1 00:00:00,203 --> 00:00:04,393 Right now, 3,000 creators are waiting to promote my guest Luke's product. 2 00:00:05,114 --> 00:00:10,514 This episode is about how you build that kind of demand on TikTok. 3 00:00:10,514 --> 00:00:12,463 Welcome to the Resilient Retail Gameplan. 4 00:00:12,793 --> 00:00:16,083 I'm Catherine Erdly, and this podcast is here to share retail industry 5 00:00:16,083 --> 00:00:20,214 trends, insights, and best practices for you, the retailer who's serious 6 00:00:20,214 --> 00:00:22,184 about building something that lasts. 7 00:00:24,221 --> 00:00:28,311 Luke Arnall-Cameron spent years in retail as a buyer at John Lewis and as 8 00:00:28,311 --> 00:00:32,561 a marketing director before launching Yas Clean, his own cleaning brand. 9 00:00:33,161 --> 00:00:37,531 Now he's using live shopping and TikTok Shop to do something most brands only 10 00:00:37,531 --> 00:00:41,951 dream about, building a loyal customer base from scratch in real time and 11 00:00:41,951 --> 00:00:43,941 not relying entirely on ad spend. 12 00:00:44,481 --> 00:00:49,011 In this episode, Luke breaks down how discovery commerce works, why 45% of 13 00:00:49,011 --> 00:00:53,071 his December customers came back to buy again, and how he thinks about building 14 00:00:53,071 --> 00:00:55,321 a product range, not chasing virality. 15 00:00:55,811 --> 00:00:59,191 Just applying the same logic that every good retailer already knows. 16 00:01:00,071 --> 00:01:04,051 Whether you're evaluating TikTok Shop as a channel, considering how you can use 17 00:01:04,051 --> 00:01:08,241 live shopping, scouting for brands that are genuinely resonating with consumers, 18 00:01:08,241 --> 00:01:12,081 or just trying to understand how building a fast-growth business really happens, 19 00:01:12,391 --> 00:01:17,261 Luke's story is one of the most insightful you'll find, because he really understands 20 00:01:17,261 --> 00:01:19,691 the market and how to master fast growth. 21 00:01:20,331 --> 00:01:25,551 In just its first year of trading, Yas Clean notched up over 650,000 22 00:01:25,631 --> 00:01:30,031 orders, launched across five European countries and the US, and sold cleaning 23 00:01:30,031 --> 00:01:33,191 and laundry products faster than Luke could get them back into stock. 24 00:01:33,871 --> 00:01:37,221 He also won the TikTok Breakout Seller of the Year Award, so who 25 00:01:37,221 --> 00:01:40,901 better to explain how this platform can lead to massive growth? 26 00:01:41,671 --> 00:01:45,921 So we launched November 2024, so just over a year ago. 27 00:01:46,671 --> 00:01:49,161 Uh, we launched in the UK. 28 00:01:49,491 --> 00:01:53,041 Our first live stream, we did £70,000. 29 00:01:53,381 --> 00:01:54,981 So that was the first time we'd launched the brand. 30 00:01:54,981 --> 00:01:59,581 Bearing in mind we sell scent and cleaning products, so a lot of blind faith from a 31 00:01:59,581 --> 00:02:03,591 lot of people to invest in our products considering they'd never existed before. 32 00:02:04,181 --> 00:02:06,711 We sold out of 50% of our stock in our first day. 33 00:02:06,781 --> 00:02:09,831 That had a run rate of three months, so there was lots of mass 34 00:02:09,941 --> 00:02:11,841 ordering after that live stream. 35 00:02:12,361 --> 00:02:16,631 And in our first year, we've done over 650,000 orders. 36 00:02:16,801 --> 00:02:17,361 Wow. 37 00:02:17,361 --> 00:02:22,511 We've launched in five European countries and also launched in the US. 38 00:02:22,941 --> 00:02:23,361 Wow. 39 00:02:23,451 --> 00:02:26,881 I mean, how do you even keep up with that level of demand? 40 00:02:26,881 --> 00:02:28,071 Uh, it's a lot of stress. 41 00:02:28,621 --> 00:02:29,611 A lot of out-of-stocks. 42 00:02:29,641 --> 00:02:29,771 Yeah. 43 00:02:30,001 --> 00:02:33,441 Many products go in and out of stock because we just can't keep stock in. 44 00:02:33,921 --> 00:02:34,701 I'll give you an example. 45 00:02:34,701 --> 00:02:34,761 No. 46 00:02:34,761 --> 00:02:40,531 So we launched a degreaser, and it's incredible, and it's so good that you can 47 00:02:40,531 --> 00:02:44,141 spray your oven and after t- 20 seconds you can wipe it clean with one swipe. 48 00:02:44,761 --> 00:02:47,971 Obviously, that- Mm ... very much leads and lends itself into 49 00:02:48,001 --> 00:02:49,601 TikTok content and video content. 50 00:02:50,201 --> 00:02:52,211 We sold 10,000 bottles in seven days. 51 00:02:53,459 --> 00:02:56,229 And it's actually only coming back into stock next week, and it's 52 00:02:56,229 --> 00:02:57,309 been out of stock for three months. 53 00:02:57,609 --> 00:03:01,699 So- Right ... it's been a challenge, and my whole life is 54 00:03:02,169 --> 00:03:04,889 stock and keeping stuff in stock. 55 00:03:04,999 --> 00:03:07,879 That is my biggest challenge in life, but it's a, it's a 56 00:03:08,039 --> 00:03:09,329 beautiful challenge to have. 57 00:03:09,569 --> 00:03:13,109 It does, and I think there's also, like, multifacets to it. 58 00:03:13,159 --> 00:03:14,749 It's stock, obviously. 59 00:03:14,749 --> 00:03:18,599 Mm. Keeping best-selling products in stock is always a, a challenge, especially for a 60 00:03:18,599 --> 00:03:22,039 small business when you're looking at cash flow, and you're also looking at growth. 61 00:03:22,039 --> 00:03:22,409 Mm-hmm. 62 00:03:22,599 --> 00:03:28,219 And part of what we do is we sell cleaning products, but we're in a market 63 00:03:28,219 --> 00:03:31,799 that's so fast, especially when you look at social selling- Mm ... that people 64 00:03:31,799 --> 00:03:34,989 get bored very quickly, and they get bored of scent, and they get bored of 65 00:03:34,989 --> 00:03:37,209 ... They're a- they want the next thing. 66 00:03:37,499 --> 00:03:42,909 So it's a minefield- Mm ... and a constant balance between maintaining 67 00:03:42,909 --> 00:03:48,129 ens- ensuring we have enough stock for regular rate of sale, not 68 00:03:48,819 --> 00:03:50,429 taking into consideration- Mm-hmm 69 00:03:50,479 --> 00:03:55,579 the massive peaks of virality, but then also being able- Mm-hmm ... to have enough 70 00:03:55,579 --> 00:04:01,059 capital to invest in product development and launching new products regularly to 71 00:04:01,169 --> 00:04:05,099 keep- Right ... customers coming back, to keep them interested, to bring new 72 00:04:05,099 --> 00:04:09,589 customers into the business, but also kind of grow- Mm ... and expand the brand. 73 00:04:09,589 --> 00:04:11,509 So that is always a challenge. 74 00:04:12,039 --> 00:04:14,279 That stock pressure is the hidden cost of the kind of 75 00:04:14,279 --> 00:04:15,959 growth most brands dream about. 76 00:04:16,429 --> 00:04:18,359 Luke has an unusual perspective on it. 77 00:04:18,579 --> 00:04:21,799 He started his career as a graduate buyer at John Lewis and worked his 78 00:04:21,859 --> 00:04:24,999 way up to director of marketing for a major commercial retailer. 79 00:04:25,549 --> 00:04:29,219 But before any of that led to YAS CLEAN, his TikTok story began during 80 00:04:29,219 --> 00:04:31,779 lockdown almost entirely by accident. 81 00:04:32,029 --> 00:04:35,399 Prior to doing all of this- ... and TikTok and even being a content creator, 82 00:04:35,429 --> 00:04:38,279 I was director of marketing for a very large commercial retail brand. 83 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:38,459 Mm. Okay. 84 00:04:39,119 --> 00:04:42,619 So I oversaw all areas of marketing. 85 00:04:42,979 --> 00:04:45,989 So I went from- Right ... the buying side into marketing and PR as a natural 86 00:04:46,039 --> 00:04:50,279 progression of my career because I felt I was more creative and suited to that role. 87 00:04:51,069 --> 00:04:55,649 And yeah, worked very hard at a very young age and, and got up to 88 00:04:55,649 --> 00:04:58,049 director level, and that was amazing. 89 00:04:58,129 --> 00:05:00,559 Then COVID happened and lockdown happened. 90 00:05:01,289 --> 00:05:05,879 And we were exploring lots of new ways to reach our customers, and TikTok, which 91 00:05:05,979 --> 00:05:08,739 was musically, was one of those avenues. 92 00:05:09,259 --> 00:05:13,459 But I wanted to be prudent, and instead of signing the brand up on 93 00:05:13,459 --> 00:05:17,289 TikTok, because it was so new, I decided to create an account for 94 00:05:17,289 --> 00:05:19,989 myself personally to see how it worked. 95 00:05:20,069 --> 00:05:20,989 How do you post? 96 00:05:21,059 --> 00:05:22,179 What's the algorithm like? 97 00:05:22,179 --> 00:05:23,429 How do you do hashtags? 98 00:05:23,429 --> 00:05:27,839 Like, all of those things a marketeer wants to know on a new 99 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:29,219 platform, which it was at the time. 100 00:05:30,099 --> 00:05:31,399 I had about 40 followers. 101 00:05:31,399 --> 00:05:32,549 It was friends and family. 102 00:05:32,549 --> 00:05:36,999 I was posting silly things just to ... I wasn't do- doing anything to go viral. 103 00:05:36,999 --> 00:05:42,011 I was just trying to see what happened Then I got influenced by a TikTok, 104 00:05:42,261 --> 00:05:46,161 uh, made me buy it, and bought- I've got dog's messes behind me. 105 00:05:46,751 --> 00:05:50,491 Bought a carpet scraper to get dog hair out the carpet, and I was like, "You know 106 00:05:50,491 --> 00:05:55,011 what? I'm just gonna film this. I'm just gonna film it, like see how it is." Filmed 107 00:05:55,011 --> 00:05:56,561 it, and I will always remember this. 108 00:05:56,641 --> 00:05:58,161 9:00 at night, filmed it. 109 00:05:59,011 --> 00:06:01,921 Clumps of hair came out of my carpet, and I Hoover daily, right? 110 00:06:02,241 --> 00:06:06,521 I was mortified, and you could see my genuine reaction on camera. 111 00:06:07,501 --> 00:06:08,361 I posted it. 112 00:06:08,541 --> 00:06:10,291 No link, 'cause TikTok Shop didn't exist then. 113 00:06:10,291 --> 00:06:11,001 No link, nothing. 114 00:06:11,001 --> 00:06:13,091 Just, "Oh my God, look at this carpet scraper. Look at all the dog hair 115 00:06:13,091 --> 00:06:14,891 that came out." No hashtags, nothing. 116 00:06:15,811 --> 00:06:17,381 I posted it about 10:20 at night. 117 00:06:17,531 --> 00:06:19,131 I was tired, 'cause I go to bed early. 118 00:06:19,221 --> 00:06:19,601 Went to bed. 119 00:06:20,371 --> 00:06:25,761 Woke up to 1.8 million views and 10,000 followers overnight. 120 00:06:25,821 --> 00:06:25,891 Wow. 121 00:06:26,001 --> 00:06:29,651 Where- Like, just kept going and going and going, and I freaked. 122 00:06:29,701 --> 00:06:33,281 I was like, "Oh my God." Then I realized the power of that platform. 123 00:06:34,331 --> 00:06:34,521 Mm-hmm. 124 00:06:34,521 --> 00:06:37,751 What happened for me personally was that lots of people 125 00:06:37,891 --> 00:06:39,121 were like, "This is amazing. 126 00:06:39,121 --> 00:06:39,981 You should try this. 127 00:06:39,981 --> 00:06:40,671 Is this real? 128 00:06:40,671 --> 00:06:44,201 Does this work?" So I started just buying stuff on Amazon, 'cause I was bored. 129 00:06:44,201 --> 00:06:45,041 We were locked down at home. 130 00:06:45,331 --> 00:06:49,011 So I started posting more review videos, honest review videos. 131 00:06:49,631 --> 00:06:52,751 I'm not joking, within three or four weeks, brands started emailing me. 132 00:06:53,151 --> 00:06:54,421 "We would love to send you this for free. 133 00:06:54,421 --> 00:06:56,591 We'd love to send you that for free." And I was like, "Oh my God. 134 00:06:56,641 --> 00:06:57,501 Okay, yeah, sure. 135 00:06:57,501 --> 00:07:00,171 I'll... If you wanna send me something for free, of course. 136 00:07:00,921 --> 00:07:01,611 I'll buy it next. 137 00:07:01,661 --> 00:07:05,541 But yeah, send it to me." Then that was going and I got 138 00:07:05,541 --> 00:07:07,131 to about 150,000 followers. 139 00:07:07,481 --> 00:07:08,721 Then TikTok Shop happened. 140 00:07:09,501 --> 00:07:10,561 It launched in the UK. 141 00:07:10,591 --> 00:07:12,701 It was the first country in the West that launched. 142 00:07:13,461 --> 00:07:14,951 So I was headhunted. 143 00:07:15,161 --> 00:07:16,071 I was reached out to. 144 00:07:16,071 --> 00:07:18,521 The number one... There was... They set up an- TikTok set up an agency. 145 00:07:18,521 --> 00:07:22,731 So the agency reached out to me, which I still work with today, and said, "TikTok 146 00:07:22,731 --> 00:07:27,081 Shop is launching. We've identified you as a potential seller. Would you 147 00:07:27,121 --> 00:07:27,971 be interested in doing it?" Mm-hmm. 148 00:07:28,181 --> 00:07:33,041 Now, I actually thought that it was a scam, and I thought it was fake, and 149 00:07:33,041 --> 00:07:34,451 I almost didn't sign the contract. 150 00:07:34,991 --> 00:07:37,501 My sister's best friend is a lawyer, so I got her to read over it. 151 00:07:38,121 --> 00:07:40,971 And I remember sitting there at my dining room table, like I am now, and 152 00:07:40,971 --> 00:07:43,591 the words I said to myself were, "In for a penny, in for a pound. If it goes 153 00:07:43,591 --> 00:07:45,361 wrong, it goes wrong." So I signed it. 154 00:07:45,501 --> 00:07:45,741 Uh. 155 00:07:45,911 --> 00:07:47,911 Went down to TikTok's office. 156 00:07:48,501 --> 00:07:49,841 Did my first live stream. 157 00:07:50,301 --> 00:07:55,141 Uh, I was on camera for four hours live shopping, and I was the person that had 158 00:07:55,141 --> 00:07:56,541 the least amount of followers on that day. 159 00:07:56,881 --> 00:07:59,261 There were people live streaming on TikTok Shop that had 4 160 00:07:59,261 --> 00:08:00,441 million, 5 million followers. 161 00:08:01,241 --> 00:08:04,903 I was the highest seller on the day And I think it shocked all of 162 00:08:04,903 --> 00:08:08,243 us because they were expecting a higher number of follower count to 163 00:08:08,243 --> 00:08:09,453 equate to a higher number of sales. 164 00:08:09,923 --> 00:08:14,743 But I think because I had a dedicated following of people that trusted that 165 00:08:14,743 --> 00:08:18,943 I reviewed products and bought from me because they would use other affiliate 166 00:08:18,943 --> 00:08:22,593 links, I think that was what did it, and they realized they needed people 167 00:08:23,083 --> 00:08:25,143 that were doing this to be successful. 168 00:08:25,433 --> 00:08:30,713 I then became the number one seller in the UK within that year, and 169 00:08:31,233 --> 00:08:32,593 I... TikTok shop was my life. 170 00:08:32,663 --> 00:08:33,433 I left my job. 171 00:08:33,663 --> 00:08:34,753 I did it full-time. 172 00:08:35,433 --> 00:08:41,883 I was making 10 times more than I was in my regular job, then decided I can see how 173 00:08:41,883 --> 00:08:43,383 many more people are joining TikTok shop. 174 00:08:43,693 --> 00:08:46,193 Lots more creators are joining, lots more brands are joining. 175 00:08:47,103 --> 00:08:50,873 So it's gonna become more competitive for me as a creator to cut through 176 00:08:50,873 --> 00:08:53,273 the noise, even with a big following. 177 00:08:53,833 --> 00:08:58,023 So I was like, "I really wanna be a brand owner," because now is the time to do it. 178 00:08:58,023 --> 00:09:02,173 Now I, I've spotted an opportunity that now is the time to become a brand 179 00:09:02,173 --> 00:09:04,863 owner because so many more people are promoting products on TikTok shop. 180 00:09:05,703 --> 00:09:07,763 So actually, we didn't do Yaskleen first. 181 00:09:07,913 --> 00:09:09,363 Uh, we did Not Without Loves. 182 00:09:09,483 --> 00:09:12,253 We started selling gadgets and viral gadgets. 183 00:09:12,723 --> 00:09:13,793 We made a million. 184 00:09:14,233 --> 00:09:16,063 That was my first million I made ever. 185 00:09:16,503 --> 00:09:21,263 Then took that money and that profit and decided the smart thing to do was 186 00:09:21,453 --> 00:09:26,813 to not make products that go viral and a one-time purchase to create a 187 00:09:26,993 --> 00:09:30,733 product range and a brand which is repeat purchase, a consumable product. 188 00:09:31,393 --> 00:09:35,693 Makeup and beauty was saturated, but I spotted that cleaning 189 00:09:35,693 --> 00:09:37,961 wasn't I love cleaning. 190 00:09:38,401 --> 00:09:43,311 So with no knowledge and no experience, I went on a year-long journey prior 191 00:09:43,311 --> 00:09:46,901 to launching YAS CLEAN into reaching out to the right manufacturers to 192 00:09:46,901 --> 00:09:48,801 partner to create cleaning products. 193 00:09:49,351 --> 00:09:54,891 Lots of learns, lots of lessons learned, uh, and a year in development, and we 194 00:09:54,891 --> 00:09:59,441 launched in November 2024, and it was clearly the best decision I ever made. 195 00:09:59,441 --> 00:09:59,931 The rest is history. 196 00:10:02,977 --> 00:10:05,077 A year of development, the right manufacturer, and a 197 00:10:05,077 --> 00:10:06,347 clear gap in the market. 198 00:10:06,717 --> 00:10:09,657 After first testing the model with a viral gadget brand that hit 199 00:10:09,657 --> 00:10:13,767 seven figures, Luke had both the proof of concept and the capital to 200 00:10:13,767 --> 00:10:15,437 build something with staying power. 201 00:10:16,017 --> 00:10:19,477 I asked him how he thought about creating product range in a category 202 00:10:19,507 --> 00:10:21,767 already dominated by household names. 203 00:10:22,457 --> 00:10:24,397 So I think cleaning is cleaning, right? 204 00:10:24,457 --> 00:10:28,697 And I think it- unless you're gonna spend a lot of money on research and development 205 00:10:28,727 --> 00:10:32,257 and- Mm ... patent acquisition, it's very difficult to come up with something new. 206 00:10:32,657 --> 00:10:32,937 Mm-hmm. 207 00:10:33,057 --> 00:10:36,147 I find it really interesting when, especially people in business are 208 00:10:36,147 --> 00:10:37,607 like, "I've got this great new idea." 209 00:10:37,847 --> 00:10:43,717 And actually, there are some times when a brand-new idea, which is fresh 210 00:10:43,837 --> 00:10:46,077 coming to the market, is the, is great. 211 00:10:46,537 --> 00:10:49,337 Mm. But there's also times when actually you can take something 212 00:10:49,337 --> 00:10:52,527 that already exists and just make it better or put your spin on it. 213 00:10:52,967 --> 00:10:53,217 Mm-hmm. 214 00:10:53,217 --> 00:10:55,567 And haven't really done anything innovative. 215 00:10:56,217 --> 00:10:57,097 I haven't got... 216 00:10:57,347 --> 00:10:59,647 I mean, lots of research and development goes into the product, 217 00:10:59,647 --> 00:11:01,817 and actually- Mm, yeah ... there are innovations coming out now. 218 00:11:02,307 --> 00:11:04,687 But when we first launched, we didn't do anything innovative. 219 00:11:05,047 --> 00:11:10,857 I just did something that where I wanted to listen to my customer. 220 00:11:11,217 --> 00:11:11,497 Mm-hmm. 221 00:11:11,597 --> 00:11:16,317 So I was previously promoting cleaning products from other brands, and I think 222 00:11:16,387 --> 00:11:23,037 what I was very conscious of is creating something that aligned with me- Mm-hmm 223 00:11:23,037 --> 00:11:26,627 and aligned with my husband, but also aligned with my 224 00:11:26,627 --> 00:11:29,597 community and was listening to what was going on in the world. 225 00:11:29,997 --> 00:11:35,727 So we created a fun, fabulous, and affordable brand, and that is products 226 00:11:35,727 --> 00:11:38,847 that have great efficacy, that work, products that have strong smell 227 00:11:38,957 --> 00:11:41,707 because lots of people in the United Kingdom love a strong-smelling cleaning 228 00:11:41,707 --> 00:11:46,997 product, and creating moments, so looking at what scents people love 229 00:11:47,177 --> 00:11:50,407 in that moment and then replicating that in cleaning where others weren't. 230 00:11:50,947 --> 00:11:54,587 So creating coconut and sea breeze and cherry blossom, and we're 231 00:11:54,587 --> 00:11:55,907 working on oud at the moment. 232 00:11:56,527 --> 00:11:59,997 So taking those moments, but making the product smell great. 233 00:12:00,097 --> 00:12:04,707 And we are very, very scent-orientated as a brand. 234 00:12:05,177 --> 00:12:08,077 We do have some unscented products, but as you know from our scent boosters, it's 235 00:12:08,077 --> 00:12:10,177 about scent, but it's also about value. 236 00:12:10,727 --> 00:12:12,557 So our scent booster tubs are two and a half liters. 237 00:12:12,607 --> 00:12:15,007 We were the first people to make a two-and-a-half liter tub of scent 238 00:12:15,007 --> 00:12:18,517 boosters, and they are incredibly affordable, but they smell amazing. 239 00:12:19,017 --> 00:12:23,337 And for me, it was about marrying those two together to give great value but 240 00:12:23,387 --> 00:12:27,377 also give great product, and that's kind of how we position ourselves. 241 00:12:27,607 --> 00:12:30,017 We're not the cheapest, but we're not the most expensive, but we 242 00:12:30,017 --> 00:12:31,087 sit in the middle at great value. 243 00:12:32,511 --> 00:12:37,031 Fun, fabulous, affordable, and genuinely scent-led in a category that had never 244 00:12:37,031 --> 00:12:39,181 really treated scent as a brand identity. 245 00:12:39,591 --> 00:12:42,561 That positioning is converting people away from household name 246 00:12:42,561 --> 00:12:46,231 detergents and fabric softeners that they've been loyal to for years. 247 00:12:46,991 --> 00:12:48,941 If you look, there are big brands in the market, right? 248 00:12:48,971 --> 00:12:52,851 And, and they dominate, and you'll get people that will only use one detergent, 249 00:12:52,901 --> 00:12:54,341 only one- use one fabric softener. 250 00:12:54,401 --> 00:12:57,501 And I think a big feat for us is that we've managed to convert 251 00:12:57,501 --> 00:12:59,781 people from those brands to ours, which is incredible, right? 252 00:13:00,771 --> 00:13:06,841 But I think it comes down to those three points and standing up and 253 00:13:06,841 --> 00:13:10,911 saying, "We make great products," and not afraid to shout about that. 254 00:13:11,311 --> 00:13:13,881 If you look at beauty and care, there are so many niche 255 00:13:13,881 --> 00:13:16,641 indie brands, which is amazing. 256 00:13:17,051 --> 00:13:19,281 There isn't the same in our industry and in our sector. 257 00:13:20,311 --> 00:13:23,951 There is room in everyone's cupboard for my multipurpose cleaner and somebody 258 00:13:23,951 --> 00:13:27,251 else's and another small brand's, and I think that's really important. 259 00:13:27,551 --> 00:13:32,061 But I think it's also important that, you know, we stand by what we started and 260 00:13:32,061 --> 00:13:33,481 we just continue to make great products. 261 00:13:33,481 --> 00:13:36,191 And I think that in itself- Let me give you a stat. 262 00:13:36,651 --> 00:13:41,841 Last month in December, obviously, we are not a gifting brand, so 263 00:13:41,971 --> 00:13:44,721 cleaning is not top of everyone's priority to spend money on. 264 00:13:45,191 --> 00:13:49,341 45% of our sales come from repeat customers last month, which is insane. 265 00:13:50,581 --> 00:13:53,771 45% repeat customers in December, the hardest trading 266 00:13:53,771 --> 00:13:55,351 month for a non-gifting brand. 267 00:13:56,011 --> 00:14:00,001 Which leads to the question every TikTok brand eventually has to ask itself: 268 00:14:00,411 --> 00:14:02,821 Is virality a strategy or a trap? 269 00:14:03,731 --> 00:14:09,011 Virality is beautiful, but also an absolute pain because as a retailer, 270 00:14:09,011 --> 00:14:13,411 as a brand, how do you manage your stock, your rate of sale? 271 00:14:13,451 --> 00:14:14,841 Like, you can't. 272 00:14:14,951 --> 00:14:19,041 Like, you can never predict it, and we now live in a world where things can go viral. 273 00:14:19,911 --> 00:14:25,877 And actually- There are times when I have a hunch that I think this potentially 274 00:14:25,877 --> 00:14:32,037 could go viral, but a lot of the time now I'm listening to our customers, listening 275 00:14:32,037 --> 00:14:35,827 to ... We have over 4,000 creators that work with us on a regular basis. 276 00:14:36,167 --> 00:14:38,337 I actually put a message out to all the creators yesterday. 277 00:14:38,697 --> 00:14:41,487 I want you to tell me what products you think we should be making this year. 278 00:14:41,677 --> 00:14:42,757 Tell me what you want. 279 00:14:43,557 --> 00:14:46,197 Because it's not about going viral with, with everything. 280 00:14:46,307 --> 00:14:50,547 It's also about creating a brand and a range of products across 281 00:14:50,957 --> 00:14:52,427 multiple different areas of cleaning. 282 00:14:52,867 --> 00:14:54,897 So that's about building a range. 283 00:14:54,897 --> 00:14:55,977 Not everything's gonna go viral. 284 00:14:55,977 --> 00:14:57,557 You're, you're gonna have dead stock. 285 00:14:57,677 --> 00:14:59,007 You're gonna have slow sellers. 286 00:14:59,007 --> 00:15:01,637 You're gonna have stuff that is just ticking over every day that people 287 00:15:01,637 --> 00:15:04,707 just buy when they stock up, and you're gonna have those viral moments. 288 00:15:05,057 --> 00:15:06,187 It's about all elements. 289 00:15:06,187 --> 00:15:08,227 And traditional retail has that as well, right? 290 00:15:08,227 --> 00:15:10,207 You'll have that hero product. 291 00:15:10,677 --> 00:15:13,567 You'll have that product that doesn't sell that you put into 292 00:15:13,567 --> 00:15:14,907 sale or you send to outlet. 293 00:15:14,957 --> 00:15:20,067 Like, that's just retail, but it's about building a range and a brand arc 294 00:15:20,227 --> 00:15:23,937 and a, and a price arc. And I guess because of my experience, I know that 295 00:15:23,937 --> 00:15:28,347 and understand that, and what we're doing now, we're- we've had a capsule range. 296 00:15:29,227 --> 00:15:31,727 We've worked out what sells, what doesn't sell, what people want, 297 00:15:32,027 --> 00:15:32,877 and we're now building on that. 298 00:15:33,867 --> 00:15:36,867 Building a range, not chasing spikes, and having the retail 299 00:15:36,867 --> 00:15:38,357 literacy to know the difference. 300 00:15:38,797 --> 00:15:43,137 Luke has now been on both sides of TikTok as a creator and as a brand owner. 301 00:15:43,467 --> 00:15:45,127 Here's how he describes the model. 302 00:15:45,517 --> 00:15:48,717 To start off with explaining, so obviously creating a brand on, on the platform are 303 00:15:48,717 --> 00:15:50,277 obviously very different but very joined. 304 00:15:50,727 --> 00:15:52,867 TikTok describe it as what's called discovery commerce. 305 00:15:53,157 --> 00:15:56,997 So instead of the traditional approach to how you would sell a 306 00:15:56,997 --> 00:16:00,867 product or market it, and let's just take e-commerce as an example, a 307 00:16:00,867 --> 00:16:03,727 lot of that is around SEO or SEA. 308 00:16:03,967 --> 00:16:08,287 So you're, you're talking about keywords and getting up rankings on search engines, 309 00:16:08,687 --> 00:16:13,899 or you're paying for advertising, cash for an advert TikTok is very different. 310 00:16:13,899 --> 00:16:14,849 TikTok shop is very different. 311 00:16:15,519 --> 00:16:18,879 Your marketing budget is spent on sending samples to creators. 312 00:16:19,119 --> 00:16:20,199 That's where you spend your money. 313 00:16:20,229 --> 00:16:26,829 So instead of spending, I don't know, 1,000 pounds a day on ads, you would 314 00:16:26,829 --> 00:16:30,719 spend 1,000 pounds a day sending out the equivalent of free samples to creators. 315 00:16:31,659 --> 00:16:32,469 That's how it works. 316 00:16:32,889 --> 00:16:34,659 And then a creator takes the products, they promote it. 317 00:16:34,659 --> 00:16:37,499 So the more products you've got in creators' hands, the more you will 318 00:16:37,499 --> 00:16:41,009 be across the For You page on TikTok, the more customers will see your 319 00:16:41,009 --> 00:16:45,769 product, the more they'll be reinforced video after video to then hopefully 320 00:16:46,149 --> 00:16:47,739 be convinced to buy your product. 321 00:16:48,069 --> 00:16:49,589 Obviously, there's lots of other factors in that, but that's a 322 00:16:49,589 --> 00:16:50,839 very dumbed down, simple version. 323 00:16:51,139 --> 00:16:51,269 Yeah. 324 00:16:51,639 --> 00:16:54,549 So you, as a brand, you set how much commission that creator earns. 325 00:16:55,079 --> 00:16:59,229 Coming from a creator side, I know what it's like to work with good brands. 326 00:16:59,339 --> 00:17:02,229 I know what the average commission value and rate is. 327 00:17:02,629 --> 00:17:05,889 I know what looking after creators look like because I've been 328 00:17:05,889 --> 00:17:07,479 looked after by brands myself. 329 00:17:07,929 --> 00:17:13,309 So when I created the brand, I wanted to be customer-focused and creator-focused. 330 00:17:13,349 --> 00:17:13,409 Yeah. 331 00:17:13,409 --> 00:17:18,289 So when we went into this, we approve more samples than lots of other brands. 332 00:17:18,619 --> 00:17:23,149 We give extra value, whether that be of creators' live stream. 333 00:17:23,179 --> 00:17:23,969 We give them free giveaways. 334 00:17:23,969 --> 00:17:26,659 There's a tool where you can give a free giveaway to a creator. 335 00:17:26,909 --> 00:17:30,359 We give free giveaways to our creators as a thank you for supporting us. 336 00:17:30,649 --> 00:17:33,349 There's lots of tools within TikTok where you can support creators. 337 00:17:33,939 --> 00:17:34,969 We are creator first. 338 00:17:35,009 --> 00:17:36,149 I put creators first. 339 00:17:36,859 --> 00:17:40,969 At any given moment, around 3,000 creators are actively requesting 340 00:17:40,969 --> 00:17:46,249 YAS CLEAN samples, but Luke isn't putting all his eggs into one TikTok basket. 341 00:17:46,549 --> 00:17:49,549 The brand also sells on Amazon, its own website, and both 342 00:17:49,549 --> 00:17:51,509 Tesco and B&Q marketplaces. 343 00:17:51,869 --> 00:17:55,099 He's de-risking his platform strategy and building his range. 344 00:17:55,339 --> 00:17:58,849 But one of the most interesting operational advantages Yaskleen has built 345 00:17:59,189 --> 00:18:03,789 is something that most businesses on any channel simply don't have access to. 346 00:18:04,349 --> 00:18:07,679 Always listening, and I think that's the beauty of live streaming. 347 00:18:08,059 --> 00:18:11,299 So we are live pretty much all day, every day, seven days a week. 348 00:18:11,299 --> 00:18:14,479 So I would say we're live from like 7:00 AM till 10:00 PM. 349 00:18:15,219 --> 00:18:19,459 And whereas that is a sales channel, all of our live streamers, so we have a 350 00:18:19,459 --> 00:18:24,199 team of expert live streamers that we've hand selected, um, that work for us. 351 00:18:24,419 --> 00:18:26,909 They have a 50%/50% job. 352 00:18:27,089 --> 00:18:31,289 50% of their job is to sit on live and sell, but 50% of their job 353 00:18:31,449 --> 00:18:33,099 is customer service and feedback. 354 00:18:33,259 --> 00:18:36,559 So we have a WhatsApp group that is currently around 20 messages deep as 355 00:18:36,559 --> 00:18:39,909 I'm looking because I've asked them a question about asking customers 356 00:18:39,949 --> 00:18:42,199 what they think about new scents, what they think about new products. 357 00:18:42,199 --> 00:18:42,899 Do they like it? 358 00:18:42,899 --> 00:18:44,239 Do they think we should change anything? 359 00:18:44,549 --> 00:18:45,279 What's their feedback? 360 00:18:45,319 --> 00:18:46,599 What do they think we should work on next? 361 00:18:46,749 --> 00:18:52,135 Constant, all day, every day, and that real time element is that a 362 00:18:52,135 --> 00:18:56,315 customer can go on our live stream, "My order hasn't arrived." "No problem. 363 00:18:56,655 --> 00:18:57,705 The team are available now. 364 00:18:57,785 --> 00:19:00,855 If you message here, they'll get back to you in five minutes," or, "No problem. 365 00:19:00,855 --> 00:19:04,405 Give our phone line a call." Lots of shops on TikTok Shop don't have phone lines. 366 00:19:04,585 --> 00:19:07,595 I want, um, I want you to come and know we've still online because if we're 367 00:19:07,595 --> 00:19:11,455 live and someone has a problem with their order or they have an idea or a 368 00:19:11,455 --> 00:19:13,495 suggestion, give us a call right now. 369 00:19:15,135 --> 00:19:18,105 Because if one of the experts on the live can't do that, I've got a team 370 00:19:18,105 --> 00:19:19,425 of people behind the scenes that can. 371 00:19:20,335 --> 00:19:29,085 So for me, every day is feedback in so many forms, but our live is so important 372 00:19:29,085 --> 00:19:32,965 to that because I get feedback all day, every day from it in real time. 373 00:19:32,965 --> 00:19:33,235 Mm-hmm. 374 00:19:34,095 --> 00:19:34,325 Yeah. 375 00:19:34,805 --> 00:19:38,845 And so did you build out all of this entire infrastructure in the last, 376 00:19:38,845 --> 00:19:41,975 like, 13 months- Yeah ... or did you have some of this before from- No. 377 00:19:42,495 --> 00:19:42,685 No? 378 00:19:42,685 --> 00:19:42,845 Sweet. 379 00:19:43,275 --> 00:19:43,465 Yeah. 380 00:19:43,795 --> 00:19:47,715 Well, we did have some, but yeah, most of it was built in the last- 381 00:19:47,795 --> 00:19:48,645 Yeah ... in the last year, yeah. 382 00:19:49,335 --> 00:19:49,905 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 383 00:19:50,085 --> 00:19:50,775 Been a busy year. 384 00:19:50,775 --> 00:19:51,295 We don't sleep. 385 00:19:54,895 --> 00:19:55,745 Fresh skincare is on things I'll say. 386 00:19:55,745 --> 00:19:56,405 Good skincare. 387 00:19:56,405 --> 00:19:56,885 That's what I'm gonna say. 388 00:19:57,005 --> 00:19:58,145 Good, good skincare. 389 00:19:59,025 --> 00:20:03,955 At any given moment, around 3,000 creators are actively requesting YAS 390 00:20:03,955 --> 00:20:08,995 CLEAN samples, but Luke isn't putting all his eggs into one TikTok basket. 391 00:20:09,295 --> 00:20:12,295 The brand also sells on Amazon, its own website, and both 392 00:20:12,295 --> 00:20:14,225 Tesco and B&Q marketplaces. 393 00:20:14,685 --> 00:20:18,365 He's de-risking his platform strategy and building his range, but one of 394 00:20:18,365 --> 00:20:22,055 the most interesting operational advantages YAS CLEAN has built is 395 00:20:22,055 --> 00:20:26,525 something that most businesses on any channel simply don't have access to: 396 00:20:27,975 --> 00:20:30,165 real-time feedback seven days a week. 397 00:20:30,325 --> 00:20:34,045 That is a level of customer listening most businesses can't get close to. 398 00:20:34,605 --> 00:20:38,045 While not everyone has a business model that works for this type of viral growth 399 00:20:38,045 --> 00:20:41,815 on TikTok, it's certainly food for thought for anyone who wants a clear line 400 00:20:41,815 --> 00:20:43,955 of communication with their customer. 401 00:20:44,535 --> 00:20:45,695 Thanks so much for listening. 402 00:20:45,695 --> 00:20:49,405 Don't forget to go check out YAS CLEAN on their socials or online 403 00:20:49,605 --> 00:20:52,815 and see what an amazing job that they do selling the product. 404 00:20:53,175 --> 00:20:55,955 And of course, if you have a moment to like, follow, or subscribe, 405 00:20:56,265 --> 00:20:59,335 you'll be the first to know about each new podcast episode every week. 406 00:20:59,545 --> 00:21:02,575 And why not come along and say hi to me on Instagram, @resilientretailclub, 407 00:21:02,855 --> 00:21:05,675 and let me know what you took away from today's episode