Forms of Recreation: Customer Retention

Are you part of a marketing team? You’ve probably heard of Concha y Toro, the wine producer founded in Chile in 1883. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of how founder Melchor de Santiago Concha y Toro turned his passion into a lasting brand that uses a customer retention strategy: Hobby-driven experiences, including a location (Centro de Vino and Casa Don Melchor in Maipo Valley,...

Founders. You’ve probably heard of Osulloc, the Korean tea producer founded in South Korea in 1979. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of how founder Suh Sung-whan turned his passion into a lasting brand that uses a customer retention strategy: Hobby-driven experiences, including locations (Osulloc Tea Houses in multiple cities ) and activities (tours and tea brewing classes at Os...

Founders. You’ve probably heard of Eataly, the Italian marketplace founded in Italy in 2007. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of how founder Oscar Farinetti turned his passion into a lasting brand that uses a customer retention strategy: Hobby-driven experiences, including locations (Eataly Stores in multiple cities ) and activities (events, cooking classes, and market tours in...

Founders. You’ve probably heard of Cohiba, the cigar manufacturer founded in Cuba in 1966. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of how former president Fidel Castro turned his passion into a lasting brand that uses a customer retention strategy: Hobby-driven experiences, including locations (Cohiba Atmosphere in multiple cities ) and activities (El Laguito Cigar Factory Tour). Liste...

Founders. You’ve probably heard of Johnnie Walker, the spirit distiller brand founded in Scotland in 1820. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of its founder, John Walker, who turned his passion into a lasting brand that uses a customer retention strategy: Hobby-driven experiences, including a location (The Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Scotland), and activities (A Journey Of Fl...

Founders. You’ve probably heard of Disney, the film and entertainment brand founded in the United States in 1923. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of its founder, Walt Disney, who turned his passion into a lasting brand that uses a customer retention strategy: Hobby-driven experiences, including clubs (D23), locations ( Disney Parks in multiple cities and Disney Cruise Line to m...

Founders. You’ve probably heard of Starbucks Reserve, the premium coffee brand founded by Starbucks in the United States in 2010. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of its transformative CEO, Howard Schultz, who turned his passion into a lasting brand that uses a customer retention strategy: Hobby-driven experiences, including locations ( Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in multiple c...

Founders. You’ve probably heard of Swarovski Optik, the binoculars and scopes manufacturer founded in Austria in 1949. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of its founder, Wilhelm Swarovski, who turned his passion into a lasting brand that uses a customer retention strategy: Hobby-driven experiences, including locations ( Campex in Europe and Rainforest in Costa Rica ), and activiti...

Founders. You’ve probably heard of Lindt, the chocolate manufacturer founded in Switzerland in 1845. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of its founder, Rodolphe Lindt, who turned their passion into a lasting brand that uses a customer retention strategy: Hobby-driven experiences, including locations (Lindt House of Chocolate), and activities (Lindt Chocolateria Workshops). Listeni...

Founders. You’ve probably heard of Mariage Frères, the tea purveyor brand founded in France in 1854. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of its founders, Henri and Édouard Mariage, who turned their passion into a lasting brand that uses a customer retention strategy: Hobby-driven experiences, including locations (Tea Rooms), and activities. Listening to this episode is just one of...

Founders. You’ve probably heard of A24, the independent filmmaking studio founded in New York in 2012. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of its founders, Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges, who turned their passion into a lasting brand that uses a customer retention strategy: Hobby-driven experiences, including a club (AAA24), locations (Cherry Lane Theatre), and activiti...

Founders. You’ve probably heard of Van Cleef & Arpels, the renowned jewelry brand founded in France in 1906. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of its founders, Alfred Van Cleef & Charles Arpels, who turned their passion into a lasting brand that uses a customer retention strategy: Offering hobby-driven places and activities through its L’Ecole, School of Jewelry Arts. Lis...

You’ve probably heard of Patagonia, the renowned outdoor apparel brand founded in the United States in 1973. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of its founder, Yvon Chouinard, who turned their passion into a lasting brand that uses a customer retention strategy: Offering hobby-driven activities through its Patagonia Action Works. Listening to this episode is just one of the many w...

You’ve probably heard of Steinway & Sons, the renowned piano manufacturer founded in the United States in 1853. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of its founder, Henry Steinway, who turned his passion into a lasting brand—so that you could enjoy piano playing as a hobby. Want more? Explore the many ways hobby-focused brands help you find and reconnect with hobbies at formsofr...

You’ve probably heard of Casa Dragones, the renowned sipping tequila brand founded in Mexico in 2009. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of its co-founder, Bertha González Nieves, who turned her passion into a lasting brand—so that you could enjoy the appreciation of tequila as a hobby. Want more? Explore the many ways hobby-focused brands help you find and reconnect with hobbies...

You’ve probably heard of La Martina, the renowned polo equipment and apparel brand founded in Argentina in 1985. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory of its co-founder, Lando Simonetti, who turned his passion into a lasting brand—so that you could enjoy polo as a hobby. Want more? Explore the many ways hobby-focused brands help you find and reconnect with hobbies at formsofrecreatio...

You’ve likely heard our previous backstories featuring renowned brands from around the globe. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the Top Five Backstories of 2025, sharing why founders turned their passions into lasting brands—so that you can enjoy yours as a hobby. Listening to this backstory is just one of the many ways we at Forms of Recreation help you stick with the hobbies you love. Explor...

You’ve probably heard of Gibbon Slacklines, the renowned slackline equipment brand founded in Germany in 2007. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory as to why its co-founder, Robert Kaeding, turned his passion into a lasting brand—so that you can enjoy slacklining as a hobby. Want more? Explore the many ways hobby-focused brands help you find and reconnect with hobbies at formsofrecr...

You’ve probably heard of La Marzocco, the renowned espresso machine brand founded in Italy in 1927. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory as to why its founders, Giuseppe & Bruno Bambi, turned their interest in an espresso machine into a lasting brand—so that you can enjoy coffee brewing as a hobby. Want more? Explore the many ways hobby-focused brands help you find and reconnect...

You’ve probably heard of Yonex, the renowned badminton equipment brand founded in Japan in 1946. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory as to why its founder, Misoru Yoneyama, turned his passion for badminton into a lasting brand—so that you can enjoy badminton as a hobby. Want more? Explore the many ways product brands help you find new hobbies and reconnect with old ones at formsofr...

You’ve probably heard of Frescobol Carioca, the renowned frescobol equipment and menswear clothing brand founded in England in 2009. Listen to host André Brathwaite share the backstory as to why its founders, Harry Brantly and Max Leese, turned their passion for frescobol into a lasting brand—so that you can enjoy frescobol as a hobby. Want more? Explore the many ways product brands help you find...

You’ve probably heard of Field and Stream, the renowned hunting magazine founded in the United States in 1895. Listen to why its founders, John P. Burkhard and Henry Wellington Wack, turned their passion for hunting into a lasting brand—so that you can enjoy hunting as a hobby. Want more? Explore the many ways product brands help you find new hobbies and reconnect with old ones at formsofrecreatio...

You may know Montblanc, the renowned pen manufacturer founded in Germany in 1906. This is a concept of what Montblanc could choose to design, a type of brand community centered on a shared hobby: creative writing, ultimately turning creative writing hobbyists into members with benefits, including access to exclusive events and unique experiences. Listen to Andre Brathwaite (your host) wherever you...

You may know STIGA, the renowned table tennis equipment brand founded in Sweden in 1934. This is a concept of what STIGA can choose to design, a type of brand community centered on a shared hobby: table tennis, ultimately turning table tennis hobbyists into members with benefits, including access to exclusive events and unique experiences. Listen to Andre Brathwaite (your host) wherever you get yo...

You may know Orvis, the renowned fly fishing equipment brand founded in the United States in 1856. This is a concept of what Orvis could choose to design, a type of brand community centered on a shared hobby: fly fishing, ultimately turning fly-fishing hobbyists into members with benefits, including access to exclusive events and unique experiences. Listen to Andre Brathwaite (your host) wherever...