• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, April 2, 2020

eMarketer defines D2C as digital native brands that started as independent online retailers selling directly to consumers, and excludes travel and event tickets, payments (such as bill pay, taxes or money transfers), food or drink services, gambling and other vice good sales.

While the category's growth has been decelerating, it nonetheless is projected to expand at healthy double-digit rates for the next couple of years despite the national health crisis.

Some analysts have predicted D2C marketing could actually benefit from U.S. consumers shifting more toward ecommerce and digital shopping to avoid brick-and-mortar contact.

One of the big drivers in eMarketer's calculations is the expansion of the D2C consumer base, which it defines as internet users 14 years or older who have purchased at least one D2C product in the past year via the brand's site or app.

eMarketer projects 87.3 million Americans now fall in that category, representing more than 43% of all digital shoppers.