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.”→ […]
Are you building a company—or defining a legacy?
Last week, Spotify reported $4.3 billion in Q3 revenue, adding 6 million subscribers. Today, the company has north of 250 million paid users.But let’s not forget: without Napster, Spotify wouldn’t exist.In the late ’90s, CDs were a status statement—pristine sound, iconic album art, and liner notes that offered a glimpse into the artist’s world. My […]
I’ve been in deep conversations with clients, CEOs, and VCs about an important topic
→ Single-channel risk.It’s a massive liability, often overlooked.Examples:• Content creators using only Instagram• Wholesalers selling to a single major retailer• Services companies relying solely on Google ads• Subscription boxes using only influencer marketing• D2C brands dependent on Meta for all customer acquisition• Coffee shops counting exclusively on neighbourhood foot trafficThe list goes on.Beyond being operationally […]
The Rise of Subscription Influencers
Forget the traditional ad model. The creator economy is cashing in through direct access. Here’s what some big names are doing:‣ Ben Shapiro – The Daily Wire with ad-free shows and member-only exclusives‣ Jordan Peterson – Live Q&As and private lectures‣ Tucker Carlson – Direct-to-audience interviews and uncensored commentary‣ Tim Pool – In-depth live streams […]
Loyalty isn’t built on products. It’s built on experiences
Listening to digital music is convenient, but there’s nothing unique about it.Anyone can play the same song, in the same format, at the same time—no difference in the experience.Yet, a mid-70s UK vinyl pressing of The Beatles’ Revolver will sound (and look) different than one from Japan or Germany.Each re-release—stereo or mono, vintage or worn—creates […]
Forget what your role is today
You are now editor-in-chief at a major media company.If you wanted to cover the eyewear industry, would you spotlight LensCrafters or Warby Parker?How about fitness?Would you do a piece on LA Fitness or Peloton?What about mattresses—Sealy or Casper?Purina or The Farmer’s Dog?Schick or Harrys?Ford or Tesla?People love stories about trending companies with a fresh take.The […]
Content creators are moving their expertise behind paywalls
Here’s a shortlist of platform options:◆ LinkedIn Learning◆ Mighty Networks◆ Go High Level◆ Teachable◆ Thinkific◆ Substack◆ Coursera◆ Patreon◆ Udacity◆ Kajabi◆ Circle◆ Udemy◆ SkoolWhich one’s the best fit?That depends on your strategy:Community-first?Look at Skool, Circle, or Mighty Networks.Course-first?You’ll lean toward Kajabi, Thinkific, or Teachable.Newsletter-focused?Substack is built for that.After testing multiple platforms, we chose Skool to grow […]
Last year, we helped launch one of the biggest online hair care brands
Like many others, this particular client was obsessed with the business goals: ROI, competitive pricing, incremental recurring revenue, engagement, positioning, etc.All very important.But they were missing something: the customer’s emotions.Here’s an example of how to balance both sides:Strategic criteria:𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺.→ ROI-focused→ Results oriented→ Price competitive→ Strong value proposition→ Social and community-oriented→ […]