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.

This transition from performance marketing to brand building is exactly what we explore in From ROAS Doom Loop to Durable Growth—where we break down how to escape the cycle of rising ad costs and shrinking margins.

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.)

Once you’ve refined your brand story, the next step is turning your customers into advocates. Learn how to transform quiet customers into vocal champions in From Quiet to Choir.

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.

For a deep dive into why authentic customer advocacy beats manufactured reviews, check out our analysis in The $10 Review Trap.

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. Ready to put these insights into action? Learn how to build and manage your own advocate community with our practical guide: Gather Your Dream Team: Tips for a Sizzling Brand Advocate Community.

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.

For a real-world example of how these strategies come together, see our case study on Leveraging Advocates to Increase Sales and Build Your Brand.