Product Gifting is Broken | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 41

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Derek Tillotson, founder of FirstShake and CEO of Haven Tents.Derek has been on both sides of the creator world. Before building Haven Tents, he worked as a family travel content creator, reaching out to hotels and brands and often getting ignored. Later, as a brand owner, he experienced the other side: creators reaching out for free product, brands sending gear, and then hoping the creator actually followed through.That problem led to FirstShake.FirstShake is a Shopify app and creator marketplace that helps brands connect with creators through a cashback challenge model. Instead of brands gifting product and crossing their fingers, creators buy the product first, complete content challenges, and earn cash back through refunds when their content is approved. Derek explains that the goal is to create a win-win: brands get content and lower-risk creator relationships, while creators get access to brands they actually want to work with.We also dive into:• Why traditional product gifting is broken• How brands get ghosted after sending free gear• Why smaller creators often get ignored• How FirstShake lets brands say yes to more creators• Why creators buying first creates “skin in the game”• How creator challenges and cashback refunds work• Why a small creator with 1,800 followers created one of the best videos Derek had seen• Why creative briefs matter for creators and brands• How FirstShake works through Shopify• Why product gifting can become a profit center instead of a total lossThis episode is a great one for outdoor brands, cottage companies, creators, influencers, affiliate marketers, Shopify store owners, and anyone trying to figure out how brands and creators can work together without wasting time, money, or gear.Reel Example: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZsfdMoOK8q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkConnect with FirstShakeWebsite:https://tryfirstshake.comShopify App:https://apps.shopify.com/firstshakeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/tryfirstshakeConnect with Derek / Haven TentsHaven Tents:https://haventents.comListen to Beyond the TrailheadYouTube: https://youtube.com/@BeyondthetrailheadApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcastWebsite: https://obristimagery.comFor those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.