What the ad platform reports.
After product, fulfillment, and ads.
Below this, first orders lose money.
Example: one $100 order
Stop optimizing for ROAS. Start growing contribution margin.
Profitable growth for DTC E-commerce brands: the right setup, real targets, and paid media that scales on margin.
Revenue generated by the brands I've managed
Ad spend managed
Most brands are still running an old playbook.
It made sense when ads were cheap and tracking was simple. Today it makes growth look healthier than it is.
- 01
Scaling on platform ROAS.
Why it misleadsMeta and Google grade their own homework. They count view-throughs, overlap, and sales that would have happened anyway, so the dashboard looks better than the bank account.
- 02
Running a setup nobody has rebuilt.
Why it misleadsAccount structure, conversion events, and attribution settings built for an older version of the platforms. The algorithm learns from the wrong signals and spends on the wrong people.
- 03
Borrowing targets from benchmarks.
Why it misleadsA “good ROAS” means nothing without your margins, fees, and repeat rate. Without your own break-even, nobody can tell growth from burning cash.
The fix starts with one order and what is actually left of it. See the math
Contribution margin is the number that matters.
Revenue is easy to buy. Contribution margin is what's left after product, fulfillment, and ad spend. Move the sliders to see how the same ROAS can make or lose money.
Want this run on your real numbers? Book a free call
What we cover.
DTC E-commerceGrowth strategy
Targets set in contribution margin and CAC, a plan built around your vertical and goals, and one set of numbers the whole team reads.
Paid acquisition
Meta, Google, TikTok, and Amazon run as one budget, structured and scaled on real targets instead of platform ROAS.
Creative strategy
Briefs, hooks, and testing roadmaps grounded in what the account data says is working.
Retention and lifecycle
Email and SMS flows and campaigns that raise repeat rate and lifetime value, so acquisition pays back faster.
Proof, not promises.
DTCFitness apparel brand
+440% year over year, January to September 2026 vs. 2025
- Metric
- Net sales, straight from Shopify
- Timeframe
- 2024 to 2026 year to date
- Channels
- Meta, TikTok, Google, Retention
- What changed
- A margin-first growth strategy: clear targets, a tighter channel mix, and a steady testing cadence
Client names stay private. Figures come straight from Shopify and are shown as growth, not dollar amounts.
The first 30 days, then every month after.
Simple on purpose. Access and audit happens once. After that, every month runs the same loop, starting from what the last one taught us.
Book a free intro call-
Week 1 / Kickoff
Access and audit
- Get access to ad accounts, analytics, and Shopify
- Audit accounts, tracking, and unit economics
Happens once. Everything after this runs on the loop.
-
Weeks 2 to 4, then monthly
Plan and execute
- Build the strategy around your goals and targets
- Launch the first restructures, creative tests, and flows
-
Ongoing
Optimize and analyze
- Optimize on a regular cadence
- Analyze what moved and why
- Shift budget and strategy based on what we learn
Then back to plan and execute, with better data.
Who you'll work with.
About
Hi, I'm Chris.
Nine years in DTC performance marketing, in paid media leadership and growth roles on both the agency and brand side.
I've led paid social, search, growth strategy, creative strategy, and retention for brands in apparel and streetwear, sports nutrition and supplements, and bath and body.
I started Schweitzer Digital to be the partner I wanted on the brand side.
If it doesn't show up in the bank account, it isn't growth.
Every plan, test, and report ties back to what the business actually keeps.
You work with me.
No account manager relaying messages. The person on your calls is the person in your accounts.
Lean by design.
A vetted execution team handles builds and QA under my review, so your fee pays for strategy and output, not overhead.
You own everything.
Ad accounts, pixels, and data stay yours. Access runs through Business Manager and MCC permissions, never shared logins.
Questions people ask on the first call.
What kinds of brands are the best fit?
DTC E-commerce brands already spending on paid media and ready to grow profitably.
Why contribution margin instead of ROAS?
Platform ROAS is reported by the platform you pay, and it counts sales that would have happened anyway. Contribution margin shows what is left after product, fulfillment, and ad spend, so budgets follow what the business actually earns.
How much does it cost?
It depends on scope, channels, and how hands-on you need us to be. We quote after a free intro call, once we know what you need.
What happens on the free intro call?
It's a conversation. You tell me where the brand is, where you want it to go, and what's in the way. We talk through the top priorities at a high level, whether that's the ad accounts, the strategy, or both, and figure out if working together makes sense.
Who does the work day to day?
You work directly with me on strategy, and I stay hands-on in your accounts. A small vetted team supports execution like campaign builds and QA, always under my review.
Do you work alongside in-house teams?
Yes. Some engagements are fully managed. Others support an in-house media buyer or marketing lead with strategy, reviews, and measurement.
What do you need from me to get started?
Access to your ad accounts, analytics, and Shopify, plus a rough view of your product costs. The audit starts from there.
How do you report results?
A regular check-in and a monthly readout built on contribution margin, so marketing and finance look at the same numbers.
Let's start with a conversation.
A free 30-minute intro call. No prep needed, just come ready to talk about the brand.
- Where the brand is today and what you're looking for
- Your goals, and what's getting in the way
- The top priorities, from the ad accounts to the overall strategy
- Whether working together makes sense