A $30 product for only $3

Last week, we discussed how luxury fashion and commerce in general are dying because brands have gotten greedy. I also shared with you that this is good news for small brands, because it lets you compete where larger brands won’t. And as promised… this week I am breaking down exactly how…

This is going to sound crazy, but stick with me.

I want you to create an accessory line to complement the clothing brand, then give everything in that accessory brand away for free.

I told you this was going to sound nuts… but it’s genius. And, don’t really cost much.

Accessories (and cosmetics) have some of the best margins in retail. People buy products that cost them a couple of bucks, then turn around and sell them for tens, and even hundreds, of dollars. (I am going to show you the margins in just a minute).

For my brand nu:titty, every bra purchase includes a gold embossed suede jewelry pouch with 3 crystals inside: amethyst, rose quartz, and crystal quartz. Plus a small card wishes the customer a good healing journey and explains what the crystals are.

Customers don’t know they’re getting it at the time of purchase; it’s free, and a surprise.

Now, let’s talk numbers: these crystals are priced at about $30 on sites like Anthropologie.

I sourced the whole package for about $3. So I spend $3, and customers think they are getting a $30 gift for FREE. That’s the power of accessories.

It’s as simple as going on Alibaba, picking out inexpensive items, making them cute with your branding and logo, and giving them away for free.

Let your main product, the one you’ve crafted with care and intentionality for your core customer, speak for itself.

But then, offer the cheap junk that other brands are charging big bucks for, for free.

When people think they are receiving $30, $40, or $50 worth of free product with their purchase, they become instant fans. They share it on social media, tell their friends, and tend to become repeat buyers (what will they get next?)

This strategy hinges on understanding how brands have conditioned customers to accept cheap, low-value items as status symbols. When you understand that, and go against what they’ve been doing (aka instead of charging for cheap junk, giving it away for free), you stand out immediately.

Many big brands dabble in this, but they aren’t fully committed. For example, a swimsuit brand might give away a tiny sunscreen sample, or a running brand might provide a small electrolyte packet. I want you to think bigger than that.

It sounds easy, but like everything, there is a strategy to this.

So, I’m about to show you a whole ton of examples because stickers, water bottles, and keychains are not the move here.

After a lot of thought, I’m moving some of my Substack content behind a paywall.

Industry news and general updates about my life will always be free, but my step by step guides will be available to paid subscribers only.

These guides take significant time and energy to create. And, $5 a month is genuinely a small ask for that level of work and information.

If my content has helped you, this is a meaningful way to give back and support the person creating it.

Creators can’t keep giving if we’re constantly drained. Sustainable support means I can keep showing up and producing quality content for you.

BTW, your $5 also gets you access to our private community forum, a space to connect, ask questions, and go deeper beyond the content itself.

TL;DR:

“PS - In case you are curious…” and Lastly, before I go, a few cool things…” will always remain free.

It’s just the juice industry contacts, tutorials, and guides that will now require a $5 a month subscription.

We are off to the Maldives today. I am about to be eating Mas Huni for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and if you don’t know what that is, keep an eye on my Insta stories.

After that we head back to Goa for a bit, and are starting to look at tickets to return back to the states for the summer. We have been in Asia since October, 8 months now, but honestly it some ways it feels like we just got here, we still have so many loose ends to tie up before we go.

Also, look how big Zeus has gotten since we have been gone, and he is still not done growing! BTW, Great Danes are known for doing this, they like to “sit” on couches.

• A net zero backpack made from used cooking oil.

• Proving how fast fashion is lower quality.

• Are these 2 dresses really the same?

• Fabric sourcing lingo guide.