Sub-Summit

Startup CPG founder Daniel Scharff sits down with former Brightland CEO Todd Hoffman to unpack how a simple pantry staple became a premium DTC phenomenon. They break down emotional branding, gifting flywheels, subscription behavior, and the hard truths of e-commerce unit economics. In this episode, Startup CPG Podcast founder Daniel Scharff and Former CEO of Brightland Todd Hoffman discuss: Daniel...

With payment failures, most businesses see lost revenue—Payway sees a hidden opportunity. In this episode, you’ll learn how to turn declines into recovered revenue, stronger subscriber retention, and a smarter payment strategy powered by data. In this episode, Payway EVP Kim Miller and CTO Dan Nadeau discuss: Anatomy of a card-not-present transaction Types of declines and what “do not honor” reall...

A live virtual travel company went from a single Zoom walk for one lonely mom to nearly 3 million participants worldwide—powered by just three full-time humans and a stack of AI tools. In this episode, you’ll hear how a lean team, authentic experiences, and smart automation turned a COVID catalyst into a thriving global community. In this episode, Nick and Wowzitude Founder Susan Black discuss: Or...

Most “fraud” on your statement isn’t a hacker; it’s your own customers hitting the dispute button. In this episode, you’ll learn how a veteran merchant‑turned‑founder built a company to stop chargebacks at the source and keep subscription and e‑commerce brands from losing their ability to process payments. In this episode, Doug and Fraud Deflect CEO Scott Adams discuss: What chargebacks are and ho...

Two very different brands—survival gear and premium meat—used the same playbook to build massive subscription businesses: obsessive focus on quality, ruthless clarity on their ideal customer, and relentless work on retention. In this episode, they unpack the real levers behind 60k+ subscribers, multi‑million dollar recurring revenue, and long-term loyalty that survives rising costs and shifting ad...

A 56-year-old wellness brand is rewriting its direct-to-consumer playbook, turning subscriptions from a buried feature into the core of its customer experience. Discover how Swanson is using personalization, internal culture change, and a deep trust with customers to double subscriptions and build true relationship commerce. In this episode, Doug, Erin Del Ponte, and Meghan Carlson discuss: Legacy...

Artificial intelligence isn’t just changing technology—it’s redefining how work gets done. In this episode, you’ll hear from Fabletics’ AI Program Director, Logan Karam, as she previews her upcoming SubSummit session and shares how her team is turning AI from a buzzword into real, measurable business impact. In this episode, Doug and Logan Karam discuss: Surface-level vs. deep AI adoption in organ...

In a world where AI is transforming every part of commerce, this episode dives into how customer experience teams can use it to reduce churn, extend lifetime value, and build loyalty that actually lasts. Learn how a leading DTC brand experiments with AI, CX data, and retention flows to meet customers where they are and keep them coming back. In this episode, Doug and Domonique Brown discuss: AI’s...

Rising cost per thousand (CPMs), fickle algorithms, and endless creative demands are rewriting the rules of performance marketing. In this episode, you’ll hear how a leading subscription marketer is using specificity, trust, and tight ad-to-landing-page congruency to turn attention into high-intent subscribers at scale. In this episode, Doug and Robbie Giles discuss: Meta CPM inflation and AI-driv...

Most brands either drown in low-quality content or agonize over a few ‘perfect’ ads. In this episode, Adam Pivko shares how to get 1% better every day and build a modern creative engine that truly scales. In this episode, Doug and Adam Pivko discuss: Creative ladder framework CPA–LTV performance metrics Scaling creative with feedback loops Continuous testing and 1% daily improvement Media buying a...

What happens when a pure DTC subscription brand jumps onto retail shelves without “losing the box”? ButcherBox CCO Reba Hatcher breaks down the real risks, rewards, and data behind going from subscription to shelf. In this episode, Doug and Reba Hatcher discuss: Transition from subscription to retail Customer data and Voice of the Customer Packaging, labeling, and on-shelf presence Loyalty program...

In this episode, Doug and Phoenix Ha discuss: Subscription retention and LTV Community-driven social commerce Authentic, high-performing creative Future of live selling Building high-volume, high-value creative engines Key Takeaways: Brands obsessed with front-end acquisition but neglecting retention are essentially pouring customers into a leaky bucket, and real LTV power comes from keeping peopl...

In this episode, Doug and Mike Woodall discuss: Brands excelling at subscriptions Whisker’s data-driven subscription and engagement strategy Subscription conversion experiments and UX changes Discount and offer testing for subscriber acquisition The feedback loop: community, CX, and continuous optimization Key Takeaways: Whisker’s growth engine is its own app ecosystem, which converts litter box b...

In this episode, Doug and Jennifer Cline discuss: What SubSummit is and who it serves How SubSummit differentiates itself from other conferences The “Crossroads of Commerce” theme and changing omni‑channel expectations Key trends in recurring revenue and customer experience Who will be at SubSummit and how to attend Key Takeaways: Sub Summit is built by people who have actually run subscription bu...