Ep 491: Scaling to $1B While Spending Just 5% on Ads – The Simple Modern Playbook
DTC Podcast · with Bryan Porter · March 17, 2025 · 40 min
Summary
Simple Modern scaled to $1 billion in revenue with only 5% of ad spend by focusing on brand trust, extensive product variety, and mastering Amazon SEO. This episode reveals their playbook for organic growth, Amazon dominance, and successful retail expansion into stores like Target, offering a blueprint for brands seeking sustainable, profitable growth beyond heavy ad reliance.
Key takeaways
Implement a robust Amazon SEO strategy to secure top search rankings and drive organic sales, reducing reliance on paid acquisition.
Prioritize building brand trust and fostering a mission-driven company culture to cultivate customer loyalty and word-of-mouth growth.
Strategically expand into major retail channels like Target by leveraging established brand presence and a proven product catalog, rather than relying on traditional advertising.
Utilize platforms like TikTok for virality and brand awareness to boost sales on existing marketplaces such as Amazon, rather than focusing solely on direct sales through the social commerce platform itself.
Diversify your product offerings and consider complementary brand extensions (e.g., an electrolyte brand for a drinkware company) to increase customer lifetime value and retention.
Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupMany if not most eCommerce brands spend 15-20% of revenue on advertising—Simple Modern? Just 5%.So how did they become a category leader in drinkware, dominate Amazon, and land major retail deals with Target?In this episode, Bryan Porter, Co-founder & Chief E-commerce Officer of Simple Modern, breaks down their low-ad spend, high-efficiency growth strategy and why focusing on brand trust, product variety, and Amazon SEO led to 50M+ products sold.What You'll Learn:✅ The Amazon playbook that helped them win top search rankings. ✅ Why they only spend 5% of revenue on ads—and how they drive organic growth. ✅ How they expanded from Amazon to Target without traditional advertising. ✅ Why TikTok virality boosted Amazon sales more than TikTok Shop itself. ✅ How launching an electrolyte brand (Trevi) creates long-term customer retention.One Big Idea:👉 Customer trust and organic search matter more than ad spend.This is a must-listen for brand builders who want sustainable, profitable growth.🎧 Listen now!Timestamps00:00 - Simple Modern’s early growth on Amazon02:45 - The jump to Target and retail expansion06:30 - The rise of drinkware as a fashion category10:15 - Leveraging TikTok Shop for brand awareness14:50 - Expanding marketing efforts beyond digital ads19:30 - Scaling through licensing and product innovation24:15 - Testing TV ads and influencer marketing impact28:40 - Launching Trevi: Entering the electrolyte market33:10 - Hiring the right people and building a mission-driven team37:45 - The role of generosity and company cultureHashtags#Ecommerce #DTC #Ama
Implement a robust Amazon SEO strategy to secure top search rankings and drive organic sales, reducing reliance on paid acquisition.
What does this episode say about amazon & marketplaces?
Prioritize building brand trust and fostering a mission-driven company culture to cultivate customer loyalty and word-of-mouth growth.
What does this episode say about retail & omnichannel?
Strategically expand into major retail channels like Target by leveraging established brand presence and a proven product catalog, rather than relying on traditional advertising.
What does this episode say about brand & content?
Utilize platforms like TikTok for virality and brand awareness to boost sales on existing marketplaces such as Amazon, rather than focusing solely on direct sales through the social commerce platform itself.
What does this episode say about dtc strategy?
Diversify your product offerings and consider complementary brand extensions (e.g., an electrolyte brand for a drinkware company) to increase customer lifetime value and retention.
