DTC Brands Come to Me When They Want to Add an Extra 20-40% to Their MRR Without Spending Money on Ads

Consumer behavior is a very complex subject. Since the beginning of my career in Digital Marketing, I've always been attracted to one aspect of it: E-commerce. And more specifically, how do you get someone to buy your product or service from your online store/funnel?

It turns out that there is a whole range of aspects to consider, unlike in 2016 where, generally speaking, any platform with a website/funnel could convert traffic easily.

In 2018, consumers are more sophisticated. They can now easily differentiate between a Dropshipping store and a legitimate E-commerce established brand.

And then we are now in 2025 and not 2018... Having a beautifully designed Shopify store is not enough. The whole sales process must be of quality in order to convert your traffic.

After understanding the psychology of online buyers, I went deeper into the development of systems to help E-commerce businesses scale to multiple 6, 7 and even 8 figures... and this is where I come across the second piece of the puzzle, retention!

After years of experience (and a lot of testing), I discovered that email & SMS marketing was more my style when it comes to scaling e-commerce brands. All this leads me to introduce myself...

My name is Nicolas and with my agency, we help e-commerce brands to grow by leveraging retention systems. Our specialties:

✔️ Capture Qualified Leads
✔️ Rapidly Grow CLTV
✔️ Create Brand Ambassadors

Thanks to our battle-tested and constantly improved email strategies, we've generated over $30M in email revenue.

If you are interested in working with us, please contact me

Thanks

Nicolas.

This GPT writes better emails than 90% of copywriters I’ve seen.

And yeah… I said what I said.

We trained it on 100+ pages of internal copywriting frameworks, email teardown sessions, and high-performing client campaigns.

The result?

Email Copy Wizard - a GPT that writes ready-to-design e-commerce emails in minutes.

It asks the right questions.
Follows proven frameworks.
Delivers high-converting, skimmable copy.
And even gives infographic ideas to make your emails convert like crazy.

Here’s how it works:
→ Asks for your brand info step-by-step
→ Writes email copy with the perfect layout
→ Delivers in table format: Headline, Sub-headline, CTAs, Body
→ Recommends infographics like "Us vs. Them", Checklists, Feature Tables
→ Keeps copy short, punchy, and optimized for conversions

We’re already using it for clients. It’s saving us hours and beating out “real” writers in tests.

Want to try it for yourself?

Comment “COPY” below and make sure we’re connected so I can DM it to you.

This is not just a prompt, this is your new copywriting assistant.

And yeah… it’s free (for now).

Nicolas Olaya

Founder @ Laya Consulting | Email, SMS, and WhatsApp marketing for 7/8-figure DTC brands | Clients include: Decathlon, The Period Company, Syncwire

🚨 I just updated my Ultimate Email & SMS Marketing Playbook, and I’m giving the whole thing away for free.

This 100+-page guide is everything your brand needs to scale email & SMS revenue this year.

It covers the exact systems we use across 7, 8 and 9-figure DTC brands to drive consistent growth and collect data.

It's packed with real-world strategies, examples, and frameworks that work right now.

Here’s what’s inside:

• The only pop-up optimization strategy you’ll ever need
• 7+ high-converting flows (built for AOV & LTV)
• Zero-party data tactics that actually move the needle
• Deliverability rules no one tells you about
• Complete campaign strategy & frequency breakdown
• How to use email to support acquisition & CX
• 10+ AI prompts I personally use to save 20+ hours/week
• My full BFCM playbook + 2026 updates
• And a lot more…

It’s the most complete resource I’ve ever put together and the same framework we use at the agency to drive millions in retention revenue.

Perfect for:

 → DTC brands doing $0k–$1M+ per month
 → Teams tired of guesswork & underperforming emails
 → Marketers who want to win with retention in 2026

Want the full doc?

1. Comment “PLAYBOOK” below
2. Connect with me so I can DM you the link

If I had to start email marketing from scratch in 2026…

This is exactly what I’d do (and NOT do).

After working with 150+ ecom brands and generating millions, I put together a detailed breakdown of how I’d build a high-performing retention system from day 1.

No outdated tactics. Just what works right now (and will still work in 2026), broken down in a way that’s easy to consume and immediately actionable.

Inside the doc, I cover:

✅ The only offer strategy I’d focus on
✅ The pop-up approach that leads to actual purchases
✅ The 10+ flows I’d build in the first 30 days
✅ How I’d protect deliverability from day one
✅ The campaign schedule I’d use to build momentum
✅ Design rules that convert (not just “look pretty”)
✅ The 5 metrics that matter (and the ones to ignore)
✅ How to sync email with ads for max profit

Perfect for:
→ New brands building email from the ground up
→ Founders relaunching retention with better systems
→ Marketers who want a proven roadmap for 2026

Want the full doc?

1. Connect with me so I can DM you the link
2. Comment “2026” below

“Our email revenue is down, can you fix it?”

Maybe.
But 9 times out of 10, email isn’t the real problem.

I’ve had this conversation with dozens of brands.
And most of the time, the root cause has nothing to do with flows, design, or send cadence.

Here’s what’s actually killing email performance behind the scenes 👇

1. You’re attracting the wrong customers
Shaky offers. Too many discounts.
Sure, you’re getting emails… but not the kind of people who convert or come back.

2. Your product isn’t built for a repeat purchase
If you sell one-time purchase items, don’t expect email to carry your LTV.
Your focus should be on contribution margin on day one, not retention flows.

3. Your paid acquisition is declining
Poor CAC? Less quality traffic?
Your top-of-funnel collapse will trickle down to flows, campaigns, and everything in between. This is a BIG one.

4. You burned through your list
Sending too often to make up for weak acquisition will eventually backfire.
More emails ≠ more revenue… especially if your list is tapped out.

5. You’re training people to only buy on discount
Over-reliance on promotions creates short-term spikes… but long-term decay in perceived value and engagement.

If your email performance is dipping, zoom out.
It’s rarely an “email problem.”
It’s a business problem showing up in your inbox.

If you're a DTC subscription brand, this is the retention playbook you've been waiting for.

I just released a complete masterclass on how to increase subscription rates and reduce churn using email marketing strategies that actually work.

This isn’t theory.

It’s the exact playbook we use at the agency to help DTC brands scale high-LTV, high-retention subscription growth month after month.

What’s inside the training:

- How to optimize the Welcome Flow for subscribers
- How to convert one-time buyers into subscribers post-purchase
- Smart pre-charge email tactics to reduce churn before it happens
- How to track & act on churn signals
- Campaign angles that promote the subscription experience
- How to celebrate subscriber milestones and increase retention
- Real-world examples & flow structures you can use today

This masterclass is your complete guide to turning casual buyers into loyal subscribers and keeping them around for the long haul.

Want access?
1. Connect with me
2. Comment "SUBSCRIPTION" below

Email marketing is 10x easier when the product is actually amazing.

We recently wrapped up a flow design buildout for DIGGS, a beautiful premium pet brand with products people genuinely love.

And let me tell you…

When the product delivers, the marketing hits harder:

→ Testimonials feel authentic
→ Social proof stacks up effortlessly
→ Product education drives real curiosity
→ And the email performance? 🤌

Sometimes, it’s not about reinventing the wheel.

It’s about taking a great product and showing it off the right way.

Scaling an agency is one of the hardest balancing acts I’ve faced.

On one hand, the entrepreneur in me wants to scale naturally - build systems, productize services, and grow fast.

On the other hand, the operator in me wants to keep delivering highly tailored, bespoke solutions to every brand we work with.

And honestly? Both sides matter.

Because the truth is:

→ Productizing services makes it easier to scale, hire, and deliver consistently.
→ Bespoke work is what clients love - it’s where the real differentiation and retention comes from.

This is the challenge of the ecom agency game:

→ How do you grow without becoming cookie-cutter?
→ How do you standardize without losing the craft?

There’s no perfect answer.

For me, the last couple of years have been about constantly navigating that line - finding ways to streamline without losing the “crafted” feel that clients value.

Curious to hear from you all, especially those way more advanced than me: How do you balance scalability with personalization in your business?

You don’t scale email by “optimizing email.”
You scale email by scaling traffic first.

That’s the part most brands miss.

I see teams obsess over flows, copy, segmentation… while traffic quietly declines.

Then they say: “Email isn’t growing anymore.”

Here’s the reality:

You can’t scale retention if you’re not acquiring.

Roughly 60-90% of your flow revenue comes from fresh traffic.

Which means:

- Welcome flow only works if new people sign up
-Abandoned checkout only works if people actually visit
- Post-purchase only works if people are buying

No traffic = no inputs.
No inputs = no output.

Email doesn’t grow linearly on its own.
It amplifies whatever your acquisition engine is doing.

Action:
Align tightly with your ads team.
Watch traffic quality weekly.
If traffic dips today, email revenue follows tomorrow.

Your flow infrastructure is either making you money 24/7… or leaking revenue daily.

I just put together a Flow Masterclass for DTC brands that breaks down every email flow you need, and exactly what to send inside each one.

- This is the retention foundation we use for 7–9 figure brands
- Every flow is broken down by goal, length, and angle
- Each email inside each flow has a clear content structure

Inside the doc, you’ll find:

- The exact 5–6 email Welcome flow structure that turns sign-ups into buyers
- Abandonment flows that stack urgency, social proof, and intent
- Post-purchase flows built to boost LTV, build habits, and drive upsells
- VIP & Winback flows that drive repeat orders
- A complete checklist of what to say in every. single. email.
- Mistakes to avoid in every flow (from dynamic codes to tagging logic)

Want access?
1. Connect with me
2. Comment "FLOWS" below

If you’re still scaling email like it’s 2024, you’re probably stuck.

More discounts.
More blasts.
Same results.

I see it all the time.

Email revenue plateaus…
While traffic keeps growing.

That’s not a frequency problem.
That’s a strategy problem.

Going into 2026, the brands winning with email aren’t “sending more” or “sending less.”

They’re executing with systems built to scale.

And most programs don’t have those systems.

I recorded a video breaking down the new way to scale ecommerce email marketing in 2026, based on what I’ve seen working (and failing) across 150+ brands.

Video attached below.

Unpopular opinion: Most brands massively overestimate how much people want to read their emails.

Not skim.
Not glance.

Read.

The reality? Most audiences are attention-poor due to the sudden popularity of short-form content.

Across almost every industry, size, and price point, the behavior is the same:

People open…
Scan the top…
Decide in a few seconds…
Then move on.

That’s it.

Yet I still see brands writing emails like they’re novels.

Long intros.
Dense paragraphs.
Multiple ideas stacked on top of each other.

Nobody’s reading that.

The goal of most emails isn’t to educate someone for 5 minutes. It’s to stay top of mind with relevant, timely information.

That’s why design matters so much, especially above the fold.

If the first screen doesn’t clearly communicate:
- What this is about
- Why it matters
- What to do next

You’ve already lost.

Great email design does the heavy lifting before someone reads a word.

And btw, simple doesn’t mean lazy. It means realistic.

“Our last agency built all the flows…
but there was no strategy behind them.”

I’ve heard this a lot recently.

From multiple brands, across different industries.

And it explains why so many email programs feel busy… but don’t actually move the needle.

Most agencies do this:

Contract signed →
Start building flows immediately →
Welcome. Abandoned cart. Post-purchase. Winback.

Fast? Yes.
Efficient? Sure.
Strategic? Not really.

Because without a clear strategy, you’re just shipping emails.

You’re not building a system.

What’s missing is the thinking before the building.

Before we touch a single flow, we always map things out:

- What role does each flow play in the bigger picture?
- What’s the core angle for this flow specifically?
- How does it support the brand’s goals, USPs, and vision?
- Where does education stop and conversion start?

We start with an outline / diagram of every flow and its angles.

That way:

- Flows don’t overlap
- Messages don’t contradict each other
- Each email has a clear job
- And the system actually compounds over time

Otherwise, you’re just spinning your wheels, sending emails that exist, but don’t build anything.

Is it just me… or has the pet industry been absolutely booming lately?

Everywhere I look - new brands, new products, better marketing.

Curious if anyone else is seeing the same thing.

As a side note, I genuinely love working with pet brands.

Probably because:
- I have two French bulldogs
- I grew up in the countryside
- I actually get the customer mindset

But also because the industry itself is just fun.

The angles are creative.
The copy can be witty.
The designs can be playful.

And the audiences?
Way more relaxed than most other verticals.

People buying for their pets aren’t just shopping.
They’re emotionally invested.

That makes writing emails, designing campaigns, and building retention flows a lot more enjoyable, and honestly, more effective.

Feels like a space where brands can still stand out without taking themselves too seriously.

Pretty emails ≠ Profitable emails.

They might get compliments.
But they won’t get clicks.
And clicks are what pay the bills.

Most brands don’t have a copy problem.
They have a design problem.

In this video, I break down what actually goes into conversion-first email design.

Not theory.
Not guesswork.
Just 10 non-negotiable rules we use daily to design emails that drive sales.

If you want designs that convert, not just “look nice”…
This is the video to watch.

Reminder for ecom brands...

(Email agencies will hate me for this.)

We've doubled multiple brand’s email revenue by doing one simple thing: sending more emails.

No fancy strategies. No fancy segmentation. No fancy flows.

You see, most brands aren’t emailing enough. And as simple as it sounds, just sending more emails is one of the easiest ways to boost revenue.

Here’s the thing: if your emails are good, your audience wants to hear from you.

But too many brands stick to one email a week, or none at all.

The fix? Start sending 3–5 campaigns a week.

Mix in product highlights, social proof, educational content, and offers. Keep it fresh, valuable, and relevant.

Why does this work?

More emails = more chances to connect.

And the more your audience sees your brand, the more likely they are to buy.

This isn’t about spamming people. It’s about showing up with emails that help, entertain, or excite.

If your email numbers aren’t where you want them to be, ask yourself: am I sending enough?

Because sometimes, the simplest solution is the most effective.

16-hour workdays. Countless moments of fear, tears, and frustration.

I started my agency in 2020, right in the middle of a global pandemic.

If you think the grind doesn’t come with sleepless nights and uncertainty, let me set the record straight: it does.

Even today, I’m hit with anxiety about what the future holds, about whether I’m doing enough.

And the truth? That feeling never goes away.

Sure, sometimes I wish I could just take a step back, relax, and not care so much.

Not obsess over every detail.

But that’s just not who I am.

I care too much about my clients, my employees, and the vision I’m building.

If you’re out there hustling, putting in the hours, waiting for results that seem far off, this is for you.

You’re not alone.

Scaling a business isn't about overnight success.

It’s about putting in the work now, without guarantees, knowing that every step forward is one step closer.

And trust me, even when it’s tough, that’s what will separate you from the rest.

Keep pushing, keep showing up, and remember: delayed gratification is the price for long-term success.

If you’re feeling the same, drop a comment or DM me. Let’s connect and share this journey.

Forget the 12-email flows.
Most brands haven’t even nailed the basics.

Everyone wants the “advanced” Klaviyo setup.
Smart splits. Dynamic blocks. Branch logic.

The truth?

If your Welcome, Abandoned Checkout, and Post-Purchase flows aren’t dialed in yet… that’s where the real revenue is hiding.

Here’s why these 3 flows matter more than the rest:

1. Welcome Series
Your first impression.
→ Converts subscribers into first-time buyers.
→ Sets expectations.
→ Builds trust, fast.

2. Abandoned Checkout
Where intent is highest.
→ Closes hot leads.
→ Reduces friction.
→ Handles objections.

3. Post-Purchase
Where LTV is made.
→ Improves product adoption.
→ Reduces churn + “where’s my order?” tickets.
→ Increases repeat purchase rate.

Before spending hours on a 7-part Birthday Flow or a complex VIP automation…
get these 3 right. They drive the biggest ROI, period.

This is also why I’ve been pushing brands to simplify their retention setup instead of overengineering it.

When your ESP makes it easy to build, iterate, and actually maintain these core flows, performance compounds faster.

That’s where Omnisend has been a solid option lately:

- Cleaner flow building
- Faster execution
- 24/7 support + free migration
- Personal migration partner for accounts over $250/month
- Up to 60% cheaper than comparable ESPs

If you’re thinking about switching or rebuilding your flows anyway, there’s 30% off for 3 months via the link in the comments
(affiliate link, being transparent).

The health & wellness space is one of the coolest industries to work in.
And not just from a marketing perspective.

Because you’re not just selling products.
You’re solving real problems.

Sleep.
Stress.
Energy.
Pain.
Recovery.

That changes how you approach email entirely.

Which makes writing copy and building flows way more interesting, and way more effective.

You’re educating, reassuring, and guiding.

Not just pushing discounts.

We recently built out a full email flow for Hug Your Life, in Croatian 🇭🇷
(Yes, we work in multiple languages.)

This is what I love about health & wellness brands: When done right, email feels less like “marketing” and more like part of the product experience.

The baby brand space is way more interesting than I expected.

In a lot of ways, it reminds me of the pet industry.

Highly engaged audiences.
Emotion-driven purchases.
And surprisingly fun copy angles.

Parents don’t just shop. They care a lot (obviously).

Which makes writing emails more human and less transactional.

You can:
- Educate without sounding preachy
- Reassure without overselling
- Have a bit of fun while still being helpful

And that’s always a good place to be as a marketer.

I’m not a parent yet but working with a bunch of baby brands has already taught me a lot.

Definitely one of those industries where good email marketing feels less like “marketing” and more like part of the experience.

Hot take: content has been my best lead gen channel this past year.
Not ads. Not outbound. Content.

Most of our agency growth lately has come from simply showing up and sharing what we know.

LinkedIn posts.
My newsletter.

That’s where almost all the inbound has come from.

The irony?
I’ve been very inconsistent on YouTube… and I haven’t even touched Instagram yet.

Which is funny because I genuinely love creating content.
I love breaking down email & SMS in a way that actually makes sense for brands.

What I don’t have right now is a system.

No clear YouTube cadence.
No repeatable short-form workflow.
No real structure behind ideation + editing.

And this year, I want to go all in on content.

Specifically:
• YouTube (long-form, educational, cool stuff)
• Instagram Reels (tight, practical, repurposed correctly)

So I’m putting this out there 👇

If you know:
• great video editors
• people strong content ideation/systems for content creation

Drop names.
Tag them.
Or DM me.

Any advice, recommendations, or lessons learned are more than welcome.

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