Amazon India Raises Seller Fees, Unilever plans to spin off Ice Cream business and more!
Amazon India Raises Seller Fees, Unilever plans to spin off Ice Cream business and more!
In our fortieth D2C Insider edition, explore Amazon India Raises Seller Fees, How sports came to an aid being an inexperienced founder and more!
Hello and welcome to the world of D2C Insider, your weekly dose of insights, news, and trends from the direct-to-consumer space in India and beyond. In D2C Insider Digest’s fortieth edition you'll see:
Amazon India Raises Seller Fees, Prices Could Rise
Amazon India will change its fees for sellers starting April 7. Some categories might have higher fees based on product prices. The changes include adjustments to storage, technology, shipping, returns, and seller fees. This does not include the 18% GST. Amazon aims to support small and medium businesses and make selling easier on its platform. Fees for home improvement, luxury beauty, and sleepwear will increase. Some categories, like musical instruments and flip-flops, will also see fee hikes.
Unilever plans to spin off Ice Cream business, sack 7,500 to cut costs
Unilever is separating its ice cream business, including Ben & Jerry’s and Magnum, into its own company to save money. This move will cut 7,500 jobs. The process starts now and ends by 2025. Unilever aims to enhance its focus on strong brands and save €800 million. The ice cream brands made €7.9 billion in 2023. Expect this restructuring plan to boost profits and accelerate growth.
Nordstrom Mulls New Privatization Bid as Department Stores Struggle
The Nordstrom founding family aims to take the retailer private again, negotiating with banks, per Reuters. Despite challenges in consumer spending, Nordstrom focuses on digital growth. CEO Erik Nordstrom leads the chain, with his family owning 30%. The move reflects shifts in retail dynamics, including changes in credit card fees and luxury brands' direct-to-consumer focus. Nordstrom Rack sees a 14.6% sales increase, while high-income shoppers cut back on nonessentials.
Diverse Product Selection Key for D2C Success, Says Grove CEO
Jeff Yurcisin, CEO of the household and personal care products benefit corporation brand, told PYMNTS in an interview that it is not enough for a D2C brand to offer a specialized but highly limited assortment; they need to offer consumers appealing options across categories.
Prabhkiran Singh, CEO of Bewakoof, sees a difference between leading sports teams and businesses:
Chubbies, the savvy brand, knows how to juggle short-term wins and long-term success. Here's what they've learned:
Chubbies found that focusing too much on quick gains, like Facebook ads, wasn't always the best path. Instead, they:
Following these tips can help your brand find its own sweet spot between quick wins and long-term success, just like Chubbies did.
Malabar Investments is talking about investing in Mumbai's Sugar Cosmetics for about Rs 80-100 crore. If the deal goes through, Sugar Cosmetics could be valued at around Rs 2,900 crore. This might involve early investors like RB Investments and India Quotient selling part of their stake.
Pocket FM, an audio platform, just got $103 million in funding led by Lightspeed and Stepstone Group. This money will help them grow in the US and expand globally. They offer long audio content and support writers. They've now raised a total of $196.5 million. Pocket FM has lots of content and is doing well financially, with 10 million users in the US alone. Their competitor, Kuku FM, raised $25 million recently and is also growing.
🤯 Why Direct-To-Consumer Companies Like Casper, Allbirds And Peloton Are All Struggling
1. D2C INSIDER REGIONAL SUMMIT
Join us for an engaging fireside chat on "High Growth yet Profitable D2C brand Building" featuring industry experts Ananth Narayanan founder of Mensa Brands and Kshitij Ladia at our Bangalore D2C Insider Summit!
2. Elevate Super 30
A. Program Update
Sessions conducted of Elevate Super 30 this week: 🚀
B. Elevate Super30 Brand Corner
AdilQadri is a premier indigenous perfume brand celebrated for its superior quality and upscale fragrances. Their latest collection of attars caters to modern lifestyles, meeting the expectations of devoted attar aficionados. With a variety of scents suitable for both formal and casual events, Adil Qadri ensures every moment is adorned with elegance.
Founded by Huzefa IN 2021, Seevo is a home decor sphere. With over 60,000 orders fulfilled and a strong presence on leading marketplaces, the brand has become synonymous with quality and style. From classic pieces to contemporary trends, the curated selection reflects a commitment to blending tradition with innovation, its a one-stop-shop for all home decor needs.
Origins Nutra, founded by Surya Tej Chinni, is a clinical nutrition supplement brand, that works by supporting our body’s natural healing processes at a root cause level.They use clinically proven ingredients and work with experts from nutraceutical, and functional medicine field. Their mission is to help people make informed choices about health and wellness.
C. Be Part of Elevate Super 30 Cohort 2 by joining the waitlist here
3. D2C Insider Super Angels Fund
Introducing the Early Super Angels of D2C Insider Super Angels Fund – India's first operator-led consumer fund backed by top founders from the D2C space in India!
If you are a startup founder seeking relevant and strategic capital, fastrack your success with the D2C Insider Super Angels Fund!
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Stay tuned for more updates and future events. Let's keep taking your D2C business to new heights
Until then, keep rocking the D2C world! 🚀