New brands (or current manufacturers) use direct-to-consumer (D2C) to enter established markets without traditional distributors.

Direct-to-consumer brands handle all aspects of production, promotion, and delivery in-house. They can get their goods to market faster and control the customer’s buying experience.

Great news for the buying public? People can get the genuine brand experiences they want from direct-to-consumer companies. Furthermore, 86% of respondents cited “authenticity” as a very significant or somewhat important factor when making a purchase.

As it gets simpler for businesses to communicate with their clients directly, one-third of shoppers say they have made a D2C purchase in the past 12 months.

Millennials are leading this trend because they value convenience, affordability, openness, and efficiency in retail. Many distinguishing features of the D2C model.

Let’s explore the D2C model, why it’s effective, and global D2C brands.

What is D2C?

Direct-to-consumer (often abbreviated as “D2C”) is an industry term for businesses that bypass traditional retail channels in favor of selling their products directly to consumers. This word needs little explanation.

Simply said, manufacturer and seller work jointly to market the product without wholesalers and retailers. Direct-to-consumer firms market and sell their wares using a variety of channels, including the web, social media, and physical shops.

While many people think of small, up-and-coming firms as “D2Cs,” the term is applicable to businesses of any size.

Essentially, and this is where making too many condensed business models may get incredibly complex…

It’s true that all DNVBs are also D2Cs, but not all D2Cs can also be DNVBs.

Why D2C Succeed?

Simplicity, lower cost, and that elusive genuineness…

88% of consumers would rather buy directly from the brand if given the chance, highlighting why D2C is gaining in popularity.

This type of company strategy is driven by millennials. Millennials will spend $1.4 trillion this year, making them the highest spending generation by 2020.

Millennials, who are famously fussy about where they spend their money, like direct-to-consumer (D2C) enterprises because they are more ecologically sensitive, authentic, and socially responsible.

70% of millennials consider a company’s principles before buying, and they’re impacted by online advertising, Instagram, influencers, etc.

Direct-to-consumer (D2C) enterprises use social media extensively to reach consumers. Hashtags, video, and platforms like Instagram help direct-to-consumer enterprises succeed.

Simply said, direct-to-consumer firms “understand” this form of marketing and brand voice more better than conventional merchants.

Benefits of D2C Business Model

1. Getting rid of the middleman means making more money.

When you sell your product directly to the customer, you don’t need a middleman (the retailer), so the money you make is yours. You don’t have to lower your margins to keep a complicated network of resellers going, and getting rid of interactions with third parties will help you make more money.

2. More control

The traditional retail model takes control away from the company that makes the product and gives it to the store that sells it. A D2C model, on the other hand, gives the brand back this control and puts it in direct contact with the customer.

This means that you control how the customer interacts with your brand and take care of every part of the customer experience. It lets you meet the needs of your target consumer, change how they interact with you, and, most importantly, build a relationship with them.

3. Access to data

When you use a direct-to-consumer (D2C) model, you talk to your customers. This means you’ll have access to all the information you can get from the people who bought your products, such as buying trends, demographics, etc.

This helps you provide a more unified marketing experience, develop or improve your products based on personalization, and make better buyer personas.

4. Sell to everybody, everywhere

If you use a store to sell your products, you are known by the countries they ship to and sell in. If you use the direct-to-consumer (D2C) model, customers can literally buy from your brand wherever you ship your products, especially if you translate your website.

It means that, based on your business plan, you have the tools to be the best at both online and offline retail.

What problems does a D2C business model have?

Of course, not everything is paved with gold. The D2C model also comes with a few problems that need to be thought about.

1. Going up against stores

The hardest part will be competing with retailers who used to be your friends but are now clearly your rivals. Retailers have been selling to customers for a long time and are already known and trusted.

As a new brand, it can be hard to become a trusted and respected company without the help of a retailer selling your products.

2. Order fulfillment

Shipping your goods can be hard for new direct-to-consumer brands. That’s because you’re competing with bigger stores that offer the expected “free next-day delivery” and “free returns” model, which not all D2C companies can offer (afford) from the start.

Getting your products shipped and keeping track of your stock is also a complicated process in and of itself.

3. Marketing and dealing with customers

You’re on your own, which means you’ll have to come up with your own marketing plan, advertising budget, and customer service team. Even though a small direct-to-consumer brand can handle several roles at once, to really grow, you’ll often need to spend money on hiring.

What’s next for D2C?

The D2C business model is good for brand owners, and it’s not hard to see why. Businesses have full control when they can make, distribute, and talk directly to their final customers.

It’s also a sign of the times, since a pandemic is changing the way people buy things more than ever. More manufacturers will probably turn to D2C ecommerce to sell directly to their customers.

There is definitely work to be done. From your own channels of distribution to putting in the work to build your social media channels, it takes work, but it can be very successful.