Welcome to The Backroom, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of the Retail Dive team's reporting on the stories and trends reshaping retail. You canhereview all our past and current podcast episodes, and you can listen viaApple Podcasts、Stitcher、iHeartRadioandSpotifyto listen.

The New Reality for the DTC Industry

After years of disrupting traditional retail, many startups and online-only players, including DTC brands, are now facing a new reality. Even typically bold venture capital firms are becoming more cautious about where they invest in the current environment of high inflation and no longer cheap capital. As a result, many companies are facing pressure to shift from a 'growth at all costs' mindset to a focus on profitability.

Podcast Focus: Deep Dive into the DTC Sector

The DTC space is the core reporting beat for Retail Dive reporter Dani James, who also joins The Backroom as a podcast co-host. Given the importance and volatility of the direct-to-consumer sales space, whether for emerging brands or traditional incumbents, Retail Dive has launched a daily newsletter compiling her and her team's related coverage—you canheresubscribe.

In this episode of The Backroom, Dani engages in an in-depth discussion with senior reporter Daphne Howland about the overall landscape of DTC companies at the start of 2023, the importance of physical store channels, and more.

Related Resources Links

Editor's Note: This episode was produced and edited by Caroline Jansen.