Good morning,
Here’s what you’ll find in today’s DTC:
💡 Navigating Through Tariff Turmoil
How brands can capitalize on the tariff war.
📦 Daily Tariff Update
The latest news and poll results about tariffs on China.
🇺🇸 Made in America? Not So Simple.
Why U.S. production isn’t always an option.
You’re reading this newsletter along with new subscribers from: Gallant Fox Brewing, Clorox, and Masters Touch. 👋
📧 This One Change Boosted Email-Driven Revenue by 87%
✅ 87% increase in email-driven revenue
✅ 105% increase in customer retention
✅ 432% increase in email subscribers
That one change? Partnering with the Pilothouse Email and Customer Retention team.
Octopied Mind came to Pilothouse with a strong brand and a loyal community—but their email strategy wasn’t delivering the retention and revenue they knew it could.
Here’s the strategy Pilothouse deployed:
Want to see these results for your brand? Let’s chat.
📦 Your Daily Tariff Check-In
Whether it’s a minor tweak or a major shift, we’ll keep you posted on the latest tariff changes—so you’re always in the know.
April 10, 2025 update:
💡 Three Short-Term Tariff Tips To Consider
While the tariff tango continues, brands are anxiously awaiting updates day by day.
However, Pilothouse advises brands not to panic.
Not yet, anyway.
In the meantime, here are some short-term tariff tips you may want to consider while waiting for the trade war dust to settle.
1️⃣ Keep Spending Ad Dollars
While your gut reaction may be to pull back on ad spend because of tariff uncertainty, make sure you’re considering and monitoring all factors before scaling back.
Overall, Pilothouse is seeing ad costs come down.
On average, CPCs dropped 7% after the tariff announcement, and CPMs also fell 18%.
Though conversion rates have dropped for some, the AOV of purchases overrule and has increased the average ROAS for many brands.
So if you have the inventory, keep spending.
2️⃣ Hold off on Promos
If you have a costly promo scheduled in the next month or two, one possible workaround is to move or cancel the promos and retain higher cash flow.
The promo period will become stronger and more lucrative when the overall economy is more expensive.
3️⃣ Lean into Brand Story
Consumers have always resonated with seeing the humans behind their favourite brands or products.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to share your brand story and lift the veil on how and where products are made if it works in your favor.
There is a competitive edge to using messaging like “American Owned” or “American Made” in ads.
Here are some ad creatives we are seeing as the shop local movement continues to grow. 👇
While the full impact of the tariffs is still unfolding, brands that stay agile and strategic will come out ahead.
By doubling down on ad efficiency, preserving margin through smart promo planning, and reinforcing brand trust, there’s still plenty of ground to gain.
In uncertain times, staying calm and calculated beats being reactive every time.
👉 Worried about how new tariffs will impact your margins?
Get a free Emergency Marketing Audit from Pilothouse—built for 7-figure brands navigating shifting costs and sudden opportunity. No strings, just strategy. Get connected here.
🌐 IN THE SOCIAL SPHERE
While President Trump urges more businesses to move their manufacturing to the U.S., some users on X point out that the move isn’t feasible and will make it even more difficult for brands to stay profitable.
⚡ QUICK HITS
👀 Wanna see a 400% ROI in your influencer marketing? minisocial helps you build an always-on community of Superfans on top of getting video assets for your organic and paid channels. Try minisocial here. *
📅 EVENTS
SocialNext - Social Media Week (SMW) Next is a conference series focused on social media, digital culture, and technology. Attendees can expect to learn about the latest trends and best practices in social media marketing and digital strategy.
🗓️ Apr 25, 📍 Toronto, ON 💰 $399 -1,695
Config - Figma’s Config is a developer-focused conference exploring the future of design and development. Attendees can expect insightful sessions on topics such as collaborative workflows, design systems, and innovative Figma plugins. Participants will learn practical skills and best practices to improve their design and development processes.
🗓️ May 6-8, 📍 San Francisco, CA 💰 Free - $399
📰 NEWS
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DTC Newsletter is written by Rebecca Knight and Frances Du. Edited by Eric Dyck.
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