Jacob Becker retweeted
🔍 Which financial metrics are top DTC brands tracking right now? 🔍 Which ones are YOU missing?
We asked 5 leading DTC finance experts to reveal the hidden numbers that could make or break your brand's success in 2025.
Their answers touch on:
👩💻 Why MRR isn't just for SaaS companies anymore.
💸 The approach to cash conversion cycle that's helping brands scale without outside funding.
📊 How to use contribution margin data to uncover powerful ad spend strategies.
🛍️ Plus: the relationship between recurring customer contribution margins and fixed costs.
Get the full insights from @RobteBraake (Insight Matters), Courtney Myers, CPA (Freedom Finance), @JonAlbertBlair and @JeffLow791 (Free to Grow CFO),
and our very own @JacobB29170 >> finaloop.com/blog/expert-ins…
Jacob Becker retweeted
(a note from @JacobB29170 reg: TikTok ban and your brand)
As a teenager, I loved listening to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" (I'm not that old, I just appreciate history... and Billy Joel). The last couple of years have really put everything into perspective. Where the song had "JFK, blown away, what else do I have to say," we could substitute countless recent geopolitical events: "Trump, (attempted) blown away," replace "trouble in the Suez" with Syria, or "Cola wars" with trade wars. You get the point.
The latest chapter in this ongoing saga of sagas is the TikTok ban controversy, which interweaves trade wars, China tariffs, and—critically for many DTC founders—the future of your e-commerce brands.
The story began earlier this year when President Biden signed a bill requiring ByteDance (TikTok's parent company) to sell the platform to a non-Chinese owner or face a US operations ban, citing national security concerns.
TikTok's legal challenge to block the law hit a roadblock on December 6th when the US appeals court upheld the legislation. While TikTok plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, signaling ByteDance's unwillingness to sell, the plot thickens: President-elect Trump has reversed his previous stance, now opposing the ban (with potential Republican appointed justices support in the Supreme Court)—suggesting this thick plot line is far from resolution.
Why should e-commerce brands care about this beyond the common fascination with constitutional law, free speech, and national security?
The answer lies in TikTok Shop's rapidly growing influence in the e-commerce landscape. Though its projected $50 billion GMV for 2024 may seem modest compared to Amazon's approximately $750 billion, TikTok Shop has become a powerhouse marketplace, particularly in beauty and health products targeting Gen Z consumers.
While the ultimate outcome remains uncertain, the stakes for businesses are clear. If you're currently operating on TikTok Shop, a ban could significantly impact your sales, fulfillment operations (especially if using Fulfillment by TikTok), advertising strategies, and even your financing through TikTok Shop Capital.
While there's no need for immediate platform exodus, smart e-commerce operators should view this as a wake-up call to build resilience through platform diversification. In today's dynamic digital marketplace and shaky global politics, the ability to pivot quickly isn't just a competitive advantage—it's a survival skill. Start exploring alternative platforms now, so you're prepared for whatever the next verse of this song might bring.
1/7
What's worth more: a banana duct-taped to a wall, or your entire product inventory?
Well, it depends - does this banana have a good story?You see, many think the foundation of intellectual property and brand value is built on trust.
6/7
As Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) and the holiday season fast approach in a supersaturated market, brands need effective differentiation strategies:
* Strategic Discounting or bundling (while protecting margins)
* Superior Product Quality
* Or... a Compelling Brand Story.
(1/7)
How will Donald Trump’s resounding victory will impact your bottom line?After all, this W, to go along with the Republicans taking the Senate, and likely taking the House, will obviously have a major impact on global policy, immigration, inflation and the economy.
(6/7)
On the other hand, Trump’s immigration policy, along with tariffs, could be a double whammy, as many imports will become much more expensive, and closing off of the border along with deporting migrants will shrink the manufacturing workforce, increasing manufacturing costs.
1/5 The upcoming sequel to 2015's "The Accountant" brings back memories of a CPA event I attended right after finishing my studies. Real party atmosphere, let me tell you!
4/5 So here was Hollywood, with an A-list star, in a film actually called "The Accountant"! Of course, they had to add assassins and mob connections to spice things up (because apparently, GAAP standards aren't thrilling enough 📷).