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SEGA
June 3, 2019

How SEGA Transformed a Sunscreen Brand’s Seasonal Struggles into Year-Round Growth

Task

Rebuild a unified visual system for the advertising agency, made of steel which can change the world in a while.

  • Strategy

    Media Buying, Ecommerce

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A Seasonal Sales Challenge

This sunscreen brand had a fundamental challenge: everyone needs sunscreen, but not everyone realizes it year-round. While the brand saw peak sales during summer, revenue plummeted in colder months. The business relied heavily on seasonal spikes, leading to inconsistent cash flow and an over-dependence on discount-driven campaigns.

Despite strong summer performance, their biggest hurdle was convincing consumers that sun protection is essential all year long—not just during vacations. Additionally, ROAS-focused strategies were limiting long-term brand growth, as their audience primarily consisted of one-time summer buyers instead of loyal, repeat customers.

To solve these challenges, the brand partnered with Floca Media and the SEGA Program (Sustainable E-Commerce Growth Approach) to build a sustainable, retention-driven strategy that would ensure consistent sales throughout the year.

Overview

Faced by the Brand

  • – Overdependence on Summer Sales: Revenue relied heavily on warm months, leaving the brand with minimal sales in fall and winter.

  • – Price-Sensitive Customers: Heavy seasonal discounting attracted one-time buyers instead of long-term customers.

  • – Lack of Retention Strategies: No systems were in place to convert first-time buyers into repeat customers.

  • – Inefficient Messaging: Ads focused on seasonal sunscreen use, reinforcing the idea that sun protection was only necessary in summer.

SEGA Program Implementation: A Strategy Beyond Summer

Floca Media implemented a multi-phase SEGA strategy to transition the brand from a seasonal business to a sustainable, year-round skincare brand

Audience Segmentation

We identified and targeted year-round sunscreen users, including dermatologists, skincare enthusiasts, and people with high sun exposure regardless of season (runners, drivers, and outdoor workers).

Educational Content & Thought Leadership

Developed high-value content around the dangers of year-round UV exposure to position sunscreen as an everyday skincare essential.

Winter-Specific Ad Creatives

Instead of summer beaches, we showcased snowy landscapes, office settings, and urban environments to reinforce daily sun protection.

Approach

Building Retention & Increasing LTV

Instead of chasing new customers every summer, we focused on maximizing the value of each existing customer through retention-based initiatives.

Sunscreen Subscription Program

Customers could sign up for automatic refills every 6 or 12 weeks, reducing the need for one-time purchases.

Post-Purchase Email Sequences

We introduced skincare education, usage tips, and exclusive loyalty offers, reinforcing long-term product adoption.

Seasonal Bundles

Created Winter Defense Kits featuring sunscreen + hydrating moisturizers to encourage cold-weather purchases.

A Proven Framework for Sustainable Growth

Optimizing Paid Media: A ROAS-Independent Approach

ROAS had been the primary KPI for the brand, but it was misleading—it only reflected immediate return and ignored long-term profitability. SEGA’s approach prioritized AOV, retention, and customer lifetime value instead.

Smart Retargeting

Instead of focusing purely on seasonal discounts, we remarketed to previous buyers with educational content and exclusive loyalty offers.

Lookalike Audiences from High-LTV Customers

Ad targeting was optimized based on repeat buyers, not just one-time purchasers.

Expansion to Cold Audiences

Campaigns targeted skincare-conscious consumers, broadening market penetration beyond sun-care enthusiasts.

Final Results

A Year-Round Skincare Brand

By leveraging the SEGA Program, this sunscreen brand successfully shifted from a seasonal, discount-driven business to a sustainable, retention-focused brand.

  •  

Winter sales grew by 40%

Reducing reliance on summer spikes.

Subscription program adoption hit 30%

It generated more recurring revenue and more cost-effective acquisition of new customers.

LTV increased by 50%

Ensuring a more profitable customer base.

Ad strategy evolved beyond ROAS

Focusing on AOV, retention, and education-driven acquisition.

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