🌟 Hey there, dear readers! It's that time of the week again when we gather around to catch up on the latest and greatest in the Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) world. 🚀

So, let's get this party started! 🎉

Welcome back to another exciting edition of our DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) Insider newsletter. 📰 Our mission: to serve you the freshest news and insights straight from the heart of the DTC universe. 💡 With every update, we're arming you with the knowledge to be the smartest one in the room. 🤓

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Birkenstock Achieves Record Q2 Revenue Boost👡 

29th May 2024, Retail Dive 

Birkenstock, now a public company, reported a stellar Q2 revenue of €481 million ($521 million), marking a 22% increase 📈. This growth led the footwear giant to raise its annual revenue outlook to €1.78 billion, up from €1.74-1.76 billion.

Both DTC and B2B segments saw impressive revenue jumps of 30% and 19% respectively. Geographically, the Americas grew by 19%, Europe by 22%, and the Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa region surged by 39% 🌍. CEO Oliver Reichert highlighted the company's expanding global demand and strategic distribution model, which continues to outpace supply.

Additionally, Birkenstock's new plant in Pasewalk, Germany, will support this growth, despite a short-term impact on margins. Notably, closed-toe shoe sales contributed significantly, now accounting for over 25% of total revenue, up from the high teens last year 👟.

Why Locked-Up Merchandise In Stores May Be Good News For Amazon 🛍️

29th May 2024, Modern Retail

Over the past year, major retailers like Target, Ulta, and Home Depot have been battling a surge in theft, leading to increased security measures, including locked merchandise and anti-theft technology. However, this crackdown has unintentionally boosted online shopping, with American consumers turning to Amazon and other e-commerce platforms. 📈

In the first four months of the year, online sales surged by 7% to $331 billion, with Amazon alone reporting over $54 billion in sales—a 7% increase from the previous year. 🛒 Cosmetics and grocery items, often locked up in physical stores, saw significant growth online, rising 8% and 16%, respectively.

While retailers see some success in reducing theft, customers frustrated with the in-store experience are opting for the convenience of online shopping. This shift highlights a challenge for brick-and-mortar stores lacking robust e-commerce solutions. 💻📦

Musk Raises $6b For AI And The Fintech Dominoes Are Falling 🚀

31st May 2024, Tech Crunch

Elon Musk’s new venture, xAI, just secured a whopping $6 billion in funding from Valor, a16z, and Sequoia. Investors seem eager to bet on Musk’s latest ambitious project, hoping it will revolutionize AI.

🧠 The goal? Create an AI so advanced it makes HAL 9000 look like a Roomba. Skeptics, however, are left scratching their heads. How can investors so readily fund Musk’s sci-fi dreams, given his track record of both groundbreaking successes and spectacular failures?

Despite self-driving cars missing fire trucks and occasional rocket explosions, Musk's ventures continue to attract massive investments.

🔥 While some see genius, others see madness. The world eagerly watches as Musk spins the roulette wheel once more, hoping for a win. 🎰

Mondelez Opens Biscuits And Baked Snacks NPD Facility in Singapore

29th May 2024, Just Food

Mondelez International has opened a "Regional Biscuit and Baked Snacks Lab and Innovation Kitchen" 🎉 in Singapore, reaffirming its commitment to innovation across Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. With over $5 million invested, the new facility will act as a strategic center for new product development (NPD) in the biscuits and baked snacks category.

Deepak Iyer, president of AMEA at Mondelez, said the expansion strengthens their Singapore Technical Centre, enhancing capabilities in product development and operational effectiveness. This hub will focus on mindful snacking, portion balance, and flavor innovation.

Established in 2006 and expanded in 2018, the Singapore Technical Centre already specializes in gum and candy innovation, packaging, process technology, consumer science, and ingredient research. This new lab marks a significant step in Mondelez's dedication to mindful snacking and innovation 🍪✨.

Amazon Sellers, Struggling to Boost Business, Are Buying Google Ads

30th May 2024, Bloomberg

Great Oral Health, an Amazon seller for nearly a decade, noticed diminishing returns from Amazon ads. To boost business, they turned to Google, where shoppers find their ads while searching for solutions to dental issues. These ads direct buyers to Amazon, which rewards sellers for driving traffic from other sites. This strategy is effective because Google ads are typically cheaper than Amazon's.

Startups like Carbon6 and Ampd have developed software to optimize Google ads, targeting likely buyers and filtering out mere browsers. This shift has led to increased sales and profits for sellers. In 2022, 52% of US shopping began on marketplaces like Amazon, but by last year, only 40% did. More shoppers are starting on search engines, making Google a crucial advertising platform.

“Amazon knows Google is a monster,” says consultant Ryan Duminy, highlighting the strategic shift. 🛒✨

Weekly Recap! 🔙✨

Do you want to know what we published last week?

1. Prime Your Website to Automate CX🚀

2. 🚨Get Your Next Orders Fast - Creatively ✨

3. 🚨 Manage Multichannel Products Like a PRO🚀

Stay tuned and hit subscribe @How-to-ecommerce for more such content…

Stay Ahead of the Curve with HTE!

As we wrap up this edition of our newsletter, we hope you found the blend of news and insights as invigorating as we did. The world of DTC and beyond continues to evolve, and staying informed is the key to success. Keep those entrepreneurial spirits high, and remember, we're here to keep you ahead of the game.  🚀🌟📰 

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