Five Golden Rules For Small Brands (From Big Brands) — Growth Advice For Startups, Charities, Creators And Other Developing Brands

I just wanted to let you know that my business (Pilgrimage Design) is changing. As a result, this podcast will be changing too. I'm working out the precise changes at the moment. And of course you'll be the first to know about them when they're public. So, watch this space… In the meantime, here are some resources that may be of interest: pilgrimagedesign.substack.com/p/resources EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: www.pilgrimage.design/27-watch What is this podcast? Case studies in brand loyalty, equipping you to better connect with your audience. In each episode, a top guest picks their favourite brand. I then invite them to unpack why it means so much. As they share, we gain invaluable insights into what makes audiences tick. Not with strategy or theory, but through that undeniable proof of successful branding: emotion. Podcast artwork created with the help of Canva AI. AI policy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design/ai-policy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Who am I? I'm Sam Thorogood. I help Christian entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their mission through branding. My website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Final thing (I promise)! I'd love for you to check out my newsletter at the crossroads between Christianity and design: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pilgrimagedesign.substack.com

Star Wars is an American sci-fi franchise and logo designer Ian Paget's favourite brand. Ian's been feeling the force since he first saw C-3PO on a VHS sleeve as a child. While developing his career as a logo designer, he has come to realise that these are more than films. Star Wars, he suggests, is a primal brand that can teach entrepreneurs how to build a lasting following. EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: www.pilgrimage.design/26-star-wars Ian's website: www.logogeek.uk Resources (including Ian's book): ⁠pilgrimagedesign.substack.com/p/resources⁠ What is this podcast? Case studies in brand loyalty, equipping you to better connect with your audience. In each episode, a top guest picks their favourite brand. I then invite them to unpack why it means so much. As they share, we gain invaluable insights into what makes audiences tick. Not with strategy or theory, but through that undeniable proof of successful branding: emotion. Podcast artwork created with the help of Canva AI. AI policy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design/ai-policy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Who am I? I'm Sam Thorogood. I help Christian entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their mission through branding. My website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Final thing (I promise)! I'd love for you to check out my newsletter at the crossroads between Christianity and design: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pilgrimagedesign.substack.com

Marshall is a British amplification company and designer Radim Malinic's favourite brand. A wall of Marshall speakers at a Motörhead gig changed everything for a 90s teenager called Radim. He'd never heard anything like it. As he grew up, this sound soulfully wove its way into his own creativity. This is a love letter to a brand that's a million miles from the boardroom. EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: www.pilgrimage.design/25-marshall Radim's website: www.radimmalinic.co.uk Radim's agency: www.brandnu.co.uk Resources (including my favourite Radim book): pilgrimagedesign.substack.com/p/resources What is this podcast? Case studies in brand loyalty, equipping you to better connect with your audience. In each episode, a top guest picks their favourite brand. I then invite them to unpack why it means so much. As they share, we gain invaluable insights into what makes audiences tick. Not with strategy or theory, but through that undeniable proof of successful branding: emotion. Podcast artwork created with the help of Canva AI. AI policy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design/ai-policy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Who am I? I'm Sam Thorogood. I help Christian entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their mission through branding. My website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Final thing (I promise)! I'd love for you to check out my newsletter at the crossroads between Christianity and design: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pilgrimagedesign.substack.com

Thankyou is an Australian social enterprise and strategist Levina Kusumadjaja's favourite brand. Ending extreme poverty by selling personal care and cleaning products? Impossible. But that's exactly what Thankyou have set out to do. In the process, they have faced giants of global capitalism and brought devoted supporters into their ranks. Levina is one of them. This is her love letter to a fearless brand looking inequality square in the eye. EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: www.pilgrimage.design/24-thankyou Levina's website: www.levinamo.com What is this podcast? Case studies in brand loyalty, equipping you to better connect with your audience. In each episode, a top guest picks their favourite brand. I then invite them to unpack why it means so much. As they share, we gain invaluable insights into what makes audiences tick. Not with strategy or theory, but through that undeniable proof of successful branding: emotion. Podcast artwork created with the help of Canva AI. AI policy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design/ai-policy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Who am I? I'm Sam Thorogood. I help Christian entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their mission through branding. My website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Final thing (I promise)! I'd love for you to check out my newsletter at the crossroads between Christianity and design: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pilgrimagedesign.substack.com

Discover what I'm on about at pilgrimagedesign.substack.com/p/free-branding-workbook EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: www.pilgrimage.design/23-fifteen-minutes What is this podcast? Case studies in brand loyalty, equipping you to better connect with your audience. In each episode, a top guest picks their favourite brand. I then invite them to unpack why it means so much. As they share, we gain invaluable insights into what makes audiences tick. Not with strategy or theory, but through that undeniable proof of successful branding: emotion. Podcast artwork created with the help of Canva AI. AI policy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design/ai-policy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Who am I? I'm Sam Thorogood. I help Christian entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their mission through branding. My website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Final thing (I promise)! I'd love for you to check out my newsletter at the crossroads between Christianity and design: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pilgrimagedesign.substack.com

Marmite is a British savoury spread and strategist Keva Epale's favourite brand. Love it or hate it, you can't ignore it. A brand built on conflict and division? Surely that can't work. But, as Keva explains, Marmite's use of friction is precisely why it is so successful, especially in a world where everyone seems to be playing it safe. She shares why this strategy (if done right) should be adopted by more companies aiming to make an unforgettable impact. EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: www.pilgrimage.design/22-marmite Keva's website: kevaepalestudio.webflow.io Keva's creativity newsletter: yourcreativeletter.substack.com Keva's branding newsletter: yourbrandingletter.substack.com What is this podcast? Case studies in brand loyalty, equipping you to better connect with your audience. In each episode, a top guest picks their favourite brand. I then invite them to unpack why it means so much. As they share, we gain invaluable insights into what makes audiences tick. Not with strategy or theory, but through that undeniable proof of successful branding: emotion. Podcast artwork created with the help of Canva AI. AI policy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design/ai-policy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Who am I? I'm Sam Thorogood. I help Christian entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their mission through branding. My website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Final thing (I promise)! I'd love for you to check out my newsletter at the crossroads between Christianity and design: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pilgrimagedesign.substack.com

The Beatles are a British rock band and community manager Flora Aliaga's favourite brand. An Argentinian father playing 'Let It Be' for his five-year-old daughter. That's how this love story started for Flora, who was transported to another world when she discovered those four voices, those lyrics, those personalities… This episode dives into why The Beatles stir such profound emotions and asks: what can they teach modern-day creators? EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: www.pilgrimage.design/21-beatles Work For Impact: www.workforimpact.com Flora's novel: www.amazon.com/-/es/Mar%C3%ADa-Florencia-Aliaga-ebook/dp/B093Y4M274 What is this podcast? Case studies in brand loyalty, equipping you to better connect with your audience. In each episode, a top guest picks their favourite brand. I then invite them to unpack why it means so much. As they share, we gain invaluable insights into what makes audiences tick. Not with strategy or theory, but through that undeniable proof of successful branding: emotion. Podcast artwork created with the help of Canva AI. AI policy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design/ai-policy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Who am I? I'm Sam Thorogood. I help Christian entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their mission through branding. My website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Final thing (I promise)! I'd love for you to check out my newsletter at the crossroads between Christianity and design: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pilgrimagedesign.substack.com

Liquid Death is an American canned water company and print design expert Dave Hopkins' favourite brand. "Who does that?!?" is a question that Dave has been asking himself since this subversively silly brand sprung into his life. Yes, it's mountain water with heavy metal branding. And, according to Dave, it reveals a lot about how to wrap a serious mission in an entertaining shell. EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: www.pilgrimage.design/20-liquid-death Dave's website: www.printdesignacademy.com The Quickie podcast: www.printdesignacademy.com/podcasts/the-quickie-interviews-for-graphic-designers What is this podcast? Case studies in brand loyalty, equipping you to better connect with your audience. In each episode, a top guest picks their favourite brand. I then invite them to unpack why it means so much. As they share, we gain invaluable insights into what makes audiences tick. Not with strategy or theory, but through that undeniable proof of successful branding: emotion. Podcast artwork created with the help of Canva AI. AI policy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design/ai-policy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Who am I? I'm Sam Thorogood. I help Christian entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their mission through branding. My website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Final thing (I promise)! I'd love for you to check out my newsletter at the crossroads between Christianity and design: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pilgrimagedesign.substack.com

Let's say you're a startup developing an app. Or an NGO launching a social enterprise. Or a niche content creator. In other words, you're not a massive brand (at least not yet). This episode is FULL of growth advice for small brands like yours, drawn from ways that bigger brands have resonated with their audiences. Because multinational companies and local coffee shops have the same aim: emotionally connect with individuals. Many thanks to my amazing 2023 guests whose stories are distilled in this round-up! Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:41) First golden rule (06:12) Second golden rule (10:36) Third golden rule (13:54) Fourth golden rule (17:58) Fifth golden rule (22:28) Summary of the five rules (23:45) Life/business update EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: www.pilgrimage.design/19-rules What is this podcast? Case studies in brand loyalty, equipping you to better connect with your audience. In each episode, a top guest picks their favourite brand. I then invite them to unpack why it means so much. As they share, we gain invaluable insights into what makes audiences tick. Not with strategy or theory, but through that undeniable proof of successful branding: emotion. Podcast artwork created with the help of Canva AI. AI policy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design/ai-policy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Who am I? I'm Sam Thorogood. I help Christian entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their mission through branding. My website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Final thing (I promise)! I'd love for you to check out my newsletter at the crossroads between Christianity and design: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pilgrimagedesign.substack.com

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is podcaster Steve Folland's favourite brand. Listening to Simon Mayo on Walkman. Rushing home to watch 'The Broom Cupboard' after school. 'Ski Sunday' signalling the end of the weekend. Steve's childhood is wrapped up in warm memories of the BBC: a trusted friend with whom he has journeyed ever since. Expect to hear why this is a brand that—perhaps like no other—gets under our skin. EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: www.pilgrimage.design/18-bbc Steve's website: www.stevefolland.com Being Freelance podcast: www.beingfreelance.com What is this podcast? Case studies in brand loyalty, equipping you to better connect with your audience. In each episode, a top guest picks their favourite brand. I then invite them to unpack why it means so much. As they share, we gain invaluable insights into what makes audiences tick. Not with strategy or theory, but through that undeniable proof of successful branding: emotion. Podcast artwork created with the help of Canva AI. AI policy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design/ai-policy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Who am I? I'm Sam Thorogood. I help Christian entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their mission through branding. My website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pilgrimage.design⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Final thing (I promise)! I'd love for you to check out my newsletter at the crossroads between Christianity and design: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pilgrimagedesign.substack.com