New Data Demonstrates DTC Brands Prioritize Global Expansion & Use Diversified Media Strategies That Go Well Beyond Social Platforms

Overturning conventional wisdom that direct-to-consumer brands are riding a valuation bubble and social media presence in pursuit of quick flips to larger incumbents, new research by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) says that an overwhelming majority of DTC disruptors report they are: profitable; looking to expand globally; and using diversified media channels—including online and print display ads, direct mail, and television—in pursuit of their next waves of growth.

“As DTC brands continue to mature, they’re becoming increasingly sophisticated in how they approach media buying across a diversity of online and offline channels”

The findings were contained in two studies released today by the IAB, the national trade association for the digital media and marketing industries, at its annual Direct Brand Summit in New York. The first study, “Disruptor Brands: Founders Benchmark Study,” is the largest study ever conducted of disruptor brand founders and leadership teams on their strategies, capabilities, and goals. The second study, “Direct Brands: Media & Customer Acquisition,” is the largest research ever undertaken on DTC brands’ media and customer acquisition strategies.

Results from “Disruptor Brands: Founders Benchmark Study” show that in contrast to the most recent set of high-valuation startups, direct brands are focusing on profitability and customer satisfaction ahead of market share. In fact, 90 percent of surveyed DTC brands state that they are already profitable, taking an average of about three years to achieve profitability. The findings suggest that the vast majority of disruptor brands are building institutions to last, with only 15 percent citing that being acquired is a long-term goal. Additionally, there is a significant opportunity for them to go global. While 78 percent of their sales currently reside in the U.S., more than one-third (34%) say that global expansion is a top priority.

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Other key takeaways from the “Disruptor Brands: Founders Benchmark Study” include:

• By a two-to-one margin, direct brands see e-commerce giants like Amazon and Wayfair, as well as other DTC companies, as their biggest competitors—not incumbent brands
• More than three-quarters of founders say that their company can go from idea to market in six months or less—and a third can do it in merely two months
• The other leading priorities for these disruptors include establishing a new category (31%) and opening brick-and-mortar locations (30%), underscoring founders’ desire for expansive growth

In sharp contrast to the popular belief that DTC brands center their marketing around social media, “Direct Brands: Media & Customer Acquisition” respondents report that they are actually building diversified, multichannel media strategies online and off. In terms of digital advertising channels, search was cited as the most popular (67%), followed by display (65%) and then social (64%). Direct mail (63%) and print (62%) were top choices for offline media, with television a bit further behind (58%).

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Further findings from “Direct Brands: Media & Customer Acquisition” include:

• Two in five DTC brands own at least one brick-and-mortar store, driving offline ad spending
• More than a quarter (27%) of surveyed brands have brought ad buying in-house, suggesting a growing comfort with sophisticated data-driven, digital buying
• While nearly two-thirds (64%) are using attribution models, more than half (56%) include first touch models—evidence that they still have plenty to learn

“IAB’s point of view is that all consumer brands have no choice but to become direct brands, and build two-way, data-enriched relationships with their end consumers,” said Randall Rothenberg, CEO, IAB. “Because brands can no longer lock out competitors by owning their own supply chains, dominating high-priced media, and ruling brick-and-mortar retail shelves, they need to embrace the fact that they are in the relationship business—which means that they must be in the content business, the experience business, the service business, the data business, and the retail business, as well.”

“As DTC brands continue to mature, they’re becoming increasingly sophisticated in how they approach media buying across a diversity of online and offline channels,” said Sue Hogan, Senior Vice President, Research and Analytics, IAB. “Incumbent brands are already taking a page from their playbook. And for publishers and the ecosystem delivering their brand messages, understanding their media perceptions is key to partnering with this rapidly growing and profitable segment.”

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