Episode 9 – De-Risking Brick-and-Mortar for DTC Brands with Megan Berry

In this week's Founder Mode podcast, Jason and I talked with Megan Berry. Megan started a smart company named ByReveal. It builds small pop-up stores. She explained how online brands can try selling products in real life. They can do this safely and without spending a lot of money upfront.

Why Physical Stores?

Megan pointed out why online brands may want to have physical stores. Customers like to touch products and see them in person. A real store builds strong connections and loyalty to the brand.

But opening a permanent store is super expensive and risky. Megan discovered a clever way around this.

Megan’s Smart Pop-up Solution

Megan created small pop-up stores. They were cheap to set up and didn’t require costly building permits. She noticed a rule:

"If something is under eight feet tall and smaller than 50 square feet, technically, it's not a building. You just need a sales permit. That made it quick and easy."

— Megan Berry

This idea let her set up small stores almost anywhere quickly. Smart move!

Here’s a tip for brands thinking about going physical:

“Pop-up retail is a low-risk bridge between selling online and opening a permanent store. Testing small setups first helps you safely learn what works before you invest a lot of money.”

— Kevin Henrikson

Pop-ups let you learn about customers with little risk.

Key Takeaways

1. Knowing When You're Ready

Megan pointed out signs that your brand may need a larger, permanent store. Look at "dwell time"—how long people stay in your store. If customers stick around, that’s a great sign. If your brand is well-known without heavy advertising, it could be time to grow.

2. Keep Customers Comfortable

We discussed with Megan how crucial it is to value customers and their loved ones!) comfortable. When shoppers have a comfortable spot to sit or relax, they stay longer. This extra time can lead to more purchases.

3. Future Stores Using AI

We also talked about the future. Megan sees AI making a big difference in retail. AI helps brands know their customers. This makes shopping easier and more personal.