There were 4 couples in their late fifties sitting two rows in front of me on the flight from Los Angeles to Auckland. They were clearly part of the same tribe.
Harley Davidson. Head to toe.
T-shirts. Bags. Sweaters. Cowboy hats. Tattoos.
It looked like they were returning home from a lengthy motorcycle tour, and they wanted the world to know.
It was an in-your-face reminder about the power of brand.
These couples identified so strongly with Harley Davidson that they were willing to dress exclusively in its merchandise, and tattoo their bodies with its logo.
It got me thinking about how I’ve never seen someone with a Toyota tattoo, or voluntarily wearing one of their t-shirts. Sure, Toyota and its cars have reliably served millions of families around the world for many years, but its brand doesn’t elicit anywhere near the same adoration or dedication as Harley Davidson’s.
The Harley Davidson story doesn’t resonate with me, but it’s a fascinating sub-culture to observe to learn about the power and influence of a brand.