DTC795: Search Surge: Chinese Manufacturers

Good morning,

Here’s what you’ll find in today’s DTC:

💡 Level Up Your Retention Program
Unlock revenue with this cross-channel strategy.

📦 Tariff Trouble Tracker
Today’s biggest updates and more.

😮 The Real Cost of a Birkin
Chinese factories spill the secrets (and go viral).

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You’re reading this newsletter along with new subscribers from: Dynacare, Freshbenies, and TRIP. 👋

⚡ Want AI That Works? Here are 10 Proven Strategies from Top Ecommerce Brands‍‍

Skeptical about AI? So were these top brands—until the results spoke for themselves. ✨

👉 AI in Action pulls back the curtain on how ecommerce teams are using AI to slash response times, automate support, and drive serious revenue. 💥

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📖 Inside the ebook, you’ll find:

• Step-by-step frameworks for onboarding AI like a new hire
• Tips on balancing automation with human support
• A roadmap for rolling out AI across teams and channels
• How to use AI in pre-sales and boost conversions
• Ways to position AI as a career booster—not a threat

👀 Get the ebook now, then on April 29, go even further with a live webinar featuring the leaders who made it happen.

You'll hear from Anne Dyer from OLIPOP, Katia Komar from bareMinerals, Katherine Goodman from Cornbread Hemp, Erica Gray from Love Wellness, and Amber van den Berg from Wildride. 🎙️

📦 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.

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April 16, 2025 update:

• China Faces 245% Tariff?
  • The White House declares that China now faces up to 245% tariffs due to its retaliatory actions against the U.S.
  • The White House Statement on Wednesday generated confusion in Beijing.
  • The White House later clarified that new tariffs still stand at 145%, but the 245% figure represents all previous and new tariffs on Chinese goods dating to Biden and Trump’s first administration.
• California Sues Trump Administration
  • California becomes the first state to sue the Trump administration over tariffs.
  • Governor Gavin Newsom argues tariffs are being ‘disproportionately’ felt in California, the top manufacturing state in the country.
• World Trade Organization Issues Warning
  • WTO shares that Trump’s tariffs will send global trade into reverse this year.  
  • WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala raises concern about the ‘decoupling’ of the U.S. and China.  
  • Trade between the two countries is expected to plunge by 91%, and warn that this will have ‘far-reaching consequences.’
• China Appoints New Trade Envoy
  • China replaced veteran trade negotiator Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen with Li Chenggang, a former assistant commerce minister and WTO ambassador.
  • There is speculation that the move will help with U.S. trade war negotiations, which have long since reached an impasse.

🔎 ChatGPT’s Sharp Growth Worldwide

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shares that 10% of the world now uses ChatGPT.

The platform has been growing at an unprecedented rate, with users doubling in the past few weeks.

Last December, OpenAI reported around 300 million ChatGPT weekly active users.

In March, their user base shot up and likely doubled after the company announced its image generation tool.

🛍️ Struggling To Turn TikTok Traffic Into Sales? Here’s How To Unlock Conversions‍

You work hard for TikTok traffic—don’t let it go to waste.

Join REVIEWS.io and TikTok live on April 23rd at 12:00pm PST / 3:00pm EST to learn how top brands convert social views into checkouts using verified customer reviews. 💬

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In this free 30-minute webinar, you'll get:

• 🔌 A plug-and-play strategy for TikTok Shop
• 💵 High-LTV review flows built for retention
• 👀 Real examples from fast-growing brands
• 💁‍♀️ Tips to boost trust and conversions with UGC

Plus, register now, and even if you can’t join live, you’ll still be sent the recorded session.

Don’t miss out!

‍🎧 Inside the Cross-Channel Efficiency Engine: Abby Kohler on Meta, Email & Retention

This episode of the TWBERP Podcast features Abby Kohler, former media buyer and current account strategist at Pilothouse.

Abby explains why getting your retention program airtight is the critical first step before scaling paid acquisition — and how Pilothouse’s integrated teams collaborate to unlock revenue across every customer touchpoint.

Abby breaks down exactly how retention and acquisition teams should integrate to increase efficiency across Meta, email, and post-click experiences.

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What you'll learn in this episode:

• Optimize ad spend: How brands are adapting Meta strategy amid tariff uncertainty.
• Ways to boost retention: How you can use tools like Klaviyo & Lifetimely to build high-LTV flows.
• Custom customer journeys = Higher engagement: How to personalize messaging through different stages of the funnel from pop-up to purchase.
• Strategic ways to A/B test: And how to use top email concepts for paid ads.

If your brand is scaling and you’re trying to reduce CAC without sacrificing growth, this episode offers the exact playbook!

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👉 Listen to the full episode with Jordan and Abby here.

Also… Check out the “Go With The Flow” 50% off flow builds offer.

📈 SEARCH SURGE

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What’s trending? Searches for Chinese manufacturers and Chinese suppliers reached an all-time high worldwide.

Why is this happening? This week, China responded to Trump’s tariffs by exposing brands in the luxury goods category over social media.

Suppliers are sharing on TikTok how a luxury bag like a Birkin (which retails for over $30K) can be made for only $1.4K using the finest materials and urge U.S. consumers to buy directly from them instead.

These shocking videos are causing consumers to scrutinize brands and their global supply chains now more than ever.

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📅 EVENTS

SEO Spring Training - A two day conference which includes breakout sessions of researched, strategic actionable plans from experts who have worked their way to the top and have turned their businesses into something bigger.

🗓️ May 1-4, 📍 Chandler, AZ 💰 $1,197 - $2,897

Data Innovation Summit - This event brings together data, AI, and advanced analytics experts. Topics covered include applied AI, generative AI, data engineering, and modern data strategies, offering attendees numerous opportunities for learning, networking, and benchmarking best practices.

🗓️ May 7-8, 📍 Hybrid: Stockholm, Sweden & Online 💰 €249 - €499

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📰 NEWS

• California becomes the first state to sue the Trump administration over tariffs.
• More than 60% of CEOs expect the U.S. economy to enter a recession in the next six months.
• Nvidia confirms it will produce AI supercomputers entirely in the U.S for the first time.
• Google releases guide on Ad Strength Best Practices to help advertisers maximize performance.

‍📥 Got a B2B Biz?

Join dozens of B2B companies finding demand-gen success through our niche community of 150k brand leaders and founders this year. Talk to our team to learn more.

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Have you heard our latest podcasts?

• ☕ How Four Sigmatic Is Navigating Tariffs Without Losing Customers
• 📉 AKNF 498: How Tariff News Is Affecting Meta & Google Ads Now
• ☠️ TWBERP 27: Drive Email Revenue Without Killing Your Brand
• 🏆 How Tito’s Built America’s #1 Vodka Brand Without Celebrities or Flavors
• 💻 AKNF 494: Why 2025 is the Year of Post-Click Optimization
• 📧 TWBERP 26: A Lifecycle Email Strategy for DTC Brands

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Don’t forget to rate the DTC Podcast on Apple (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

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DTC Newsletter is written by Rebecca Knight and Frances Du. Edited by Eric Dyck.

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