Since Covid entered the U.S. beginning around March 2020, the operating environment for  consumer brands has been volatile and difficult: shocks, setbacks, and continuous change,  particularly for digital brands. Despite the myriad of difficulties experienced over the last few  years, today’s operating climate is starting to look much more stable.   SUMMARY  Starting in 2020, a series of Covid-related macroeconomic “shocks” significantly altered the  operating environment for consumer brands, in particular, digitally native brands. Impacts  included: ...

SUMMARY TAKEAWAYS: The current environment is difficult for digital consumer brands. An edgy consumer, higher costs everywhere, and a rapidly shifting, more difficult targeted ad spend environment has impacted most consumer brands negatively into 2022.We believe strongly that this is a cycle and will present opportunities i) for brands that have focused on fundamentals including profitability and ii) for investment opportunities in the sector. Factors to consider:Consumer spend represents 70% of the US economy. It’s not going...

“Big Blanket Co designs, markets, and sells the ‘biggest, best blankets in the world.’ Founder Bryan Simpson and his team have built a great company rooted in phenomenal products that are supported by an authentic and compelling brand. When combined with the loyal fan base they’ve cultivated, the Big Blanket Co story really resonated with me and my experience at YETI. Bryan and his team have a big opportunity in front of them, and I’m excited to play...

Consumer product business owners and entrepreneurs pursuing growth face a number of important decisions. Often, the product path seems clear: an idea for a product (or family of products) that the entrepreneur knows is an “item”, one that he or she is certain has significant market potential. And the market response, whether early in the company’s life cycle, or perhaps over time, is validating this thesis. However, where the product is sold – your sales channels –...

Now over a year into the Covid pandemic in the United States, everyone is weary of Covid related news.  Covid has severely impacted every aspect of our daily lives.  Now, with hope on the horizon in the form of increased availability of vaccinations, there is also cause for concern, with Covid variants and new infections on the rise. We have written before about how eCommerce brands have fared better than in-store brands during Covid, due...