Direct-to-consumer isn’t just a trend, it’s a relationship. During the pandemic, even giants like Nike had to go DTC, and they learned fast. Brands with a real social mission win loyalty and build real growth. Profit first, sure, but social impact isn’t just a gimmick anymore. #DTC #PurposeAndProfit | Kevin O'Leary

Branding, for the past decade, has been dominated by the direct-to-consumer playbook: brands like Everlane, Glossier, Allbirds (millennial household names) centered their brand identity on “cutting out the middle man.” Now, a new generation of startup brands — the shoemaker Larroudé, the fashion label Silver and Riley and the beauty brand Megababe, to name a few — are taking a very different tack. Is this the end of the DTC world? Let us know what you think in the comments, and link in bio to re