We live in the golden age of D2C brands that have made their mark in the world. D2C brands were once dominated by the CPG giants, with the widespread usage of social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. UGC content has become more reliable and has taken off in the country in a big way, this is a huge opportunity for Indian entrepreneurs to connect to audiences not only in India but in all corners of the world. The way I see it, four pertinent routes can help create a borderless world for D2C Indian brands:

Product Innovation: This has become vital in adding originality to brands, this is a huge opportunity for Indian entrepreneurs to capitalize on, to generate opportunities. In today's scenario, many D2C brands are dependent on OEM manufacturers for their products. This opens up an entire ecosystem to a lot of 'me-too' products. The backbone of any D2C brand is being able to advertise digitally and to a very focused and customized target audience and this has made us reach out to customers in corners of the world, unlike in traditional media. With many brands competing for the limited eyeballs of consumers, the cost of customer acquisition (CAC) is mounting and expected to grow further.

Lowering of Entry Barriers: With very few entry barriers to starting a D2C company, the competition is fierce. Reports indicating that Shopify's GMV is about 50 percent of Amazon's, the e-commerce behemoth in Q4 2021 corroborates this. With markets and investor sentiment being more cautious than ever before, funding for growth might not be easy to come. D2C founders should pause for a breath, take stock of the situation, out necessary expenditures, invest time in products, and focus on growth with profitability.

Brand Resilience: While the D2C market seems like a dream for those who haven't entered it yet keep in mind that this is a highly competitive field that is constantly evolving and changing almost every day. Your job will be to keep the business running while inspiring your team to keep moving on to the next level as you play catch-up with changes while mastering the others right before they change. Your mindset and residence will make the difference in making the world borderless creating infinite opportunities. 

Cost Of Acquisition: The backbone of D2C is being able to reach out to your market to a more focused customized target audience. Unlike traditional media, today's D2C businesses have Facebook and Google to rely on. With many brands competing for the limited eyeballs of consumers, the cost of acquisition(CAC) is mounting and is expected to grow further. Business owners must understand that irrespective of strategizing to acquire customers at any cost, there is no guarantee that the customers would be loyal to the brand. And so, it's prudent for D2C businesses to explore engaging with customers through a mix of  BTL activations and traditional media to create a better positioning amongst our target audiences.

While the D2C market seems like a dream for those who haven't entered it yet, we must not forget that this is a highly competitive field. There is a constant evolution and changes almost every single day. The business owners will need to be the champion of the team and the energy leader along with the chief motivation officer. Your job will be to keep the business running while inspiring your team to keep moving on to the next level as you play catch-up with changes while mastering the others right before they change. Your mindset and resilience will make a difference.