DTC marketing news and trends—tracking the industry ups and downs

Each week, we publish all the major news in the direct-to-consumer industry, focusing on the shift to retail shelves, tracking financials of major players in the space, as well as highlighting executive appointments and exits. Have DTC tips or news to share? Email Phoebe Bain at phoebe.bain@adage.com. Now in stores Haus Labs: Lady Gaga’s DTC makeup brand has expanded its presence across the pond after rolling out in the U.K. last year. As of last week, Haus products are now available in Sephora stores across 12 additional European countries including France and Italy, the brand announced. Deux: The brand’s donuts rolled out in Sprouts grocery stores in mid-March, according to its Instagram, a move Deux teased in a recent Ad Age article. Deux products also became nationally available in Whole Foods this year. Happy: Robert Downey Jr. and Craig Dubitsky’s new coffee brand has expanded to select U.S. Walmart stores, according to a Happy Instagram post last week. This isn’t the DTC brand’s first retail entry—it’s already in Target stores. Dubitsky discussed co-founding Happy after working on previous challenger brands such as Method and eos on a recent Ad Age podcast. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Happy Products (@we_are_happy_products) Ad Age Gen Z Contributor Column We welcome Gen Zers to submit fresh takes exploring Gen Z within the ad industry Learn more here DTC dollars Glossier: LVMH is in “deep” conversations to acquire the beauty brand, according to a Puck. Glossier also recently hired financial advisors from Morgan Stanley to explore sale options. Lalo: The DTC baby brand has closed a new funding round led by Forecast Labs, a Comcast-owned venture group that also invested in brands such as Blueland and Smalls. The news comes almost a year after Lalo raised a $10 million Series A round led by Spin Master Ventures. The Flex Co: Best known for its “Flex disc” period discs that function similarly to menstrual cups, this period care upstart recently secured a “multi-million” dollar investment from model Kate Upton and her husband. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Flex | Sustainable Period Care (@flex) People on the move Men’s activewear brand Rhone has appointed Tess Roering and Jimmy Pitaro to its board as Rhone prepares to roll out its first women’s collection. Roering previously spent five years at CorePower Yoga and, before that, served as Athleta’s first head of marketing. Pitaro is chairman of ESPN. Social post of the week Gross margin? Call me when you have a beautiful margin— bröke (@hedgefundmafia) March 27, 2024 Subscribe to Ad Age Sign up now for the latest industry news and analysis Click here

DTC marketing news and trends—tracking the industry ups and downs

Featured Stories