Priority: The Ultimate Product
Speed wins.Patience is scarce; customers pay to save time.The smartest companies have turned priority into profits:→ Uber One & Lyft Pink: Faster rides.→ Amazon Prime: Same-day delivery.→ Spotify Premium: Early access to music.→ Sephora Flash: Unlimited 2-day shipping.→ Clear & TSA PreCheck: Skip security lines.→ Disney+ & HBO Max: First to new releases.→ Airlines: Priority […]
Amazon just made a bold move
Turning the largest shopping mall in the world into a car dealership.With Amazon Autos, customers in 48 cities can now buy a Hyundai—browse, finance, and schedule pickup—all online.It’s a game-changer.Here’s what I’ve come to understand about Bezos & Co.:→ Amazon is the largest shopping mall in the world.→ Consumer brands must be there to survive.→ […]
My clients often ask for a straightforward way to design and optimize their recurring revenue strategy
That’s why I created The Subscription Model Map…A one-page resource for founders, CEOs, and execs to:Gain Clarity:→ See your entire business model on one page.Move Faster:→ Iterate and refine your strategy efficiently.Unlock Insight:→ Optimize pricing, retention, and performance.Drive Alignment:→ Share your strategy to keep your team on the same page.This map reflects years of analysis […]
The traditional influencer model isn’t delivering
I read a piece from CNBC last week, and none of it surprised me.Here’s the challenge:Income from brand deals is volatile and concentrated among top creators.Social algorithms dictate visibility, making revenue unpredictable.Most creators earn less than $15,000 annually, despite the influencer market being valued at $21 billion.In response, many creators are taking control by monetizing […]
Subscription businesses, wake up
The FTC is raising the bar. Uber is the latest company to come under scrutiny. The FTC is investigating complaints about Uber One, citing allegations of unauthorized enrolments and obstructive cancellation practices. This isn’t just about one company—it’s a wake-up call for every subscription business. Starting October 2024, the Click-to-Cancel Rule mandates that canceling a […]
The bar has never been lower
What’s the difference between good and great?Do what you say you’ll do.That’s it.The bar for greatness has never been lower:• Employees do the bare minimum.• Employers promise growth—then lay people off.• Airlines overbook, cancel flights, and lose luggage.• Retailers guarantee “next-day shipping” but deliver late.• Insurance companies promise protection but deny claims.• Healthcare providers overbook, […]
Card declines are a revenue killer
Consider this:→ Credit card declines affect 5-6% of all transactions.→ Debit card declines? Higher, at 9-13%.→ Alternative payment methods fail 7% of the time.For subscription-based businesses, these numbers translate directly to lost revenue.Involuntary churn—when customers unintentionally fail to renew due to payment issues—is problematic for most recurring revenue businesses as they scale.A significant portion of […]
You can’t scale a business by selling something once
To grow, you need repeat customers.How do you do that?By turning them into true fans.Kevin Kelly’s “1,000 True Fans” essay explains it best:Success doesn’t require millions of customers.It requires 1,000 people who believe in you so much they’ll buy everything you create.True fans don’t just stick around—they bring others with them.But here’s the catch:Fans aren’t […]
Our Q4 report explores some key themes shaping the future of commerce
1. Subscription models are dominating.The market, currently ~$590 billion, is on track to reach $1 trillion by 2028. Companies like Netflix, Microsoft, and OpenAI are capitalizing on recurring revenue.2. Entire industries are shifting.From Tesla’s subscription-based features in automotive, to premium services in education and travel, businesses prioritizing recurring revenue are proving more resilient.3. AI is […]
Why are customers leaving?
It’s the #1 question brands are grappling with right now.While there are many reasons customers cancel, here’s the one that’s most overlooked:𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘁𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆.If you want to keep your customers—your members, subscribers—you need to position your offer as indispensable.The economy is bumpy:→ People don’t want “nice-to-haves.”→ […]