David Hieatt: What it takes to build a cult brand, from the man who's done it three times
The Rare MindShow Notes
What does it take to build a brand people are obsessed with? David Hieatt has done it three times, from one small town in west Wales: Howies, Hiut Denim, and the Do Lectures. In this episode he opens up the craft behind all three: spotting the brand nobody has built yet, catching the right moment for it, and surviving the years when the moment hasn't arrived. We talk about what purpose was actually for (and why the word wore out), the lucky break that nearly killed Hiut, being ten years too early with a farm-to-table restaurant, writing in the AI era, and why, after 16 years, David has gone all-in on the Do Lectures, the event he calls "a beautiful pause."
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The Rare Mind is a new podcast from strategist and No Bullsh*t Strategy author Alex M H Smith. In an era when any old idiot can access best practice tactics from AI, it's going to be the ways you think unpredictably that actually count. Each episode, Alex sits down with the business leaders who've been there and done it - to unpack their unique strategic lessons in a way that makes them relevant and applicable for everyone. If you're a business leader who wants to turn the way you think into your ultimate weapon, subscribe now. First episode coming soon. For more from Alex, subscribe to The Rare Mind newsletter: https://alexmhsmith.substack.com/