Hey Reader

Had a nice dinner yesterday with my brother and one of my best friends.

We went to one of my favorite (to eat) places in the capital city of Albania.

This is one of my favourite meals since I was a kid.

Qofte (meatballs), potato wedges, yoghurt sauce, and bread made from pizza dough.

The simplest meal, yet absolutely to die for.

I first went there with the boys four years ago, just before leaving Albania to study in Malaysia.

Back then, the place was pretty quiet, but the food was just as good as ever.

Coming back after four years, though...

The place had completely transformed into a whole new world.

Miniatures everywhere. Old newspapers, TVs stuffed with anime figures, Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator motorcycle memorabilia, and even tables made from old sewing machines.

Heck, there's a giant Mr. Bean at the entrance that'll scare the feces out of you if you're not expecting him. Haha.

Even the waiters wear anime shirts. Some wear Naruto, others One Piece.

Really cool vibes inside.

And Reader, the place was PACKED.

We literally had to queue outside to get a table.

Plenty of foreigners, mostly Italians. The waiters even thought we were Italian...

No wonder though... it attracts them.. for the vibes it gives..

Literally Its tagline is written right in the middle of the place:

"No luxury, just fun."

And that's exactly what the place feels like.

People come for the food, sure. But they also come for the atmosphere, the weird little details, and the whole experience.

Some come because they love anime. Others love the old-school stuff. And some are probably just curious to see what the place is all about.

And when people enjoy a place like that, they tell others about it. They share pictures, bring their friends, and post about it on social media.

Which gets even more people through the door.

It gives people an experience they want to be part of.

And that reminded me of something I read in one of Seth Godin's books.

He tells a story about Kiehl's, a small drugstore in Manhattan.

When he walked in, he found a Ducati motorcycle, a tiny stunt airplane, rough wooden floors, and shelves full of products with detailed information about their ingredients and the people behind them.

Everything about the place made it feel like the work of someone who genuinely cared, rather than some big, anonymous corporation.

The products were expensive, but that didn't matter to the people who loved the brand.

Kiehl's attracted people who valued something unusual, original, and different from the mainstream.

They bought into what the brand represented, then told that story to themselves and their friends.

"Kiehl's wasn't doing all the marketing itself" Says Seth, "Its customers were doing it for them."

That's what this little bistro has done..

Has created a place with its own personality, its own feel, and its own way of doing things.

And the people who connect with that world want to be part of it.

You can do the same with your brand.

The way you present yourself, the stories you tell, the opinions you share, and even the emails you send all help create that world.

You want people to connect with more than just the product. You want them to like your brand, your vibe, and what you stand for.

Because when they do, they're more likely to choose you over a competitor, tell their friends about you, and come back for more.

Of course, you still need a great product that solves their problems.

Until next time,

Your friend,

Elton Korpuzi

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