The Secret Behind Old School's Massive Growth

In this episode, filmed live at the Stitch Elevate E-commerce Event 2025, we sit down with Steph, co-founder of Old School, to uncover the secrets behind the brand’s incredible rise. You’ll hear how a simple idea sparked by nostalgia became a nationwide phenomenon, the strategic steps Old School took from online sales to kiosks and retail stores, and the marketing consistency that fueled their momentum. Steph also shares powerful lessons on cashflow management, reinvestment strategies, using scarcity to drive demand, and why backing South Africa’s e-commerce opportunity is a smart long-term play.🤔 Who Am I?Hi, I'm Jandre, founder of V8 Media! We've worked with over 500 businesses since 2018 and generated nearly 1.4 billion in sales. Through our experience investing in and scaling multiple businesses, I've discovered key insights about brand positioning and marketing efficiency that I'm excited to share with you.⏱ Timestamps: 0:06 - Introduction & Welcome with Steph from Old School 0:34 - How Old School Started: The Rugby World Cup Moment 1:37 - From Nostalgia to National Pride: Expanding Beyond Rugby 2:39 - The Early Struggles & Pre-COVID Stagnation 3:39 - The Power of Consistency in Ads & Playing the Long Game 4:12 - Bootstrapping & Managing Cashflow Without Investors 5:09 - Stage 1: Online Only – Low Overheads, Product Testing 5:57 - Stage 2: Kiosks & Malls as Low-Risk Growth Channels 6:36 - Stage 3: Opening Iconic Brick & Mortar Stores 6:50 - Lessons Learned: Risks, Lawsuits & Partnerships 7:55 - Balancing Strengths Between Founders 8:17 - Why Marketing is the Biggest Growth Lever 8:52 - Reinvestment Strategy: Spend as Much as You Can Profitably 10:23 - Metrics That Matter: Beyond ROAS 10:57 - Shopify Hacks: Scarcity & Back-in-Stock Apps 12:25 - Payment Gateways & the Impact of Apple/Google Pay 13:55 - South Africa’s E-Commerce Opportunity 15:38 - Online vs Retail: How They Support Each Other 16:42 - The Next 5–10 Years of Online Growth in SA 17:25 - Final Advice for Entrepreneurs: Differentiation is Key 18:22 - Closing Thoughts & Lessons from Consumer Behaviour🔎 Hashtags 🔎 Related Searches:how Old School brand startedOld School South Africa growth storyecommerce brand building strategieshow to grow a clothing brand onlinescaling from online to retail storesmarketing strategies for South African brandscashflow management for startupsusing scarcity in ecommerce marketingShopify growth hacks for clothing brandspayment gateways for South Africa Shopifybootstrapping a fashion businessbrand differentiation strategies🔑 Keywords:Old School brand, South Africa ecommerce, marketing consistency, bootstrapping business, scaling clothing brand, Shopify apps, scarcity marketing, customer lifetime value, omnipresent marketing, reinvestment strategy, cashflow management, retail vs online growth, payment gateways, Apple Pay South Africa, Google Pay South Africa, nostalgia marketing, ecommerce hacks, consumer behaviour, South African entrepreneurship, brand differentiation🔗 Links:Need someone to do your marketing for you? Need investment for your business? 📱 Follow Me on Social Media:Instagram: / officialjandredebeer TikTok: / officialjandredebeer LinkedIn: / jandredebeer

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The Secret Behind Old School's Massive Growth is an episode from V8 MEDIA SA | Digital Marketing Tips and Strategies For SME's by Jandre de Beer .

This episode is 00:18:48 long.

This episode was published on Aug 28, 2025.

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