Once upon a time, Rad Power Bikes was Seattle’s darling—leading innovations in the affordable fat-tire ebike category. Founded in 2007, the company launched its first fat-tire models in 2015. By 2021, it had become a resounding DTC success. Now it’s mired in layoffs and has its third CEO in three years.

Many leaders at Amazon got a Jeffb “?” email at one time or another.

I did. It was my first week. 

Almost peed myself.

Yeah, should be winning, but it’s not.

It's definitely whining.

But as a consumer, I seem to always end up feeling like DTC brands are "using AI on me" vs using AI to help me.

Why is this?

In retail, it’s always about the green bead.

This post goes out to all the folks I’ve worked with who pick up those green beads, even when no one’s watching.

REI has been integral to my family’s life in the PNW.

So it's hard to see REI in danger of following Party City, Container Store, Bed, Bath and Beyond and others down the drain: