Outgrowing “Scrappy”: Resources to Scale Your Premium DTC Brand Strategy

Seven-figure direct-to-consumer founders often reach a point where hustling harder won’t cut it. When you’re selling a high-quality product at a premium price, brand strategy becomes the edge – it’s what separates you from commodity competitors and keeps customers coming back even as ad costs climb. (And boy are they climbing – “advertising is doing nothing but getting more expensive,” as one DTC veteran noted, so returning customers are key to a viable business.) In other words, you’ve outgrown the days of duct-tape tactics and growth hacks; it’s time to build a brand that can scale without losing its cool.

Below, we’ve curated a list of Books, Podcasts, and Communities to help you level up your premium brand strategy. These resources focus on building, positioning, and marketing high-quality, high-priced – but accessible – brands. No ultra-luxury snobbery here, just actionable insights for operators aiming to elevate their brand while keeping their indie spirit. We’ve got something for everyone: whether you’re refining your brand story, craving candid marketing advice, or looking for fellow founders to bounce ideas off. Let’s dive in.

Books: Crafting a Premium Brand Story (and Strategy)

When it comes to brand strategy, think of these books as your unofficial MBA – Masters in Brand Acceleration. They cover everything from brand fundamentals to modern DTC playbooks, all with an eye toward standing out in a crowded market. Short on fluff and heavy on examples, these reads will help you sharpen your positioning and build a brand that customers are willing to pay (and pay attention) for.

• Obsessed: Building a Brand People Love from Day One – Emily Heyward. Written by the co-founder of Red Antler (the branding team behind Casper, Allbirds, etc.), this book distills what makes consumers fall in love with a brand. Heyward shares insights into creating and maintaining a brand for your startup, and ultimately, how to make people obsessed with it. Packed with real DTC examples and a no-nonsense reminder: your brand is your business, so build it right from the start (or retrofit it pronto).
• Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind – Al Ries & Jack Trout. A classic for a reason. This book introduced the concept of positioning – staking out a distinct spot in your customer’s mind. If you don’t define what makes you special, the market will do it for you. Timeless strategies for messaging and differentiation make this a must-read.
• Purple Cow – Seth Godin. Premium brands can’t afford to be boring. In Godin’s words, “being ‘good’ is no longer enough. In a crowded market, you have to be remarkable – like a purple cow in a field of regular cows.” This quick, high-impact read will shake you out of playing it safe.
• Building a StoryBrand – Donald Miller. Miller’s mantra: clarity above all. He uses storytelling principles to simplify brand messaging so customers actually get it, positioning your customer as the hero and your brand as the guide.
• What Great Brands Do – Denise Lee Yohn. Yohn breaks down seven key principles top brands live by. One big takeaway: great brands stand for something clear and stick to it, even at the cost of short-term profits.

(Honorable mentions: The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier, Different by Youngme Moon, Contagious by Jonah Berger.)

Podcasts: No-Fluff Insights for Brand Builders

• DTC POD – A crash course in all things direct-to-consumer, hosted by Ramon Berrios and Blaine Bolus. Practical, tactical, and rooted in what’s working right now.
• Honest Ecommerce – A weekly podcast hosted by Shopify expert Chase Clymer that delivers unapologetically honest, actionable advice for online store owners looking to grow with integrity.
• eCommerceFuel Podcast – Hosted by Andrew Youderian, from the eCommerceFuel community. Tactical advice for 7-figure brand owners, from marketing to operations.
• Limited Supply – Hosted by Nik Sharma and Moiz Ali, this is the unfiltered, behind-the-scenes conversation about scaling DTC brands. Expect blunt takes and sharp strategies.
• How I Built This – Guy Raz’s deep dives into founder journeys. Inspirational but grounded, with lessons on maintaining brand identity while scaling.
• The Glossy Podcast – Weekly conversations with leaders in fashion, beauty, and luxury on balancing exclusivity with growth.

Communities: Learn, Share, and Level Up Together

• eCommerceFuel (ECF) – Private forum for $1M+ store owners. Highly curated, with candid peer-to-peer sharing and a massive searchable archive.
• DTC Nation – Open Slack group for emerging brands and their supporters. Broad but useful for networking and quick advice.
• Workspace6 – Invite-only for 7, 8, and 9-figure e-commerce operators. Curated high-level discussions and real-time help.

Scaling a premium brand is as much about mindset as strategy. The founders who successfully graduate from the scrappy startup stage are the ones who never stop learning – and who actively seek out insights beyond their own bubble. The books, podcasts, and groups above are like a toolkit for that next phase of growth.

What resources have been game-changers for you? Any podcast episode that sparked a new strategy, or a community that’s become your secret weapon? Let’s keep this conversation going – the best way for premium DTC brands to win is by sharing what we know and helping each other get better.