Running a D2C brand means wearing a lot of hats. One minute you’re overseeing inventory, the next you’re answering a customer support ticket, reviewing marketing campaigns, and trying to squeeze in five minutes to eat lunch. It’s a lot.
And while hustle culture may be glamorized, the reality is that sustainable growth requires better systems, not just more hours in the day.
At Ekwani Consulting, we work with high-performing D2C brands that are scaling fast, and we see the behind-the-scenes chaos that often comes with that.
If you're juggling way too much and feel like your day runs you (instead of the other way around), this list is for you.
5 productivity tools D2C founders love once they finally start using them
- Sunsama This is the best daily planner you've never heard of. Sunsama helps you intentionally plan your week by dragging tasks from email, Asana, Trello, and your calendar into one streamlined view. It even prompts you to plan each day realistically, so you’re not overcommitting and underdelivering.
Get Sunsama here.
- Motion If your calendar is packed and constantly shifting, Motion can be a game-changer. It uses AI to auto-schedule your tasks around your existing meetings, deadlines, and working hours. No more "I'll get to it later" to-dos that never actually get done.
Get Motion here.
- Notion Notion is a productivity powerhouse. Use it to centralize SOPs, build content calendars, manage launches, or even run lightweight project management. It’s flexible, collaborative, and endlessly customizable for your business’s unique workflows.
Get Notion here.
- Loom Tired of writing long explanations to your team or VAs? Loom lets you record quick video walkthroughs of your screen to communicate faster and reduce back-and-forth. Great for onboarding, documenting processes, or handing off tasks without a meeting.
Get Loom here.
- Slack + Zapier Slack is a D2C founder staple, but pairing it with Zapier unlocks next-level efficiency. Get automated updates when a Shopify order comes in, a Trello card is completed, or a Google Form is submitted. Less inbox checking, more focused working.
Get Slack here.
Get Zapier here.
5 personal-life tools D2C founders love once they finally start using them
These tools can save you hours each week and bring a sense of calm back to your workflow. But what about when the laptop closes?
We know your business keeps you busy, but downtime matters too. These personal-life apps help you recharge smarter and stay balanced:
- Opal Opal helps you reduce screen time by blocking distracting apps and nudging you to stay focused on what matters. Perfect for carving out real rest time without deleting every app on your phone.
Get Opal here.
- Flora This beautifully simple app helps you stay off your phone and stay present. You set a timer, plant a tree, and if you use your phone before it’s up, the tree dies. Great for intentional family dinners or just stepping away from work mode.
Get Flora here.
- Mealime Meal planning doesn’t have to be another to-do list. Mealime lets you plan meals, auto-generates a grocery list, and keeps things simple and healthy. Spend less time in the kitchen and more time actually eating well.
Get Mealime here.
- Streaks Streaks helps you build personal habits without the guilt spiral. Whether it’s meditation, taking vitamins, or journaling, this app keeps it all in one place with simple visual cues and reminders.
Get Streaks here.
- Headway Want to read more but don’t have the time? Headway gives you quick, digestible book summaries so you can keep learning during short walks, workouts, or while prepping dinner.
Get Headway here.
These personal apps are about making the most of the minutes you do have so you can rest, reset, and come back focused.
And if you need full business productivity. . .
Real productivity goes beyond to-do lists and automations. If your backend systems aren't integrated, you're still losing time.
Want full business productivity, too? We help D2C brands integrate NetSuite with the rest of their tech stack so they can operate smarter, not just faster.
Ekwani Consulting specializes in NetSuite implementation, integration, and operational optimization for D2C brands in health, beauty, fashion, and beyond.
Let’s clean up the chaos, from the inside out.
We’re ready when you are. Click here to get in touch with us!