What: DTC brands have found a winning retail formula by putting a modern spin on routine services.

Why it is important: Service-oriented outposts created by direct-to-consumer brands foster repeat visits and encourage customers to spend more per transaction than online-only customers.

The costs of service-oriented retail may also be less intimidating as profitability is more reliable than purely online retail. These outposts serve as a billboard for the brand, enticing customers to spend time in the space which ultimately costs less to acquire new customers through discovery rather than using online advertising.

Naturally, interiors have ‘Instagrammable’ atmospheres and incorporate savvy branding. Customers visit for a routine service, buy products and post to social media which in turn supports the DTC brand in terms of earned advertising and increased revenues.

While having a service-based offer from the start of the brand is not necessary, recruiting talent is one of the biggest challenges of a store-based strategy.

In-store services help DTC brands go physical