A great brand sets a clear expectation — a promise — about the customer experience and works every day to fulfill it. The most successful brands, whether century-old favorites or rising stars, are authentic, relevant, and confidently competitive over time.
I was intrigued by a recent USA Today feature focused on Kylie Kelce and her remarkably successful new podcast, “Not Gonna Lie,” which launched in late 2024. I remember thinking that Kylie Kelce stands for the characteristics of a great brand.
Just recently, Cincinnati’s own Graeter’s Ice Cream revealed a stunning brand refresh that made nearly every Cincinnatian long for a scoop and smile at memories of scoops gone by. There are few, if any, stronger brands in Cincinnati.
I decided to explore the successes of these two remarkable yet seemingly dissimilar brand leaders to better understand their overwhelming success.
Graeter’s: Iconic Cincinnati Flavor, Fresh Look
Graeter’s Ice Cream has fulfilled its promise to Cincinnatians for over 155 years. It is known for its family-made heritage and legendary French Pot process that creates rich, creamy textures and signature chocolate chunks.
Graeter’s brand refresh presents a more vibrant, accessible identity with an improved logo that is modern with a respectful nod to the past, refreshed packaging and color palette.
Graeter’s goal? To honor tradition while celebrating “the best ice cream you’ll ever taste,” making each flavor a story and every package easier to identify and enjoy for all.
Kylie Kelce: Authenticity and Impact
Kylie Kelce is the host of her own podcast “Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce.” Kelce and the podcast are gaining widespread attention for transparency and relatability. In the USA Today feature, Kelce’s authenticity, relevance, and competitive spirit is as real as Graeter’s.
Kylie is a girl mom of four, accomplished college athlete and engaged volunteer. She is a native and proud Philadelphian. Importantly, she is a strong voice of calm and restraint to her “enthusiastic” husband and strong-willed daughters.
If you don’t know, Kylie Kelce is married to Jason Kelce, a former star of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. Her brother-in-law is a current star of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. And, yes, that makes her future sister-in-law, you guessed it, Taylor Swift.
But like Graeter’s, Kylie’s success is her own. She is instantly authentic. At first a mom, she is intelligent, articulate and measured while protective of her family’s privacy. She is remarkably relevant coaching a high school girls’ field hockey team; her podcast is about motherhood and women’s sports. And the most frequent guest on her podcast is her mother-in-law.
Is she competitive? You bet! At launch her podcast knocked Joe Rogan out of his No. 1 spot. She has attracted an A-list of powerful, authentic and relevant guests, including Kaitlin Olson, Kelly Clarkson, Michelle Obama, Brie Larson, Maya Rudolph, Jennifer Hudson and others.
Shared Brand Characteristics: Graeter’s and Kylie Kelce
- Authenticity: Both rely on genuine roots — Graeter’s family tradition and Kelce as an instantly relatable mom.
- Relevance: Graeter’s new brand refresh modernizes their beloved product without losing its heart. Kelce addresses issues close to families and sports fans today with her incomparable connections and appeal.
- Competitiveness: Each stands tall in their field — Graeter’s is among ice cream royalty. Kelce is among the top podcasters in the country while, at the same time, a relatable mom and dedicated fan.
Graeter’s and Kylie Kelce are two brands that honor their promise and comfortably embrace their identity. They build trust with every scoop and every episode.
