Why Every Brand Feels Like a Cult Now

Video Description

#overconsumption #haul #consumerism Recently, Trader Joe’s released a $2.99 pastel mini canvas tote and people lost their minds. Crumbl Cookie fans are always foaming at the mouth for the next "Crumbl Cookie of the Week". Every Sephora VIB sale is treated like it’s a national holiday. Stanley Cup restocks flood TikTok on a weekly basis. All of which has led to widespread overconsumption. In this video, I unpack why every brand, from Sephora and Stanley to Lululemon and Trader Joe’s feels like a cult now. We’ll explore the rise of aesthetic culture, influencers constantly obsessing over every product, TikTok haul culture, and how viral trends like the “clean girl” aesthetic, "that girl" and "I'm just a girl" have turned shopping into identity. Sources: A Frenzy at Trader Joe's: 'Everyone's Here for the Tote Bags' https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/business/trader-joes-tote-bags.html What rockets a brand to cult status? http://bbc.com/worklife/article/20230815-why-some-brands-reach-cult-status Empire of Illusion by Chris Hedges https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/chris-hedges/empire-of-illusion/9780786749553/?lens=bold-type-books The Media Monopoly Crisis https://www.thenation.com/article/society/media-consolidation-monopoly-big-5/ The Illusion of Food Choice https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/18/america-food-monopoly-crisis-grocery-stores Eyeglasses monopoly https://www.forbes.com/sites/anaswanson/2014/09/10/meet-the-four-eyed-eight-tentacled-monopoly-that-is-making-your-glasses-so-expensive/ Wall Street Buying Up Neighborhoods https://jacobin.com/2024/05/single-family-homes-rentals-wall-street Follow me on my socials: https://instagram.com/ashleyaviola https://x.com/ashleyaviola Join my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AshleyAViola *Disclaimer: Information presented in this video is my opinion and mine alone. Business inquiries: [email protected] Keywords for the algo: Trader joes mini canvas tote bags, overconsumption on TikTok, Deinfluencing, cult brands, aesthetic marketing, that girl era, consumerism, TikTok hauls, Sephora addiction, Stanley Cup culture, Crumbl Cookies, Trader Joe’s girlies, Sephora VIB sale, clean girl aesthetic, Lululemon cult, Target boycott, Starbucks boycott, no buy 2025, project pan 2025, shopping addiction, shopping is not a hobby, choice feminism, Katy Perry, Gayle King, SKIMSS shapewear, Sephora haul, Amazon haul, Crumbl Cookies Kardashians, Stanley cups, girlhood