Belated Branding Post

This question should be so simple, and yet, "what is your favorite brand," has always been a question that stumps me. Even as a kid, I recall not wanting to be like everybody else. I've always prided myself on doing things my own way, developing my own style -- I wanted my brand to be my own, not someone else's. I avoided fashions that had obvious labelling because I didn't want to wear something anyone else was (quite the feat as a teenager in the eighties -- think Esprit sweatshirts or Bennetton rugbies!). I didn't (and still don't) care for perfumes that have identifiable scents (I would prefer to have someone identify a scent with me rather than the other way around). Therefore, I couldn't possibly be loyal to a particular brand, could I?

Or could I? Upon further reflection, it turns out that I am quite loyal to certain brands. I always buy Eclipse gum, Grey Poupon mustard, Tillamook sharp cheddar cheese, Jane Iredale pressed powder, Maybelline mascara, and JCrew dresses, among a host of other branded items. I return to my favorite restaurants and bars, such as Volterra, Cafe Presse, Licorous, and Sambar, and I repeatedly visit favorite vacation spots, such as the San Juans and Kauai. All of these items, experiences, or places manage to provide me exactly what I was lookling for, or better. Consistently.

So I guess I am a creature of habit, and I do have favorite brands! Who knew?