Kizik's CMO says the unpolished era is accelerating.

The hands-free shoe brand that grew revenue 1,000% in three years credits relatable content over polished campaigns.

Elizabeth Drori, CMO of Kizik — a hands-free shoe brand that grew revenue by more than 1,000% in three years — told Inc. Magazine that the shift toward unpolished content will accelerate in 2026.

When a CMO from a brand growing at that rate credits the growth to looking less professional, the lesson is clear: polish is not premium. Polish is suspicious.

The brands winning this moment are not performing authenticity. They are simply spending less time performing.

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SO WHAT?
Cut your content production budget by 30% and redirect it to speed. The cost of looking real is less than the cost of looking expensive — and the returns are better.

Source: Inc. Magazine