13. How to Use Email Marketing to Grow Your DTC Brand (Without Being Salesy)

If you’ve been dragging your feet on email marketing because it feels overwhelming, complicated, or “just one more thing” on your plate… this episode is your permission slip to finally simplify it and make email your brand’s most powerful community-building tool.

Inspired by the unexpected art of pantomimes (yes, really!), Kristin breaks down the tightrope every brand must walk: being entertaining enough that people want to read your emails, while being sales-driven enough that your business grows because of them. You’ll learn why your storytelling matters, why your voice is your superpower, and why your emails don’t need to be perfect—they just need to sound like YOU.

If you’ve ever worried about being too salesy, felt stuck staring at a blinking cursor, or wondered why your email list isn’t converting the way it should… this episode is your new go-to guide.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How pantomimes perfectly illustrate the balance of entertainment + sales
• Why your brand’s “thing” (your version of a “who’s on first” moment) matters
• The #1 mistake brands make when writing emails
• How to sound more like you and less like a robot
• The surprising truth about plain-text emails
• Why your email list is your hottest buyer list
• How to stop overthinking your emails and actually send them
• What buyers care about and why your brand story alone isn’t enough

If you’re ready to show up consistently, write emails people actually want to open, and build a community that clicks, buys, and replies—this episode will change how you think about email forever.

Resources & Links
🎓 Ready to grow your retail business? Check out Kristin’s freebie → Get Retail Ready Course

If this episode made you think "finally, someone who gets it"—you def need my Retailish newsletter in your life.

📲 Hang out with Kristin on Instagram → @kristinaengen