Brand Loyalty

The blog to end all blogs! My personal top 25 companies that I buy things from mostly because they've never failed me. I hope this exhaustive list is helpful to some and in honor of the ones who produce the products. My tribute to consumerism is now complete...well, I'm only 24...there's still time. These are in no particular order. I don't like one better than the other...they are all very important to me and very dear to my daily living. Enjoy!

25. Rockstar Energy Drink - particularly the Punched, 16 oz. although I'm also a fan of the orange can. I've tried every major energy drink and I've stuck on one for a while (used to incessantly drink Red Bull), and for now, I'm on the Rockstar wagon...mostly because it's a Pepsi Co. product.

24. Federal Express - I know it's a shipping company, but when the simple concept of your business is to deliver packages safely, efficiently, on-time, and cater to your customers you can focus on that task really well. FedEx (as they're now known due to the customers shortening their name for ease of explanation), has done a great job of making this "simple" task really smooth, easy, and enjoyable. I've never had a negative experience with FedEx, they've never let me down unlike their competitors. I almost never use UPS or USPS (ironic that they have such similar initials) because every time that I've been forced to use them, something bad has happened. Not always necessarily big, but still annoying to say the least.

23. Timbuk2 Messenger Bags - Handmade, borderline hippie produced messenger (and other) bags, these little beauties are made in "the city" for our pleasure and hard work! Messengers the world over have heard (by word of mouth, by the way) about these gems. The four bags I've owned have been the hardest working, best, durable messenger bags I've ever owned. Also the most comfortable. I will always recommend these bags to my peers and friends.

22. Rainbow Sandals - I was turned onto this southern California standard issue footwear by my junior high school pastor who was never caught without his super comfortable, really durable, guaranteed to last sandals. Everyone I've met that owns them, loves them. These sandals have never met a foot that they didn't like. Buy them...over and over again. The company's is San Clemente and if the strap breaks, they'll replace them...for free. Little known fact.

21. Pixar - This company is pretty self-explanatory on why I like them. Much like a well-behaved child and how you can tell the nature of the parents by their product, Pixar films speak eons about the fun and quality work ethic their employees have. Having toured the facility and met the owner-turned-boardmember, it's no surprise to me that they create and distribute nothing less than quality product and branding.

20. Sprint/Nextel - This communications company has failed me only one time, but my devotion to them was stronger than their hardware support failure. I've been with them for 4 years now and I will never drop my full contract with them as I'm a very happy customer. I will say that my only criticism is that their hardware selection has faltered over the years, but I hear they're on a comeback with this new Palm Pre thing I've been hear lots about.

19. Visa - Yes, it's very clear to me that this is credit card brand/type, but VISA is accepted in more places on the planet and is a very easy to use credit company. They progress their technology for fraud prevention, they will progressively drop your APR (if asked), they have better benefit programs...it's worth looking into.

18. Levi Strauss Co. - Never worn a better pair of jeans, they've been around for like 150 years...need I say more?

17. Crown International - This will make Brad think I'm sucking up since I know he reads this, but they work very closely with their users and provide top notch service on their products. They are always pouring over research and development and genuinely care about their people. Plus...apparently...my input matters to them. Not sure why. You can also ground a building with their MacroTechs and they'll still pass signal. ALL of their products are just as durable. ALL.

16. Western Digital - Best HDD on the planet. I will argue this forever. They also, at one point, had one of the best executives in the world working for them: Chuck Missler. Brilliant man who changed the way we store our information...look him up.

15. Pepsi Bottling Group - This devotion runs deep, and they keep proving themselves to me too. The latest: their CEO is a wonderful diligent, direct, and aggressive Indian woman named Indra Nooyi. In addition to her appointment, PBG caters to the small restaurant owner and loves the exposure they have worldwide. They led (lead) the world with the soda pop industry's move to the "healthier" side of the beverages by owning Sobe, Aquafina, Dole juices, Lipton, Ocean Spray, Tropicana and own the greatest chip maker in the world: Frito Lay.

14. Panasonic - I have NEVER been failed by their playback devices. I've boarderline abused their optical media players (that medium usually being the most delicate) and they are still kickin'. Their competition has not been so lucky with me. Short of the media itself, Sony's optical products (professional and consumer alike) have all failed me within a year of purchase. Panasonic makes quality televisions, DVD players, DAT players. Let's not forget the important stuff though, the most durable laptop to date: The Panasonic Toughbook.

13. AMX - most flexible physical controllers I've ever been exposed to. And, much like Crown, they deal with me and my colleagues in a most receptive way. I love their tenacity in their market always progressing towards future needs. The part I do love the most is the flexibility.

12. Energizer Industrial Batteries - There are Duracell Procell batteries which drop life at times, they are the Rayovac Pro batters which sometimes just don't work out of the box, then there is the best, most consistent alkaline on the planet: The Energizer Industrial battery. It's pretty simple, consistency is very key to my industry's use of wireless mics, ClearCom/Telex comunication, etc.

11. Benchmade Knives - I have three. Case & point.

10. NBC/Universal - Some might think it strange to count the bane of "the company's" existence in my list, but they are a quality of their own. Producing such television as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, Saturday Night Live, The Office, Chuck, etc. They truly rule the night with their prime-time line-up and their lack of fear in what they air makes them one of the companies on my list.

9. Shure International - the leader in professional microphones in everything from wireless models to wired, public address system components, this manufacturer i son my list for making a durable, state of the art mic that you could literally hammer a nail with. They are a classic company that is known for making equipment to rock the world and make it heard.

8. Oakley - I have purchased 6 pairs of sunglasses from them, a thick jacket, a backpack, two belts, three pairs of tactical boots, and socks...I have never had more durable, better items to protect me and keep me warm. You should see their tests for lens shattering.

7. Homestarrunner.com - Good, clean humor that has made me laugh since 2002. Good swag too. I own several DVDs, a "Kick The Cheat" The Cheat, and several shirts as well. I love this cartoon.

6. Yamaha Commercial Audio - They provide 24 hour coast-to-coast technical support. I don't mean an automated system either, I mean an actual person on the other end of the phone. They've made their mistakes too, but they are the staple in live, digital audio consoles fit for the A1 that needs to do anything. As I've mentioned before flexibility for me is incredibly important, and with the vast variety of shows that I need to do (as the FOH engineer or Monitor engineer), the PM5D, 1D, M7CL, and O1V96 are all in my arsenal of tools for mixing live.

5. Rolling Stone Magazine - Molding and shaping the world we live in politically and musically, this classic magazine has provided the modern world with commentary, suggestion, review, and culture. It shapes the dreams of the young and perpetuates the reminiscence of the old. It crosses generations and pushes the envelope of social acceptance. They will always be on the cusp of what's new in culture, music, and movies.

4. Chevron - When I went on tour in 2007, we were sponsored by Chevron and just by natural exposure, I learned a lot about this oil company. And after using it in a number of vehicles, I really do think that Techron stuff actually serves a purpose! I truly believe that as far as gasoline is concerned, I can't name a better place to drop your money (that you have to drop anyway) at a Chevron. Also some of the best convenience stores in the country.

3. Apple Computer Inc. - If you were able to describe electronics as sexy, Apple's achieved it! The company that literally changed the world of personal computers (by inventing it) not only delivers the best personal devices in the world, but constantly upgrades the internal components on their devices even if it's not a major revision. Meaning that when they sell you a member of their family of devices, it's the top of the line that day. Apple has changed the way we communicate, the way we express, the way we listen, the way we look, the way we live...

2. Allen Bradley - The most reliable buttons and switches ever made. You've all seen them at one point since they are almost literally everywhere. For example: take a look at any amusement park's ride control panel. Disneyland or otherwise, you will see big, plastic lights, buttons, and switches. They are made by Allen Bradley. They also make physical switches, disconnects, emergency stop busses...you pretty much name it, they pretty much make it...and well. I've had these in dirt, water, mud, rain...and they continue to work through and through.

1. Columbia Records - Still a classic recording label promoting such "artists" as John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen, Dylan, Floyd, Beyonce, Motion City Soundtrack, and MercyMe. They promote their talent and only sign the best. I just really love that this label is still in business and thriving!

That's my comprehensive list. It took literally a week to write and compile the links. The links lead to either their website or my visual proof. Please enjoy, refer, and share as needed!

[kyle]