The BarberShop with Shantanu Scaling a Fashion Brand Profitably: Finding PMF & Making Data-Driven Decisions
Mar 5, 2026
Toshan Tamhane, ex-McKinsey partner and operations leader, gives data-driven, inventory and PMF advice. Shiv Shivakumar, seasoned brand and marketing executive, shares insights on recognition, category choices, and scaling. They discuss measuring early product-market fit, using limited data smartly, channel and SKU strategies, and how to balance rapid growth with sustainable profitability.
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Use Social Referrals To Validate Styles Fast
- Activate shareability and referrals to validate demand for styles quickly.
- Reward Instagram shares and referrals to trace who advocates, who converts, and which fabric/styles create word-of-mouth.
Capture All Customer Signals Not Just Orders
- Don't underestimate your data volume; capture more signals beyond purchases.
- Track adds-to-cart, views, returns, call transcripts and customer attributes to transform 'small' samples into actionable insights.
Ask Better Questions To Unlock Existing Data
- Asking the right questions of your data matters more than chasing every metric.
- Segment who bought for whom (woman buying for woman, man buying for woman, etc.) and ask why they didn't buy to reveal causality.