How to choose the right 3PL & the must-attend DTC Events of 2025
Hola,
Has anyone else managed to get some winter sun?
Last week, we took a break from the usual routine and headed to Gran Canaria for our first DTC Live Brand Retreat.
A few days of good conversations, big ideas, and time to properly connect with other brands, founders and eCom experts.
We covered a lot – rising ad costs, making 3PLs work smarter, getting more from paid marketing, and how to avoid the burnout that so many people in the space face.
But it wasn’t just about strategy.
Sometimes, the best ideas come from the in-between moments—over dinner or during a walk.
Of course, there were a few late nights, a few too many tapas, and the kind of connections you don’t get from Zoom calls.
A huge thank you to our amazing sponsors Klaviyo , Sprint Logistics , rebuy , Dataships and GoKwik for making it all happen!
Already looking forward to the next one – if you missed out, keep an eye out for what’s coming next...
Kick off 2025 with these must-attend DTC events
We’re kicking off the year with?three major events?designed to help DTC brands?scale smarter, increase conversions, and connect with top industry experts.
Whether you’re looking for a?hands-on workshop, insider insights from a founder who's built a cult-favourite brand, or a major networking event,?here’s what’s coming up.
1. Learning Labs Workshop | The focus: Increasing AOV and conversion rates
???Thursday, 13th February 2025
??9:30 AM - 3:00 PM?(networking drinks to follow)
???The Playhouse, 62, 6 Southwark Bridge Rd, London SE1 0AT
Who’s it for?
DTC brands looking for?practical strategies?to increase conversions and AOV.
Why should you come?
Sign up here.
2. DTC Live Live on Air: How Little Lies built a cult brand – noticed by Taylor Swift!
???Wednesday, 19th February 2025?
???Linkedin Live Webinar
Building a brand that customers?love – and celebrities notice?
That’s exactly what Jade from Little Lies has done.
Little Lies, the indie fashion and lifestyle brand, has built a fiercely loyal community—one that even?Taylor Swift?has shopped from. In this exclusive webinar, Jade shares:
Want to learn from other brand founders? Catch up on all our webinars here.
3. DTC Live London Conference – Our flagship event!
???Thursday, 13th March 2025
??10:30 AM - 4:00 PM?(followed by networking drinks)
???The Fable, 52 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN
Who’s it for?
DTC brands looking for?practical, no-fluff insights on scaling.
Why should you come?
Interested in speaking at DTC Live London??Email?[email protected]
Find out more and grab your early bird ticket here.
The power of customer voices
Here is why on-site surveys are your secret weapon.
Curious about how to turn customer feedback into your greatest marketing asset?
On-site surveys aren’t just about identifying pain points, they’re a goldmine for uncovering what makes your product shine in the eyes of your customers.
Even better?
You can use their own words to build trust, improve experiences, and guide future users.
No need to overthink “perfect” messaging when your customers can craft it for you!
Here’s why these 7 survey questions matter and how they can transform your strategy:
1. “What feature do you love the most about this product and why?”
Why it matters: This reveals your product’s unique strengths. When customers highlight specific features, you learn what’s working and gain authentic testimonials to use in marketing.
For example, if users rave about your website or app’s ease of use, showcase that in ads or onboarding materials.
2. “Was there anything that almost stopped you from making a purchase at any point?”
Why it matters: Friction points are conversion killers. Maybe a confusing checkout process or unclear pricing nearly lost a sale. Addressing these issues can reduce drop-offs and turn hesitant visitors into buyers.
3. “What made you decide to purchase this product?”
Why it matters: This uncovers the “aha moment” that drives purchases. Whether it’s a demo video, a referral, or a specific benefit, these insights help you double down on what resonates most in your campaigns.
4. “How has this product or service made a difference for you?”
Why it matters: Real-world success stories are marketing gold. A customer sharing, “This product saved me 10 hours a week,” is far more compelling than any slogan. Use these quotes to humanise your brand.
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5. “What would you tell someone considering this product (you don’t have to be nice with your answer)?”
Why it matters: Brutal honesty here is a gift. It reveals how customers truly perceive your product – good or bad. Positive responses become social proof; critical ones highlight blind spots to fix.
6. “What could we do to improve your experience?”
Why it matters: Customers love feeling heard. Acting on their suggestions builds loyalty, while their ideas often lead to innovations you might’ve overlooked. Plus, small tweaks (like a better FAQ page) can have outsized impacts.
7. “What part of this service or product would you never want to see go away?”
Why it matters: This identifies your “non-negotiables” – features your audience can’t live without. It ensures updates don’t accidentally remove beloved elements, preserving what makes your product special.
Keep asking, keep growing! Customers’ needs evolve, and so should your surveys. By regularly gathering feedback, you’ll stay ahead of trends, build deeper connections, and create a cycle of improvement that benefits everyone.
So next time you draft a survey, remember: Your customers aren’t just respondents! They're your co-creators, marketers, and advisors. Let their voices lead the way!
Choosing the right 3PL in 2025 – what really matters
Logistics isn’t just about getting orders from A to B. It’s really about?keeping customers happy, reducing costs, and scaling your business smoothly.
Whether you’re shipping direct-to-consumer (DTC), fulfilling wholesale orders, or managing subscription boxes, the right?third-party logistics (3PL) partner?will make all the difference.
But with so many options, how do you choose a 3PL that actually works for your business?
Here’s what to look for to?avoid fulfilment headaches and keep operations running smoothly.
Step 1: Understand your needs
Before you pick a 3PL,?be clear on what your business needs. Are you:
Step 2: Make sure their tech works for you
A 3PL should make your operations easier, not harder. Technology plays a big role in that.
A good 3PL should integrate directly with your system so you don’t have to track orders or chase shipments manually.
Look for:
??Seamless system integrations?– Does the 3PL connect to Shopify, Amazon, and other platforms?
??Real-time tracking?– Can you see stock levels and delivery status anytime?
??Same-day fulfilment?– Do they have strict cut-off times for quick order processing?
Many 3PLs use?third-party warehouse management systems (WMS)?that weren’t built for e-commerce. This leads to slow updates, poor tracking, and stock issues. A good logistics partner either builds their?own?WMS or works with?cutting-edge integrations.
Step 3: Make sure they handle returns properly
Returns aren’t just about customers wanting refunds—they affect customer satisfaction, inventory management, and profitability.
Your 3PL should:
??Process returns quickly?and restock where possible
??Quarantine faulty stock?instead of mixing it with new inventory
??Provide full live tracking?so you always know what’s happening
A slow, unorganised returns process?loses money and damages customer trust.
?? Step 4: Can they handle omnichannel fulfilment?
Selling on multiple platforms? Ask for proof that they can claim to handle omnichannel.?
? Ship?both?individual DTC orders and bulk B2B shipments?
? Keep stock updated across multiple sales channels?
? Handle retailer compliance for wholesale fulfilment?
?? If they can’t prove how they manage multi-channel fulfilment, they’re probably not set up for it.
?? Step 5: Ask the right questions
Before committing to a 3PL, make sure they can actually support your business.
??How do you handle my type of fulfilment??(DTC, B2B, subscriptions)
??What technology do you use??(Can I track everything in real-time?)
??How do you process returns??(Is there a structured system?)
??Can you scale with my business??(Will they grow with you?)
?? Looking for a trusted 3PL partner??If you want a logistics partner that actually helps your business grow,?Sprint Logistics?is the one to talk to - ?[email protected].
Just last week, CEO of Sprint Logistics Aizad Hussain and Shaka Miller shared their logistics expertise at our DTC Live Brand Retreat Gran Canaria ??
The New Meta Ads Landscape: What’s changed in 2025?
With rising competition, bid strategies like?Highest Volume?are more essential than ever.
??Attribution update: 7-day click, 1-day view is now the recommended standard.
???Engagement signals matter: Audience interactions now play a bigger role in long-term performance.
Rethinking performance: Primary vs. storytelling metrics
In 2025, the brands that thrive take a?dual approach to measurement – separating?performance tracking?from?strategic insights?to optimise more effectively.
Instead of just asking,?What’s working?, they also focus on?Why is it working?
???Primary metrics (What’s Working)
These are the bottom-line indicators of success, but they don’t tell the full story.
???Storytelling metrics (Why it’s working)
As Meta’s algorithm increasingly favours engagement signals, understanding these deeper metrics is key to sustainable growth.?
Test, analyse, and adapt to stay ahead.
That's it for this week!
Thank you for reading :)
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We'll be back with more growth strategies and insights for eCom and tech brands next week.