🚨 Less SaaS. More Sense.

👋 Welcome back to Signals

Everyone’s rethinking what growth looks like.

Gymshark’s teaming up with Dick’s, founders are saying “less SaaS, more sense,” and zero-party data is quietly becoming the new flex.

If connection beats collection, this week proves it.

Gymshark just hit the gym… with Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Yep, the UK-based fitness giant just inked its first-ever U.S. wholesale deal, landing prime shelf space at Dick’s. But here’s the interesting part: Gymshark didn’t cave to retail. They evolved into it.

This move isn’t about abandoning D2C, it’s about owning more of the customer journey. Gymshark already built trust and identity online; now they’re meeting customers IRL, where the sweat (and spending) actually happens.

💡 The best D2C brands aren’t allergic to retail anymore, they’re using it as a growth multiplier. Once your brand DNA is strong enough, going offline isn’t selling out… it’s selling smarter.

Read more on the Gymshark x Dick’s Partnership

What’s the vibe across the D2C ecosystem right now?

This week, the vibe across D2C is clear: operators are simplifying to scale.

Between tech stack fatigue and shrinking margins, brands are realizing that more tools ≠ more progress. And that’s exactly where Josh Payne, founder of Onward, is steering the conversation.

For years, brands chased integrations like badges of honor, but the smartest operators now are cutting back, consolidating, and focusing on what actually drives repeat purchase and retention.

Josh built Onward as a direct answer to that shift, a post-purchase platform that merges returns, exchanges, and order protection into one clean system.

Fewer tools. More impact.

💡 Takeaway: The new flex isn’t how many tools you have, it’s how seamlessly your stack works together. Efficiency is the new growth strategy, and operators like Josh are proving that consolidation isn’t a slowdown, it’s the new scale-up.

Read the full Behind The Tool interview here

We’re data nerds so you don’t have to be. Each week we’ll bring you some data to chew on with The Data Drop.

We’ve hit peak privacy meets personalization season.

According to Attentive’s 2025 Consumer Trends Report, 64% of shoppers are actively protecting their online privacy… yet 71% still want personalized experiences.

That’s the paradox of modern D2C: consumers crave relevance, but they don’t want to feel watched.

Attentive’s 2025 Consumer Trends Report

Enter zero-party data, the information customers willingly share (via style quizzes, post-purchase surveys, or preference centers). It’s clean, compliant, and built on trust, a combo that drives repeat purchase and higher LTV.

💡 Heads up, Operator:

• Trust = retention. 52% of consumers want direct control of their data. Brands that give it earn permission to personalize.
• Interactive > invasive. Data collection should feel like a benefit (better recommendations, faster reorders), not surveillance.
• Value unlocks data. 99.6% of consumers are willing to share some form of data in exchange for an incentive. So make sure you are offering something meaningful in return!
• Retention edge. Zero-party data powers smarter segmentation, fewer unsubscribes, and stronger loyalty cycles.

Bottom Line: The next wave of D2C growth will come from brands that make personalization feel empowering, not creepy.

One tool, one brand, one agency to watch out for this week.

Brand Spotlight: ARMRA

ARMRA isn’t just selling colostrum, they’re selling belief in better immunity. And they’re doing it through transparency, trust, and ridiculously good storytelling.

Their website feels like a crash course in wellness science: clean visuals, bite-sized education, and personalization that actually earns attention. Every click deepens the shopper’s trust instead of just pushing a sale. And the quiz-style flow guiding users to their ideal bundle? That’s zero-party data done right. Helpful, not invasive.

Reviving Foundational Health

Explore ARMRA

While most supplement brands scream “buy now,” ARMRA plays the long game. They nurture curiosity into confidence and turn that into subscriptions, repeat orders, and genuine community buy-in.

💡 Operator takeaway: If your brand relies on education, make it feel like discovery, not homework. The more your customer learns and engages on their own terms, the easier it is to earn loyalty, no discount required. Yep, you can say that again and backwards 😉

In the Toolkit: Digioh

You know those “What’s your skin type?” or “Find your perfect bundle” quizzes that actually feel helpful? That’s Digioh doing its thing behind the scenes.

Digioh helps DTC brands collect zero-party data, info shoppers willingly share through quizzes, forms, and pop-ups, and turns it into real personalization across email, SMS, and on-site experiences. It’s like your conversion funnel got a personality upgrade.

💡Stop guessing. It’s expensive. When customers tell you what they want, you skip the guesswork and send smarter recommendations that actually land (and convert). Plus, tools like Digioh do it all in one place: quizzes, pop-ups, list growth, meaning fewer SaaS bills and more actionable data.

Your tactical zero-party data roadmap is just a click away.

Try Digioh

👉 Put it into action: Launch one zero-party quiz this month. Ask shoppers what they’re looking for, tailor the next touchpoint, and watch engagement rise without touching your ad budget.

Agency Assist: FAV Solution

If you’re trying to make your tech stack feel lighter while your site converts harder, FAV Solution is the crew to call.

They’re a Shopify Plus agency obsessed with making D2C brands faster, cleaner, and more customer-centric. From data-driven site design to optimizing flows that actually feel personal, FAV Solution helps brands bridge the gap between personalization and performance, without the “too many tools” headache.

From completely new sites to smart technical tweaks, FAV creates efficient e-commerce solutions that generate exceptional results.

See How FAV Builds for D2C

💡 Why we’re watching: When every app promises magic, execution is what wins. FAV Solution helps brands turn zero-party data, smart UX, and conversion strategy into something seamless, experiences that convert because they connect.

Are you D2C (Down 2 Collab)?

At 1-800-D2C, we spotlight the real builders behind the tools and brands featured on our site and the D2C players putting those tools to work. Let’s collab:

For Brand Founders:

• List your brand on 1-800-D2C to show off your incredible tech stack.
• Have an inspiring journey about building your brand? Get featured in our Under The Hood interview series and share how you’re scaling, innovating, and winning.

For Tool Founders:

• List your tool on 1-800-D2C today to show off your brands and become a Friend’s Rates member. Sign up today.
• Want to share the story behind your tool and how it's changing the D2C space? Fill out our founder questionnaire to get featured in our Behind The Tool interview series!