Ep 491: Scaling to $1B While Spending Just 5% on Ads – The Simple Modern Playbook

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupMany if not most eCommerce brands spend 15-20% of revenue on advertising—Simple Modern? Just 5%.So how did they become a category leader in drinkware, dominate Amazon, and land major retail deals with Target?In this episode, Bryan Porter, Co-founder & Chief E-commerce Officer of Simple Modern, breaks down their low-ad spend, high-efficiency growth strategy and why focusing on brand trust, product variety, and Amazon SEO led to 50M+ products sold.What You'll Learn:✅ The Amazon playbook that helped them win top search rankings. ✅ Why they only spend 5% of revenue on ads—and how they drive organic growth. ✅ How they expanded from Amazon to Target without traditional advertising. ✅ Why TikTok virality boosted Amazon sales more than TikTok Shop itself. ✅ How launching an electrolyte brand (Trevi) creates long-term customer retention.One Big Idea:👉 Customer trust and organic search matter more than ad spend.This is a must-listen for brand builders who want sustainable, profitable growth.🎧 Listen now!Timestamps00:00 - Simple Modern’s early growth on Amazon02:45 - The jump to Target and retail expansion06:30 - The rise of drinkware as a fashion category10:15 - Leveraging TikTok Shop for brand awareness14:50 - Expanding marketing efforts beyond digital ads19:30 - Scaling through licensing and product innovation24:15 - Testing TV ads and influencer marketing impact28:40 - Launching Trevi: Entering the electrolyte market33:10 - Hiring the right people and building a mission-driven team37:45 - The role of generosity and company cultureHashtags#Ecommerce #DTC #AmazonFBA #RetailStrategy #BrandGrowth #TikTokMarketing #InfluencerMarketing #ProductLaunch #StartupSuccess #BusinessPodcast Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video