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Angus Rittenburg, cofounder of WYNK, didn’t start with a brand. He started with a problem: how do you legally and profitably distribute THC beverages in the fragmented U.S. cannabis market?
In this episode of the DTC Podcast, we unpack how WYNK solved that problem through mechanical engineering, regulatory foresight, and operational creativity—from mobile production trailers to in-state dosing machines to navigating Meta ad bans.
Try WYNK: https://drinkwynk.shop
What you’ll learn:
- Why mobile canning systems gave WYNK early market access
- How hemp-derived THC opened retail and liquor store distribution
- Ad strategies for cannabis brands under platform restrictions
- Connecting QR-based sampling to retail conversion
- DTC learnings that fueled retail expansion
Key Topics:
- Engineering compliance into your ops
- THC vs Alcohol margins
- Retailer education + event-based marketing
- What Big Alcohol thinks about THC drinks
- What success looks like in a future where alcohol and THC share shelves
#DTC #Ecommerce #CPG #BeverageIndustry #AlcoholAlternative #BetterForYou #LowDose #Seltzer #RetailDistribution #Wholesale #GoToMarket #GrowthStrategy #DigitalAdvertising #FirstPartyData #EmailMarketing #RetailMedia #Rebates #FieldMarketing #BrandBuilding #FounderStory #EngineeringLeadership
0:00 — Introduction
00:51 — Tesla → THC & the Origin of Wink
03:15 — The 53-ft Mobile Canning Line
10:30 — Minnesota Unlocks Hemp-THC Distribution
14:52 — Why Beverages ‘Feel’ Like Beer
25:24 — The Age-Gate Ad Workaround
33:34 — The $13.5B Opportunity
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