DTC POD - #312 - Dad Gang Decoded: Building a Fatherhood Community One Hat at a Time With Bart Szaniewski

1️⃣ One Sentence Summary

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Growth of Dad Gang through community and strategic social marketing.

💼 LinkedIN - 6 Reasons Post

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Investing in community-led growth is the SMARTEST strategy for any startup. Here are the top 6 reasons why building your brand around a strong community is a genius move: 1. Authentic connections fuel growth. When customers feel connected to your brand's story and values, like the dads who rallied around the Dad Gang community, they become your most vocal advocates. Authenticity isn't just a buzzword; it's the secret sauce that turns users into evangelists who willingly promote your product. 2. Real-time feedback is worth its weight in gold. Having a direct line to your customer base means you can rapidly iterate on your product based on actual user experiences. Dad Gang's ability to refine their hats and develop new styles based on dad's insights is a testament to the power of community feedback. 3. Communities amplify your marketing efforts. Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool, and a dedicated community will spread the word faster than any paid ad campaign can. Dad Gang's impressive organic social media growth is a prime example of this amplification in action. 4. Customer retention skyrockets. People stay where they feel valued. By engaging dads in the narrative of fatherhood, Dad Gang created a shared identity that keeps customers coming back, not just for the hats, but for the camaraderie. 5. Risk is mitigated by customer validation. Before a single dollar is spent on a new product, your community acts as a sounding board, ensuring there's a demand. Dad Gang's rapid sell-out of their initial hundred hats with no paid social or advertising showed powerful validation from their dad community. 6. You forge an emotional connection. Beyond just a product, you're creating an experience. Dad Gang didn't just sell hats; they sold a piece of identity that dads could emotionally invest in, which is a mighty driver of loyalty and repeat business. TAKEAWAY: Build a community that believes in your brand. Use real-time feedback to perfect your product. Let your satisfied customers be your loudest cheerleaders. Create a sense of belonging that enhances customer retention. Risk less by validating product demand with your community. Forge deeper customer relationships that transcend mere transactions. And remember, a community that grows together, shows together — in sales, loyalty, and shared success.

Interview Breakdown

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In this episode, Bart shares the remarkable story of how a $750 investment turned into over 90,000 hats sold in just a year and a half, charting the rise of his Dad Gang brand. Discover the strategic moves and community-building efforts that have propelled the brand to new heights. Today, I'll cover - The secret sauce behind the organic Instagram sales strategy that fueled growth - Crafting top-notch hats that dads everywhere are proud to wear - Building a robust community by encouraging dads to share their fatherhood tales - Bart's journey from working with streetwear brands to spearheading the Dad Gang - How Dad Gang plans to soar even higher in 2024 with the help of their dedicated following

🔑 7 Key Themes

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1. Organic social media growth strategies 2. Community building through brand engagement 3. Fathers sharing personal fatherhood stories 4. Quality product development and manufacturing 5. Marketing expertise fueling business growth 6. Customer involvement in product feedback 7. Expanded use of SMS marketing techniques

💬 Keywords

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Dad Gang, fatherhood stories, community engagement, hat sales growth, organic social media posts, Instagram marketing, product quality, embroidery durability, hat design, brand loyalty, streetwear brands, investment in boosting posts, emotional customer support, targeted marketing, marketing agency experience, holiday marketing strategy, dad influencer collaborations, snapback hats, trucker hats, Dwayne Wade partnership, marketing expertise, direct-to-consumer sales, Strideline athletic socks, Mint Marketing, Flight Performance, Haldi skincare, The Patch Brand, social media growth, Attentive SMS marketing, Live Recover abandoned carts.

🎞️ Clipfinder: Quotes, Hooks, & Timestamps

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Bart 00:02:44 00:03:03

Entrepreneurial Beginnings: "Probably 2011 was when I kind of got my first taste of trying stuff. I've always been into hip hop, apparel, music events and I think in college I kind of got the bug to start making t shirts and throwing events and selling stuff online."

Bart 00:06:50 00:06:59

Agency Life and Burnout: "I know a lot of people love that grind of the agency life, and it is for everybody, or it is for some people, but for me, it just definitely was not."

Bart 00:11:08 00:11:13

Grassroots Business Growth: "We were just trying something for fun and people are like, oh, we haven't seen this before, let's grab them."

Bart 00:15:07 00:15:29

Modern Fashion and Durability: "I was super particular on the embroidery of dad gang and making sure that it pops super well, that if you wear it all year, that it doesn't kind of have threads coming out of it, and that the bill is perfectly in place when it shows up, and the snap back is the actual snaps of the back stay in place."

Bart 00:20:43 00:21:05

Celebrating Fatherhood: "And once more of the community started doing that, we still, to this day, repost every single story we can that tags us. We repost as many photos as possible. We highlight every Friday we do a thing called Father Friday where I just highlight as many dads as possible in an email, in a text and on Instagram."

Bart 00:23:39 00:24:03

The Complexities of Modern Fatherhood: "Fatherhood, for the great stuff that it is, there are a lot of trials and tribulations that men go through on the fatherhood side, whether it's child loss, whether it's divorce, whether it's custody battles, whether it's just self doubt and maybe being in your own head about how good you are as a father."

Bart 00:29:41 00:30:04

Inventory Management Strategies: "if something's sold out and you visit our site, and you go through an attentive journey of a back in stock text, that's where the trickery and optimization comes into play. Because you visited a site, you wanted a hat, and you click, notify me when it's back. So instantly when it's back, you're going to get a text. So it still works really well."

Bart 00:35:48 00:35:52

Effective Social Media Strategy: "You don't want to just approve everybody because you're going to get spam accounts and all these things."

Bart 00:38:43 00:38:50

Dads Seeking Fatherhood Advice Online: "You put a bunch of dads together, like in a bar, what are they going to talk about? Probably their kids and sports and some other things."

Bart 00:42:19 00:42:38

Fashion Brand Strategy: "We might make an actual fitted hat based on this feedback, and we might make a bucket hat because some guys want them. So it's just like letting this crowd and this community dictate where we move next instead of planning out the entire year and sticking to that, because that's what we think is right."

📚 Timestamped overview

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00:00 Interest in hip hop led to career in marketing and branding.

05:57 Transition from freelance to agency, experiencing burnout.

10:24 Friends, family supported hat-making venture organically grew.

14:39 Connected with manufacturer to create high-quality hats.

17:04 From 100 hats to 90,000 in 1.5 years.

20:14 Highlight new dads, share their fatherhood stories.

23:31 Fatherhood has trials, community provides support.

26:37 Bart, startup success, building community, unexpected growth.

29:31 Boosted ads with back-in-stock notifications work well.

35:33 Started private Facebook group for back-in-stock updates.

38:01 Dad support group fosters community and advice.

41:50 Focus on collaborations, new hat styles, feedback.

44:15 Best-selling black and white horsepower hat sold out.

❇️ Key topics and bullets

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Podcast: DTC POD Episode Title: Bart - Updated Hosts: Blaine Bolus, Ramon Berrios Guest: Bart Primary Topics with Sub-topics: 1. Growth Strategy of Dad Gang - Investing in organic Instagram posts to drive sales - Creating a demand-supply battle to fuel customer interest - Relationship with manufacturers for high-quality embroidery and design 2. Building a Quality Product and Community - Importance of product quality in building brand loyalty - Strategies for cultivating a loyal customer base similar to streetwear brands - Building community through shared fatherhood experiences 3. Marketing Techniques and Social Media Engagement - Boosting organic posts with minimal investment for greater reach - Forming genuine connections with fathers on social media platforms - Utilizing targeted marketing to grow customer base beyond local reach 4. Bart's Personal Journey and Professional Background - Transition from marketing at streetwear brands to Dad Gang - Contributions at Strideline and roles at various agencies - Establishing Dad Gang and achieving organic growth 5. The Dad Gang Brand and Its Resonance - Sharing fatherhood stories as a core value of the brand - Support offered within the dad community for various paternal challenges - Celebrating fatherhood and creating a supportive environment 6. Future Plans and Product Development - Preparing for key holiday seasons and Father’s Day - Increasing collaborations with influential dads - Launching new hat styles based on customer feedback 7. Community Engagement and Marketing Strategies - Involvement of dads and moms in the community's integrity - Encouraging interactions through private groups and communication channels - SMS marketing tactics including welcome series and abandoned cart recovery 8. Recommendations and Collaboration Interests - Bart's recommended products and best sellers - Interest in potential collaborations with personalities like Dwayne Wade 9. Insights on Direct-to-Consumer Sales - 12 years of experience in marketing and DTC sales - Insights into the synergy of marketing and product quality - Strategies used for SMS marketing and customer retention.

🎬 Reel script

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Hey everyone, Blaine Bolus here from DTC POD, and we just wrapped up an inspiring session with Bart from Dad Gang. What started with a modest $750 investment turned into selling over 90,000 hats by simply backing organic Instagram content. His hands-on approach in community building, much like how streetwear brands once did, has paid off, creating a space where dads share life's highs and lows, cultivating a strong, supportive environment. Bart’s marketing acumen shines through, discussing how localized growth blossomed into wider success. Looking ahead, Bart's gearing up for the holiday crunch and Father's Day, with new hat styles in the pipeline, eagerly anticipated by the community. It's a story of quality, connection, and smart, community-focused branding. Make sure to check out the full episode with Bart — his insights on leveraging real stories and organic growth are game-changers for any brand aiming to create impact. Stay tuned for more at DTC POD!

👩‍💻 LinkedIn post

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🚀🧢 Dive into our latest *DTC POD* episode titled *Bart - Updated*, where we unbox the incredible journey of a dad-focused brand that has taken the market by storm. Join hosts Blaine Bolus and Ramon Berrios with special guest, Bart, as we explore the tactics behind selling 90,000 hats and creating a thriving community. Here's why this episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs and marketing aficionados: - **Community Is King**: Learn how Bart's brand cultivated a passionate community around fatherhood, paralleling the loyalty seen in streetwear cultures. - **Quality and Storytelling**: Discover the pivotal role of high-quality products and the power of sharing authentic fatherhood stories in brand building. - **Grassroots Growth**: Unearth the effectiveness of strategic organic Instagram posts combined with minor ad boosts to skyrocket brand visibility and sales. 💡 Ready to rejuvenate your brand strategy with community-focused tactics? Tune in to DTC POD's latest episode for deep insights and inspiration. Don't forget to hit subscribe for more stories like Bart's that drive the future of Direct-to-Consumer success. 🔗 **3 Key Takeaways:** - A modest investment can yield monumental rewards with smart social media strategies. - Authentic engagement with your community can fortify brand loyalty and fuel growth. - Leverage your unique stories to connect beyond just the product, fostering a deep connection with your audience. #DTCPOD #Entrepreneurship #BrandCommunity #Storytelling #MarketingStrategy #SocialMediaMarketing #DirectToConsumer #PodcastHighlights #DadGang 🎧 Listen to the full episode and join the revolution of dad-focused fashion: [Podcast Link] 🧢 Browse the popular "Horse Power" hat and other trendy Dad Gang apparel: [Website Link] ✨ Let's celebrate and support the journey of modern fatherhood together!

✏️ Custom Newsletter

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Subject: 🧢 Fresh Off The Press: DTC POD Digs into Dad Gang’s Striking Success! Hey DTC Family! Hope you’ve all been great! Buckle up, because this week's episode of DTC POD is nothing short of inspiring. We’re thrilled to release "Bart - Updated," where our very own Blaine Bolus and Ramon Berrios sit down with Bart, co-founder of Dad Gang, to weave through the incredible tale of how they rocked the world of dad hats and built a community every father wants to be part of. In this episode, Bart spills the beans on their ingenious strategies created with just $750 and pure grit. Imagine turning that into a movement covering over 90,000 happy heads! But hey, it’s not just about hats; it’s about the stories beneath them. Here are five must-hear takeaways waiting for you: 1. **The Art of the Start**: Discover how a modest investment in Instagram can generate a buzz that gets customers hungry for your products. 2. **Quality is King**: Learn why connecting with the right manufacturer can set your brand head and shoulders above the rest. 3. **Community is Currency**: Dive into the methods Dad Gang used to foster an environment where dads aren't just customers; they’re champions of the brand. 4. **Storytelling sells**: Find out how sharing personal fatherhood experiences has carved a unique niche that customers can’t resist. 5. **Marketing 101 with Bart**: Get golden nuggets of wisdom from a pro with over a decade of experience in direct-to-consumer dynamics and community-centric marketing. Fun Fact Alert: Did you know Dad Gang’s first batch of 100 hats flew off the shelf in under 36 hours, and that too without a penny spent on paid ads? Talk about organic appeal! As we wrap up this incredible session, don’t forget to check out Bart's top recommendation – the sleek and versatile black and white horsepower hat. It’s more than just a piece of apparel; it’s a badge of honor for dads everywhere. Now, if you’re as pumped as we are, dive straight into the episode and let Bart’s journey fuel your entrepreneurial spirit. Reach out to us with your own stories of small beginnings and mighty growings. Maybe you’re the next DTC POD success story we feature! **Call to Action:** ✨ Tune into the full episode [Insert Link] 🎩 Grab your Dad Gang hat and join the movement [Insert Dad Gang Website] 💬 Share your thoughts and join our DTC family discussion [Insert Social Media Links] Keep striving, keep thriving, and remember – every great brand starts with a story. Share yours. Cheers, The DTC POD Crew P.S.: If you love the episode, don’t forget to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. It helps us reach more amazing listeners like you! 🌟 [Unsubscribe]

🐦 Business Lesson Tweet Thread

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1/ Starting a brand isn't just about the product; it's about the story and the people behind it. Bart, founder of The Dad Gang, knows this well. 2/ With only $750 and a dream, Dad Gang turned a simple hat into a symbol of fatherhood. Over 90,000 hats sold in just a year and a half speak volumes. 3/ Quality was paramount. They found a manufacturer that understood the vision – top-notch embroidery, design, and durability. No compromises. 4/ The twist? Organic social media posts. No heavy ad spend, just authentic stories that resonate with dads everywhere. It was about connection, not just clicks. 5/ The Dad Gang isn't just selling hats. They're weaving the threads of fatherhood stories into every product. From joy to adversity, dads found a common ground. 6/ Growth kicked off locally, but genuine stories have no boundaries. Targeted marketing wasn't the hero; it was the real, relatable narratives of dads globally. 7/ Bart's marketing prowess, honed across agencies and brands, fueled this ascent. But the heart? That’s all Dad Gang. Their mantra: a community-driven by genuine engagement. 8/ Looking ahead, they're gearing up for meaningful events. New designs and collabs are on the horizon, and it's the community steering the ship with their feedback. 9/ Joining The Dad Gang isn't just a follow on social media. It's an entry into a space where you can share, listen, and belong — whether it's through a private Facebook group or a text about the latest release. 10/ This is the story of building something that matters. It’s not just hats. It's a movement. Dad Gang is the streetwear brand where fatherhood meets fashion, community, and authenticity.

🎓 Lessons Learned

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1. Title: Organic Social Traction Description: Leveraging Instagram posts to boost sales, creating a demand with simple, impactful social media strategies. 2. Title: Quality Product Focus Description: Emphasizing connection with manufacturers for durable, well-designed hats, highlighting the importance of craftsmanship in brand success. 3. Title: Rapid Business Growth Description: From a $750 investment to 90,000 hats sold, revealing staggering growth in under two years through savvy strategies. 4. Title: Boosting Brand Following Description: Small investments in post-boosting significantly increase social media presence and engagement, driving community growth. 5. Title: Building Dad Community Description: Cultivating a dad-centered community that connects and shares fatherhood tales, reinforcing brand loyalty and collaboration. 6. Title: Marketing with Stories Description: Effective brand alignment with customer lives through shared experiences, highlighting the power of storytelling in marketing. 7. Title: 2024 Company Vision Description: Preparing for key holidays, dad influencer collaborations, and new hat styles, informed by community feedback for future plans. 8. Title: Viral Product Recommendations Description: Black and white hats touted as bestsellers, emphasizing their universal appeal and trendsetting potential in merchandise. 9. Title: Diverse Expertise Synergy Description: Founding team's mixed skills fueling Dad Gang's inception, showcasing the strength of combining distinct industry experiences. 10. Title: Multichannel Customer Engagement Description: Using SMS, Facebook groups, and other platforms for community interaction and personalized marketing, keeping customer conversation active. These condensed lessons offer a glimpse into Bart's strategic approach to building a thriving hat business while fostering a supportive dad community.

💎 Maxims

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Based on the insights and experiences shared by Bart in the DTC POD episode "Bart - Updated," here is a comprehensive list of maxims for entrepreneurs, brand builders, and marketers to live by, inspired by the discussion: 1. Community First: Cultivate a strong, dedicated community around your brand that echoes its values and spirit. 2. Invest in Quality: Ensure your product stands out with superior craftsmanship and design, as it reflects on your brand. 3. Organic Growth is Gold: Engage your audience with genuine content that resonates, drives word-of-mouth, and builds loyalty. 4. Start Small, Think Big: Even with minimal initial investment, focus on scalability and long-term vision. 5. Harness the Power of Storytelling: Encourage your customers to share their stories through your brand, adding personal depth and connection. 6. Authenticity Attracts: Authentic engagement with your audience helps build trust and a more meaningful brand experience. 7. Turn Trials into Triumphs: Find ways to support your community in both celebrations and challenges, fostering a sense of belonging. 8. Know Your Roots: Draw on your personal and professional backgrounds to inform and enhance your brand strategy. 9. Leverage Data-driven Marketing: Use tools like SMS marketing and social media insights to tap into customer behavior and optimize engagement. 10. Keep Communication Integrated: Maintain a cohesive message across all platforms, from social media to email marketing. 11. Release Restraint on Creativity: Encourage feedback and collaboration in your product development process for innovation. 12. Prioritize Customer Experience: Regularly engage with your audience to fine-tune their experience and maintain brand integrity. 13. Promote with Precision: Use targeted paid advertising strategically to enhance visibility and reach without oversaturating. 14. Celebrate and Elevate Fathers: Support and shine a light on fatherhood, elevating its place and representation in society. 15. Adapt and Grow: Be ready to evolve your strategies and products based on customer feedback and market demands. 16. Build with Balance: Combine different strengths and areas of expertise within your team for a well-rounded approach to your business. 17. Share Your Channels: Make sure followers know where to find you and how to connect with your brand across various platforms. 18. Plan for Peaks: Always be one step ahead, preparing for high-demand periods like holidays and special events. 19. Stick to a Signature: Identify your bestsellers and understand why they work—sometimes simplicity in design is key. 20. Connect the Dots: Integrate community engagement into marketing strategies, creating a seamless brand narrative. Keep these maxims at the forefront of business strategy to help navigate the complexities of building a successful brand and maintaining a strong community presence.

📧 Podcast Thank You Email

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Subject: You Rocked It on DTC POD, Bart! 🚀 Hey Bart! Just wanted to shoot you a quick note to say a massive thank you for joining us on DTC POD. Your episode, "Bart - Updated," is officially live, and we couldn't be more pumped about how it turned out! It was seriously cool diving into your journey with Dad Gang. The insider scoop on how you guys have hustled, grown, and fostered such a tight-knit community? Pure gold. If you get the chance, we'd love if you could share the episode with your circle. A quick post or shout-out on your social channels would mean the world and helps us reach more folks who can get inspired by your story—just like we were. Plus, any engagement with the episode content—comments, shares, you name it—gives it that extra bit of oomph and helps keep the conversation going. Once again, thank you for bringing your energy and insights to the show. It was like hanging out with an old friend, and we're stoked to have had you. Let's catch up soon. Maybe we can brainstorm on that potential collaboration with Dwayne Wade, eh? Cheers to more hat drops and epic dad tales! Blaine & Ramon DTC POD Crew 🧢🎙️

🌟 3 Fun Facts

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1. Dad Gang's initial batch of 100 hats sold out in less than 36 hours solely through organic demand, with no paid social or advertising. 2. The brand Dad Gang was able to sell over 90,000 hats in just over a year and a half, starting with a modest $750 investment. 3. Bart's diverse marketing background includes helping grow Strideline, an athletic sock company, from the ground up and contributing to its significant success.

📓 Blog Post

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Title: The Communal Power in Brand Building: Lessons from Dad Gang The meteoric rise of dad-centric streetwear brand Dad Gang serves as an enlightening case study for anyone looking to understand the true potential of community-driven brand growth in the modern marketplace. Founded by marketing maestro Bart and his business-savvy friends, Dad Gang has woven the narrative of contemporary fatherhood into the very fabric of its products, starting with a modest $750 investment and escalating to over 90,000 hats sold in just eighteen months. **The Organic Growth Phenomenon** One might wonder how Dad Gang conquered the competitive world of streetwear without a massive budget or extensive campaigns. At the core of the phenomenon lies their ingenious utilization of organic Instagram content to trigger a buying frenzy. Not unlike the tactics used by iconic streetwear brands, Dad Gang focused on creating high-quality hats that would stand the tests of utility and style, while simultaneously fostering a community that would resonate with dads eager to share their parenting journeys. Investments into boosting Instagram posts weren't just about visibility—they were strategic, calculated moves to amplify already-compelling organic content. It's the narrative of fatherhood with all its trials and triumphs that punctuated these campaigns, striking a chord with a demographic often sidelined in the parenting conversation. **Cultivating Community** The hosts, Blaine Bolus and Ramon Berrios, along with their guest, delved into the critical role of community-building for the brand. It's a philosophy centered on engagement over broadcast; tailor-fitted experiences over generic reach. By tapping into shared stories of fatherhood—be it the laughter-filled days or periods marred by child loss, custody battles, and mental health challenges—Dad Gang has created a mosaic of experiences helping dads feel seen and supported. Bart illuminates the process further, revealing how the brand's origin, channeling personal experiences and expertise in marketing, fed into the kind of authentic community engagement that turns customers into loyalists. He points out the nuanced strategies of organic and boosted advertising. For instance, they strategically boost posts for products that are already sold out, leveraging the excitement around high-demand items. **Marketing Mastery: Strategies That Drive Success** Podcast listeners got a peek into the refined marketing strategies of Dad Gang, from SMS marketing utilizing platforms like Attentive and Live Recover, to creating intricate customer journeys through back-in-stock updates, welcome series, and interactive keyword adventures. Moreover, the brand keeps their followers in the loop and maintains a sense of exclusivity by managing a private Facebook group that functions as a hub for updates and deeper customer engagement. **Forward Momentum** As Bart shares the brand's upcoming plans, which include gearing up for major holiday seasons and Father's Day, listeners are privy to the forward-thinking aspects of the venture. Integrating customer feedback is front-and-center, as Dad Gang looks forward to rolling out varied hat styles catered to their community's preferences. **Connectivity and Collaboration** At the heart of Dad Gang’s ethos lies a culture of connectivity. Bart emphasizes the importance of maintaining a unified front across various channels of communication, integrating email, social media, and SMS flows seamlessly. The integrity of this tight-knit community is preserved through careful vetting of new members and fostering lively interaction by soliciting personal input and experiences. **Final Thoughts** As the episode comes to an end, hosts Blaine and Ramon not only thank Bart for his insightful contributions but also tease potential future collaborations, a testament to the universal appeal of Dad Gang's narrative. Bart's experience, from his roots in streetwear to his pivotal role at The Patch Brand—and his dedication to the dad community—paints a compelling portrait of entrepreneurial acumen mixed with genuine passion. Listeners are left with a vision of a brand that transcends mere clothing; one that successfully molds itself into the lives of its community, becoming a flagbearer for the narratives it represents. Dad Gang isn't just selling hats—it's outfitting the identity of the modern dad.

🎤 Voiceover Script

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Dreamt of blending fatherhood and fashion, but not sure where to start? Take a page out of Bart's playbook! Today on DTC POD, Bart shares how a modest $750 sparked a cap revolution, uniting dads over style and shared stories. Step into Bart's world as we uncover: - How investing in organic Instagram posts can create a demand frenzy. - Crafting a quality product that embodies community spirit. - Flourishing from local acclaim to widespread dad domination. - Utilizing personal marketing expertise to catapult a brand's presence. - Steering future strategies towards even greater community collaboration and product diversity. All these insights, straight from the mastermind behind Dad Gang, up next on DTC POD.

🔘 Best Practices Guide

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Creating a Brand Community Blueprint: 1. Begin with a high-quality product and invest in strong manufacturing relationships to ensure excellence in design and durability. 2. Use social media to authentically engage and grow your audience, starting with organic content and selectively boosting posts to amplify reach. 3. Cultivate a brand community by involving customers in sharing their personal stories, which can foster loyalty and peer support for both triumphs and challenges within the community. 4. Drive local growth and scale strategically through targeted marketing, using founder expertise and agency experiences to adapt and expand outreach. 5. Plan year-round, preparing for significant holidays and community events, while incorporating feedback for product innovation and variety. 6. Integrate SMS marketing, such as welcome series and stock updates, and maintain a private community group to encourage continued engagement and exclusivity. 7. Vet community members carefully to maintain authenticity and encourage genuine exchange and collaboration.

🎆 Social Carousel: Do's/Don'ts

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Cover Slide: **10 Tips Every Retention Marketer Needs to Know** Slide 1: **Ignore Community** Instead: Foster strong bonds through regular engagement and shared experiences. Slide 2: **Push Sales Hard** Instead: Focus on storytelling to create personal connections with your brand. Slide 3: **Skip Feedback** Instead: Regularly solicit and incorporate customer input on product development. Slide 4: **Overlook Loyalty** Instead: Reward engagement and repeat business to encourage brand evangelists. Slide 5: **Neglect Stories** Instead: Share customer and community stories to humanize your brand. Slide 6: **Underuse SMS** Instead: Utilize SMS for welcome series and back in stock alerts to keep in touch. Slide 7: **Broad Messaging** Instead: Tailor messages and campaigns to resonate with specific community segments. Slide 8: **Static Products** Instead: Introduce new offerings based on community feedback to drive interest. Slide 9: **Silent Community** Instead: Activate your brand's fans to generate content and reviews. Slide 10: **General Ads** Instead: Use targeted, boosted posts for sold-out items to maintain buzz.

🎠 Social Carousel

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Cover Slide: "10 Essential Strategies Every Dadpreneur Needs to Know" Slide 1: "Quality Counts" Invest in exceptional craftsmanship for long-lasting products and customer satisfaction. Slide 2: "Community First" Build and nurture a brand community; loyalty grows from shared values and experiences. Slide 3: "Organic Growth" Cultivate demand with organic social content that connects and resonates with your audience. Slide 4: "Strategic Boosting" Smartly boost posts to amplify reach without overspending. Every dollar counts. Slide 5: "Tangible Stories" Encourage customers to share their journey. Authentic stories engage and attract. Slide 6: "Targeted Expansion" Start local, then expand strategically. Use targeted efforts to reach a wider audience. Slide 7: "Agency Expertise" Utilize your marketing know-how to drive brand growth and customer acquisition. Slide 8: "Holiday Preparation" Plan for peak seasons well in advance. Collaborate and innovate based on feedback. Slide 9: "SMS Connection" Employ SMS marketing for real-time engagement and recovery of abandoned carts. Slide 10: "Join the Movement" Follow us, share your fatherhood tale, and stay updated with the latest Dad Gang styles. CTA Slide: "Cap Off Your Style" Don't miss out! Grab the community's favorite—black and white horse power hat. Connect with us now @[Brand's Social Media Handle] and [Brand's Website].

One Off Tweets

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Tweet 1 Starting small but dreaming big led Dad Gang to spectacular growth. With just $750, they turned the tide and sold over 90,000 hats! Tweet 2 Quality always shines through. Dad Gang made sure each hat boasted impeccable embroidery and durability. That's how you win trust and repeat customers. Tweet 3 The secret sauce to brand loyalty? Build a vibrant community that stands with you. Dad Gang's engagement with fathers creates a strong, united front. Tweet 4 Stories have power, especially for dads. By weaving fatherhood tales into their brand, Dad Gang cultivated a deeper connection with their audience. Tweet 5 Every challenge is an opportunity. Dad Gang shows us that the struggles of fatherhood, from loss to custody battles, can bring a community even closer. Tweet 6 Nurturing a local seed into a nationwide bloom, Dad Gang harnessed the art of focused marketing to spread their fatherly mission far and wide. Tweet 7 Expertise shapes destiny. Bart's comprehensive experience in marketing was the gear that propelled Dad Gang into the successful orbit it occupies today. Tweet 8 Dad Gang's strategy pivots on strategic days like holidays and Father's Day to amplify their presence, showcasing the power of timing in business. Tweet 9 Listening to your customer family leads to innovation. Dad Gang exemplifies this by crafting new hat styles from the feedback of their community. Tweet 10 Communities thrive on interaction. Dad Gang's tailored SMS strategies and engaging Facebook groups keep the conversation going and the interest piqued.

Twitter Post 1

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This dad-approved hat sold out lightning fast – no ads needed! Dad Gang's first batch of 100 hats disappeared in under 36 hours, purely through organic buzz. Catch the wave of fatherhood pride without the wait for a restock.

Mindsets

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If you're on the hunt for entrepreneurial success and want to shift your approach to business growth, consider adopting these mindset changes: 💭 Shift from a sales-first approach to a community-building focus. Instead of being preoccupied with quick sales, invest in cultivating a loyal community that resonates with your brand's story and values. Like our guest Bart, who built a thriving dad community, your investment in authentic relationships can lead to a sustainable customer base. 💭 Embrace data-driven creativity. Let insights guide your product development, but also allow room for innovation inspired by your customers. This balance can lead to a product that's not only high-quality but also emotionally resonant with your audience, similar to how Bart's dad hats became more than just headwear. 💭 See every challenge as an opportunity for storytelling. When faced with obstacles, turn them into narratives that highlight your brand's resilience and commitment. Like Dad Gang's journey, share how each challenge shaped your products and services, involving your customers in the brand's evolution. For more insights and entrepreneurial strategies like these, tune into the DTC POD's latest episode featuring Bart to see how community and narrative can fuel brand growth. Stay connected with us for more discussions on leveraging deep connections and authentic stories for brand growth!

Tactics

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For any aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners looking to sharpen their strategies, here are five precise tactics you can implement based on the insights shared by our guest, Bart, on the latest DTC POD episode: 1. 💡 Optimize Organic Social Media Engagement: Invest modestly in promoting your most successful organic posts to enhance the visibility of your product. Bart's tactic of creating a competitive environment around his hats propelled customer interest. Try pinpointing your winning content and giving it a nudge with a budget that's feasible for your brand. 2. 💡 Cultivate Brand Community Through Authentic Storytelling: Emphasize the personal stories that connect your customers to your brand. Bart's approach of engaging dads in sharing their fatherhood journeys was instrumental in creating a loyal community. Start by encouraging your customers to share their experiences with your product or service, as their stories can resonate with potential buyers and create a tight-knit community. 3. 💡 Leverage SMS Marketing Beyond Sales: Extend the use of SMS marketing to keep your customers updated on new product drops and back in stock alerts. Like Bart's Dad Gang, implementing a strategy that includes welcome series, abandon cart recovery, and alerts for upcoming launches can maintain customer engagement at a high level and boost your sales in the process. 4. 💡 Integrate Feedback Loops into Product Development: Involve your customers directly in the evolution of your products. Bart found that incorporating customer feedback into new hat designs not only improved the product but also strengthened the community's allegiance to the brand. Actively seek out and apply your customer's insights to continually refine and better your offerings. 5. 💡 Maintain Exclusivity in Community Building: As you nurture your brand's community, be selective in membership to uphold the community's quality, as seen with Bart's private Facebook group. Curate your brand's community with intent by qualifying members, asking them to contribute their stories, and driving interaction. This will create a sense of exclusivity and value among members, encouraging active participation and brand loyalty. Be sure to catch the full episode with Bart for more in-depth discussions around these strategies and how to implement them effectively in your own business ventures. Stay tuned to DTC POD for essential business tips and enlightened discussions with industry trailblazers.

In Depth Thread

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Overrated: Paid Ads with No Backstory. Hurling cash at ads without the story of your brand is like throwing seeds on concrete. Underrated: Organic Storytelling. The Dad Gang played this out flawlessly with their launch strategy. Here's their playbook: The Two-Post Punch Keep it simple: 1. Share the product journey 2. Showcase real customer testimonials Just two posts that spark dialogue and build trust. If followers don't hit 'like' immediately, you're missing a hook. Five-Key Method Hook the audience with five core brand messages. Here’s what worked for Dad Gang: 1. Investment in Quality 2. Nurtured by a Tight-Knit Community 3. Growth Kinetics (hint: 90,000 hats) 4. Engaging Fathers in Brand Evolution 5. Core Product (that hot-selling power hat) Narrative in a Snapshot Skip the historical brand essays. Give them bite-sized, compelling storytelling. Dad Gang’s was: - From $750 to 90,000 hats - Real dads, real stories - Fatherhood fashion, reinvented Five points, max. Tagline Craft a crisp, clear, commitment: The Dad Gang: “Quality hats for dads who live the stories.” The One-Liner Ownership Own a phrase that becomes synonymous with your brand. Dad Gang embraced: “Fatherhood on Your Terms.” Define the conversation. Journey from Click to Customer You like that hat... What's next? A streamlined, clear path from browsing to owning—a few clicks, and it's yours. Brand Basics Upfront Lay out what you offer. No surprises. For Dad Gang, it's high-quality materials, dad-centric designs, and a platform for shared experiences. Clear as daylight. Graphics Over Gossip A picture's worth more than buzzwords. Chart your growth, spotlight customer smiles, flaunt those worn hats with pride. The Team Backbone The DNA that holds everything together. Dad Gang's built by fathers for fathers—marketers, designers, community builders. It all matters. For those starting fresh, without sales to shout about... Focus on your why, your who, and the wow of your product. Dad Gang nailed their Ps: • Passion, Purpose, Product • Persistence, People, Payoff Detailed with the care of a father's touch.

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Idea #2: Cultivating Community Connection Foster a strong community around your brand, emphasizing shared experiences and active participation: 1. Build Around Shared Stories: Bart's brand thrives by encouraging dads to share their fatherhood journeys. This storytelling approach fosters a sense of belonging and connection among the community. 2. Encourage Direct Engagement: Through initiatives like a private Facebook group and interactive SMS marketing strategies, Bart's brand maintains an ongoing conversation with its community, not only to inform but also to involve customers in the brand's evolution. 3. Support Through Solidarity: By highlighting that the dad community assists each other in both triumphs and trials, Bart demonstrates that the brand acts as a platform for mutual support, enhancing customer loyalty and commitment to the brand’s identity.

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