[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":75},["ShallowReactive",2],{"i-material-symbols:language":3,"i-material-symbols:person":8,"i-mdi:instagram":10,"i-mdi:youtube":12,"i-ri:linkedin-fill":14,"i-ri:twitter-x-line":16,"i-ri:facebook-fill":18,"post-cult-brand":20,"i-material-symbols:person-outline":69,"i-material-symbols:calendar-month":71,"i-mdi:schedule":73},{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":7},0,24,false,"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M8.125 21.213q-1.825-.788-3.187-2.15t-2.15-3.188T2 11.988t.788-3.875t2.15-3.175t3.187-2.15T12.013 2t3.875.788t3.175 2.15t2.15 3.175t.787 3.875t-.787 3.887t-2.15 3.188t-3.175 2.15t-3.875.787t-3.888-.787M12 19.95q.65-.9 1.125-1.875T13.9 16h-3.8q.3 1.1.775 2.075T12 19.95m-2.6-.4q-.45-.825-.787-1.713T8.05 16H5.1q.725 1.25 1.813 2.175T9.4 19.55m5.2 0q1.4-.45 2.488-1.375T18.9 16h-2.95q-.225.95-.562 1.838T14.6 19.55M4.25 14h3.4q-.075-.5-.112-.987T7.5 12t.038-1.012T7.65 10h-3.4q-.125.5-.187.988T4 12t.063 1.013t.187.987m5.4 0h4.7q.075-.5.113-.987T14.5 12t-.038-1.012T14.35 10h-4.7q-.075.5-.112.988T9.5 12t.038 1.013t.112.987m6.7 0h3.4q.125-.5.188-.987T20 12t-.062-1.012T19.75 10h-3.4q.075.5.113.988T16.5 12t-.038 1.013t-.112.987m-.4-6h2.95q-.725-1.25-1.812-2.175T14.6 4.45q.45.825.788 1.713T15.95 8M10.1 8h3.8q-.3-1.1-.775-2.075T12 4.05q-.65.9-1.125 1.875T10.1 8m-5 0h2.95q.225-.95.563-1.838T9.4 4.45Q8 4.9 6.912 5.825T5.1 8\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":9},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M9.175 10.825Q8 9.65 8 8t1.175-2.825T12 4t2.825 1.175T16 8t-1.175 2.825T12 12t-2.825-1.175M4 20v-2.8q0-.85.438-1.562T5.6 14.55q1.55-.775 3.15-1.162T12 13t3.25.388t3.15 1.162q.725.375 1.163 1.088T20 17.2V20z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":11},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M7.8 2h8.4C19.4 2 22 4.6 22 7.8v8.4a5.8 5.8 0 0 1-5.8 5.8H7.8C4.6 22 2 19.4 2 16.2V7.8A5.8 5.8 0 0 1 7.8 2m-.2 2A3.6 3.6 0 0 0 4 7.6v8.8C4 18.39 5.61 20 7.6 20h8.8a3.6 3.6 0 0 0 3.6-3.6V7.6C20 5.61 18.39 4 16.4 4zm9.65 1.5a1.25 1.25 0 0 1 1.25 1.25A1.25 1.25 0 0 1 17.25 8A1.25 1.25 0 0 1 16 6.75a1.25 1.25 0 0 1 1.25-1.25M12 7a5 5 0 0 1 5 5a5 5 0 0 1-5 5a5 5 0 0 1-5-5a5 5 0 0 1 5-5m0 2a3 3 0 0 0-3 3a3 3 0 0 0 3 3a3 3 0 0 0 3-3a3 3 0 0 0-3-3\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":13},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"m10 15l5.19-3L10 9zm11.56-7.83c.13.47.22 1.1.28 1.9c.07.8.1 1.49.1 2.09L22 12c0 2.19-.16 3.8-.44 4.83c-.25.9-.83 1.48-1.73 1.73c-.47.13-1.33.22-2.65.28c-1.3.07-2.49.1-3.59.1L12 19c-4.19 0-6.8-.16-7.83-.44c-.9-.25-1.48-.83-1.73-1.73c-.13-.47-.22-1.1-.28-1.9c-.07-.8-.1-1.49-.1-2.09L2 12c0-2.19.16-3.8.44-4.83c.25-.9.83-1.48 1.73-1.73c.47-.13 1.33-.22 2.65-.28c1.3-.07 2.49-.1 3.59-.1L12 5c4.19 0 6.8.16 7.83.44c.9.25 1.48.83 1.73 1.73\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":15},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M6.94 5a2 2 0 1 1-4-.002a2 2 0 0 1 4 .002M7 8.48H3V21h4zm6.32 0H9.34V21h3.94v-6.57c0-3.66 4.77-4 4.77 0V21H22v-7.93c0-6.17-7.06-5.94-8.72-2.91z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":17},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M10.488 14.651L15.25 21h7l-7.858-10.478L20.93 3h-2.65l-5.117 5.886L8.75 3h-7l7.51 10.015L2.32 21h2.65zM16.25 19L5.75 5h2l10.5 14z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":19},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M14 13.5h2.5l1-4H14v-2c0-1.03 0-2 2-2h1.5V2.14c-.326-.043-1.557-.14-2.857-.14C11.928 2 10 3.657 10 6.7v2.8H7v4h3V22h4z\"\u002F>",{"postType":21,"id":22,"author":23,"date":26,"modified":27,"title":28,"slug":29,"seoTitle":30,"seoDescription":31,"excerpt":32,"trimmedExcerpt":33,"content":34,"readingTime":35,"featuredImage":36,"postCategory":42,"relatedPosts":47},"post",24966,{"id":24,"name":25},"author-0301142015","Canto","2020-11-18T02:32:35","2026-05-13T18:43:38","Cult brands: What they are, why they work, and how to build one","cult-brand","A modern exploration of the cult brand phenomenon","Cult brands retain customers throughout all sorts of economic changes. Curious to find out why this is? Here’s a comprehensive guide.","What is a cult brand? A cult brand is a company or product that inspires deep, near-exclusive loyalty from a defined customer segment — one that experiences the brand as part of their personal identity or lifestyle rather than a transactional purchase. Unlike conventionally successful brands, cult brands generate authentic emotional attachment and peer advocacy […]","What is a cult brand? A cult brand is a company or product that inspires deep, near-exclusive loyalty from a...","\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"toc-1--what-is-a-cult-brand\">What is a cult brand?\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cult brand is a company or product that inspires deep, near-exclusive loyalty from a defined customer segment — one that experiences the brand as part of their personal identity or lifestyle rather than a transactional purchase. Unlike conventionally successful brands, cult brands generate authentic emotional attachment and peer advocacy that sustains retention across economic cycles. Examples include Apple, Harley-Davidson, and Red Bull.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fglossary\u002Fbrand-management\u002F\">Brand management\u003C\u002Fa> is the continuous practice of shaping how audiences perceive, experience, and trust your brand, including the management of logos, imagery, colors, voice, messaging, and differentiation.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"toc-2--how-to-reach-cult-brand-status\">How to reach cult brand status\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most brands wish to reach the level of cult brand status, since \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fblog\u002Fbrand-loyalty\u002F\">brand loyalty\u003C\u002Fa> means customers will stick around through thick and thin. However, it takes unique forms of creativity and originality combined with deep understanding of markets to make this happen. As you already know, there are plenty of successful brands that aren’t considered cult brands. This occurs when a brand has strong \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fblog\u002Fbrand-recognition\u002F\">brand recognition\u003C\u002Fa> but ultimately fails to reach levels of fanaticism.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"382\" src=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190411\u002FCult-brand-2.jpg\" alt=\"Lightbulbs facing opposing direction.\" class=\"wp-image-51190\" srcset=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190411\u002FCult-brand-2.jpg 600w, \u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190411\u002FCult-brand-2-450x287.jpg 450w\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cult brand finds the secret to eliciting powerful emotions from their target market, guiding them to find deeper meaning in buying a product or service. This is typically accomplished through advertisements and publications that bring to life subtle ideas that their brand is massively different from competitors. The common denominator is that this brand is a unique idea that is worth sticking with.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pulling it off requires a solid cultural understanding, creative execution and a bit of luck. But for brands that succeed, it’s more than worth the trouble. To see why, let’s take a look at how brands benefit from cult status.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"toc-3--dynamic-benefits-of-being-considered-a-cult-brand\">Dynamic benefits of being considered a cult brand\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cult brand is able to retain loyal customers who use their specific products and services exclusively or near-exclusively over long periods of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That means they can invest less in \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fblog\u002Frebranding\u002F\">rebranding\u003C\u002Fa> and product innovation, and worry less about what their competitors are doing. Though renovation and progress is still an important part of a brand that has cult status, it is less crucial.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"382\" src=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190410\u002FCult-brand-3.jpg\" alt=\"Two people shaking hands.\" class=\"wp-image-51191\" srcset=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190410\u002FCult-brand-3.jpg 600w, \u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190410\u002FCult-brand-3-450x287.jpg 450w\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another benefit is that when a brand undergoes changes to their products and services, it will not be met with much skepticism by their target market. This type of change can be costly and time-consuming, but a strong brand is able to maintain customers without massive marketing campaigns intended to justify the changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In order to achieve these benefits, you’ll need a strong reference point to consider. Here are some example cult brands that will help you along.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"toc-4--7-examples-of-cult-brands\">7 examples of cult brands\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following brands have, for many different reasons, gained cult status. Use them as an example to guide your own efforts.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cs-1\">1. Harley Davidson\u003C\u002Fh3>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"382\" src=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190410\u002FCult-brand-4.jpg\" alt=\"A man sitting on a motorcycle.\" class=\"wp-image-51192\" srcset=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190410\u002FCult-brand-4.jpg 600w, \u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190410\u002FCult-brand-4-450x287.jpg 450w\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“W\u003Cem>ith Harley, you build it, then you’ve got to take it apart.\u003C\u002Fem>” – Noah Hathaway\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What it is:\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.harley-davidson.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Harley Davidson\u003C\u002Fa> is a motorcycle manufacturer that has stood the test of time with its products and events that surround the iconic brand.\u003Cbr \u002F>\u003Cstrong>Why it’s considered a cult brand:\u003C\u002Fstrong> Buying a Harley Davidson motorcycle is similar to joining a family, a family of loyal riders who share something unique and special together on the road. This group of people wouldn’t ever consider buying a bike other than a Harley. While some cult brands are crazes or fads, Harley Davidson has stood the test of time, maintaining cult status over generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>How it achieved cult status:\u003C\u002Fstrong> Harley Davidson adapted the idea that riding a bike should be a luxury while also a sign of freedom. Speed is a large part of other bikes, but the Harley signifies more than performance, and their target market recognized that and bought into the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cs-2\">2. Apple\u003C\u002Fh3>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"382\" src=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190410\u002FCult-brand-5.jpg\" alt=\"Apple brand gear.\" class=\"wp-image-51193\" srcset=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190410\u002FCult-brand-5.jpg 600w, \u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190410\u002FCult-brand-5-450x287.jpg 450w\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What it is:\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple\u003C\u002Fa> is a technological brand that innovates computers, smartphones and other electronics. Part of what makes Apple stand out, besides its popularity and longevity, is its marketing. People often cite the Apple advertisements as effective and the reason they were initially drawn to their products.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Why it’s considered a cult brand:\u003C\u002Fstrong> Apple users have drawn a line in the sand, so to speak, when it comes to particular products. If they buy a new computer, it will be an Apple. Each smartphone they buy will be an Apple as well. It might extend even further, to their digital music purchases and other accessories. It’s just not very likely for someone who’s always had Apple smartphones, to suddenly purchase an Android.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>How it achieved cult status:\u003C\u002Fstrong> There are many ways Apple was able to achieve cult status. The first is that Apple made its customers stick with them by making it inconvenient not to. Apple products are often designed in a way that requires users to upgrade in order to stay on the cutting edge, and these products don’t allow users to make customizations. You’re also accustomed to the specific Apple systems, making it much harder to switch to, say, Windows.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They also present themselves as a forward-thinking brand with aesthetic products that is always going to innovate and give its customers the best technology. Because Apple was able to be such a trendsetting brand, it stands to reason that people would buy their products so that they’d be part of the trendsetters and not the followers. Their senior VP of internet software and services, Eddy Cue, put it best when he said, “\u003Cem>I bleed Apple.\u003C\u002Fem>”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cs-3\">3. IKEA\u003C\u002Fh3>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"382\" src=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190409\u002FCult-brand-6.jpg\" alt=\"The IKEA website.\" class=\"wp-image-51194\" srcset=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190409\u002FCult-brand-6.jpg 600w, \u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190409\u002FCult-brand-6-450x287.jpg 450w\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“\u003Cem>I mean, I never liked being told what to do. It’s one of the reasons I dropped out of school. Give me something to assemble, I won’t look at the directions, I’ll try to figure it out by myself. It’s why I love IKEA furniture.\u003C\u002Fem>” – Dave Grohl\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What it is:\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ikea.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IKEA\u003C\u002Fa> is a brand that delivers furniture to its customers, which requires the customer to assemble each piece. It also sells other household appliances, but the do-it-yourself items are what seem to make IKEA so popular.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Why it’s considered a cult brand:\u003C\u002Fstrong> Some people like the challenge of erecting something that is especially difficult to do so, others like the money it saves. In the case of challenging builds, they enjoy the idea of sharing these moments with others socially. IKEA gives them that chance, while also coming up with innovative ways for customers to change the way their living space looks.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>How it achieved cult status:\u003C\u002Fstrong> The concept of IKEA spreads quite rapidly through word-of-mouth, especially in online platforms like social media, where it’s a common occurrence to reference the brand and relate to others about the difficulty and accomplishment of piecing together some IKEA furniture. This has made it easy for customers to remain loyal and choose IKEA whenever they need to redecorate.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cs-4\">4. Starbucks\u003C\u002Fh3>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"382\" src=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190409\u002FCult-brand-7.jpg\" alt=\"A Starbucks coffee cup.\" class=\"wp-image-51195\" srcset=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190409\u002FCult-brand-7.jpg 600w, \u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190409\u002FCult-brand-7-450x287.jpg 450w\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What it is:\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.starbucks.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Starbucks\u003C\u002Fa> is a coffeehouse chain that has grown itself into widespread success through unique marketing campaigns and events that make it stand apart from its competitors and keep its customers loyal.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Why it’s considered a cult brand:\u003C\u002Fstrong> You can expect that people who habitually buy Starbucks coffee will continue to do so even when it’s not convenient to do so and competing coffee brand chains are closer geographically. The word ‘coffee’ has even sometimes become interchangeable with the word ‘Starbucks’.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>How it achieved cult status:\u003C\u002Fstrong> When thinking about what lures customers to Starbucks, it’s tough not to acknowledge the impact of writing names on the product has been. It seems like it is Starbucks’s ‘thing’, and this has personalized the experience. It truly gained its cult following by turning coffee into an experience with many different flavors and types of drinks. Also the atmosphere of each location brings to life the things that make a coffeehouse visit great.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cs-5\">5. Crossfit\u003C\u002Fh3>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"382\" src=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190408\u002FCult-brand-8.jpg\" alt=\"A man swinging an exercise rope.\" class=\"wp-image-51197\" srcset=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190408\u002FCult-brand-8.jpg 600w, \u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190408\u002FCult-brand-8-450x287.jpg 450w\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What it is:\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.crossfit.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Crossfit\u003C\u002Fa> is an exercise brand that attempts to get its customers into shape through the use of weights and aerobic activity combined, in a manner that is not typical to other fitness gyms or workout regimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Why it’s considered a cult brand:\u003C\u002Fstrong> People who do Crossfit generally take it very seriously, competing in specialized competitions exclusively for Crossfit routines, forming relationships with other members and talking about the brand on social media.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>How it achieved cult status:\u003C\u002Fstrong> The Crossfit brand made an impact by creating a culture that extends much further than working out. Though the workouts are intense and grueling, there is also an aspect of Crossfit that makes it seem like a social gathering.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cs-6\">6. Krispy Kreme\u003C\u002Fh3>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"382\" src=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190408\u002FCult-brand-9.jpg\" alt=\"Krispy Kreme donuts in a box.\" class=\"wp-image-51198\" srcset=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190408\u002FCult-brand-9.jpg 600w, \u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190408\u002FCult-brand-9-450x287.jpg 450w\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What it is:\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.krispykreme.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Krispy Kreme\u003C\u002Fa> is a donut and coffeehouse company that has gained a cult following, creating unique donuts that are in a category all by themselves for many customers.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Why it’s considered a cult brand:\u003C\u002Fstrong> The Krispy Kreme original donut is a glazed donut that for whatever reason has caught on with a distinct group of people who swear by it over any other donuts. Taste is subjective, but something Krispy Kreme is doing has stood out for many people.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>How it achieved cult status:\u003C\u002Fstrong> There are a lot of things Krispy Kreme does that people talk about and that gain traction for the brand. One thing is the ‘Hot now’ sign on the stores, that indicates they’ve just cooked a fresh batch of the donuts, which many believe taste even better when warm. Similar to other cult brands, it has taken over the product name in many circles, as some say they are eating a ‘Krispy Kreme’ instead of saying ‘donut’.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cs-7\">7. Red Bull\u003C\u002Fh3>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"382\" src=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190407\u002FCult-brand-10.jpg\" alt=\"A can of Red Bull in ice.\" class=\"wp-image-51199\" srcset=\"\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190407\u002FCult-brand-10.jpg 600w, \u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190407\u002FCult-brand-10-450x287.jpg 450w\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What it is:\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.redbull.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Red Bull\u003C\u002Fa> is the most popular energy drink brand available, and it has grown into something much bigger than merely a beverage brand. People see the Red Bull logo and think of both energy drinks and Red Bull’s successful sponsorship branding, like extreme sporting events.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Why it’s considered a cult brand:\u003C\u002Fstrong> No other beverage brands have the kind of impact in other areas of people’s lives than Red Bull. People not only buy the product, they also experience the brand through many different achievements and sponsored events.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>How it achieved cult status:\u003C\u002Fstrong> Red Bull attracts many different people to its brand through cool events that don’t relate necessarily to energy drinks. For example, they sponsored a space jump, which was watched by millions live on the internet.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"toc-5--closing-thoughts\">Closing thoughts\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the end of the day, it’s ultimately out of our control whether or not a brand will reach the cult level.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of solely striving for this achievement, look for ways to hit the fundamentals that other cult brands had in place to begin with. Only then do you have a chance to succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to hear more about branding, take a look at our complete \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fblog\u002Fbranding-guide\u002F\">branding guide\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>",9,{"url":37,"url_md":38,"alt":39,"height":40,"width":41},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.canto.com\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190407\u002FCult-brand-11.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.canto.com\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190407\u002FCult-brand-11-450x263.jpg","",700,1200,[43],{"id":44,"slug":44,"title":45,"path":46},"branding","Branding","\u002Fpost-category\u002Fbranding\u002F",[48,55,62],{"featuredImage":49,"postId":50,"slug":51,"title":52,"description":53,"path":54},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.canto.com\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F11\u002F16184322\u002Fovercome-leadership-objections-feature-2-450x236.jpg",68136,"the-oldest-logos-that-still-exist-today","The oldest logos still in use today","Discover the world's oldest logos still in use today, from Stella Artois' 1366 horn emblem to Coca-Cola's iconic cursive. Explore the 25 most enduring brand identities and what makes them timeless.","\u002Fblog\u002Fthe-oldest-logos-that-still-exist-today\u002F",{"featuredImage":56,"postId":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"description":60,"path":61},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.canto.com\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F03\u002F19190542\u002FYoutube-brand-profile-9-450x263.jpg",42438,"youtube-brand-profile","The art of building a YouTube brand profile","YouTube has changed, and hopefully your brand profile has changed with it. Use this guide to make sure the competition hasn’t passed you by.","\u002Fblog\u002Fyoutube-brand-profile\u002F",{"featuredImage":63,"postId":64,"slug":65,"title":66,"description":67,"path":68},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.canto.com\u002Fcdn\u002Fen\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F19190720\u002Fbest-branding-podcasts-13-450x263.jpg",39697,"best-branding-podcasts","Secrets in audio form: The best branding podcasts of 2021","Podcasts are a blooming medium with hidden gems everywhere. This article delivers the 7 best branding podcasts right to you.","\u002Fblog\u002Fbest-branding-podcasts\u002F",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":70},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M9.175 10.825Q8 9.65 8 8t1.175-2.825T12 4t2.825 1.175T16 8t-1.175 2.825T12 12t-2.825-1.175M4 20v-2.8q0-.85.438-1.562T5.6 14.55q1.55-.775 3.15-1.162T12 13t3.25.388t3.15 1.162q.725.375 1.163 1.088T20 17.2V20zm2-2h12v-.8q0-.275-.137-.5t-.363-.35q-1.35-.675-2.725-1.012T12 15t-2.775.338T6.5 16.35q-.225.125-.363.35T6 17.2zm7.413-8.587Q14 8.825 14 8t-.587-1.412T12 6t-1.412.588T10 8t.588 1.413T12 10t1.413-.587M12 18\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":72},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M12 14q-.425 0-.712-.288T11 13t.288-.712T12 12t.713.288T13 13t-.288.713T12 14m-4.712-.288Q7 13.426 7 13t.288-.712T8 12t.713.288T9 13t-.288.713T8 14t-.712-.288M16 14q-.425 0-.712-.288T15 13t.288-.712T16 12t.713.288T17 13t-.288.713T16 14m-4 4q-.425 0-.712-.288T11 17t.288-.712T12 16t.713.288T13 17t-.288.713T12 18m-4.712-.288Q7 17.426 7 17t.288-.712T8 16t.713.288T9 17t-.288.713T8 18t-.712-.288M16 18q-.425 0-.712-.288T15 17t.288-.712T16 16t.713.288T17 17t-.288.713T16 18M5 22q-.825 0-1.412-.587T3 20V6q0-.825.588-1.412T5 4h1V2h2v2h8V2h2v2h1q.825 0 1.413.588T21 6v14q0 .825-.587 1.413T19 22zm0-2h14V10H5z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":74},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M12 20a8 8 0 0 0 8-8a8 8 0 0 0-8-8a8 8 0 0 0-8 8a8 8 0 0 0 8 8m0-18a10 10 0 0 1 10 10a10 10 0 0 1-10 10C6.47 22 2 17.5 2 12A10 10 0 0 1 12 2m.5 5v5.25l4.5 2.67l-.75 1.23L11 13V7z\"\u002F>",1789621317888]