Cult brand

A cult brand is a symbol-intensive brand usually tied to a single customer segment or a specific product category. Cult brands deliver a sense of belonging between people who share the same culture and passions. Harley-Davidson is a typical example of cult brand because it effectively expresses open roads culture, free spirit mythology, and connotations of Hells Angels’ machismo. These ideas amass a following of the company's brand.

Other cult brands, often characterized by exclusive owners clubs and intensive social activities, are Ferrari, Ducati, Nautor Swan, Fender, Cohiba, and Breguet.

Benign cults

Cult brands fall into the category of benign cults which can be defined as a following where members are truly attached or intensely devoted to the product/service the brand provides. Benign cults are not destructive and are welcoming of new members. In benign cults, human desires are fulfilled in an unharmful way.

Defining factors

A brand can be defined as a cult brand if the following factors are present:

1. A superior level of customer loyalty is achieved
2. Brand loyalists perceive no true competitors to the brand as there are no substitutes for the "true" brand
3. Customers receive a sense of ownership with the brand
4. Loyalty is sustained over time (as opposed to fads which are unsustainable and short-lived)
5. Customers receive more than a product, they experience a lifestyle

Three stages of a cult brand

There are considered to be three stages of followers within a brand:

1. It starts with the ‘brand following’, continued by the ‘connectedness’, with the third and final stage being that of ‘consumer conformity’. Brand following can be described as consumers that share the same strong affiliation in a brand, create a bond or ‘relationship’ on the simple basis that they share a common interest. At this point, there is more emphasis on the brand itself with an underlying relationship between common consumers arising.
2. The second stage being that of connectedness, can be described as the brand users developing a further sense of togetherness while also initiating a stronger bond in the way that they display a sort of empathy towards one another. In this stage, users are now becoming more interested in other users, the culture of building a community, and the apparent bond that is forming within such a community.
3. The third and final stage of ‘consumer conformity’ suggests that there is no longer any real individual consumer, but a well formed group/population. It is said that people associate themselves with groups or other people to make sense of themselves or essentially to reach self-actualization. Through doing so, one would feel a certain level of fulfilment that helps to energize a group, providing strength and loyalty to a brand. A good example of a strong brand community within a well-known cult brand is that of the ‘Hell’s Angels’. The Hell's Angels are so devoted to Harley Davidsons that it is said within their own wedding ceremonies they use the Harley owner's manual as a replacement for the Bible.

Examples

The following emerged as cult brands because the brands sell lifestyles, whilst focusing a great deal on their customers.

Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson sells more than just motorcycles, it sells a passion and a lifestyle. The emergence of the Harley's Ownership Group or HOG was an opportunity for motorcycle enthusiasts to share their experiences and passion, which turned them into a lifestyle brand. This cult brand is a textbook example of guerrilla marketing. Harley-Davidson benefited from word-of-mouth advertising and relied on low-cost dealership promotions.

Vans

Vans is known for providing true skate culture. It markets itself as more than a company but a lifestyle. Very early on, Vans became actively involved in skate culture by hosting skateboarding days and sponsoring the Warped tour. In 2014, Vans opened a free-access skate complex in Huntington Beach.

Lululemon

Lululemon is known for being far more than a simple spandex store. Whilst other brands built stores, Lululemon created a 'hub for healthy living'. The company regularly runs yoga classes. Selling the healthy lifestyle made high-priced $98 yoga pants merchantable.

Apple

Apple has a strong corporate culture of listening and receiving feedback, especially from the consumer's perspective. Apple recognizes its customer's appreciation for innovation and the aesthetics of things. Apple's participation in the annual Macworld Expo included workshops where the latest Apple products were discussed in an open environment allowing Apple to create innovative products that customers greatly desired. For instance, the introduction of the iPod was created in ways that intertwined with human lifestyles and day-to-day activities. Apple slogans such as “Think different” pinpointed human desires to be different and to be part of a society. The slogan was designed to be a true manifestation of individual identity.

Oprah

Cult brands do not confine to products or services provided by businesses. Cult brands may include influential people, for instance, celebrities. The Oprah Winfrey Show rapidly flourished into a cult brand in 1986. Oprah's topic of discussion and debate were of great interest to her audience, while her advice and recommendations were found highly influential by the audience. Oprah's book recommendations helped many novels become best sellers. Her endorsement of Barack Obama in 2008 was considered influential by many.

See also

• Cult wine