What is D2C (direct to consumer)?
Also known as: DTC, Direct-to-consumer
D2C is a model where a brand sells directly to the end customer through its own channels, without a retailer, distributor or marketplace in between.
The appeal is margin and data: you keep the retail markup and you learn who your customers are, which makes repeat purchase and product development far easier.
The cost is that customer acquisition becomes entirely your responsibility. A marketplace supplies traffic; a D2C brand has to create it through content, social presence, search or paid advertising.