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Sub-Summit

Sub-Summit

By: Doug Sandler
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At the crossroads of innovation, growth, and connection, this podcast takes you inside SubSummit 2026—the premier gathering for leaders shaping the future of subscription, membership, loyalty, and recurring revenue. From the months leading up to the conference through the live energy of the event and the insights that follow, each episode delivers conversations with the brands, solution providers, and thought leaders redefining customer relationships and building the next generation of commerce. With exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes access, and real-time takeaways from Kansas City, listeners will hear the strategies, partnerships, and bold ideas emerging from an industry that touches the majority of U.S. consumers and fuels a multi-trillion-dollar economy. Whether you’re a fast-scaling brand, an innovative solution provider, or a leader looking to deepen customer loyalty and lifetime value, this podcast is your front-row seat to the connections, conversations, and breakthroughs that make SubSummit the place where the future of recurring revenue takes shape—and the event you’ll want to experience in person.

Copyright 2026 | All Rights Reserved
Episodes
  • Reba Hatcher: Meet Better Meat: ButcherBox’s Subscription to Shelf Strategy

    Reba Hatcher: Meet Better Meat: ButcherBox’s Subscription to Shelf Strategy
    Apr 7 2026
    In this episode, Doug and Reba Hatcher discuss:Transition from subscription to retailCustomer data and Voice of the CustomerPackaging, labeling, and on-shelf presenceLoyalty programs and in-person customer experiencesRetention signals and subscription flexibilityKey Takeaways:Going from subscription to shelf, ButcherBox leaned into retail because a huge portion of shoppers still decide dinner at 4 p.m., a moment the subscription model alone can’t reach.A tight, disciplined brand story has to live on a tiny piece of packaging. Channel-specific behavior should shape your product format, and after a failed experiment putting boxes on shelves, ButcherBox realized they needed to sell like the rest of the meat aisle—individual cuts, familiar presentation—while still signaling they’re different through design and claims.Real loyalty comes from embedding into everyday meals, not just special occasions. Human conversations can be your most advanced data tool, and through Sizzle Society and Chef’s Table dinners, Reba’s team hears unfiltered stories about freezers, family drama, and failed defrosts—context that reframes how ButcherBox designs experiences, messaging, and support.“We know we are the healthiest option for protein on the planet that you can get delivered... and we're here to transform the meat industry and become the world's first beloved meat brand, because there isn't one—that's our reason for being.” - Reba HatcherAbout the guest, Reba Hatcher:Reba Hatcher is the Chief Commercial Officer at ButcherBox, where she leads top-line revenue growth and develops new, innovative revenue streams. She oversees pricing, merchandising, revenue retention, and partnerships for the direct-to-consumer meat brand, which recently expanded from a 100% subscription model into major retail channels, including Target and Costco. With a strong focus on being customer-obsessed, Reba champions data-driven decision-making, robust Voice of the Customer programs, and analog, in-person customer experiences such as ButcherBox’s Sizzle Society loyalty program and its Chef’s Table dinners. Connect with Reba Hatcher:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebahatcher/ SubSummit will be in Kansas City, May 13-15, 2026Attend SubSummit FOR FREE Here: https://subsummit.com/hosted-merchant-meetings-program/ You can also register here: https://subsummit.com/tickets/ Book your meeting with Christopher George from SubSummit here: https://meetings.hubspot.com/chris3306/linkedin-profile?uuid=0c103e97-4adc-4c16-bbe6-794c92ab9c61 About SubSummit:SubSummit brings together thousands of executives and operators from established enterprises, direct-to-consumer, fast-growing startups, innovative tech companies, active investors, and more. These pioneers come from across a broad range of industries, including e-commerce, media, publishing, retail, streaming, SaaS, digital, automotive, and beyond.From FabFitFun to Walmart+ to MasterClass, the world’s leading brands leverage SubSummit to remain catalysts in consumer engagement and product experiences.Simply put, if you’re in subscription, membership, or recurring revenue, you’re at SubSummit.Website: https://subsummit.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/subsummit/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sub_summit/ Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel AlvarezAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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    17 mins
  • Phoenix Ha: “Would I Actually Buy This?”: Creativity That Truly Converts

    Phoenix Ha: “Would I Actually Buy This?”: Creativity That Truly Converts
    Mar 31 2026
    In this episode, Doug and Phoenix Ha discuss:Subscription retention and LTVCommunity-driven social commerceAuthentic, high-performing creativeFuture of live sellingBuilding high-volume, high-value creative enginesKey Takeaways:Brands obsessed with front-end acquisition but neglecting retention are essentially pouring customers into a leaky bucket, and real LTV power comes from keeping people past months 3, 6, 9, and 12.What used to be dismissed as “soft” brand or engagement data now clearly drives repeat purchase and advocacy, as seen in her examples of sneaker culture, TikTok discovery, and constant but thoughtful touchpoints.Authenticity in creative outperforms overproduced content. Churning out hundreds of weak iterations isn’t a creative engine; the operators winning are those who build systems that generate many high-quality variations rooted in real consumer behavior and self-skepticism (“would I actually buy this?”).Live selling is an under-exploited frontier for subscriptions. “The biggest currency is to be able to monetize off of a very authentic and genuine moment. And that's very difficult to do.” - Phoenix HaAbout the guest, Phoenix Ha:Phoenix Ha is an e-commerce growth operator specializing in building high-velocity creative and performance marketing systems that drive scalable revenue for subscription and social commerce brands. She previously co-founded and led Ad Beacon, a first-party data platform built for the post–iOS 14.5 ad landscape, and helped scale social commerce at Instant Hydration, drawing on a background that spans media buying, SaaS, experiential brand building, and influencer/community management.Known for her focus on retention, community, and authenticity in creative, Phoenix challenges brands to ask, “Would I actually buy this—and keep subscribing?” Her work centers on turning real consumer behavior into high-performing creative engines, with a sharp eye on the future of live selling and long-term LTV growth.Connect with Phoenix Ha:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoenixha/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/_phoenixha Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phoenix_ha TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@phoenixha SubSummit will be in Kansas City, May 13-15, 2026Attend SubSummit FOR FREE Here: https://subsummit.com/hosted-merchant-meetings-program/ You can also book your tickets here: https://subsummit.com/tickets/ Book your meeting with Christopher George from SubSummit here: https://meetings.hubspot.com/chris3306/linkedin-profile?uuid=0c103e97-4adc-4c16-bbe6-794c92ab9c61 About SubSummit:SubSummit brings together thousands of executives and operators from established enterprises, direct-to-consumer, fast-growing startups, innovative tech companies, active investors, and more. These pioneers come from across a broad range of industries, including e-commerce, media, publishing, retail, streaming, SaaS, digital, automotive, and beyond.From FabFitFun to Walmart+ to MasterClass, the world’s leading brands leverage SubSummit to remain catalysts in consumer engagement and product experiences.Simply put, if you’re in subscription, membership, or recurring revenue, you’re at SubSummit.Website: https://subsummit.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/subsummit/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sub_summit/ Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel AlvarezAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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    19 mins
  • Mike Woodall: How Whisker Turned Cat Data Into Recurring Revenue

    Mike Woodall: How Whisker Turned Cat Data Into Recurring Revenue
    Mar 31 2026
    In this episode, Doug and Mike Woodall discuss:Brands excelling at subscriptionsWhisker’s data-driven subscription and engagement strategySubscription conversion experiments and UX changesDiscount and offer testing for subscriber acquisitionThe feedback loop: community, CX, and continuous optimizationKey Takeaways:Whisker’s growth engine is its own app ecosystem, which converts litter box buyers into highly engaged subscribers by feeding behavior and device data into CRM. The “hide buy-once” experiment shows how small UX changes can massively shift subscription mix without hurting revenue. Discounting is treated as a testable lever, not a default growth tactic, and Mike’s team is carefully watching whether aggressive first-order offers (35% sitewide and 50% off litter) deliver durable subscriber value or just front-load signups that quickly churn.Whisker’s active Reddit base and close partnership with the CX team surface real-world friction in the subscription experience, directly informing roadmap and UX changes.A subscription program is managed more like a living product than a one-time setup. “From the SubSummit conferences I've been to in the past, I've always garnered a lot from hearing from the speakers and from different companies about their successes as well as their shortcomings.” - Mike WoodallAbout the guest, Mike Woodall:Mike Woodall is the Director of CRM & Subscriptions at Whisker and an experienced digital marketing leader with over 12 years of expertise in email, CRM, and retention lifecycle marketing. He has built and optimized high-performing customer engagement programs for both startups and established enterprise companies. Mike has deep experience working with leading CRM and marketing automation platforms, including Braze, Oracle Responsys, Klaviyo, and Iterable. Known for his strengths in client retention strategy, growth forecasting, and cross-functional leadership, he effectively collaborates with executive teams while guiding marketing initiatives that drive long-term customer engagement and business growth.Connect with Mike Woodall:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejwoodall/ Website: https://www.whisker.com/ SubSummit will be in Kansas City, May 13-15, 2026Attend SubSummit FOR FREE Here: https://subsummit.com/hosted-merchant-meetings-program/ You can also book your tickets here: https://subsummit.com/tickets/ Book your meeting with Christopher George from SubSummit here: https://meetings.hubspot.com/chris3306/linkedin-profile?uuid=0c103e97-4adc-4c16-bbe6-794c92ab9c61 About SubSummit:SubSummit brings together thousands of executives and operators from established enterprises, direct-to-consumer, fast-growing startups, innovative tech companies, active investors, and more. These pioneers come from across a broad range of industries, including e-commerce, media, publishing, retail, streaming, SaaS, digital, automotive, and beyond.From FabFitFun to Walmart+ to MasterClass, the world’s leading brands leverage SubSummit to remain catalysts in consumer engagement and product experiences.Simply put, if you’re in subscription, membership, or recurring revenue, you’re at SubSummit.Website: https://subsummit.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/subsummit/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sub_summit/ Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel AlvarezAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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    12 mins
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