Transforming E-commerce: How RunDTC Helps Brands Thrive in the Digital Age.

Table of Contents

1. Key Highlights:
2. Introduction
3. Understanding RunDTC's Approach to E-commerce
4. The Challenge: Overhauling Legacy Systems
5. The Solution: Major Digital Transformations
6. The Results: Driving Growth and Efficiency
7. FAQ

Key Highlights:

• RunDTC has achieved a remarkable 96% growth in the past year, emphasizing its expertise in e-commerce transformation.
• The agency specializes in streamlining both DTC and B2B platforms, particularly through migrations to Shopify.
• Clients experience an average revenue increase of 14% after integrating with Shopify, showcasing the effectiveness of their solutions.

Introduction

In the rapidly evolving landscape of e-commerce, brands face an array of challenges, from outdated tech stacks to the need for seamless customer experiences. RunDTC, led by CEO Paul Zaengle, has positioned itself as a key player in this transformation, leveraging nearly 25 years of experience in retail and e-commerce to help brands navigate these complexities. By focusing on comprehensive digital transformations, particularly through partnerships with platforms like Shopify, RunDTC empowers enterprises to not only modernize their operations but also enhance their overall customer engagement. This article delves into the agency's strategies, successes, and the broader implications for brands aiming to thrive in the digital marketplace.

Understanding RunDTC's Approach to E-commerce

A Legacy of Expertise

Before assuming the role of CEO at RunDTC, Paul Zaengle honed his skills in the retail sector, managing e-commerce operations for prominent brands such as Ralph Lauren, Columbia Sports, and Lululemon. This extensive background informs RunDTC’s mission to assemble top-tier talent in commerce, creating an agency dedicated to facilitating brand success through tailored e-commerce solutions.

Specialized E-commerce Solutions

RunDTC differentiates itself by offering specialized services that extend beyond mere technical support. The agency focuses on large-scale digital transformations for both direct-to-consumer (DTC) and business-to-business (B2B) clients. Their expertise lies in helping businesses understand their data architecture and infrastructure, positioning them to capitalize on growth opportunities.

The Challenge: Overhauling Legacy Systems

Identifying Common Pain Points

RunDTC recognizes that each business is unique, yet the challenges they face often fall into two distinct categories. First, there are brands already utilizing Shopify but struggling with over-complicated setups. This often results from excessive app installations or overly customized code, which can hamper performance and user experience. RunDTC addresses these issues by conducting thorough audits, streamlining code, and enhancing overall site usability.

Modernizing Non-Shopify Brands

The second category includes brands that have yet to adopt Shopify and are in dire need of modernizing their tech infrastructure. RunDTC assists these organizations in evaluating how Shopify aligns with their growth objectives and determining the necessary app ecosystem to support their operations effectively. As Zaengle emphasizes, the agency's primary focus is on fostering growth for their clients.

The B2B Landscape: A Call for Modernization

An area of significant opportunity lies within the B2B space, which remains plagued by outdated processes. Zaengle points out that traditional wholesale operations often rely on inefficient order placement methods, such as phone calls and faxes. By transitioning these businesses to Shopify, RunDTC helps to modernize and streamline the wholesale experience, making it more efficient and user-friendly.

The Solution: Major Digital Transformations

Tailoring Strategies for Individual Needs

RunDTC's philosophy is centered around the individual needs of their customers. The agency prioritizes driving growth through customized migration plans and implementation strategies that minimize disruption while aligning with the specific goals of each business. This client-centric approach is vital for ensuring successful digital transformations across various sectors.

Simplifying Complex Processes

A recurrent theme in RunDTC's projects is the simplification of complex business processes that have accumulated over years of using outdated technology. By integrating modern solutions and updating operational workflows simultaneously, RunDTC has witnessed significant successes.

Unifying Global Brand Experiences

One of RunDTC's most notable projects involved the global fashion brand Steve Madden. Although the brand was already utilizing Shopify, discrepancies in site performance and user experience arose from allowing local teams to manage their individual admin tools. With over 30 brands under its umbrella, Steve Madden sought RunDTC's expertise to create a unified shopping experience.

The agency revamped Steve Madden’s Shopify environment, implementing a tailored theme using Shopify Liquid architecture that met the unique needs of each brand while maintaining overall consistency. Furthermore, they integrated Contentstack with Shopify Liquid, enabling local teams to manage content effectively across all brands. This transformation resulted in a robust platform that not only enhanced customer experiences but also increased conversion rates by 16%.

Streamlining B2B Ordering Systems

Another successful case involved Manduka, a leading yoga brand that sought to streamline its B2B ordering process. RunDTC assisted Manduka in unifying 7,000 studios into a single system on Shopify, transitioning from manual orders to a self-service online ordering process. Zaengle described this shift as the beginning of a revolution for B2B operations.

RunDTC has also explored innovative B2B solutions, such as creating exclusive shopping experiences for select customers. For a high-end New York fashion brand, RunDTC developed a gated site that facilitated a limited-time offering of discounted items. This creative use of Shopify's B2B functionality showcased the platform's versatility and the agency's ability to meet diverse client needs.

The Results: Driving Growth and Efficiency

Major Wins for Clients

RunDTC's commitment to working with enterprise and B2B customers has yielded impressive results, significantly aided by their partnership with Shopify. Zaengle notes that Shopify's rapid innovation has transformed the e-commerce landscape, making it accessible to marketers and business professionals who may not have extensive technical backgrounds.

Brands utilizing Shopify have reported substantial efficiency gains, particularly in terms of total cost of ownership. Zaengle highlights that the operational costs associated with Shopify are significantly lower compared to legacy platforms. Moreover, enhancements such as new site designs consistently contribute to improved conversion rates.

RunDTC's Own Growth Trajectory

The agency itself has experienced remarkable growth, achieving a 96% increase over the past year and expanding its headcount by 87%. This growth reflects RunDTC's dedication to undertaking significant digital transformation projects, including a forthcoming initiative to transition a premium cigar company's platform from a legacy B2B solution to Shopify.

The results speak for themselves: clients typically see revenue increases averaging 14% post-launch on Shopify. As Zaengle observes, the B2B sector is becoming increasingly vital for many companies, leading to heightened interest in modernizing these operations.

FAQ

What types of businesses does RunDTC work with?

RunDTC specializes in both direct-to-consumer (DTC) and business-to-business (B2B) brands looking to modernize their e-commerce platforms and streamline operations.

How does RunDTC approach digital transformation projects?

The agency focuses on creating customized migration and implementation strategies tailored to each client’s specific goals, minimizing disruption and ensuring a smooth transition.

What platform does RunDTC primarily use for its solutions?

RunDTC primarily partners with Shopify, leveraging its robust features and capabilities to enhance the e-commerce experiences of its clients.

What measurable impacts have clients seen after working with RunDTC?

Clients have reported an average revenue increase of 14% after launching on Shopify, alongside improvements in conversion rates and overall operational efficiency.

How does RunDTC ensure a unified brand experience for clients?

Through customized solutions and integrations, RunDTC helps brands maintain consistency across various channels, enabling local teams to manage content effectively while preserving the overall brand identity.

In a landscape where digital transformation is not just an option but a necessity, RunDTC exemplifies how strategic partnerships and tailored solutions can empower brands to not only survive but thrive in the digital age.