Social Proof, Brand Loyalty, and Scaling a Non-Alcoholic Beverage with E-Commerce

Contrary to Popular Opinion

Stu Haack, head of direct-to-consumer e-commerce at HOP WTR, shares the challenges and opportunities of building a brand that succeeds in both the e-commerce and retail markets.

From managing the balance between DTC growth and mass retail distribution to creating social proof and brand loyalty in the competitive non-alcoholic beverage space, Stu offers actionable insights drawn from his extensive experience at top CPG companies.

Listeners will learn how to approach marketing, community building, and product differentiation to thrive in an ever-changing consumer landscape.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Social Proof: Why It’s the Backbone of Brand Loyalty
• 00:01:31 - Stu Haack’s Career Path: Creative to Data Geek
• 00:01:56 - The E-Commerce Challenge: Competing with Retail Giants
• 00:04:48 - HOPWTR’s Journey: From DTC Beginnings to Walmart Shelves
• 00:06:04 - Balancing E-Commerce and Retail Sales: How HOPWTR Is Adapting
• 00:10:00 - Building a Community Around HOPWTR: Lessons from Dr. Squatch
• 00:13:15 - Using Community to Drive Social Proof and Sales
• 00:15:45 - The Challenge of Building Social Proof in the E-Commerce Space
• 00:17:23 - Amazon’s Role in DTC Success: Opportunity or Pitfall?
• 00:25:48 - Paid Media Realities: Is Your Ad Budget Really Working?
• 00:31:18 - Final Takeaways: What’s Next for HOPWTR’s Growth?

Links and Resources:

• Stu Haack on LinkedIn
• Hawaiian Host Group
• HOP WTR
• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja De Digital

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