If people believe they share values with a company they will be loyal to its brand.
Schultz here is identifying something subtler than mere customer satisfaction—he's describing loyalty as a *moral alignment* rather than a transactional one. When Starbucks positions itself around fair trade sourcing or community gathering spaces, it's not just selling coffee; it's inviting customers into a shared philosophy. The genius is that people will actually pay premium prices and forgive occasional missteps if they feel the company's soul matches theirs, whereas a competitor offering identical coffee at lower cost remains invisible to them. Watch how Apple customers defend their brand choices with an almost religious fervor—they're not really defending the product, they're defending their choice to align with what Apple claims to represent.
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive — to breathe, to...”
Marcus Aurelius“Drive your business. Let not your business drive you.”
Benjamin Franklin“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
Seneca“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
Benjamin Franklin