The 2027 Marketing Impact Report for DTC Brands. The definitive guide to what's working in DTC marketing in 2027.
For founders and operators of direct-to-consumer brands. I wrote it from the brands I have run growth for: how shoppers now find, buy from and come back to a brand's own store, what changes in 2027, and what the brands growing profitably are doing.
What is changing in DTC marketing in 2027.
- 01
AI shopping answers
Shoppers now ask AI assistants which product to buy. What those answers pull from, and how brands get recommended by name.
- 02
Meta, Google and the cost of a first order
What a first order really costs now once discounts and returns come out, and how brands decide where the next dollar goes.
- 03
Numbers the whole team trusts
Ads, analytics and the store disagree. How brands are settling on the numbers they run on, with holdout tests and contribution margin.
- 04
Checkout friction
Where carts are lost between the product page and the order confirmation, and the fixes that recover them.
- 05
The second order
Email, SMS, subscriptions and loyalty: what brings first-time buyers back, and how soon.
- 06
COGS, AOV and margin
Why the brands that grow profitably watch margin as closely as revenue, and the levers that lower COGS and raise order value.
Who it is for
- Founders and operators of direct-to-consumer brands that sell through their own online store.
Frequently asked questions.
Is the DTC brand report based on a survey?
No. It comes from our work with DTC brands and the inspections we run before every engagement. Check each section against your own brand's numbers.
What does the DTC brand report cost?
Nothing. Enter your email and we send you the DTC brand report.
Where to next.
Start with your free Marketing Impact score.
It takes a few minutes. You get a score from 1 to 5 on each of the seven dimensions of your marketing and see where to start. If you’d rather talk first, book a free 30-minute call.