Start Small, Sell Smarter: Focus on the Channels That Matter Most for Your Brand
Capitalizing on Social Currency (and Why It Matters)
Digitization doesn’t have to be overwhelming; for many small brands, the idea of “going digital” can sound complicated or expensive – especially if your business has relied mostly on word of mouth, pop-ups, or social media until now. But starting small, in the right places, can open doors to new customers and steady growth without turning your day-to-day upside down. The truth is: your current and future customers are already online. The key is knowing where they spend their time and starting there. You don’t have to be everywhere – just in the right places that make sense for your brand.
Today’s shoppers expect ease, speed, and connection wherever they buy. Having a presence on the right digital platforms helps your brand stay visible and relevant as shopping habits continue to shift.
For Gen Z especially, shopping is about discovery, authenticity, and speed – meaning the platforms they use aren’t just sales tools, they’re culture-makers.
Here are the Stats:
Tiktok Shop
a study by Capital One Shopping Shows:
- 52.5% of Gen-Z consumers use TikTok monthly for shopping or product discovery.
- 68% say they’re likely to purchase directly through the app.
- Gen-Z buyers (18-24) are 3.2× as likely to make a purchase on TikTok Shop compared to the general adult population.
- U.S. sales from health and beauty brands on TikTok Shop reached $1.34 billion in 2024, with apparel close behind.
*SHEIN Marketplace
a recent study by Statista states:
- Among U.S. and U.K. Gen-Z (16-27), about 30% shopped at SHEIN in the past year.
- 73% of U.S. online fashion shoppers are familiar with SHEIN, and Gen-Z drives most of that momentum.
- SHEIN’s app experience—gamification, real-time trend updates, and social sharing—caters perfectly to Gen-Z’s fast, expressive shopping habits.
- In 2024, SHEIN reached $38 billion in sales, growing 18% year-over-year.
For more information on how to grow your brand with SHEIN,
Check Out a Snippet of Our Episode of the SHEIN Partnership Spotlight Series Below! ⬇️
(note: click here to access the full episode)
Start Small, Learn Fast
You don’t need a full digital overhaul to make progress. Try testing another new sales channel, setting up an online checkout, or using a simple dashboard to track your first few orders. Small, consistent steps build digital confidence and momentum over time.
Get There with DigitBridge
At DigitBridge, we help small brands take their first steps into digital sales – and make them count. From setting up your first online store to connecting your sales data in one simple view, we make it easier to start selling, track what’s working, and grow with less guesswork.
Even if it feels like a big leap, small steps with the right tools make a big difference. With DigitBridge helping behind the scenes, you can focus on your craft while your business grows online — one channel at a time.