Back in the day, most brands were brick-and-mortar establishments or had very little to do with end-to-end operations.
But with global eCommerce sales estimates rounding up to almost $6 trillion in 2023, brands are rapidly shifting gears to strengthen their online presence and outpace the competition.
This shift is evident in the rise of Digitally Native Vertical Brands (DNVBs), and we’ll be taking a closer look at them below.
10 Leading Digital Native Brand Examples
In the digital age, DNVBs have disrupted the online market with innovative business models and unique brand voices. Some signature brand examples include:
1. Chubbies
Standout feature: Fun and lively branding
Founded in 2011 by a group of friends determined to shake up the men’s shorts industry, Chubbies offers a playful and inclusive angle on traditional short design.
In a hyper-connected society where everyone compares their bodies and lives to those on social media, the brand encourages self-acceptance and body positivity through their diverse product range.
2. Burrow
Standout feature: Convenient and hassle-free online shopping
Gone are the days of trying out furniture in crowded showrooms. Burrow reimagines the buying process by giving clients the chance to create and buy custom pieces from their website.
Their nimble and efficient store model facilitates a close feedback loop with consumers and strips away many of the redundant and often tedious shopping steps.
Users can enjoy a hands-on, personalized experience with benefits like free delivery and simple return policies — all from the comfort of their home
3. Bonobos
Standout feature: User-friendly interface and helpful on-page content
As a pioneering vertically integrated brand, Bonobos leverages on-demand style advice, tracking information and order help, risk-free returns and fantastic customer support.
Despite being a niche player, the brand has accumulated a cult following through its user-friendly design, streamlined checkout process and flexible payment options.
4. LARQ
Standout feature: Signature branding and compelling visuals
Marketed as a healthy and sustainable hydration choice, LARQ combines innovative technology with a sleek, modern design.
With a comprehensive customer experience and compelling storytelling — including donating a portion of every purchase to environmental non-profit organizations worldwide — the brand bridges the gap between health, sustainability, and conscious consumerism.
5. Allbirds
Standout feature: Environmentally conscious brand identity
Motivated by the exquisite qualities of merino wool and the search for revolutionary fabrics for their collection, Allbirds boasts subtle designs with no flashy details, natural materials and wear-all-day comfort.
The website feels like an extension of the brand’s simple and eco-friendly message — featuring a predominantly green color palette, nature-inspired detailing and minimalist copy.
6. Warby Parker
Standout feature: Online store with an established offline brand
Despite boasting over 100 physical stores across North America, Warby Parker started online and expanded to offline locations due to overwhelming consumer demands.
This is a prime example of how an easily recognizable online presence can seamlessly merge with a well-defined physical store chain, delivering the brand’s signature identity.
7. Faguo
Standout feature: Eco-friendly approach with a creative twist
Emphasizing an environmentally conscious production method, Faguo makes no compromises on its artistic direction and core brand message.
The website’s effective use of white space, impactful visuals and simple navigation menus all propelled the brand to online success.
8. Asphalte
Standout feature: Targeted branding and marketing
Asphalte’s signature product range is based on consumer data and analytics gathered through online surveys.
This allows the brand to create products they know users will love, without the need for traditional retail markups.
Their homepage’s sophisticated and impactful design embodies the brand’s ethos — clear, concise, and simple.
9. Glossier
Standout feature: Branding focused on body positivity and acceptance
Having a signature set of values that distinguishes you from the competition is key to market differentiation, and Glossier fully understands this principle.
The brand has reshaped traditional perspectives and trends in the beauty industry and replaced them with self-care, natural features and inclusivity.
The company realized that people were growing tired of using makeup to cover up imperfections.
Instead, it became a creative outlet for them to express their individuality and have fun with different styles.
Glossier designed a range of products from scratch, focusing on makeup that enhances rather than covers up a person’s features.
10. Away Travel
Standout feature: Signature marketing strategies and targeted on-site content
Modern travel problems require modern solutions and Away Travel recognizes this lifestyle trend.
The brand uses clever marketing strategies and engaging copy to attract users and sell products from Away Travel’s selected vertical.
When the company developed a prototype for their first piece of luggage, they also conducted user tests and surveys to see how it fared with their target audience.
This allowed them to modify their products and implement new features users deemed necessary.
A DNVB Example From Digital Silk’s Creative Hub
Our client Mintera refurbishes and resells kitchen and bathroom products.
Since consumer experience is a key focus for DNVBs, we directed our efforts to make Mintera’s customers envision a digital experience that is significantly different from the usual purchasing journey for refurbished items.
The first engagement and messaging strategy our team followed involved highlighting the client’s quality of work and commitment to customer service excellence.
Our design team created impactful visuals for the site’s shopping journey and emphasized Mintera’s commitment to delivery excellence.
We then connected that journey to a higher cause — our client’s dedication to prolonging product lifecycles for a more sustainable future.
We interlinked these aspects with the company’s core values — customer focus, continuous improvement, equity, inclusion and integrity.
How To Launch A Successful Digital Native Brand (DNVB)
While most online-based businesses have the same mission of delivering quality products or services directly to consumers, a handful of eCommerce growth strategies contribute to their overall success.
Explore our case studies to learn best practices, including:
1. Build A Strong Brand Identity
Creating a recognizable brand identity and core messaging not only differentiates you from the competition but also builds lasting relationships with consumers.
In fact, 76% of consumers are inclined to buy from brands they have a connection with, as opposed to their competition.
You can achieve this bond through authentic storytelling, consistent visual designs and tone, customer-centric support and omnichannel social media presence.
2. Choose A Niche
Don’t try to be everything to everyone — it can dilute your brand message and minimize your market impact.
Focus on a specific niche that matches your brand’s values and resonates with your target demographic.
Start by considering your skills and expertise. For example, if you’ve worked at a restaurant previously, you might be better suited for the food industry rather than an online clothing store.
Next, conduct thorough market research and identify potential gaps or opportunities in your niche. This helps determine your unique selling position (USP) for better market differentiation.
3. Optimize Your Online Presence
Since your online platform is the main point of contact with your clients, you should follow a website design checklist to ensure optimal performance and reach a wider audience.
This includes checking website responsiveness and loading times, establishing technical SEO tactics, checking website copy and images and validating HTML/CSS codes.
Since 77% of global retail traffic comes from smartphones, you should also refine your designs to accommodate mobile users.
Focus on the font and image size, pop-up style, content delivery networks (CDN) and your site’s core web vitals — including Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID) and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
4. Leverage Data Analytics
You can benefit from tools like Google Search Analytics to analyze website traffic, customer behavior and sales patterns. You can then use this information to adjust your marketing efforts and tailor your branding strategy.
Moreover, data analytics can help you identify your key demographic and target them through personalized content. This can lead to higher conversion rates and customer retention.
5. Focus On Customer Support
Since online platforms lack the face-to-face interactions that physical locations offer, you should address questions and concerns promptly through dedicated customer support.
A notable 47% of users believe that good customer support is one of the leading brand loyalty drivers, which is why you should prioritize a consumer-centric policy.
You can do this through dedicated blog posts and educational materials, FAQ sections, live chat features or email support.
Benefits Of Digital Native Companies
Since around 20% of total retail sales happen through eCommerce websites, using the Internet as a primary sales channel comes with a handful of benefits.
- Greater Profits: Digitally native brands are more profitable in the long run since most customers value authenticity and transparency.
- Minimal Business Costs: Since there are no intermediaries involved, these sales models don’t waste precious resources on third parties and can earn higher margins from each transaction.
- Boosted Customer Loyalty: 56% of users become repeat buyers after having a personalized shopping experience from a particular store. When businesses oversee every step of production and sales, they’re more likely to establish meaningful connections with their clients.
- Easier Market Differentiation: Most multi-brand online stores have the same approach to all products they stock and rely heavily on promotions or discounts. DNVBs have a more detailed process — their products serve a dedicated purpose and solve a specific problem.
- Less Upfront Capital: Opening a physical store normally requires some upfront investment in rent, inventory and staff. Businesses can launch e-Stores with minimal inventory and virtual resources.
- Increased Agility: Digitally native companies aren’t restricted to physical locations or long-term leases. They can pivot their business model offerings quickly to accommodate changing market trends and consumer demands.
Experience Industry-Leading DNVB Solutions With Digital Silk
At Digital Silk, we optimize the digital experience for DNVBs through research-based data, expert planning and extensive research.
We tailor your website based on your business goals, boosting visibility, growing recognition and facilitating customer loyalty.
Our team creates or modifies websites with responsive designs, optimal loading speeds, easy navigation and conversion-focused content.
In addition to our end-to-end website design and branding services, we also offer:
- Brand Identity and Naming
- Brand Marketing
- Logo and Graphic Design
- SEO Services
- Custom Website Development
- Shopify and Magento Development
For each project, we take on a relationship-focused approach, based on:
- Project Ownership: We treat each project like it’s our own — with tailor-made timelines and reporting, project management, data analysis and brand strategies — without making it feel like we’re taking over.
- Transparent Communication: We’re fully transparent about pricing, timelines and reports. We strive to have weekly meetings with clients for the latest updates.
- Measurable Results: We use key performance indicators (KPIs) to meticulously track progress and re-strategize to cater to changing client needs.
Have a DNVB project in mind?
Contact our team, call us at (800) 206-9413 or fill in the Request a Quote form below to schedule a consultation.
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