How To Build Stronger, Sharper And More Resilient Brands

Lucky Saint just did something most brands would never dare to do.

They gathered a room full of industry experts, creatives and customers and asked for brutal, honest feedback on their campaigns - inviting people to tear apart their brand and creative work in real time.

Why? Because growth comes from listening, iterating, and pushing creative boundaries.

Our own Lizzie B (one of our Brand Hacker’s social media superstars) was in the room, pen in hand, post-it notes flying, witnessing first hand how a brand bold enough to ask tough questions becomes impossible to ignore.

It got me thinking about how founder-led brands can use this thinking to build stronger, sharper and more resilient brands. And there are some key things you should steal from their playbook!

How bold brands stay ahead

Turn feedback into a growth tool, not an ego bruiser

The best and most successful brands don’t assume they have it all figured out. They actively seek out critique and feedback. Lucky Saint opened up their creative process to external feedback, knowing that fresh perspectives spark better ideas.

Odd Muse, a UK-based womenswear brand, engages customers on social media (mainly Instagram & TikTok), involving them in the design process and gathering valuable feedback to refine their products.

Who’s giving you honest feedback? If you’re only listening to your internal team, you’re missing out!

Build a brand that feels like a community

Lucky Saint doesn’t just offer non-alcoholic beer - it’s shaping a culture around mindful drinking and inviting people into the creative process.

VFC (Vegan Fried Chicken), founded in the UK in 2020, has built a loyal customer base by combining plant-based products with bold activism. Their mission-driven approach resonates with consumers, leading them to expand internationally within their first year.

If you’re not actively building a community, you’re leaving engagement on the table. How are you making people feel invested in your brand?

Be brave enough to challenge what you’ve already built

Brands that don’t evolve get left behind. Lucky Saint put their past work under a microscope, not to pat themselves on the back but to push it further.

Agent Provocateur, the luxury lingerie brand, regained its creative mojo by returning to its bold, avant-garde roots, focusing on loyal, niche customers rather than mass appeal, which led to doubled revenues over three years.

When was the last time you re-evaluated your brand? If it’s been a while, it’s time to start!

The biggest brands in the world aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets - they’re the ones that listen, evolve and get people talking.

The brands winning right now are busy turning customers into collaborators and giving people a reason to feel part of something bigger. They’re never settling, always refining and always pushing forward. And they’re brave enough to ask the tough questions and smart enough to act on the answers.

Lucky Saint gets it. Odd Muse gets it. VFC gets it. Loads of others get it. Do you?

If you’re scaling, launching or just need a fresh perspective on how to push your brand forward, that’s exactly what we do at Brand Hackers. I’d be more than happy to put you in touch with the team! Get in contact with us!

And remember, don't keep this content to yourself! Share it far and wide with other bold brand founders!

Cheers,

Rach