Sharm Tank Vol. 43

Happy Friday,

Look, I’ve seen it happen countless times. Brands with incredible products end up falling short because they didn’t have the right tools in place.

The truth is, having the right tech stack can be the difference between smooth scaling and a rocky ride. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve hit that $50M mark, the tech you use can make or break your customer experience—and your revenue.

So, let’s chat about the essentials and walkthrough what you need at every stage of your DTC journey, from day one to that big milestone you’ve been eyeing.

Just Launching / Getting Started

Shopify

When you’re just starting, Shopify is the foundation for your storefront. It handles everything from processing orders to managing fulfillment. While you can start with regular Shopify, upgrading to Shopify Plus as you grow unlocks a lot more features. Whether you use one of their themes or build something custom, this is the backbone of your operation.

Klaviyo

If you haven’t set up email marketing yet, stop what you’re doing and start now. Klaviyo is the best ESP for eCommerce brands, and it’ll help you set up everything from automated flows to personalized campaigns that turn first-time visitors into repeat customers.

Heatmap

Knowing how people behave on your site is critical. Heatmap.com shows you exactly where your customers are clicking and where they’re dropping off. As traffic picks up, this tool will help you optimize your site and make data-driven improvements that can boost your revenue.

Okendo

Social proof drives conversions, and Okendo is one of the easiest ways to collect and display reviews. It doesn’t stop there—Okendo also lets you add post-purchase surveys, loyalty programs, and more. It’s a must-have, even at the early stages.

Stay

If you’re in the subscription game, Stay.ai is your best friend. It helps you reduce churn, manage product swaps, and track customer behavior so you can build a subscription program that sticks. Trust me, this is a retention marketer’s dream.

Triple Whale

As you grow, it’s all about knowing where your sales are coming from. Triple Whale offers a dashboard that tracks your metrics in real-time, so you always know which channels are driving your revenue. Plus, the mobile app makes it easy to check your numbers on the go.

Hitting $5M/year or $500K/month

Marpipe

As you scale, standing out in a crowded ad space becomes more important. Marpipe helps you design better, more effective catalog ads, giving you a leg up on the competition. It’s easy to use, and it’ll make a noticeable difference in your ad performance.

Amped

For growing your email list, Amped is a game-changer. Their pop-ups convert at 7-10%, helping you capture more leads and grow your audience faster. Plus, their sleek designs blend seamlessly into your site.

Black Crow

Black Crow uses AI to predict which visitors are most likely to buy, letting you focus your retargeting and discounts where they’ll have the biggest impact. It’s a smart way to get more from your traffic without wasting money.

Motion

Ever wonder which of your ad creatives are really pulling their weight? Motion gives you real-time insights into your ads’ performance, helping your creative and media teams work together to drive better results.

Postscript

Once you’re scaling, SMS becomes a critical part of your marketing mix. Postscript is hands-down the best SMS platform for DTC brands, offering smart opt-ins, dynamic campaigns, and solid customer support. It’s the secret sauce for mobile-first strategies.

Rebuy

Upsells and cross-sells can do wonders for your AOV, and Rebuy makes it easy to integrate smart recommendations throughout your customer’s journey. From in-cart upsells to post-purchase suggestions, this tool drives extra revenue without the extra work.

Scaling to $10M/year or $1M/month

Nostra

Looking to boost your conversion rates? Nostra is all about speed. Faster load times lead to lower bounce rates and higher conversions, and Nostra optimizes your site performance to make sure you’re not leaving money on the table.

Northbeam

At this stage, understanding how all your marketing channels work together is key. Northbeam gives you a clearer picture of which channels are driving revenue so you can make smarter decisions with your marketing budget.

Tracksuit

If you’re running brand awareness campaigns, Tracksuit is a lifesaver. It’s a fraction of the cost of traditional brand surveys and gives you actionable insights into how your brand is being perceived over time.

Over $50M/year or $5M/month

Tydo

For enterprise-level analytics, Tydo is the go-to. It offers custom reports and dashboards that give you full visibility into everything from operations to retention. It’s your cockpit for making data-driven decisions at scale.

Level Access

As you grow, compliance becomes more important—especially ADA compliance. Level Access helps you avoid costly lawsuits by ensuring your website meets accessibility standards. It’s a critical investment for any large-scale brand.

So, whether you’re just launching or scaling to $50M+, your tech stack is one of the most important investments you’ll make. If you’re feeling unsure about where to start or how to level up, hit me up. I’m always happy to help you assess your current setup and make sure you’re ready for long-term success.

If you want to chat through your existing tech stack and see if there are any areas for improvement (or savings), then hit us up here.