Piqki April Test Creative Brief

Analyst: Max (Subagent) · February 21, 2026

Ready for Execution

This is the actionable document Gin uses to brief creators and run the April $8-10K test. Synthesizes all Q1 research into testable hypotheses and operational structure.

--- ## 1. The Goal

What We're Testing

The April test validates which creative angles and messaging frameworks drive customer acquisition at or below our CAC thresholds before committing May launch budget. This is not a brand-building exercise — it's a conversion efficiency test.

What We're Measuring

MetricTargetNotes
CAC≤$25Primary success metric
CTR≥1.5%Creative hook validation
6s View Rate≥40%TikTok video hook
Conversion Rate≥2%Landing page + offer
AOV≥$50Starter set bundling

What Success Looks Like

ScenarioCACMay Action
Scale<$25Commit $75K+ to paid
Caution$25–35Cap at $40K, optimize first
Kill>$50Pause. Fix positioning.
--- ## 2. The 5 Creative Hypotheses

Hypothesis 1 — Anti-Salon Identity Shift

High Confidence — Validated

Hook:

I used to go every month for gel-x. Haven't stepped foot in a salon since.

Format: Lo-fi video, 15–21 sec, straight-to-camera confessional
Platform: TikTok + Instagram Reels

Why We Believe It: Glamnetic's #1 performing post (7.4M views, 352K engagement) was this exact format. Anti-salon identity testimonial outperforms all other content types.

What We're Testing: Whether Piqki can replicate this with our elevated aesthetic. Does the identity shift narrative convert when the brand is more premium?

Hypothesis 2 — The "New Everyday" Framing

High Confidence — Validated

Hook:

Not ditching my salon. Just didn't need it for the in-between.

Format: Lo-fi video or all-text post
Platform: Instagram

Why We Believe It: Market validation shows consumers reduce salon visits, not abandon. "New everyday" is more accurate than "ditch your salon."

What We're Testing: Does a nuanced anti-salon message convert a wider audience who still maintain salon relationships?

Hypothesis 3 — The PiqWheel Speed Demo

High Confidence — Differentiation

Hook:

3 minutes. I timed it.

Format: Lo-fi video, 30–45 sec, real-time application with timer overlay
Platform: TikTok + Instagram Reels

Why We Believe It: The PiqWheel is core differentiation. Speed is visceral and provable. Matches top-performing beauty ad patterns.

What We're Testing: Can the speed claim + PiqWheel visual convert curiosity into purchase?

Hypothesis 4 — Durability Proof (The Skeptic Close)

Medium-High Confidence

Hook:

I was the person whose press-ons fell off in public. Then I tested these for 14 days.

Format: Lo-fi video, testimonial-style
Platform: Instagram Reels

Why We Believe It: Durability is #1 purchase barrier. No competitor provides real-world wear proof. Addresses the objection directly.

What We're Testing: Does tackling durability head-on convert skeptics, or are they a lost cause?

Hypothesis 5 — Aesthetic-Only (No Product Pitch)

Medium Confidence

Hook:

Not nail art. Just nails.

Format: Lo-fi image or silent video, aesthetic showcase only
Platform: Instagram (feed)

Why We Believe It: Glamnetic's #2 post was pure aesthetic reveal. Tests whether the visual-driven buyer can be captured without any product argument.

What We're Testing: Can pure aesthetic content drive traffic without any functional claim?

--- ## 3. What NOT to Test
FramingWhy Not
"Ditch your salon"Anti-salon partially supported. Too radical — alienates majority who still visit.
Price-first messagingDiscount trains price sensitivity. Value framing converts better.
Founder-as-starGlamnetic data: founder content gets 2x fewer views.
Trend-chasingHigh views (509K), low engagement (0.74%).
Tutorial-heavy350K views, only 2% engagement. Awareness only.
--- ## 4. Creator Brief

What Piqki Is

Piqki is a premium press-on nail brand that solves the biggest problem in the category: sizing. Our PrecisionPiq Wheel gives you your exact size in seconds — no guessing, no filing, no 20-minute fitting ritual. Nails that look like you spent $90 at a salon but took 3 minutes to apply.

The ONE Thing We Want You to Communicate

Show us the moment you realize press-ons don't have to be a compromise. That's it. One moment. Not a product demo. Not a tutorial. The feeling of nails that actually work — without the salon, without the drama.

What to Show

What NOT to Do

Deliverables

1–2 video assets (15–30 sec, vertical 9:16, MP4) OR 1 carousel (3–5 slides). Raw files only.

--- ## 5. Weekly Test Rhythm
DayActionOwner
MondayPull all paid + organic data. Calculate MER. Flag anomalies.Max
TuesdayWrite weekly brief to Gin (max 1 page, 1–2 decisions)Max
WednesdayExecute Gin-approved changes. Brief new creatives.Max
ThursdayKill underperformers. Scale winners. Adjust audiences.Max
FridayReview new UGC. Update scorecard.Max
SundayOrganic content review. Flag ≥5% ER for boost.Max
--- ## 6. Kill/Scale Rules

Creative Kill Rules

ConditionAction
Spend ≥$50 + CTR <0.8% (P2)Kill immediately
Spend ≥$50 + ER <3% (P1)Kill immediately
Frequency >3.0Pause — rotate creative
CPM >$20 for 3+ daysAudit — audience or creative issue

Creative Scale Rules

ConditionAction
CTR ≥2.5% at $50 spendDouble budget
CTR ≥3.0% at $100 spendScale to full allocation
P1 post ≥5% ERBoost to cold audience immediately
--- ## 7. What Gin Decides
DecisionContextOptions
Creator compensation tier22 creators across tiersFull paid deals OR seed-only
Launch offer structureEntry is $50 Starter SetStandalone only OR starter bundle ($65)
May budget ceilingApril test determines scenario$40K / $75K / $100K+
--- ## 8. Before April 1 Checklist
Shopify store with Starter Set product live
Pixel installed and firing correctly
ManyChat account with "WHEEL" keyword trigger
5 creators seeded with product (minimum)
5 ad creatives briefed and scored (≥6.0)
Meta Ads Manager account with payment
Audiences built: broad + 3 LAL seeds
Landing page mobile-optimized
Organic Instagram: 3 posts before paid launches
Tracking dashboard set up
---

✅ QC Sign-Off: Research synthesis complete. All findings labeled with confidence levels. Brand voice compliance verified (no exclamation marks, no emojis). Hypotheses include exact hook copy, format, platform, confidence level, evidence source. Creator brief ready. Kill/scale rules exact and actionable.

✉️ Send to Max