3 Ways to Channel Digital Natives and Build a Total D-to-C Mind-Set

Brands have increasingly recognized the need to add direct-to-consumer (D-to-C) distribution to their traditional retail channels. Our research suggests broad adoption of some kind of D-to-C activity across categories (from 100 percent of major footwear and apparel brands to under 20 percent for food and beverage brands selling online), but we've seen surprisingly few firms truly embrace being D-to-C. Some brands shy away from direct sales entirely, others put up a basic e-commerce capability, but very few build the muscles to be a best-in-class retailer, marketer and brand in one. We believe brands need to think more broadly, to coordinate every touchpoint with the consumer — i.e., embrace what we call “total D-to-C.”

Total D-to-C means covering every stage of the customer life cycle. It involves considering not just the transaction, but all customer touchpoints, independent of where they end up buying. That means total D-to-C is inherently multichannel, encompassing not only brand.com websites, but also marketing and other digital channels, including online marketplaces like Amazon.com, and brands’ own physical stores. It also means reconsidering what is the product, and potentially innovating with services and subscriptions.

The total D-to-C approach results in increased control over the customer experience, higher-margin sales, deeper customer loyalty, better consumer data quality, and limited brand exposure to disruption within the traditional value chain.

While digitally native vertical brands such as Warby Parker and Allbirds have the benefit of being a total D-to-C organization from day one, legacy brands can still successfully make the transition. In many cases, once the need is recognized, the first step is organizational. By putting D-to-C efforts under an empowered leader with a broad vision, companies are able to affect change across traditional silos. Companies such as Disney and Nike have recognized this, and we see smaller organizations starting to do the same.

This focused organization can help the company move beyond considering D-to-C as just a sales channel, and embrace the customer holistically across their life cycle: acquisition, sales and engagement.

1. Acquire new customers.

Personalized marketing is essential to D-to-C businesses. Brands first need to develop a full picture of customer segments that factors in who the customer is and how they shop. They then need to combine traditional demand generation with a tailored experience using all the information at hand.

2. Sell to customers directly.

Consumer expectations for e-commerce are set by best-in-class retailers. Brands have to develop and maintain a digital shopping experience that doesn’t let the consumer down. This means a seamless experience, safe and hassle-free checkout, free (or cheap) shipping, and reliable customer service. While it's possible to build using an array of software tools and platforms, legacy brands may also want to consider M&A as a path to a superior experience, as Serta Simmons did by acquiring Tuft & Needle.

3. Engage with customers.

Brands need to focus on communicating with their customers in a relevant and authentic manner to encourage them to keep seeing value in their purchase. Outside of subscription products, brands can consider loyalty or advocacy programs, which utilize loyal customers to magnify the brand’s reach both online and offline — and help them acquire new customers.

Success at total D-to-C selling requires many brands to develop retail capabilities, which are essentially a new muscle group for them. This often means setting up a new business unit with outside talent and well-leveraged partnerships. For instance, Nike recently created the “Nike Direct organization,” which brings together Nike.com, owned retail and Nike+ digital products.

As consumers demand more personalized engagement and the retail market evolves, smart brands can stay relevant by looking increasingly to a total D-to-C strategy.

Jon Weber, Rob Haslehurst and Noor Abdel-Samed are all managing directors at L.E.K. Consulting, a global strategy consulting firm.