Brand loyalty: brands with the most loyal customers and what you can learn from them

When you think about the most known brands in the world, what are the brands that come to mind? We’re willing to bet at least half of them, if not more, are already on this list.

 

Why? Because all of these companies know brand loyalty is the key to achieving the kind of customer dedication that pushes consumers to consistently buy their products or services.

 

What is brand loyalty and why is it important?

Brand loyalty refers to the unwavering commitment of customers towards a particular brand, leading them to repeatedly choose its products or services, even in the face of comparable offerings from competitors.

 

This enduring attachment is fostered not only by repeated purchases but also by the emotional connection and positive sentiments customers associate with the brand.

 

As a result, brand loyalty plays a pivotal role in driving customer retention, advocacy, and long-term business success.

 

According to the 2023 Customer Loyalty Engagement Index (CLEI), brand loyalty is swiftly and surely moving toward emotional loyalty, with customers asking questions like “How well does this brand meet my expectations?”

 

We live in a world where brand loyalty marketing is not only important but necessary for your business. These customer expectations make or break brand loyalty.

 

In our newsletter, we recently discussed how brands can build long-lasting customer loyalty, using Barbie as an example of a brand loyalty icon.

 

Here are some other brands that really prove just how much brand loyalty matters.

Apple

Apple has a customer retention rate of 90%: the majority of customers who purchase Apple products remain loyal to the brand, meaning the brand created a really strong connection with its customers.

 

Apple’s brand loyalty model isn’t a coincidence, but the result of an exceptional focus on customer service and product quality.

 

The main rule of Apple, sell an experience, not a product, is also an expression of its greatest strengths.

 

Brand loyalty importance: Apple.
Brand loyalty importance: Apple.
1

Design

Apple products are known for their sleek, elegant design and attention to detail. It also helps create a strong visual identity for the brand.

2

Customer service

Customers make purchases based not just on the quality of a product, but on the quality of the service that accompanies it. Apple offers a 1-year warranty on all its products and repairs or replaces the products at no extra charge if they malfunction during the warranty period.

3

Brand image

Apple has a reputation as an innovative, forward-looking company that embraces technology, and this helped create a loyal customer base that identifies with the brand’s values and vision.

4

Ecosystem

Apple’s products are designed to work together seamlessly, creating a cohesive ecosystem that allows users to move effortlessly between devices - but also makes it more difficult for customers to leave.

5

User experience

Products are easy to use, intuitive, and seamless, making them enjoyable and hassle-free, and creating a positive association with the brand. Apple’s services are also highly oriented towards offering users a personalised experience.

Amazon

According to research, 85% of Prime shoppers visit Amazon at least once a week, and one-third of Amazon users come to the site ready to buy.

 

Amazon’s success is partly attributed to its innovative business model, which enables customers to buy everything from books to furniture to electronics online.

 

As part of its efforts to enhance customer satisfaction, the brand creates new merchandise and enhances its delivery and fulfilment systems.

 

Amazon understood really quickly that brand loyalty can be enhanced through a key focus on customers, and it does just that by providing exceptional personalised experiences.

1

Convenience

Customers, particularly those with busy schedules, appreciate the convenience of fast delivery, easy returns, and a wide variety of products available at the click of a button.

2

Perks

Amazon does a great job showing their Prime members how much they value them, providing free shipping and same-day delivery for certain items, and free access to streaming music and video content.

3

Selection

The insanely huge selection of products available means that customers can find almost anything they want on the platform.

4

Value

By providing competitive pricing across a diverse selection of products, businesses can entice and retain budget-conscious customers seeking cost savings. Amazon, with its exceptional deals and price comparison capabilities, outshines its competitors, setting a benchmark for value-oriented offerings.

5

Innovation

Amazon is constantly innovating and introducing new products and services, keeping customers engaged and interested in the brand.

Ikea

At the core of Ikea's brand loyalty lies its unwavering commitment to value. Shopping at Ikea guarantees customers a predictable and affordable experience, instilling confidence in what they can expect from the brand.

 

Brand loyalty can be created by a well-executed loyalty program that helps make the shopping experience enjoyable, and this is precisely what Ikea does, promoting the brand, and at the same time driving customer acquisition.

 

As a result of the loyalty program, IKEA has built a community through which it can communicate directly with consumers and learn about their wants and needs.

 

Brand loyalty icon: Ikea.
Brand loyalty icon: Ikea.
1

Price and value

Ikea's trademark simple design is not just due to its Scandinavian roots. Making affordable versions of such furniture look good is easier and cheaper.

2

Loyalty

The brand does its best to reach and inspire as many people as possible, rewarding its members when they spend money but also offering experiential benefits when they visit a store.

3

Retail psychology

Ikea’s stores appeal to the subconscious mind, with furniture set up in its natural environment. Ikea’s layout takes customers in one direction through nearly its entire inventory and nudges customers to spend more money.

4

Do-it-yourself

You are more likely to feel connected to your purchase if you assemble it. People tend to overvalue the things that they created.

5

Customer experience

A trip to Ikea is not just a furniture shopping trip, customers get to enjoy the iconic and equally cheap Ikea food, both in its cafe and at checkout.

Nike

Nike’s brand awareness is at 95% in the United States when it comes to sports and outdoor online shop users, research shows.

 

The brand fostered a brand loyalty model by building a relationship with its customers and understanding their needs and preferences. Nike has been a trailblazer right from its inception, consistently finding innovative ways to become an integral part of customers' lives.

 

Establishing a community of people who have the same interests is how Nike created a bond between themselves and their customers, engaging with them in the spaces they interact in to build an authentic brand community.

1

Community

Nike provides its customers with targeted offers and personalisation by creating a targeted brand community.

2

Marketing

Nike places a strong emphasis on brand loyalty marketing, crafting campaigns renowned for their ingenuity and ability to captivate the target audience effectively.

3

Quality

Their products are known for high quality and durability, making them a reliable choice for all customers and sports enthusiasts.

4

Design

Nike’s brand image is well identifiable and associated with performance, athleticism, and style, which resonates greatly with its target customers.

5

Innovation

Nike regularly innovates, always introducing new products that appeal to customers and makes them come back for more than just one purchase. Just think of how many Nike shoes there are out there!

Sephora

Another really good brand loyalty model is Sephora, famously known for using a personalised approach everywhere from its loyalty program to its online shopping experience. This has been a key factor in maintaining customer loyalty and contributing to its success.

 

The brand understands this demand and delivers it to customers through in-store swatch samplings, interactive displays, makeup demonstrations, and other initiatives tailored to the customers.

 

Brand loyalty model: Sephora.
Brand loyalty model: Sephora.
1

Brand diversity

Sephora has a wide selection of beauty products, including makeup, skincare, and hair care, from a variety of brands, allowing users to discover new products and covering every need.

2

Loyalty program

Sephora’s Beauty Insider is an excellent loyalty program, allowing customers to earn points on every purchase, and structured with three tiers with a distinct set of perks and incentives.

3

Digital

Sephora owes a substantial part of its triumph to its exceptional digital customer experience, which is interactive, versatile, and meticulously designed to meet the customers' needs.

4

Social engagement

Sephora proactively engages with its customers on social media, actively liking, commenting, and responding to their posts. On Instagram, they showcase looks shared by their devoted fans, prompting thousands of users to tag #Sephora in their posts, aspiring for a chance to be featured on the brand's page.

5

Expertise

The beauty industry's employees at Sephora are renowned for their knowledge and expertise, they receive extensive training and are able to provide personalised recommendations to customers.

Coca Cola

Coca-Cola is one of those companies that has really understood brand loyalty's importance and focuses on connecting with customers all over the world and listening to them.

 

The brand pays particular attention to the connection between happiness and wellness, and each year it plays a part in happy occasions around the globe, including Ramadan, Eid, Christmas, and events like festivals, connecting with each of its customers.

1

Availability

Coca-Cola enjoys widespread availability in stores and restaurants across the globe, making it an effortlessly accessible choice for customers everywhere.

2

Sentimentality

Coca-Cola has a unique and recognisable taste that is loved by many, with a formula that remains largely unchanged and creates a feeling of nostalgia and familiarity. Who doesn’t love the famous polar bears, the retro glass bottles and the classic red logo?

3

Brand loyalty

This goes hand in hand with the fond memories that people have with the brand, having grown up drinking Coca-Cola. Brand loyalty can be created and maintained over time by this kind of emotional connection.

4

Flexibility

The company’s flexibility in modifying the brand and products ensures that the brand never goes out of style, from developing products to address the concern that comes with the consumption of sugar to selling many products outside of soda including all-natural juices, high-quality milk tea, and others.

5

Advertising

The brand has a long history of creating memorable and effective advertising campaigns, which is another crucial way to make an emotional connection with customers.

Disney

The Walt Disney Company has reached peak customer loyalty by developing strong connections with its guests and a personal connection with consumers.

 

Disney focuses on creating an entertaining experience for everybody, considering everything from the product to the people, and the story they’re telling. The brand’s core promise, to create happiness through magical experiences, has never changed.

 

Brand loyalty icon: Disney.
Brand loyalty icon: Disney.
1

Reciprocity

Customers hold expectations regarding the equitable exchange of value. When investing their money and time, they rightfully anticipate receiving something significant in return. The brand promise should effectively convey what holds the utmost importance to the customers.

2

Empowering customers

Disney embraced customer engagement by prioritising personalised service, meeting each customer's needs in their preferred time and manner. This approach allowed the brand to create tailored solutions, enabling guests to optimise their experience to the fullest.

3

Employees

Disney cast members throughout the world are encouraged to spontaneously create magical moments for guests. They operate under the assumption that they must be loyal to their customers to receive loyalty in return.

4

Exclusive

Disney determined from the start that people wouldn’t just be treated as paying customers, but as guests. Whether guests are visiting a theme park or watching a Disney movie, they expect not just to be entertained and amazed, but also to feel special.

5

Storytelling

Disney’s brand truly sets them apart from its competitors and is based on legitimate differentiators. Its storytelling excites and inspires young and old, irrespective of gender, race, or culture.

Starbucks

Starbucks’ popularity and brand loyalty can be attributed to the trendy and inviting atmosphere the brand has created for customers, along with limited edition beverages and its use of digital technology.

 

Its strong brand image means that customers will still choose its products, even though they might be priced higher than many alternatives. Starbucks’ drinks represent an accessible indulgence from a highly esteemed brand.

1

Quality

While the brand isn’t generally touted as sourcing and roasting the absolute best coffee beans, it’s still known for high-quality coffee beans and ingredients, quality coffees and consistency.

2

Omni-channel marketing

Starbucks employs a diverse array of channels to market its products, ranging from social media to TV spots and advertisements, ensuring a consistent brand image and an overarching message that resonates with customers.

3

Customer experience

Starbucks is well known for its customer experience which focuses on creating a comfortable, cosy atmosphere in its stores, from decor to the personalised service that customers receive.

4

Loyalty program

Starbucks offers a loyalty program that rewards customers for making purchases as well as offers personalized recommendations based on their preferences.

5

Convenience

Starbucks' vast network of stores makes it convenient for its customers. Customers can also order ahead and skip the line by using their mobile ordering system.

Google

Google is one of the best brand loyalty models out there: the company started strong and quickly became the go-to search engine for the Internet. Google’s ongoing success lies in its dedication to continuous innovation.

 

The company views innovation as a core aspect of its mission and fosters a culture that encourages employees to unleash their creativity.

 

Google, with its mission to arrange the world's information and ensure its universal accessibility and utility, has taken significant strides in facilitating the discovery of a vast array of information from diverse sources.

 

Brand loyalty model: Google.
Brand loyalty model: Google.
1

Quality

Google’s brand image is associated with innovation, intelligence, and efficiency, with products known for their quality, reliability and functionality.

2

Privacy and security

By implementing a comprehensive array of privacy and security measures, the company establishes a strong foundation of trust and loyalty among customers who prioritise their online privacy and data protection.

3

Brand consistency and brand flexibility

Google has more or less kept the same visual branding since its birth, fostering long-lasting brand awareness and building credibility over its ever-expanding product portfolio.

4

Continuous advancements

Google remains at the forefront of innovation, continuously introducing novel products and features that resonate with customers, effectively enhancing their daily lives through cutting-edge technology.

5

Integrated synergy

With a carefully curated ecosystem of products and services, Google ensures seamless integration, delivering a unified and user-friendly experience that streamlines various aspects of modern life.

Biscuit

Biscuit is a unique rewards program for pet owners, designed to incentivise healthy choices for dogs via gamification and rewards, promoting pets’ health and well-being by completing various activities tailored to their dogs.

 

Easy-to-use features, game-based challenges, and frictionless rewards are the driving forces behind Biscuit's brand loyalty.

 

Since launching in mid-March 2022, Biscuit has gathered over 50,000 registered members in just 9 months, with over 950,000 already being walked by challenging users to complete activity goals.

1

Technology

White Label Loyalty’s technology helps Biscuit save time and money on in-house development, giving the brand complete control over how its loyalty app works, including setting up how points are earned.

2

Gamification

The app helps users identify breed-specific exercise requirements and uses gamification to make it clear and easy to follow. Users get set walking ‘challenges’ that earn points upon completion.

3

Customer experience

Its API technology allows Biscuit to provide personalised experiences for each user, engaging and rewarding them based on their behaviour.

4

Variety of rewards

Points can be exchanged for a wide range of rewards - from discounts on pet care and services to shopping vouchers to spend with Amazon, Tesco, Just Eat and more.

5

Values

In addition to encouraging healthier and happier pets, Biscuit strives to reduce pet ownership's associated costs and uncertainty, effectively showing consumers that the brand aligns with their values.

Conclusion

Establishing a profound connection between the customer and the brand stands as a pivotal element in cultivating brand loyalty. By nurturing an emotional relationship, a powerful and distinct connection forms, giving the brand a competitive edge.

 

In this way, loyal customers are highly inclined to endorse the brand to their acquaintances, champion future launches, and enthusiastically share their experiences on social media platforms.

 

Get in touch with us so you can start making your customers feel truly valued and improve your brand loyalty.

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Sara Rabolini

Sara Rabolini

Content Marketing Executive

Sara is our Content Marketing Executive. She shares engaging and informative content, helping businesses stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in loyalty...

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Brand Loyalty