Digital marketing
Launching a D2C (direct-to-consumer) brand is the most modern way to build a new product brand. No retailers, no middlemen — straight to the customer. Let us go through how it is done.
In brief
- A D2C brand is built on Meta, TikTok and UGC.
- A realistic launch budget: €30,000–150,000 in the first year.
- The email list is D2C’s most valuable asset — start collecting from day one.
- Margins have to be 60–80 %+, or CAC eats the profit.
- Retargeting is critical: 60–80 % of purchases come after 2–5 touches.
The best channels
Meta
The main acquisition channel: catalogue ads, retargeting and UGC creative.
TikTok
Reaching younger audiences with authentic video.
Email automations
Welcome, abandoned cart and post-purchase sequences.
UGC and influencers
The content engine that keeps the ad account supplied.
The basic D2C structure
Shopify or an equivalent ecommerce platform.
Meta and TikTok as the main acquisition channels.
Email automations: welcome, abandoned cart, post-purchase.
UGC and influencers for content production.
Building a competitive advantage
The brand is the most important advantage — in D2C you cannot compete on price.
Product differentiation (design, story, value).
Customer service is part of the brand: react fast to everything.
When D2C does not work
Margins under 50 %: CAC eats everything.
The product is a generic commodity.
There is no distinctive brand.
The audience is over 50 — D2C is a younger platform.
Frequently asked questions
How much money to launch a D2C brand?
€30,000–150,000 for the first year. A large share goes on the product and the media.
Is it worth expanding into retail later?
It can be, once the brand is built: retail adds reach.
What is a realistic first-year target?
€100,000–500,000 of revenue for a small D2C brand.
Worth a look too
Read these related articles and service pages too:
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