View this email in your browse (*|ARCHIVE|*) :loudspeaker: r (*|ARCHIVE|*)
Logo
** The Growth Newsletter for
UK DTC Brands
------------------------------------------------------------
We’re heading to New York next week 🗽✈️ and we couldn’t be more excited! 🎉
But the buzz doesn’t stop there… this October we’re back in the UK with a packed line-up of events 🇬🇧. From hands-on Learning Labs to our flagship London conference, it’s the perfect chance to connect with other brand builders, swap ideas, and and get inspired before the year wraps up.
At its heart, DTC Live London isn’t just a conference, twice a year we bring founders, marketers, and operators together under one roof, and the energy in the room is unlike anything you’ll find online.
You’ll hear from leaders shaping the future of DTC, but just as importantly, you’ll meet people who could end up being your next collaborator, mentor, or even friend.
And this year we’re turning it up a notch, with entertainment (including a magician 🪄), experiences, and plenty of space designed to spark conversations that matter.
🇬🇧 DTC Live London | 16 Oct | The Fable, London 🇬🇧
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s waiting on stage:
* From Browsing to Buying: How Mous and Code Beauty Optimise On-Site Journeys with Cooee
* The High Street Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Changed Outfits: Omnichannel Growth in 2025 with SealSkinz and Reia
* The Founders’ Formula: Building Breakthrough Brands in a Crowded eCom Landscape with PACK’D, SteamBar, Selkie and Eleven As One
* From Stockroom to Scale: Mastering Growth, Logistics and Success with YETI, Sprint Logistics and Shopify
* From First Step to Global Streetwear: How Mallet’s Founder Built a Culture-Defining Brand
If you’re serious about growth, this is where the people shaping the future of DTC will be. Don’t be the one catching up on the conversations afterwards.
Why not sign up and come join us?
use code JAQRGFUAX for a free ticket
Sign Up Here ✏️ (https://www.dtclive.com/dtc-live-london)
** The one workshop that will shape your 2026 strategy
------------------------------------------------------------
Annual planning is one of those things we all know we should dedicate time to, but when you’re in the thick of Q4, the urgent often wins over the important.
That’s why we built the DTC Live Learning Labs. They’re designed to take you out of the whirlwind and give you structured time, space, and tools to actually plan properly for the year ahead.
This October we’re back with our Annual Planning editions in both London and Manchester. These sessions bring together brand founders, marketers, and operators for a focused, collaborative workshop that cuts through the noise.
** What makes Learning Labs different?
------------------------------------------------------------
Unlike conferences, this isn’t about back-to-back talks. The Learning Labs are interactive working sessions, meaning you’ll leave with something concrete:
* A plug-and-play planning pack of templates you can take straight back to your team.
* Peer insight from other brands who are wrestling with the same questions as you.
* Clarity on priorities so you can hit January running instead of scrambling.
We’ll dive into the areas that matter most around your goals.
** Who are they for?
------------------------------------------------------------
If you’re a founder, marketer, or ops lead who’s feeling stretched, overwhelmed, or simply ready to get ahead of 2026, this is for you. We keep the groups intentionally small so discussions are honest, and every attendee gets the chance to share and problem-solve.
** Why attend?
------------------------------------------------------------
* Build your 2026 roadmap with guidance, not guesswork.
* Benchmark against what’s actually working in other DTC brands right now.
* Leave with frameworks you can revisit quarter after quarter.
** Upcoming dates:
------------------------------------------------------------
🗓️ London: 9th October at Menier Lounge
🗓️ Manchester: 22nd October at Huckletree Ancoats
Both sessions run from 9:00am–3:30pm and include coffee, lunch, and plenty of time for networking in between.
👉 Reserve your spot here:
⭐️London Learning Lab (https://2aahovc9gzu.typeform.com/to/jnwEWzZM)
⭐️Manchester Learning Lab (https://2aahovc9gzu.typeform.com/to/nkYaO9XM)
If your brand has big ambitions for 2026, don’t leave it to chance. Join us in October, and walk away with a plan that actually sticks.
** Why boring brands fail
------------------------------------------------------------
Every brand dreads being called boring, yet so many end up that way. not because they want to, but because in trying to look “professional” or copy what’s already working, they lose the very thing that makes them memorable: an identity.
Today, attention is currency and competition is brutal. If your brand doesn’t stand out, it risks being invisible.
** Boring isn’t safe, it’s invisible
------------------------------------------------------------
boring brands all look alike:
* generic logos
* safe, vague messaging
* stock photography
* promises you’ve heard a hundred times
This sameness might feel “professional,” but it kills engagement.
** Your brand is a living entity
------------------------------------------------------------
people connect with personality and values. They remember brands that stand for something and show up with character.
📊 88% of consumers say authenticity matters when choosing brands.
ask yourself:
* What do we believe that’s different?
* Why did we really start?
* What are we against?
Your answers are the roots of a magnetic brand.
** Let’s take a look at the case study of Oatly
------------------------------------------------------------
oatly existed since the 1990s, but stayed unnoticed until 2014 when new leadership gave it a quirky voice.
with playful fonts, sarcastic packaging, and bold billboards like “it’s like milk, but made for humans,” oatly became impossible to ignore.
result: 106% year-on-year growth. The oat milk didn’t change, the brand did.
** How to break the boring cycle
------------------------------------------------------------
* start with emotions → define how you want customers to feel before what you sell.
* develop a voice → reject industry clichés and show your unique stance.
* tell your story → stories create emotional connection and memorability.
* be intentional with design → ditch bland templates. If your niche is beige, go neon.
Boring brands don’t fail because their product is bad. They fail because nobody notices them.
give your brand an identity, a voice, and a story, and you’ll already be miles ahead of the competition.
Book your free call with our CRO expert (https://calendly.com/rainy-city/cro-growth-strategy-call?month=2025-02)
An overview on our upcoming events
DTC Live London
16th October | Fable, Holborn Viaduct, London
Talks, panels, drinks, and deep dives with teams from leading brands. More details to follow.
🎟️ Free brand tickets (https://www.dtclive.com/dtc-live-london) , use code JAQRGFUAX
Learning Labs Manchester: Annual Planning
October (date TBC) | Huckletree, Ancoats
Everything you need to get your annual plans sorted, actionable workshops, templates, and honest discussion with other brands.
🤝 Book your spot (https://2aahovc9gzu.typeform.com/to/nkYaO9XM)
Gran Canaria Brand Retreat
24th–27th September | 5-star wellness resort
An all-expenses-covered* escape for founders, leaders and decision makers, focused on trends, tactics & transformation (*except flights).
🌴 If you’re interested, fill out this quick application:
📋 Exclusive Brand Retreat Application (https://2aahovc9gzu.typeform.com/brandretreat)
Want a look at last time?
Take a look at our highlights video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_0YscPaf6w) , photos (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fzDcP7h0T4rr7prfb-m6ZULur-vS5STN?usp=sharing) , and last year’s agenda (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VOaL_O_goqUdp2ZmK9ikxcPcs4T-dS65/view?usp=sharing) !
Sculpt & Scale, An event of beauty and wellness brands
5th November | Reformer Pilates Studio, London
A private reformer pilates session, juices and breakfast, plus a chance to connect with other brands in health and wellness.
💪🥤Register your interest (https://2aahovc9gzu.typeform.com/to/YE93NOiQ)
Hope to see you soon!
Check out our FULL events calendar here 📅 (https://www.dtclive.com/events-calendar)
That's it for this week!
Thank you for reading :)
To help continue to build the DTC Live community, please forward this email on to someone you think might like it. Or if easier, share this link (https://www.dtclive.com/newsletter-sign-up) .
We'll be back with more growth strategies and insights for eCom and tech brands next week.
Logo
Copyright (C) *|2024|* *|DTC LIVE|*. All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences (*|UPDATE_PROFILE|*) or unsubscribe (*|UNSUB|*)
