Ep 515: How Shiti Coolers Turned a Joke Into a $320K Sticker Business and Built the First Party Cooler Brand
Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupTrevor Zacny from Shiti Coolers joins the DTC Podcast to share how he and his brothers transformed a napkin joke into a viral sticker business, and then into the world’s first party cooler brand. This episode dives deep into humor-led branding, event-based growth, and the transition from parody to premium product.Shiticoolers.comYou’ll learn:Why humor can be a powerful differentiator in product categories saturated with status and performance brandsHow Shiti Coolers went from $0 to $320K in sticker sales in year oneHow events like NASCAR and country music festivals became revenue powerhousesThe importance of maintaining product quality in a humor-first brandBuilding community through social, SMS, and in-person eventsLessons on cash flow, capital allocation, and surviving growing painsWhy storytelling and founder-led content is their next big opportunityIf you’re thinking about growing a lifestyle brand, building a loyal following, or just want to learn how to make funny marketing actually drive revenue, this one’s for you.Did you know that 98% of your website visitors are anonymous? Instant powers next-level retention by identifying who they are and converting them into loyal shoppers. Sign up for a quick demo today to get 50% off and unlock a guaranteed 4x+ ROI: instant.one/dtcTimestamps00:00 - How Shiti Coolers Made $320K from Stickers02:00 - From Festival Joke to Full Lifestyle Brand05:00 - Launching the First Party Cooler07:00 - Lessons from the First Cooler Launch10:00 - Balancing Humor and Product Quality12:00 - Competing with Yeti Without Copying It15:00 - Building the Community Through Events and Social17:00 - In-Person Events vs. Paid Media Growth20:00 - Collaborations with Kid Rock, Realtree, and Bill Murray23:00 - Navigating Tariffs and Global Manufacturing25:00 - Working with Family as Co-Founders27:00 - Hitting a Cash Wall and Finding Strategic Investors30:00 - How They Choose the Right Events32:00 - Storytelling as a Growth Opportunity34:00 - Wholesale, Seasonality, and Global Expansion PlansHashtags#shiticoolers#dtcpodcast#founderstory#ecommercebranding#lifestylebrand#productlaunch#d2cmarketing#familybusiness#retailstrategy#tariffs#brandcommunity#humorinmarketing#eventmarketing#wholesalestrategy#coolerbrand Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video