May we drop ‘MAY EDITION of A2Z of D2C’, please?
Here’s your May dose of D2C wisdom
Hey all 👋
At Shopflo, we’re always talking about how you can delight your customers with innovative products we build for you.
But this May, we may have flipped the script. We may have built something with you. And you may just fall in love with it. (Okay, enough with the “mays” — you get the drift.)
We are talking about Shopflo app store, our token of love for you (More deets inside 👀)
Here’s everything you MAY find in this May edition:
You may catch the highlights from "To Raise or Not to Raise", the fiery debate event we hosted in Delhi last month.
You may learn how Shop Apps can enhance your Shopflo experience.
You may just find THE job you’ve been eyeing at some of the top Indian D2C brands.
And you’ll spot ads you may not want to miss — because we know creativity is 20% using your brain and 80% getting inspired by the best. (who said? someone important in the marketing world we may never know)
We may now proceed to know the updates in store for the month. (Okay, this is the last time I'll use “may” – I promise! 😉)
Curated with 💛,
Soundarya Athimuthu
Content Writer @ Shopflo
But first, let’s take a quick peek at what Shopflo achieved in April.
Shopflo Report Card
5180+ hours saved for Indian D2C shoppers in the last month
244 Rs. Cr In additional revenue for 1000+ D2C brands
An event worth remembering – ‘To raise or not to raise?’
Last month, we organised ‘To raise or not to raise’ in Delhi. How was it?
Think of it as Shark Tank... if the sharks and founders got real over coffee. No pitch decks, no filters, just raw stories from the D2C trenches.
The event steered clear of clichés and easy conclusions. Instead, it offered raw, real-world perspectives and candid reflections on risk, resilience, and the realities of building something from scratch.
Founders Ajay Thandi (Sleepy Owl Coffee) and Shamika Haldipurkar (d’you) brought two radically different and equally compelling perspectives to the table.
Ajay shared how external funding can fuel a brand’s big leap, while Shamika offered a masterclass in building a profitable, bootstrapped business with patience and product obsession. Team Investors with Archana Jahagirdar (Rukam Capital) and Sanil Sachar (Huddle Ventures) didn’t sugarcoat a thing.
From what they actually look for in founders to why saying no to capital can sometimes be the smartest move — even when the money's on the table — their takes were sharp, honest, and, yes… a little controversial. And we loved it.
Here are the key takeaways to ease your worries about not being in the room:
Funding is a tool, not a mandate or a badge of honour. Bootstrapping can turn scarcity into strength, pushing founders to build lean, focused, and fundamentally healthy businesses.
Building a “pull” brand (one with strong recall that attracts customers organically) and understanding your industry are key to long-term success, regardless of funding.
Investors bring more than just money, but their value varies: Good investors can offer guidance, strategic input, and even emotional support.
Still feeling FOMO? Next time, be in the room.
But for now, don’t worry; clips from the event are coming soon on our socials.
The Latest and Greatest from Shopflo
Shopflo's App Store Experience
Tired of long sales calls just to understand what a feature does?
Shopflo App store is a one-of-a-kind experience on Shopflo where merchants can explore, select, and manage the best of Shopflo’s features— all from one powerful dashboard.
Just like your customers browse and pick their favourites on the Play Store, now you can explore and choose the best of Shopflo on our very own App Store. Whether it's upselling, letting customers choose their freebies, or enabling one-click add-ons like insurance or gift wrapping — we’ve got all the features listed on the app store.
It's never been this easy (or this fun) to power up your store.
Suggest a new feature right on your dashboard!
Just to be clear—you do know we're serious about building with you, not just for you... right? We always keep you in mind every time we come up with any product or feature (not in a creepy way, of course).
That’s why we’re rolling out a shiny ‘Suggest a new feature’ form right inside your dashboard! Now, you can easily raise feature requests, track their status in real-time, and see exactly what's being picked, built, or paused—with full transparency.
Bonus? You’ll get notified at every stage of the journey. Thanks for helping us build something better — Shopflo truly belongs to you.
“Ad-miration Club”: D2C ads that deserve a standing ovation!
D2C brands, take notes! At the Ad-miration Club, we spotlight ads that turn heads and set new standards for creativity and impact.
Bring out your finest campaign by Daawat
This ad is a masterclass in emotional branding. It proves that even everyday products (like rice!) can feel magical when wrapped in love, care, culture, and nostalgia.
Unlike the usual "celeb holding product" trope, SRK plays a character in a story. He doesn’t treat food as just a meal but as a love language. It feels less like an ad and more like a film — keeping you engaged till the last grain (pun intended).
Samsung Bespoke Cordless stick vacuum cleaner ad
Who needs civil engineers when your vacuum cleaner can fix world wonders? Let me explain.
In one of the boldest CGI stunts we’ve seen lately, Samsung (almost!) straightened the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Yes, you read that right. They did it with the sheer power of its Bespoke Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner.
It’s outrageous, over-the-top — and totally unforgettable. What makes it work is the visual exaggeration: it doesn’t just tell you the product is powerful, it shows you in a way that’s impossible to ignore. For D2C brands, the lesson is clear: go big, go visual, and don’t be afraid to turn your product’s strength into a full-blown spectacle.
Krackjack’s Sweet & Salty April Fool’s Prank
Krackjack’s April Fool’s prank campaign, which hilariously hired a "Sweet & Salty Officer" was a crazy hit that added the perfect maska-chaska to their brand!
The quirky idea of appointing someone to ensure the perfect balance of sweet and salty in the biscuits grabbed attention with humour and surprise, making it a great fit for April Fool’s Day. The campaign worked because it was timely, humorous, and highly shareable, capturing the essence of the brand’s playful personality.
D2C Job Board
Here are this month’s top job opportunities in some of the best D2C brands! Apply now, and let us know if you get selected — we’d love to celebrate with you!
Ambrane India Product development manager
Two Brothers Organic Farms Chief of Staff- Revenue and Growth
Traya CRM Manager
Want to feature your job openings here? Reply to this email or DM me on LinkedIn.
That’s it for now! We’d love for you to explore our new features and let us know what you think. Got feedback about the newsletter? Just hit reply—I’m always up for a good chat.
See you next month!
Until then 💛,
Soundarya Athimuthu