yourself To Couples
Valentine’s Day is not just for couples anymore! People send gifts to their loved ones, friends, teachers, and coworkers gifts on this special occasion too. Excluding them from your messaging can alter the success of your campaign. Try working on cheeky and neutral campaign messaging that would attract even the people looking to surprise someone other than their partners.
👉🏼 Use The Power Of AI
How tempting is it to click on the subtle CTA of “Recommended purchase with this product” when you’ve just put something in your cart! Your customers might like that too. Adding these assets to your website or app to recommend related products can help your campaign.
👉🏼 Be Mobile-Friendly
If your customers are in a hurry, they don’t have the time to browse through your website and catalog during their work hours; they’re probably checking you out (don’t get too excited) in the queue at the coffee shop, while watching TV, or perhaps in the middle of lunch breaks. So, design a campaign that reaches them through their smartphones for effective results.
With these essential tips and figures in mind, we’re sure you’re ready to create THE best Valentine’s Day campaign. But we won’t let you go just yet; we’ve got more stuff for you!
Here are some of our favorite last-minute campaign ideas to make your customers feel special.
🎁 Create Gift Hampers
How convenient would it be for your customers to reach your website or app to find that you’ve curated a hamper especially for them & their valentine!
Put together some of your best products to fit the occasion into a beautiful hamper and watch them sell like hotcakes at a fair!
🎫 Personalized Coupon Codes
Adding a personal touch to your offers is great. And an easy but effective way to do so is by reaching their inboxes. Send across a personalized email with a coupon code and some recommended products based on what they've previously bought and what’s new this special day.
✨ Limited Edition Products
If your DTC business can design and create limited edition products in a short period, this could be an effective way to run your campaign. Limited edition merchandise creates a sense of urgency, especially amongst a brand’s loyal fanbase; however, it is also a great drive for new customers to buy the limited merch.
⏱️ Limited Time Offers
Speaking of urgency, limited period offers also have the same effect on shoppers. Send them a coupon code or advertise your special discount with a ticking deadline to see better results.
🚚 Express Delivery
Another great way to attract shoppers is by giving them the gift of express shipping! Depending on your business, you could either charge them for express shopping while speaking of it as a new feature in your distribution system or make it entirely free as an added incentive to shop from you!
Valentine’s Day is too soon now but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on designing a campaign for your customers. After all, you, as a DTC business, can’t leave your dear valentine behind 😉
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BRAND OF THE WEEK is…
Sephora enters the sexual wellness category with Maude and Dame
Sephora gave the sexual health category its stamp of approval on February 1 when it launched two brands, Maude and Dame, on its e-commerce site.
Vibrators, of course, but also massage candles, bath treatments, and lubricants are available. ( Variety🤩) They'll be sold in Sephora's bath and body section under a new "Intimate Care" section.
Sephora's strategy differs from those of other sexual health businesses in the
Sexual wellness, feminine hygiene, hormonal care, and more will be covered by Sephora's Intimate Care products, which were chosen with inclusion and accessibility in mind.
Maude's sales are 75 percent direct-to-consumer, according to Éva Goicochea, founder and CEO of Maude. Bloomingdale's, Free People, and Nordstrom are just a few of the stores that sell it.
According to WWD, Dame's revenues increased by 100 percent between 2020 and 2021😎, and the company raised a $4 million💰 seed round in February 2021. Bloomingdale's, Revolve, and Nordstorm all carry it. As it begins with only two companies and sells nearly every product they create, totaling more than 30 items.
“Sephora is going to set an even bigger tone for sexual wellness to be perceived as a part of personal care,” said Goicochea. Founder and CEO of Maude.
To promote the expansion at launch, Maude and Dame are collaborating closely with the Sephora marketing and e-commerce teams. Maude has enlisted the help of Sephora Squad, a collection of influencers who will hold IG Lives and share the material throughout social media.
Advertising remains a major issue for sexual wellness firms.
Dame will also target influencers, conduct media outreach, and notify its client base of the new relationship via emails and social media. ( Awesome initiative✨)
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TOP READS FOR THIS WEEK
📺 HBO Max is launching in 15 additional countries on March 8th, 2022
🚴 Specialized Bikes has announced to run in parallel with broader click and collect style bike shop offerings.
💵 Casper announced its all-cash acquisition by Durational Capital Management.
💸GWI raises $180M Series B at $850M valuation for its market research SaaS
✨ OLIPOP announced a $30M Series B Funding Round with Investments from Camila Cabello, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Nick Jonas, Mindy Kaling, and more.
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In need of a job? We’ve got plenty awaiting you!
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CHOOSE SUCCESS below and have a great week! ‘Get that D2C business runnin’.