Nik Sharma is the founder and CEO of Sharma Brands, a consultancy with a focus on direct-to-consumer brands, as well as the CEO of Hoox, a digital marketing agency. He has invested in numerous DTC companies, including Cadence, Chamberlain Coffee, and Haus. Sharma also co-hosts a DTC podcast, Limited Supply, and writes the weekly Nik Sharma Newsletter, which has 37,000+ subscribers. We recently asked Sharma about why some DTC brands soar (and others sputter) at a virtual Retail Brew Checkout event. Watch the entire conversation with Sharma here.

Before investing in DTC companies, what are the key things you look at?

Is this something that I would be a customer of?...If I can see myself as a customer, I can be a lot more valuable to them when it comes to ideation or partnerships or helping them through different things on the marketing side. That’s really my expertise.

The other thing is: Is this product solving a real problem, or is this the nth version of something that’s already launched before?...What is their path to eight figures in revenue? How are they going to hit $10 million?

Keep reading here.—AAN

We’ve all seen it before. Waiting for payments to process is one of the all-time bummers of modern life. And for retailers, timely transactions matter.

Good news, toe-tapping businesses. The Federal Reserve just launched the FedNow payment network, which makes instant payments waaaaay more accessible. This could change the payment game when it comes to the retail industry.

The network joins other payment networks such as Fedwire and the Automated Clearing House (ACH) in handling electronic fund transfers. But here’s the deal: FedNow processes transactions 24/7 and can instantly move money between users.

Say bye to infinite pending messages.

The party isn’t over for Party City.

A US Bankruptcy Court has approved a debt restructuring plan that paves the way for the party supply store to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The plan will reduce the retailer’s debt load by almost $1 billion.

“With our debt substantially reduced and Party City store portfolio optimized, we will emerge better positioned to advance our strategic priorities, continue to innovate and elevate the consumer experience, and pursue new growth opportunities,” said CEO Brad Weston in a release.

In addition to lopping off a massive chunk of debt, the company took multiple steps to stabilize its finances during the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.

Keep reading here.—AV

A not-insignificant portion of those reading this right now are already coming to the realization that their fantasy football team stinks, and there’s really no hope. But believe it or not, there’s a lot going on that doesn’t have anything to do with football, so let us distract you with what’s happening in the retail world this week.

In events: On Tuesday, Apple is hosting its annual fall event. This year, it’s called “Wonderlust,” and history suggests that a new iPhone could be available for presale as soon as this Friday and released a week later.

Also starting Tuesday, Goldman Sachs will host its 30th annual Global Retailing Conference, which will feature companies such as Dollar General, Lowe’s, and Nordstrom.

In openings: Upscale grocery store Erewhon will open its 10th location in Pasadena, California, on Wednesday. All of the Erewhon’s stores, including its latest, are located in Los Angeles County. Erewhon has gained popularity since the start of the pandemic since grocers stores were one of the few places that were open and it’s also frequented by many celebrities.

Keep reading here.—KM

Today’s top retail reads.

Uneasy chair: Some furniture makers are seeing huge declines after booming during Covid lockdowns. (CNN)

Fog of wore: How Lockheed Martin ended up licensing a line of streetwear. (the New York Times)

Enchant-mint: How mint flavors are so popular for toothpaste and came to be associated with a clean mouth. (Marketplace)

At the mall, it’s where band tees are the only tees. In Retail Brew, it’s where we invite readers to weigh in on a trending retail topic.

Adidas Sambas, which have been around since 1949, have been trending on social media and the company has struggled to keep them in stock.

You tell us: Do you own any classic sneaker styles introduced before the year 2000? Cast your vote here.

Circling back: Last time we noted that stores had already begun to feature holiday merchandise online and in stores in August, and we asked if you thought that was too early.

Your response was less “Ho, ho, ho” than “No, no, no.” No fewer than 89.6% of you responded that August was too early to begin selling holiday merchandise. Just 9% thought that August was not too early to begin selling it, while 1.4% didn’t know or weren’t sure.