DTC’s Daily Digest brings you the latest news on the world’s fastest growing direct-to-consumer brands. In today’s edition: Dollar Shave Club owner to stop porn site adverts; allplants launch dessert range; and Notonthehighstreet comes to the high street. 

Dollar Shave Club owner to stop porn site adverts

Unilever, which owns household names such as Marmite and PG Tips, has vowed to stop its brands running adverts on porn sites.

The move comes after its men's grooming range Dollar Shave Club ran a campaign on the controversial website Pornhub.

Pornhub told the BBC it disputed the claims, but Unilever said it was "extremely concerned". The consumer good giant said that it had been unaware of Dollar Shave Club's campaign, and that the shaving brand had "operational independence" over its marketing activities.

"We don't support advertising on porn sites, and we are extremely concerned about the content that the Sunday Times shared with us," a spokesman said. "This type of content is deeply troubling, and we will ensure that none of our brands advertise on Pornhub again, or on any other porn sites. Dollar Shave Club has also confirmed that they will not advertise with Pornhub again, or on any other porn sites."

Dollar Shave Club, which posts razors to customers, ran a time limited campaign on Pornhub earlier in 2019. One ad read: "If you use our bathroom products you won't have to visit this site as much."

allplants launch dessert range

Plant-based ready meal business allplants has unveiled its range of desserts, called Allplants Treats. The new products are fully plant-based, free from refined sugar, and packaged in reusable glass ramekins which can be heated up at home. 

The wider roll of the treats follows an exclusive trial to allplants subscribers. Allplants co-founder Alex Petrides explained that while desserts aren’t an “everyday fix” the business decided to introduce the new range after thousands of requests from customers. The new products highlight the nimbleness of DTCs, taking feedback and recommendations from customers on their products, and using this to design new offerings. The fact that allplants’ kitchens are based on the same site as their offices means they can test and learn very quickly with new recipes as well. 

Always looking to innovate, earlier this year, allplants installed several self-checkout freezers as part of a new trial in the UK, providing a platform which offers plant-based meals to customers in an “innovative new format”.

DTC Daily also spoke to allplants’ co-founder JP Petrides on The DTC Podcast recently, who highlighted how the company has grown from a small vegan supper club, to a B Corp that is employing over 70 people. 

Notonthehighstreet comes to the high street

Notonthehighstreet is once again going to open pop-up stores in London over the festive season, following the success of its physical spaces last year.

The first store will open at London Waterloo Station between 1-17 November and the second, located at London Bridge Station will run from 4 November until 21 December.

The pop-up stores will house a number of curated products including accessories, homewear, decor, jewellery and kidswear, giving customers a peep into the full range of products that are available on Notonthehighstreet’s website.

A jewellery range co-created by presenter Fearne Cotton is included in collaboration with  artisan jeweller Carrie Elizabeth, as part of four celebrity collaborations to support the online retailer’s Christmas campaign.

Pop-ups have become a popular way for DTC and e-commerce brands to strengthen the relationship they have with consumers. While building a relationship online can be extremely effective, in the UK 80% of sales still take place in shops, meaning having a physical presence can not only build a more personal bond with customers, but also help sales. 

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