Is Amazon a “broken mess?“, Winning Gen Z with a simple hack, and more | D2C Digest

Hey there, great people of the D2C community who are building fantastic things! This is your host Berkay writing. 

Take a 5-minute break and dive into D2C Digest for a quick overview of what’s happening in the D2C market worldwide!

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🤔 Is Amazon a “broken mess“?

Last week, I read a very interesting thread by Sean Frank on X.

For those who do not know him, Sean is the CEO of Ridge Wallets and an important figure within the D2C community at X. The other day, he shared his frustrations with Amazon although he has done over $50 million in sales there.

The main concern Sean mentioned is that he feels Amazon doesn’t care about its sellers or protect their intellectual property.

He shared his story of uploading a design patent only to be brushed off with a “stop contacting me” response. I mean, what the heck?

He’s frustrated by the flood of knock-offs and copyright violations, where search results are clogged with ads, counterfeits, and cheap products.

According to Sean, Amazon is more focused on ad revenue than on protecting genuine sellers. More sellers, even the counterfeiters, mean more ads. Despite having tools like APEX and trademark reporting, Sean feels Amazon avoids making decisions that matter, leaving sellers like him in the lurch.

That’s why he feels ignored and unprotected even after, spending millions of dollars on ads. He worries that Amazon’s approach will hurt customer trust and the company’s bottom line in the long run.

And apparently, he’s not alone as this thread got over 30K likes and many other merchants replied with similar experiences in the past.

Do you feel the same about Amazon? Let us know!

🙌🏻 Winning Gen Z with a simple packaging hack

Just came across a great example of how simple modifications to your product could lead to huge success!

Meet Jess Druey, the founder of Whiny Baby, a wine brand born in 2020 from a simple yet relatable dilemma: finding the perfect bottle of wine for a first date. Jess realized that wine is more than a drink; it's a "cultivator of moments of connection." Inspired, she set out to reimagine the wine experience for the Gen Z crowd.

Jess knew Gen Z drinks less alcohol than older generations but craves shared experiences. Her solution? Innovative, conversation-sparking packaging:

1️⃣ Chatty Caps: Each bottle cap includes a fun question, perfect for breaking the ice.

2️⃣ Memory Labels: Instead of tossing labels, write down memories and peel them off to keep.

3️⃣ Trendy Trinkets: Every bottle comes with colorful trinkets that double as phone charms.

Whiny Baby’s unique approach has quickly resonated, landing spots in major retailers like Target and online platforms like BevMo! and GoPuff. Their disruptive packaging and focus on connection make it a hit with Gen Z.

The Takeaway

Whiny Baby is proof that innovative packaging and a focus on shared experiences can transform a product and attract a new generation of customers.

🤝 WTO countries sign global eCommerce agreement to ban tariffs

Big news! The WTO has signed its first-ever global eCommerce agreement, setting the stage for universal digital trade rules, which is particularly important for D2Cs operating international businesses.

What’s in the Agreement?

• No Customs Duties: Electronic transactions are now duty-free. 😮

• E-Signature Recognition: E-signatures are legally recognized across borders.

• Fraud Safeguards: Protection against online fraud and misleading claims.

• Spam & Data Protection: Tighter spam controls and better personal data protection.

Why does it matter?

Valdis Dombrovskis, EU’s Executive VP, calls it a game-changer for global digital trade, especially for integrating developing countries into the digital economy.

The impact on eCommerce

Fraud is a big issue—47% of businesses reported losses last year. This agreement aims to fix that, with 95% of eCommerce merchants already enhancing or planning to enhance their anti-fraud measures.

The takeaway

This landmark agreement is a huge step toward harmonizing global digital trade, benefiting businesses and consumers. However, experts claim the agreement is a good first step but say more work is needed.

D2C DIGEST

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