the dtc live newsletter:
July 17, 2025

Want to speak at DTC Live London? & How to Win BFCM Without Killing Your Margins

View this email in your browse (*|ARCHIVE|*) :loudspeaker: r (*|ARCHIVE|*) Logo ** The Growth Newsletter for UK DTC Brands ------------------------------------------------------------ Hey there, We’ve said it from day one, DTC Live exists to give a platform to the people building the future of eCommerce. And that includes you. From stage talks to community panels, there are loads of ways to get involved in our upcoming events, especially DTC Live London this October, where we’ll be hosting another full-day experience of insights, ideas and honest conversations with the best in the business. We’re always looking for brand founders, marketers, and community members who want to share what they’ve learned, the wins, the flops and the lessons that can help someone else figure it out. Whether you're a first-time speaker or you've done it all before, this is your chance to get on stage alongside some of the biggest names in eCom and show your expertise in front of a room full of people who actually get it. So if you’re looking to join us on stage at DTC Live London, just like in the pic below… please email amelia@dtclive.com. or… if you are interested in speaking at any of our other events, just drop a message to amelia@dtclive.com too. That being said, if you’re not looking to speak but still fancy joining us, here’s what’s in store. As a sneak peek, here’s a couple of our already confirmed speakers…. ⚪️ The CEO of TALA ⚪️ The Head of Marketing at RegalRose Event Details 📅 Date: 16th October 2025 🕘 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM, followed by a drink or two until 5:00 PM 📍 The Fable, Holborn Viaduct, London DTC Live is a full-day conference packed with honest brand chats, big ideas and plenty of time to meet the people shaping the future of eCom. Expect founders, marketers, operators, tech partners and service providers, all under one roof, all ready to connect and share what’s working right now. 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) How to Win BFCM Without Killing Your Margins The brands that win BFCM don’t wait until November to plan. They get ahead early, and they don’t guess. Here’s how to do the same… 1. Data-First Planning Look at last year. What worked? What didn’t? Use performance data to shape this year’s strategy and protect your margins before setting offers. 2. Build an Irresistible Offer (That Doesn’t Kill Profit) Focus on your hero products and high-performing bundles. Keep it simple and margin-safe: * Percentage discounts * Gift with purchase (GWP) * Mystery upsells * Buy more, save more 3. Follow the 3-Phase Calendar Warm-Up Drive email and SMS signups. Warm your pixel with content and video views. Cheaper CPMs now, use them. Main Event Retarget warm traffic. Go full send on your strongest offer. Cool Down After BFCM, run a “Founder’s Sale” or plain-text-style campaigns. CPMs drop, but attention is still high if you play it right. 4. Creative Execution Now’s not the time to test new concepts. Double down on what’s already worked. * Use gift-focused messaging * Overlay BFCM assets on evergreen creatives * Build urgency with clear shipping cut-offs 5. Prepare for Q5 January’s still high-conversion season, especially for health, beauty, and wellness. Ad costs drop. Use the “New Year, New Me” energy to your advantage. Pro tip: Rotate promo creatives every few days during your sales window. Fatigue kills performance. Freshness keeps CPMs down and results up. BFCM is a margin game, not a discount race. Plan with data, keep your offers sharp, and execute with focus. Want to learn more? Book your free call with our META expert (https://calendly.com/james-jago-rainycityagency/rainy-city-meta-ads-7-day-trial-setup-clone) How to Design for Impulsive Buyers That lipstick? Unplanned. The second pair of sunglasses? A moment of FOMO. Impulse buying isn’t about a lack of control. It’s often how the product is presented. Smart brands use UX tactics to nudge emotional, quick decisions. Here's how: 🔹 First impressions matter: High-quality visuals, clear benefit-led copy, and trust signals (like reviews and guarantees) build confidence fast. 🔹 Friction kills impulse: Enable guest checkout, use autofill, smart defaults, and fast payment options (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.). 🔹 Words that nudge: Use urgency cues like “Ends in 2 hours” or “Only 2 left” to spark FOMO. 🔹 Mobile-first wins: Design for mobile, not just scale down. Think thumb-friendly buttons, fast load, and clutter-free checkout. 🔹 Personalised recs work: Show recently viewed items, “Picked for you,” and “People also bought…” prompts to increase relevance. Impulse-friendly UX isn’t manipulation, it’s reducing friction in decisions people already want to make. Great UX doesn’t just sell, it reassures. Want to learn more? 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|*)
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