David Brabbins
— Jul 10, 2025

Unstoppable brands

Thinking
Insights
Strategy

Unstoppable brands

What separates the brands that win from the ones that watch?


Let's be honest, most brands barely register.

Same tone. Same claims. Same tired playbook.

But some brands you can’t forget.

And not just because they look better.

They feel better.

They perform better.

Become part of our culture.

They're the Unstoppable brands.

The ones that shape categories and win markets.

And they’re built on five principles.

1. Mission:
Know What You’re Fighting For

Nobody’s moved by a vague purpose slide.

Unstoppable brands know exactly what they exist to change.

And why it matters.

They pick a fight and take a side.

Direction builds energy.

Alignment builds speed.

If your team can’t state your mission in a sentence, it’s not a mission.

It’s a laundry list.

2. Mindset:
Be a Challenger (Even If You’re the Leader)

Most brands go soft once they scale.

Unstoppable brands stay sharp.

Curious.

Restless.

They move like insurgents and build like operators.

Disrupting with intent. While delivering with discipline.

They don’t look sideways. They look forward.

This mindset makes the difference between drifting and driving.

3. Magnetism:
Be Impossible to Ignore

Forget awareness.

Obsession's the goal.

Unstoppable brands spark reactions.

They start conversations.

They draw the right people in.

It’s not just how they look.

it’s how they sound, move, and show up.

Magnetism isn’t about being liked by everyone.

It’s about being irresistible to the ones that count.

4. Momentum:
Don’t Just Say It - Prove It

The old model made noise.

The new one makes connections.

Act fast. Send signals. Move visibly.

Unstoppable brands don’t just tell stories, they make moments.

Every touchpoint builds belief.

Every launch raises eyebrows.

Momentum builds memory.

5. Metrics:
Make the Brand Pay Back

Brand isn’t a cost centre.

It’s a growth multiplier.

Done right, it powers your entire business.

It puts you on the consideration list.

It shortens sales cycles.

Attracts smarter talent.

Increases pricing power.

Builds valuation.

If your brand isn’t showing up in the numbers, it’s not branding...

It’s just a logo.

Unstoppable brands are commercial
advantage, disguised as design.

If your brand’s not firing on all five of these dimensions.. you don’t need a refresh.

You need a rebuild.

Let's do it properly.