Today we speak with Sagar KC, a digital strategist, author, and the founder of Emar Media. With over seven years of experience in email marketing and customer retention, Sagar has helped more than 70 eCommerce brands turn their email lists into consistent revenue drivers. In this interview we explore his journey, his best-selling book Grow with Email Marketing, and the philosophy behind his work. His official website,sagarkc.com, offers resources, blog posts, and updates on his latest projects.
How did you first get into email marketing and retention?
I began my career in digital marketing after graduating with a degree in computer science. Initially I focused on performance marketing and traffic generation. Over time I realized that many brands were investing heavily in paid ads but were not retaining customers effectively. This prompted me to dive into lifecycle marketing and harness the strategic power of email campaigns.
I spent years testing, learning, and refining email flows for DTC brands. Email became more than just newsletters. It became the core of the brand to customer relationship. Eventually, I founded Emar Media, a retention focused agency that helps brands build personalized journeys via email and SMS. Our mission is to turn one time buyers into loyal repeat customers.
What inspired you to write Grow with Email Marketing?
There were two main drivers. First, I wanted to distill the experience and results we had at Emar Media into a tangible resource. I saw a gap in the market for a book that speaks directly to founders and marketers in a no fluff, actionable manner. Second, I wanted to empower brands to own their retention strategy.
The book offers step by step frameworks, real examples, and clear guidance to help readers increase customer lifetime value, boost email tied revenue, and build retention systems that work even while they sleep. Everything is grounded in real campaign data, not theory.
What makes this book different from other email marketing guides?
Most marketing books focus on design advice or technical setup. My book stands out because it emphasizes strategy, psychology, and execution. It takes readers inside actual campaigns built at Emar Media, sharing tested subject lines, flow structures, segmentation logic, and copy angles that yielded real results.
One reader told me, “This is the first marketing book I actually implemented while reading.” That is exactly my goal. I want readers to finish with a replicable system, not just ideas.
What kinds of brands do you serve, and what results have they seen?
We primarily work with DTC ecommerce brands including beauty, wellness, fashion, and subscription businesses. Many clients are in growth phase and want to move beyond launch tactics and reduce dependency on paid acquisition.
One beauty client increased email revenue from 12 percent to 38 percent in three months. Another recovered over 200,000 dollars in abandoned cart revenue with a single automation sequence. We also helped emerging brands cut unsubscribe rates by 40 percent through strategic list segmentation. Unlike template services we craft retention strategies that align with brand voice, customer behavior, and long term growth goals.
Tell us about your next book.
The next book is The Abandoned Cart Recovery Playbook. It delves into the behavioral triggers and emotional journeys that prompt customers to revisit abandoned carts. Many brands send generic reminders. We utilize storytelling, microsegmentation, dynamic content, and urgency psychology to regain sales.
It includes ready to use templates, case studies, and frameworks to help marketers implement advanced behavioral flows immediately.
What email marketing trends do you think will shape 2025?
A few trends are clear:
In a world where attention is fragmented, direct channels like email create lasting relationships rather than chasing likes and shares.
Where can readers find your book and follow your work?
Grow with Email Marketing is available on Amazon and Google Books. I also share blog articles, author resources, and updates on my website sagarkc.com. Readers can explore my content, learn about retention strategy, and contact me directly for consulting or collaboration.
You write frequently on Medium. What inspires your content?
Writing on Medium allows me to express the practical side of retention marketing and the mindset behind it. Posts like “Retention Beats Reach” and “Why the first welcome email matters most” focus on sustainable value over flashy metrics. I aim to share what I test and learn in real time. No shortcuts or recycled advice. It is about helping brands create meaningful customer relationships and see retention as the foundation of growth.
How have music and IT influenced your marketing approach?
My early career as a music producer taught me rhythm, timing, pacing, and structure. That background shapes how I craft email flows. It helps me balance creativity with systematic logic. Similarly, my IT training helped me analyze behavior, automate systems, and apply data thinking to campaigns. Both disciplines feed into my retention strategies. Emotion and analytics working together create campaigns that feel human and convert consistently.
What do you focus on in your workshops and talks?
I focus on practical retention systems, not jargon or overnight hacks. I share frameworks that help brands build narrative-driven email flows, optimize customer journeys, and operationalize retention without spamming audiences. I talk about sincerity in storytelling, the power of smart onboarding, and how small tactical changes can yield measurable ROI. My goal is to leave attendees with actionable clarity.
Find Sagar KC here:
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/therealsagarkc/
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealsagarkc/
Medium : https://medium.com/@iamsagarkc
Official Website : https://sagarkc.com/
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