Modern Retail DTC Summit

Naples, FL
Oct 16–18, 2023

The direct-to-consumer playbook has undergone a major transformation over the past few years. But building direct relationships with customers has never been more important.
Gone are the days when brands could acquire a bunch of customers through cheap Facebook ads. Now, DTC brands are inking large-scale wholesale deals with large retailers left and right, while enticing people back to their websites for future purchases. They’re advertising on a slew of channels beyond Facebook and Google, and are looking for more ways to collect customer data. And, they are refining their marketing pitch to make their product a must-have.

At the Modern Retail DTC Summit, we will dive deep into what it means to be a DTC brand, speaking with leaders in the space about how their business models have shifted and what they’re focusing on as 2023 comes to a close. Hear from leaders at Beyond Yoga, ButcherBox, Gopuff and more about hot topics like what it takes to get acquired by a larger retailer, what the role of a DTC website should be, how to retain customers and more.

Prices on passes will increase after September 4.

Speakers

  • Aman Advani
    CO-FOUNDER & CEO
    MINISTRY OF SUPPLY
  • Cas Barbier
    VP, OPERATIONS
    FIGS
  • Daniel Folkman
    SVP, BUSINESS
    GOPUFF
  • Nadya Okamoto
    CO-FOUNDER
    AUGUST
  • Katarina Schneider
    FOUNDER & CEO
    RITUAL
  • Kiran Smith
    CMO
    BUTCHERBOX
  • Ben Soffer
    CO-FOUNDER & CEO
    SPRITZ SOCIETY
  • Michelle Wahler
    CO-FOUNDER & CEO
    BEYOND YOGA

Agenda

Oct. 16

  • 2:00 pm ET
    Registration Opens

  • 2:30 pm ET
    Opening Remarks

    Join us as we welcome everyone and open the summit by going over key trends and challenges in the industry.

    Cale Weissman

    EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

    MODERN RETAIL

  • 2:45 pm ET
    The New Rules of DTC

    Marketers have a new theory about what it means to be a DTC brand. For one, it doesn't mean that you only sell on your website. Instead, it's about a mindset and the ability to be digitally-minded yet adaptable. In this session, one exec will discuss how they have grown their brand and how that extends to the DTC industry as a whole.

  • 3:10 pm ET
    Using Customer Loyalty to Drive your Marketing Strategy

    In its early days as a bootstrapped brand, subscription meat startup ButcherBox found affiliate marketing to be a cost-effective way to drive sales. Although ButcherBox’s marketing strategy has evolved since then to encompass more than just affiliates, the company still thinks deeply about how to turn its members into evangelists. In this session, you’ll hear from ButcherBox chief marketing officer Kiran Smith about how ButcherBox’s marketing strategy has evolved over the years and and how it uses customer insights to inform its marketing strategy.

    Kiran Smith

    CMO

    BUTCHERBOX

  • 3:35 pm ET
    Sponsor Session

  • 3:50 pm ET
    What it Takes to Build a Real Community on Social Media

    “Community” is the buzzword du jour for many brands. But period care brand August launched a community group before it even had a product to sell, recognizing the importance of having a space where people could talk openly about previously-taboo topics. August continued to build an organic following on TikTok, with co-founder Nadya Okamoto accumulating 4 million followers on TikTok. In this session, you’ll hear from Okamoto about her thoughts on TIkTok virality, how to build an authentic relationship with customers, and what’s next for August as it expands into retail.

    Nadya Okamoto

    CO-FOUNDER

    AUGUST

  • 4:10 pm ET
    Sponsor Session

  • 4:20 pm ET
    Building Trust with Customers

    In this session hear from two brand co-founders about how their team builds authority within their product space by partnering with trusted influencers, focusing on customer service and education, and giving customers new ways to test out its products with its first retail store.

  • 4:45 pm ET
    Networking Break

  • 5:00 pm ET
    Challenge Board and Sandbox Presentations

    Brands only. Join us for a breakout session where we will create a challenge board as well as have an open and candid discussion about the industry.

  • 5:45 pm ET
    VIP Welcome Reception

    By invitation only.

  • 6:00 pm ET
    8-Minute Meetings

    By invitation only The 8-minute business meetings connect VIP retail executives with innovative technology platforms and media companies. They are designed to help your team build valuable new relationships and ultimately, close business deals.

  • 7:00 pm ET
    Cocktail Reception

    Join us for a cocktail to wrap up day one of the summit. Open to all.

  • 8:00 pm ET
    Dinner with Strangers

    Join fellow attendees for dinner. Costs are at your own expense.

  • 9:30 pm ET
    After Hours Hangout

    Meet with other attendees at the hotel bar to close out the evening. Costs are at your own expense.

Oct. 17

  • 8:30 am ET
    Breakfast & Registration Re-Opens

  • 9:00 am ET
    Working Groups

    We'll break out into two groups to focus in on different challenge areas.

  • 9:45 am ET
    Modern Market

    Join us for an extended networking break where attending brands will be displaying and testing their products.

  • 10:30 am ET
    Welcome Back

  • 10:35 am ET
    Adapting to Changing Consumer Habits

    Ministry of Supply was founded by MIT graduates with the goal of re-engineering workwear to make it as comfortable as workout gear. But, then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and Ministry of Supply had to rethink what its value proposition was in a world where no one was going to the office and eventually, prepare for the return to office. In this session, you’ll hear from Ministry of Supply co-founder and CEO Aman Advani about how Ministry of Supply has had to adapt its marketing messaging and growth strategy over the years to respond to different consumer trends.

    Aman Advani

    CO-FOUNDER & CEO

    MINISTRY OF SUPPLY

  • 10:55 am ET
    Sponsor Session

  • 11:10 am ET
    Finding an Equilibrium Between Digital and Physical

    How can physical and digital not only coexist with one another but support one another as well? In this session hear from a DTC founder who will explain how their brand has found success in both means of commerce and created a healthy balance of both.

  • 11:30 am ET
    Sponsor Session

  • 11:45 am ET
    Building a Brand of the Future

    Building a modern grocery brand has its series of challenges. Not only do startup food and beverage brands have to navigate the digital landscape, but also the complicated world of retail. In this session, one brand founder discusses the effective strategies the company company applied to sell online while entering thousands of doors in a few short years.

  • 12:15 pm ET
    Lunch

  • 1:00 pm ET
    Afternoon Break

  • 6:00 pm ET
    8-Minute Meetings

    By invitation only The 8-minute business meetings connect VIP retail executives with innovative technology platforms and media companies. They are designed to help your team build valuable new relationships and ultimately, close business deals.

  • 7:00 pm ET
    Cocktail Reception

    Open to all.

  • 8:00 pm ET
    Dinner with Friends

    Join attendees for dinner to wrap up day 2 of the summit. Costs are at your own expense.

  • 9:30 pm ET
    After Hours-Hangout

    Wrap up the evening with a cocktail. Costs are at your own expense.

Oct. 18

  • 8:30 am ET
    Breakfast

  • 9:00 am ET
    Welcome Back

  • 9:05 am ET
    Accelerate Sales with Winning Omnichannel Strategies

    E-commerce marketplaces provide invaluable marketing and advertising opportunities. But not all retailer goals are the same and not all marketplaces are created equal. Join a retail executive as they break down how the right channel and ad solutions mix can help drive sales at the highest efficiency.

  • 9:25 am ET
    Sponsor Session

  • 9:40 am ET
    Life After an Acquisition

    In 2021, Michelle Wahler sold her activewear business Beyond Yoga to Levi Strauss, staying on to operate her brand as a standalone division within the portfolio. It was the opportunity of a lifetime — and just the beginning of Beyond Yoga’s next phase of growth, as the activewear brand opened its first store last year with more on the way. In this session, you’ll hear more from Wahler about why she decided to join the Levi Strauss portfolio, what it has been like integrating her startup into Levi Strauss, and what the next phase of growth looks like for Beyond Yoga.

    Michelle Wahler

    CO-FOUNDER & CEO

    BEYOND YOGA

  • 10:00 am ET
    Sponsor Session

  • 10:10 am ET
    The Key to Effective Customer Service

    At one DTC brand, the customer service team sits within the marketing department. The company believes that customer service can be an effective tool to retain consumers. In this session, one brand founder will break down the company’s customer service strategy and how it maintained a low return rate. They will also discuss some of the platforms the team uses to build a connection with consumers.

  • 10:30 am ET
    Key Takeaways

    We'll end the summit by going over the key takeaways from all three days of sessions.

Get event updates

Sign up for the latest news on this and other Modern Retail events.

Location

The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón


Entry-level: Early Rate
$2,995
  • Save $200
    $3,195 after September 4
  • • Access to three days of key insights and honest discussion
  • Three one-on-one 8-Minute Meetings with executives of your choice
  • • Early access to book the one-to-one meetings of your choice
  • • Networking functions including meals, cocktail receptions, attendee activities and more
  • • Access to our meeting scheduler to help you find the perfect prospects
  • • Brand or retail marketing execs: You may be eligible for a discounted Retailer Pass. Contact us here to find out.
Buy Now
Best Value
Premium Pass: Early Rate
$4,795
  • Limited-time offer: Save $400
    $5,195 after September 4
  • • Access to three days of key insights and honest discussion
  • Five one-on-one 8-Minute Meetings with executives of your choice
  • • Early access to book the one-to-one meetings of your choice
  • • Networking functions including meals, cocktail receptions, attendee activities and more
  • • Access to our meeting scheduler to help you find the perfect prospects
  • Brand or retail marketing execs: You may be eligible for a discounted Retailer Pass. Contact us here to find out.
Buy Now

Interested in Sponsoring?

Submit your information to learn more about lead generation, thought leadership and branding opportunities.

Contact