Insights
Field notes from the operating desk.
Long-form essays on the work of building D2C ecommerce brands.

Operations
How to Audit an Ecommerce Brand Before Acquisition
The 47-question framework we use on every deal — covering financials, ops, and brand equity.
Jan 14, 2025 · 9 min

Metrics
The 5 KPIs Every D2C Brand Must Track in 2025
Vanity metrics are dead. Here's what actually predicts compounding performance.
Jan 7, 2025 · 6 min

Tech Stack
Shopify vs Custom Stack: What Scales Better?
We've migrated 14 brands in both directions. The honest answer is: it depends — but here's how to decide.
Dec 19, 2024 · 8 min

Expansion
International Expansion: When Is Your Brand Ready?
A readiness checklist drawn from 12 markets and as many failed launches.
Dec 11, 2024 · 7 min

Finance
CAC Payback Period: The Metric Investors Actually Care About
Why CAC payback eats LTV/CAC for breakfast — and how to instrument it properly.
Dec 3, 2024 · 5 min

M&A
Post-Merger Integration Checklist for Ecommerce Brands
The first 90 days post-close decide the next three years. Here's our playbook.
Nov 22, 2024 · 10 min