Direct-to-Consumer / E-Commerce

In 2024, survivors of the e-commerce reckoning used consumer data to make wiser investments and focused on building profitable, desirable brands that offer more than low prices and convenience.

With rising competition to acquire and retain customers online, digitally native start-ups are determining how to strike a balance between developing their own e-commerce features in-house and partnering with external software providers.

The upside for online sales may be lower than many retailers anticipated. Physical stores and social commerce could make up the gap.

After a sales dip and leadership change last year, the brand, known for its knit flats, is embarking on a global retail push to kickstart its growth recovery, starting with a debut in the British department store.

Fashion e-commerce winners are using new personalisation techniques to boost sales, but doing so doesn’t necessarily require expensive software upgrades.

The classic shoe has become a go-to for plugged-in menswear shoppers thanks to DTC upstarts offering a wide range of slip-on styles with distinct aesthetics and accessible price points.

Halara has amassed a large audience online with its ultra-affordable athleisure. Now, the brand is pursuing a brick-and-mortar strategy to prove it’s more than its rock-bottom prices.

Companies like Nike, Levi’s and PVH, which have been on years-long journeys to ramp up their direct businesses amid ongoing challenges in wholesale, provide case studies for how to invest in the selling channel.