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The major difference between a D2C and a B2C business model lies in how they approach selling products to consumers.
D2C refers to a business model where companies sell their products directly to consumers without intermediaries. Whereas, B2C eCommerce is a more traditional e-commerce model where businesses sell products or services to consumers through various intermediaries, such as retailers or online marketplaces.
When building a D2C strong D2C brand, owners prioritize direct customer relationships and control over the entire customer journey, whereas, B2C companies leverage intermediaries to reach a wider audience and emphasize customer acquisition and convenience.
Now let’s understand what is D2C and B2C eCommerce in depth. Have you ever wondered how different businesses sell their products? If yes here’s your answer. Today, we’re going to explore two popular ways: D2C and B2C. Don’t worry if these sound confusing – we’ll explain everything in a simple way!
Difference between b2c and d2c
Let’s start by understanding what these letters mean:
- D2C stands for Direct-to-Consumer
- B2C stands for Business-to-Consumer
The main difference between b2c and d2c is who sells the product to you:
- In D2C, the company that makes the product sells it directly to you. It’s like buying a toy straight from the toy maker but online.
- In B2C, a store buys products from different makers and then sells them to you. It’s like buying a toy from a big toy store.
This d2c and b2c difference affects how products are made, priced, and sold. D2C companies often have more control over their products and can build stronger relationships with customers. As they have their own online platform and personal tracking. B2C businesses, on the other hand, can offer a wider variety of products from different brands.
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The global e-commerce market size was 16.27 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. It is projected to reach around 67.05 trillion U.S. dollars by 2033.
D2C Company Examples

Let’s look at some real d2c company examples:
- Warby Parker: They make and sell glasses directly to customers.
- Dollar Shave Club: They send razors straight to people’s homes.
- Casper: They make mattresses and ship them right to your bedroom.
- Glossier: They create and sell beauty products directly to consumers.
- Allbirds: They make comfortable shoes and sell them directly to customers.
These companies make their own products and sell them directly to you without any middlemen. They control everything from product design to customer service, which allows them to create unique experiences for their customers.
B2C Brand Examples

Now, let’s explore some B2C examples:
- Walmart: They sell lots of different things from many makers.
- Amazon: They sell almost everything, made by lots of different companies.
- Target: Another store that sells all sorts of items from various brands.
- Best Buy: They specialize in electronics from many different brands.
- Kroger: A supermarket that sells food and household items from various producers.
These stores don’t make most of what they sell. They buy from others and then sell to you. This allows them to offer a wide range of products and brands in one place, giving customers lots of choices. You can click and read Amazon’s amazing scale-up blueprint which provides proven methods for E-commerce expansion.
Here are some of the successful and famous D2C brand examples we worked with to deliver our top-notch software service.
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D2C vs B2C vs B2B vs eCommerce
Let's compare these different business models:
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- D2C: The maker sells straight to you.
- B2C: A store sells to you.
- B2B: One business sells to another business.
- eCommerce: Selling things online (this can be D2C or B2C).
The main differences in d2c vs b2c vs b2b are:
- D2C: Maker to the customer (like a farmer selling vegetables at a market)
- B2C: Store to customer (like a grocery store selling those vegetables)
- B2B: Business to business (like a farmer selling to a restaurant)
Each model has its own advantages and challenges. D2C often allows for more personalized experiences, B2C provides convenience and variety, while B2B focuses on bulk sales and long-term business relationships.
Guide to select a business approach between b2c and d2c
If you wanted to start selling something, how would you choose between D2C and B2C? Here are some things to think about:
- What are you selling? If it’s something unique that you make yourself, D2C might be better.
- Do you want to sell lots of different things? B2C might be better for that.
- Do you want to talk directly to your customers? D2C is great for building relationships.
- Do you want to sell in a physical store? B2C is usually better for that, though some D2C brands are opening their own stores too.
- How much money do you have to start? D2C often needs less initial investment.
- Are you good at marketing? D2C brands often need to be really good at telling people about their products.
Your choice between d2c vs b2c will depend on your product, your goals, and your resources. Some businesses even start with one model and later expand to include the other!
The Hybrid Approach: Combining the Best of Both D2C and B2C Models
Some clever businesses use both D2C and B2C! This is called a hybrid approach. It’s like having the best of both worlds.
For example, Apple sells its products:
- In its own stores and website (D2C)
- In other stores like Best Buy (B2C)
This way, they can reach more people and give customers different ways to buy. It’s like having a lemonade stand in your front yard, but also selling your lemonade to the local grocery store!
Another example is Nike. They sell their shoes:
- On their own website and in Nike stores (D2C)
- But also in sports shops and department stores (B2C)
This hybrid approach lets them control their brand image in their own stores while still reaching lots of customers through other shops.
Do you know what else will help you drive more sales in your hybrid business let alone both the models? It’s better pricing followed by free delivery. According to Statista, these two factors played major roles in motivating customers to buy from them, with 53% and 49% of customers citing them, respectively.

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Conclusion
So, now you know the difference between d2c and b2c. D2C is when the maker sells directly to you and B2C is when a store buys from makers and then sells to you.
Both d2c and b2c examples can be found in our everyday shopping. Whether you’re buying directly from a brand’s website or a big retail store, you’re experiencing these different business models in action.
Understanding the difference between b2c and d2c can help you make smarter shopping choices and even inspire you if you want to start your own business one day!