A fractional CMO alternative for D2C brands
Senior marketing, data and creative people on your account, with one named lead who owns the plan.
No obligation to go further after the audit. If we can't help, we'll say so.
We work with ambitious brands
- Built for D2C brands past seven figures
- One named person owns your account
- A fixed-price Growth Audit that ends in an actionable roadmap
You need senior marketing leadership. A full-time CMO is more than you need yet.
That is usually when a fractional CMO comes up: an experienced marketer, part-time, setting direction for less than the cost of a full-time hire.
For a D2C brand past seven figures, growth sits across marketing, data and creative. One part-time person covers the areas they know best. The rest waits, or goes to freelancers and agencies that someone still has to manage.
Here is how the two routes compare.
A fractional CMO and Futurescale, side by side
Who you get
Fractional CMO
One senior marketer
Futurescale
A senior marketing, data and creative team, with one named lead who owns your account
Data
Fractional CMO
Depends on the person's background
Futurescale
Part of the work. We build a record of everything that affects your growth and watch it for changes
Creative
Fractional CMO
Direction, with production arranged separately
Futurescale
Brand, content, ad creative, video and landing pages from the same team
Starting point
Fractional CMO
Agree a scope and begin
Futurescale
A fixed-price Growth Audit, with no obligation to continue
If your lead is away or leaves
Fractional CMO
The work depends on one person
Futurescale
The plan, decisions and results sit in the system, so the account carries on
Best fit
Fractional CMO
A brand with sound foundations and a team to carry out the work
Futurescale
A D2C brand past seven figures that needs the foundations diagnosed and the work done
How Futurescale works
01
Diagnose
The Growth Audit goes through your product, brand, audience, channels and numbers. You get the priority findings and an actionable roadmap, and you can run it yourself.
02
Put the plan to work
Most brands move to a retainer: strategy and execution, creative, and data and intelligence, with one named person who owns the plan and keeps it moving.
03
See what's working
Everything that moves your numbers sits in one place, every decision is recorded with what came of it, and you see the same view we do.
We fix the foundation first, then use ads to amplify what already works.
When a fractional CMO is the better choice
If your product, site and tracking are sound and you have a team to carry out the work, one senior marketer setting direction may be all you need. We will tell you if that is the case.
Who we work with
Ambitious D2C brands past seven figures, usually in categories where trust drives the purchase: wellness, premium fashion, beauty, home and sport. We take on a few at a time and choose on the founder and team as much as the sector.
Futurescale is run by operators who have built and scaled ecommerce brands, including a luxury interiors platform.
Questions founders ask
What is a fractional CMO?
A fractional CMO is a senior marketer who works part-time for a company, usually alongside other clients, to set marketing strategy and oversee the work.
Is Futurescale a fractional CMO?
No. We cover the leadership a CMO would give you, plus the data and creative work, with one named person owning your account.
Who does the work?
We join your team as the senior marketing, data and creative people you don't have yet. Your Scale Engineer is your point of contact, owns the plan and keeps it moving. When a project needs doing, such as a new site, a campaign or a data build, we scope it and either do it or find you the best person for the job.
Do we still need an in-house team?
Yes, for the parts only your team can do. We keep them on track and cover the senior work you don't have.
How does it start, and what does it cost?
It starts with the Growth Audit, a fixed-price diagnostic. We confirm the price in writing before you commit.
What happens after the audit?
You can take the roadmap and run it yourself, or move to a retainer where we run it with you.
What if you can't help?
We'll say so, and tell you why.
See where your growth is stuck
Tell us where you are and where you're stuck. We'll tell you straight whether we can help.