Three Brands That Make Me Feel Something - A Gen Z Perspective. Proudly Sponsored Content.
Introduction:
I'm about to embark on my 17th-grade journey this Fall, and as I prepare for the upcoming school year, I decided to get a head start on some of the class readings this summer. Maybe it's because my frontal lobe has finally fully developed, or perhaps I've simply figured out how to be a better student after three years off of academic learning and professional experience.
I'll start the Master's in Strategic Brand Communications program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The first class of this 15-18 month program is SBC 500, "Strategic Brand Communication Essentials."
The readings for the class include, among others, "Power Branding: Leveraging the Success of the World's Best Brands" by Steve McKee and the classic "The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design" by Marty Neumeier. Going back to brand essentials has been refreshing. I want to write a book called, "Branding: Back to the Basics.” But more on that later.
In all honesty, I've sometimes lost sight of the essentials when working for an agency dealing with numerous established brands. However, I won't review these book details here, but I highly recommend checking them out. Maybe another blog to come on these books.
During my undergraduate education at the University of Illinois, I gained a solid foundation in brand building. However, I'm excited to dive even deeper into this subject during my Master's program. But before delving into that, I'd like to reflect on the world around me and highlight some brands that truly impress me.
Three Brands That Make Me Feel Something:
Third Place: Apple
Yes, I know it may seem mainstream, but I can't help but love Apple. Just take a look around next time you're out in public – it's a no-brainer. One thing that constantly comes up in conversations is the disdain for green bubbles. With about 20 group texts to manage, seeing a green dot is an immediate sigh-inducer.
Second Place: LinkedIn
LinkedIn holds a special place in my heart. It's the platform that made "Breaking and Entering" possible – not in a criminal sense, of course. LinkedIn provides a space where people can build their dream careers, and it's not just about connecting with thought leaders (although that can get a bit absurd at times). Personally, I find myself excited about logging into LinkedIn every day to check for new notifications. In fact, I scroll through LinkedIn more than I do Twitter. Plus, the news section on the top right via desktop is a fantastic source of knowledge. LinkedIn represents potential – it was there for me during my internship search, and personal brand development, and it continues to support me in my current profession and beyond.
Honorable Mentions:
While Apple and LinkedIn took third and second place, respectively, I'd like to give a quick shout-out to a few more brands that deserve recognition:
Converse: Although it's not my favorite style, Converse has managed to remain relevant and adapt over time, as mentioned by an intern I worked with at Havas.
Taco Bell: Gen Z loves Taco Bell, and even though it's not my favorite food, I respect how the brand appeals to people across different economic backgrounds.
Nike: A classic brand that needs no introduction.
Levi's: Timeless and classic, Levi's jeans always
First Place: Costco
I love Costco. My friends and I recently made a trip to Madison, Wisconsin, from Chicago. Around a 2.5-hour drive, we had to make a pit stop. To get gas. To get snacks. To use the bathroom. You would not believe our eyes lit up as we saw Costco at the random Wisconsin exit. Sitting shotgun, I looked around in the car and immediately demanded, "does anyone here have a Costco Card?" By God's grace, one of our friends had a card. We stopped in immediately.
Greeted by the smell of their beautiful Costco pizza, hot dogs and chicken bake. I genuinely believe that pit stop at Costco set the tone for the rest of the road trip. The bathrooms were pristine too.
Why do I love Costco?
Perhaps nostalgia? The feeling of being a kid as my mom would take me on a grocery trip there comes to mind.
Price? Now that I am spending my own money and the prices remain the same, despite inflation? It makes me happy.
Even talking about it makes me smile. Kirkland is their in house brand, and we see that going viral constantly.
Now your turn
Write to me. I want to hear your favorite brands and why! What brands did I foolishly leave off the list?
Email me at geno@breakenterpod.com and tell me your favorite brands.
Heck, we can even post your response as a blog if you’re interested.
Speaking of “interested,” you should also be interested in investing in yourself.
Check out the Strategic Brand Communication Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
A fully online Master’s Program, you can level up and thrive in advertising in less than two years.
Here is the site to learn more: https://sbc.illinois.edu/#:~:text=Our%20MS%20Strategic%20Brand%20Communication,with%20the%20latest%20in%20strategic
Paid Disclosure:
Disclosure: This episode of Breaking and Entering was made possible through a paid collaboration, which helped us produce and grow our show. While this partnership supports us, rest assured that our opinions and content remain independent and authentic. We value your support and are committed to providing valuable content to our listeners. Here is a link to the full disclosure: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tp4Fw7p2aHthT8MVgW3WKDCdnO_T9i6eajQrpUBmyPY/edit
