Launching From Zero to Profitability

Apple Bottom Jeans, a direct-to-consumer fashion brand founded by celebrity artist Nelly, partnered with Flighted to scale growth on Meta platforms. The objective was to launch the brand from zero to profitability as quickly as possible, while driving significant revenue growth. Between October and December 2024, we grew their Meta ad spend by 44% and reduced their cost per acquisition (CPA) by 43%.

Celebrity Whitelisting & Earned Media

A major driver of this success was our strategic use of whitelisting, leveraging the brand’s celebrity founder in ad creative to add authenticity and capture attention. We also integrated earned media into our campaigns, repurposing press coverage and organic social proof as ad creative to boost credibility and engagement.

(Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph styling Apple Bottom's Star Struck Destructed Fringe Jean)

Unlocking UGC at Scale

Influencer activation played a crucial role as well. Working with the client, we used Archive.com to systematically capture all user-generated and tagged social media posts about the brand. We then secured ad usage rights for the best content, turning loyal customers into powerful sources of creative for paid campaigns. This approach helped drive down CPAs and created more authentic connections with potential customers.

Smarter Campaign Structure

On the campaign structure side, we implemented a thoughtful catalog ad strategy. We segmented product catalogs by category, such as denim bottoms, tops, and jackets, to maintain control over inventory promotion while taking advantage of Meta’s value optimization bidding. This structure allowed Meta to dynamically allocate budgets across audiences and creatives while ensuring alignment with inventory priorities and business goals.

Sustained Growth & Results

By the end of the engagement, Apple Bottom Jeans was running significantly higher monthly Meta spend while acquiring customers far more efficiently. During this period, the brand's ROAS grew by 2.12x in a 60 day period. Combined with a 43% drop in cost per acquisition, this ROAS uplift highlighted major gains in efficiency and revenue impact. Through creative innovation, robust technical infrastructure (including Conversions API integration), and strategic media buying, we helped position Apple Bottom Jeans for sustainable growth and continued success.