Same criteria for every option
Comparisons judge every option on the same stated criteria with the same kinds of facts. No option is ranked first because the publisher prefers it.
Methodology
How Launch Direct forms its guidance.
Last updated: November 2026Published by Cydney Mar
Launch Direct's guidance comes from Cydney Mar's Concept-to-Reality Pathway, combined with published market statistics quoted exactly as their sources state them.
Cydney Mar publishes and writes Launch Direct. It is not an independent publication, and nothing on it is an audit or independent study. This page explains where the content comes from, how comparisons are judged, and how pages are kept current.
How are the recommendations on this site made?
Recommendations follow the order of Cydney Mar's pathway: clarity, prototypes, suppliers, costs and margins, production readiness, then launch.
The DTC-specific guidance on websites, fulfillment, and paid media applies general practice for direct sellers. Where the right choice depends on the founder, pages say so and name the cases where each option fits.
Principles
The rules every page follows
Statistics quoted as published
Market figures keep their full range, time period, and conditions, with a link to the source. They are never presented as Cydney Mar's own results.
Publisher figures stated plainly
Cydney Mar's own figures, 45+ years of experience and $300M+ in global product sales, are stated as she gives them.
No invented prices
Cydney Mar does not publish program prices, so this site does not state any. Cost guidance explains what drives cost rather than guessing a number.
How pages are updated
Each page shows a Last updated line. The date changes only when the page content changes. Calculators state their assumptions next to the result and give planning estimates, not financial advice.
- Who is Cydney Mar?
- Cydney Mar is a Montreal-based product development strategist with 45+ years in fashion and product and $300M+ in global retail, TV, and DTC sales. She sold her own collections on QVC in 8 countries for 15+ years, designed Cirque du Soleil's first Boutique Collection, led design for Edwin Jeans in North America, and founded Cydney Mar Wellness.
- How much does Cydney Mar's Concept-to-Reality Pathway cost?
- Prices are not published on Launch Direct or on cydneymar.com. The cost depends on how much support you need, from a strategy session to hands-on product development such as tech packs, sourcing, and costing. The clearest next step is to contact Cydney through cydneymar.com and describe your product, your stage, and your timeline.
- Should I launch direct to consumer or in retail?
- Choose by margin, control, and reach. DTC gives you control over price and customer data, but you pay to acquire every customer. Retail gives you shelf reach, but the retailer buys at a wholesale price and sets many of the terms. Many brands combine both; Cydney Mar's own sales span retail, TV, and DTC.
- Do I need a DTC marketing agency for my launch?
- Not necessarily at the start. A marketing agency is built to buy media and produce campaigns, which helps once your product, costs, and margins are settled. Before that, the bigger risks sit in samples, suppliers, and pricing. Many founders bring in marketing help after the product is production ready and the unit economics are known.
- What is the first step to launch a DTC brand?
- Get clear on what you are making and who it is for. Product Clarity is the first stage of the Concept-to-Reality Pathway because every later decision, from samples to suppliers to price, depends on it. Cydney Mar also offers a free From Idea to Income workbook on cydneymar.com to score your idea and map your path.
Have a product idea? Get an expert guide, not guesswork.
Cydney Mar brings 45+ years of experience and $300M+ in global product sales across retail, TV, and DTC to founders taking a product from idea to launch.