I’ve spent years helping brands build communities. And I’ve seen time and again that the brands winning today aren’t the loudest—they’re the ones that become part of culture. One of the most powerful recent examples I came across didn’t involve a real spokesperson or influencer.. It involved an...
If you’ve spent any time analyzing business performance, you’ve likely encountered the Pareto Principle—also known as the 80/20 rule. Named after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, this principle suggests that roughly 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes. In branding and business strategy, this insight can...
Costco (NASDAQ: COST) just released its latest earnings report, and memberships are booming. Costco now has 78.4 million paid memberships, a 6.8% increase from last year, with an impressive 93% renewal rate in the U.S. and Canada—even after a price hike in September. That’s brand loyalty at...
Customer loyalty isn’t what it used to be. The old days of punch cards and generic rewards are fading, replaced by something far more powerful: AI-driven personalization. Brands like Spotify, Starbucks, and Sephora have mastered the art of knowing their customers—sometimes better than customers know themselves. When a brand...
Customer loyalty isn’t accidental—it’s the result of deliberate strategies that build trust, emotional connections, and exceptional experiences. Amazon, Netflix, and Apple, three of the most beloved brands, each take a different approach but share key principles: customer obsession, personalization, and brand identity. Amazon: The Power of...
We all get stuck. It doesn’t matter how smart, experienced, or successful we are—there comes a time when the ideas stop flowing, the path forward isn’t clear, or motivation just dries up. And when that happens, frustration sets in. Adam Alter, in The Anatomy of a...
What makes a truly great customer experience? Is it the quality of the product, the efficiency of service, or something more? Danny Meyer, founder of Shake Shack, Union Square Cafe, and Gramercy Tavern, has built his career around a simple yet profound truth: The real magic of a...
Many brands have turned to cost-cutting measures in a fiercely competitive landscape to safeguard their margins. From shifting to cheaper materials to reducing the quality of finishes, these adjustments are often framed as necessary responses to inflation and global supply chain disruptions. But CEOs need...
For years, marketers have been hooked on performance marketing—pouring budgets into activation tactics like paid search, lead gen, and retargeting. The promise? Quick wins, instant ROI, and a never-ending stream of leads. But here’s the truth: That gold rush is over. The Problem with Over-Reliance on Activation Performance marketing...
With over 700 million visitors to its stores annually, IKEA isn’t just selling furniture—it’s cultivating loyalty that transcends price and convenience. In today’s marketplace, leaders face increasingly complex challenges: Balancing digital transformation, addressing talent shortages, and building customer loyalty in an era where brand switching is just...