The top 100 brands for millennials

[Conqueror]

■The top 100 brands for millennials

• Mallory Schlossberg and Ashley Lutz

Thomson ReutersA sign is seen outside the Apple Store in Covent Garden in London

Millennials make up a crucial group of consumers.

Ad agency Moosylvania asked over 3,500 millennials — defined as 20 to 35-year-olds — to select their favorite brands over the past three years.

Great Questions, LLC helped rank the winning brands.

These brands are the ones that came out on top.

Some are surprising — others, not so much.

A common theme for successful brands? Engaging with millennial consumers via social media.                           

100. Audi

Robert Libetti/ Business Insider

Headquarters: Ingolstadt, Germany

Place on last poll: Not applicable (*Note: Moosylvania's previous poll from spring 2015 only contained the top 50 brands for millennials.)

Why it's hot: Audi used a mobile app to connect with its users during the 2015 Audi Cup, allowing users to be parts of the experience.

99. Subaru

Subaru

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Subaru's Winterfest integrated an entire winter culture to go with the brand. It gave Subaru owners perks such as free snowboarding clinics —  and more. This helped the brand develop a different kind of image — one with the outdoors and adventure — which can be appealing to millennials.

98. Nestle

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Headquarters: Vevey,  Switzerland

Place last poll: 34

Why it's hot: Nestle's Nescafe created "social art" in Croatia by placing its red mugs all over the city. This, Moosylvania says, appealed to millennials. Nestle also manufactures many popular candies.

97. Johnson & Johnson

Flickr/ Ikhlasul Amal

Headquarters: New Brunswick, New Jersey

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: The "ACUVUE 1-DAY Contest" allowed users to meet with popular celebrities and receive a brief mentorship. This has helped the brand cater to millennials, and not just be known as a producer of baby powder.

96. DC Shoes

Instagram/DC Shoes

Headquarters: Huntington Beach California

Place on last poll: N/A 

Why it's hot: DC Shoes is about cultivating a skateboarding lifestyle. Additionally, the brand engaged its audience by with its #TraseYours campaign, wherein the Talenthouse community of artists were able to design shoes for chances to win cash prizes. Better yet, the winning design had the chance of being produced by DC Shoes.

95. Carter's

Instagram/Carters

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: The Carter's website proves that the brand has nailed ecommerce. In fact, the brand has mastered social media. Therefore, Moosylvania found that it's very appealing to millennial parents who want to share photos of their babies (wearing Carter's apparel, no less) with its hashtag #lovecarters. Carter's features those photos of adorable tykes on its website, too.

94. Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein Facebook

Headquarters: New York, NY

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Calvin Klein utilizes popular celebrities for its campaign. It also is savvy when it comes to the social sharing culture — its #MyCalvins campaign has successfully capitalized on that.

93. Axe

Axe

Headquarters: Unilever N.V. Rotterdam, Netherlands

Place on last poll: N/A 

Why it's hot: Axe's #KissForPeace campaign — and its corresponding ad — were right in line with Axe's signature tone. It also engaged Axe's consumers with the nonprofit organization, Peace One Day, and millennials love when a company supports a cause.

92. Subway

Flickr/Bubby

Headquarters: Milford, Connecticut

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Subway has long reigned supreme when it healthy fast food, but recently, Chipotle has dethroned the chain. The chain lost a lot of clout when Jared Fogle, the brand's former spokesperson, was associated with child pornography.

91. Jeep

Thomson Reuters

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AT NEW YORK AUTOMOBILE SHOW.

Headquarters: Auburn Hills, MI

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Jeep engaged with its consumers with its Endless Jeep Summer campaign, wherein Jeep owners submitted videos to Vine and Instagram. 

90. Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Anthropologie is Urban Outfitter's finely curated and refined sister brand, so it makes sense that the brand chose to engage with its consumers via Pinterest, the social channel that's all about curation, with its #PintoWin contest.

89. Publix

brownpau/flickr

Headquarters: Lakeland, Florida

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Publix's app has simplified shopping. An easier shopping experience is more crucial than ever, given the rise of grocery delivery services.

88. General Mills

bpende / Flickr

Headquarters: Minneapolis, MN

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: General Mills' Fiber One brand has been nailing its marketing, with its funny ads, and its socially-driven contest like #FiberOneCheesecake, which gave users the opportunity to win cheesecake for an entire year.

87. ESPN

Michelle McLoughlin/Reuters

Headquarters: Bristol, Connecticut

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: ESPN's Fantasy Football app engaged consumers and helped the network bring a popular past time into the next generation.

86. ACER

Amazon

Headquarters: Taipei, Taiwain

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Acer's tablets work in tandem with billboards, which allows consumers to interact with brands on a whole new level.

85. Wendy's

Burger Business

Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio

Place on last poll: 47

Why it's hot:  One of Wendy's recent marketing campaigns was ultra-focused on millennials, with the young "Red" character in commercials and new items like pretzel cheeseburgers. Wendy's has always emphasized being fresher than competitors, making every burger to-order and not freezing beef. In the era of Chipotle, this message resonates with millennials. 

84. Trader Joe's

Christian Storm/Business Insider

Headquarters: Monrovia, California

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Millennials love Trader Joe's. Organic food, unique products, and low prices make it a hot destination for millennials. It also boasts its own unique personality — be it the Hawaiian shirts or the pun-laden signs around the stores.

83. J. Crew

J. Crew

Headquarters: New York, NY

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Times have been tough for preppy mainstay J. Crew, as it appeared to stray from its roots with odd selections. But a fall collection and the spring/summer 2016 lineup looked generally promising. The brand continues to connect with millennial women, largely in part due to its Creative Director, Jenna Lyons. J. Crew's "Very Personal Styling" also appeals to millennials, as does its somewhat-affordable wedding apparel.

82. Gucci

Thomson Reuters

File photo of a woman holding an umbrella as she walks past a company logo of a Gucci boutique outside a shopping mall in central Guangzhou

Headquarters: Florence, Italy

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Gucci engaged with millennial consumers with a campaign surrounding its classic loafer. The campaign included quizzes, a Pinterest board, and a #Gucci1953HorsebitLoafter hashtag, cementing the luxury brand as a participant in the social community with its own voice.

81. Costco

Thomson Reuters

Shopping carts at Costco in Fairfax, Virginia

Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Now that Costco has partnered with Google, it can serve cash-strapped millennials in urban cities who want to buy things in bulk, but perhaps don't have the transportation to do so. It already boasts many great deals.

80. Rue 21

Instagram/Rue 21

Headquarters: Warrendale, Pennsylvania

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: The brand has figured out a way to pull in shoppers. When rue21 launched its new ecommerce site, it held a "Shop & Win" contest. The contest involved a social sharing aspect as well as the promise of winning clothing.

79. Puma

Puma Facebook

Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: While Puma lags in comparison to competitors Nike and Adidas, it still has managed to engage a young audience — especially with its "Dance Dictionary" feature. Fortunately, Rihanna's involvement with the brand is helping it tremendously.

78. Playstation

Sony

Headquarters: San Mateo, California

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Playstation has managed to take gaming to the next level with its Infamous: Second Son game — it features a character with the power to shock others, and yes, players can get shocked.

77. Nordstrom

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Headquarters: Seattle, Washington

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Nordstrom is the department store that's managing to defy the odds. It recently announced plan to expand its lower-priced concept, Nordstrom Rack. Nordstrom managed to capture and hold onto a young audience by adding Reddit to its social media roster. 

76. Nissan

Newspress

Headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa Perfecture, Japan

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Nissan's "Open The Briefcase" campaign last year cemented it as a car company that's fully engaged with its consumers, as it was orchestrated via mobile devices. 

75. Dodge

REUTERS/Rebecca Cook

Headquarters: Auburn Hills, Michigan

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: When Dodge partnered with "Anchorman" to produce an ad featuring the comically legendary Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell), it cemented itself as a brand that communicated on the same level as many pop-culturally savvy millennials.

74. Toshiba

Thomson Reuters

Pedestrians walk past a logo of Toshiba Corp outside an electronics retailer in Tokyo

Headquarters: Minato, Tokyo, Japan

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Toshiba partnered up with Intel and San Francisco ad agency Peira & O'Dell for its "Beauty Inside" campaign — a piece of branded content that featured six episodes about a character named Alex, who woke up as a different person everyday (including both celebrities...and regular people). 

73. Sephora

Thomson Reuters

People walk out of the Sephora store on the Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris

Headquarters: Paris, France

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Sephora is the premiere destination for all things beauty. Its points and rewards system encourages brand loyalty; consumers keep coming back to obtain points to earn new products. Sephora's app, Beauty Insider, features "Beauty Boards," which allow shoppers to show off their best new looks. It also serves an inspiration board, in the same vein as Pinterest.

72. Netflix

Thomson Reuters

The Netflix logo is shown in this illustration photograph in Encinitas, California

Headquarters: Los Gatos, California

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: There's a reason people say "Netflix and chill" and not "cable and chill!" Netflix's original series such as "Orange Is The New Black" and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" have turned it into a very influential vehicle in pop culture. It also partnered with popular site Gawker for a documentary club, wherein viewers were able to discuss a weekly program with other people.

71. JCPenney

YouTube

Headquarters: Plano, Texas

Place on last poll: 18 

Why it's hot: JCPenney has been working to execute a turnaround by focusing on engaging consumers, like with its interactive charity game during the Oscars. JCPenney recently starting incorporating Sephora units into its larger stores.

70. Banana Republic

Banana Republic

Headquarters: San Francisco, California

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Banana Republic partnered with the funny Instagram account #HotDudesReading — promoting First Book, a literacy program for children (and millennials love things with a good cause). Recently, Banana Republic has faced some troubles with fashion missteps and slipping sales.

69. Valve

Flickr/tux404

Headquarters: Bellevue, Washington

Place last poll: 24

Why it's hot: The video-game development company rose to prominence with its Half-Life franchise in 1998. The brand has a huge following on Facebook and frequently posts giveaways. Steam has also become the premiere gaming platform for many people. 

68. Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut on Facebook

Headquarters: Wichita, Kansas

Place last year: 21

Why it's hot:  Pizza Hut tested out movie-projector boxes in Hong Kong, proving that the brand is always looking to innovate. Pizza Huts wacky pizzas, like its Hot Dog Stuffed Crust Pizza, certainly set sparks of intrigue (and maybe disgust) flying throughout social media and the Internet.

67. Marvel

Marvel

Headquarters: New York, NY

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Marvel is obviously a huge power force in pop culture — its "Avengers" movies (amongst others) are smash hits, grossing billions of dollars worldwide. Marvel knows its movies generate tremendous hype, so it kept its "Avengers: Age of Ultron" trailer 'locked' until fans tweeted enough. Moosylvania notes that Marvel received an outrageous amount of tweets — an average of 8,100 tweets a minute worldwide — so it was obviously a successful campaign. 

66. Michael Kors

Facebook

Michael Kors rose to popularity because of its handbags.

Headquarters: New York, New York

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Michael Kors bags and watches are very popular with millennials, although a recent rise in ubiquity (along with rapid expansion) has threatened the brand's level of luxury. It may be too popular for its own good. Still, Moosylvania praises the brand for its memorable 2013 campaign, #WhatsInYourKors, which cemented the brand's social voice.

65. Facebook

REUTERS/Stephen Lam

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is seen on stage during a town hall with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Facebook's headquarters in Menlo Park, California September 27, 2015.

Headquarters: Menlo Park, California

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Facebook is a primary vehicle for millennial communication. The "Look Back" campaign and the recent "memories" feature cater to millennials' love for nostalgia — and better yet, they're both focused on social sharing.

64. Bath & Body Works

AP

Headquarters: Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Bath & Body works was an icon in the late '90s and early aughts (and a mainstay for holiday gifts). Bath & Body Works capitalized on millennials' love for nostalgia by throwing back to its iconic older fragrances, such as Cucumber Melon and Juniper Breeze with its #FlashbackFragrance campaign.

63. Barnes & Noble

Flickr / Rowan University Publications

Headquarters: New York, NY

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Yes, these kids still read! And Barnes & Noble knows that. Barnes & Noble also capitalized on social media with its #BNGiftTip campaign, which helped consumers figure out what sort of items to buy for presents via the Internet.

62. AT&T

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider.com

Headquarters: Dallas, Texas

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: AT&T had its own mini-series on Snapchat called "Snapperhero" — and millennials love Snapchat. AT&T has encouraged its users to submit their own content for the campaign, too. Ultimately, all of it was shared on various social networks. AT&T proved it could communicate on the same level that millennials communicate on. AT&T also remains a popular phone service.

61. Verizon

Flickr/scobleizer

Headquarters: New York, New York

Place on last poll: 27

Why it's hot: Verizon is continuing to dominate the mobile space. The company also recently purchased AOL, showing it is interested in producing more content. The company has recently endeared millennials by making its data plan cheaper. The brand also had a campaign that encouraged young people to create mobile apps.

60. Mountain Dew

Honest Slogans

Headquarters: Purchase, New York

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Mountain Dew has capitalized on the way many millennials communicate — via Snapchat. It announced its new flavors via the social media service. The brand also told a live story via Snapchat when it launched its new Kickstar beverage, causing Fast Company to sing its praises. "Mountain Dew is a brand that is constantly engaging with young consumers," the website wrote.

59. Kroger

REUTERS/Mike Blake

Breakfast cereal is shown for sale at a Ralphs grocery store in Del Mar, California, March 6, 2013.

Headquarters: Cincinnati, Ohio

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Kroger's loyalty cards track what shoppers buy — so that Kroger's shoppers don't just receive random rewards, but rather, rewards that cater to their specific shopping needs. Kroger has been taking many steps to advance its in-store (and delivery) technology.

58. Kraft

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Kraft macaroni and cheese products are seen on the shelf at a grocery store in Washington, May 3, 2012.

Headquarters: Northfield, Illinois

Place on last poll: 40

Why it's hot: Kraft scored big points with millennials this year when it announced that starting in 2016, its original Macaroni & Cheese will get its color from natural spices like paprika instead of from artificial additives Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. Kraft's latest ads have also appealed to millennials, Moosylvania explains, since they look more like GIFs — something millennials love.

57. Gamestop

REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Headquarters: Grapevine, Texas

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: GameStop knows how to cater to its customers. It uses mobile data to help it figure out which games to stock in particular regions. GameStop has avoided the fate of becoming the next ill-fated Blockbuster, by stocking more than just games, featuring downloadable content, and making GameStop not just a store, but a social destination for game-loving shoppers.

56. Chipotle

Flickr/ Collin Messer

Headquarters: Denver, Colorado

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: It's no secret — millennials are obsessed with fast casual behemoth Chipotle. Its focus on eliminating GMOs and sustainable ingredients has helped it unseat Subway as the ultimate healthy place to eat. The company is also quirky — Moosylvania points to its haiku contest, wherein consumers could write love haikus to their beloved burritos for the chances to win prizes.

55. Chick-fil-A

Hollis Johnson

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

Place on last poll:

Why it's hot: Chick-fil-A has a cult following, no doubt. Its zealots showed their devotion when they had the opportunity to dress like cows to win free food. Chick-fil-A remains a favorite destination for millennials because the food is fresh...and good. 

54. Whole Foods

Mallory Schlossberg/Business Insider

Headquarters: Austin, Texas

Place on last poll:

Why it's hot: Whole Foods is known for selling fresh, organic food, and for suggesting healthy recipes to consumers. It has engaged consumers on its social networks by encouraging them to share their own food photos.

53. Ebay

Thomson Reuters

An eBay sign is seen at an office building in San Jose, California

Headquarters: San Jose, California

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Even though reselling clothes is becoming the hottest new thing in retail — and many startups are aiming to disrupt the space — eBay remains the primary place for reselling items on the Internet. eBay has also showed off its cultural colors when it suggested that artists use the hashtag #eBayArtforAll to share their own personal inspirations.  

52. Asus

REUTERS/Pichi Chuang

Asus Padfone 2 tablet

Headquarters: Taipei, Taiwan

Place on last poll: 50

Why it's hot: This Taiwanese company is a huge PC vendor. The brand is making headlines for its inexpensive Android smartphone and ZenWatch. The brand also plays on popular memes (for example, birds with arms), and has optimized its Internet friendly content, including games and videos. But as more consumers turn to Android, Asus could be challenged.

51. Taco Bell

Taco Bell Online

Headquarters: Irvine, California

Place on last poll: Taco Bell

Why it's hot: Taco Bell remains wildly popular. It's #breakfastdefects campaign helped the brand create its own unique, Internet-friendly culture surrounding its breakfast lineup. Taco Bell also rewards fans by giving away free food with occasional contests.

50. Dr. Pepper

By andreasivarsson on Flickr

Headquarters: Plano, Texas

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Dr. Pepper not only has a cult following, but it also has taken steps to lure in millennial consumers. It partnered with Spike TV's popular show, "Lip Sync Battle" to set up a lip sync booth in Times Square. Some people were selected to have their videos air on the television show. 

49. Dove

Dove

Headquarters: Rotterdam, Netherlands

Place last year: 26

Why it's hot: Dove, which is owned by Unilever, has been succeeding with its "real beauty" campaigns, which emphasizes natural looks over the typically airbrushed ads, resonate well with millennials. The brand's "Self Esteem" Snapchat campaign, in which girls could Snapchat their insecurities and receive a positive response, highlighted the brand's ethos.

48. HTC

Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

Headquarters: Xindian District, New Taipei, Taiwan

Place on last poll:

Why it's hot: HTC made its consumers stars in Times Square — the company encouraged consumers to share their most gorgeous photos for a chance to be shared on a massive billboard in the iconic New York City enclave.

47. Hershey's

Hershey's

Headquarters: Hershey, Pennsylvania

Plac last poll: 37

Why it's hot: Hershey's has dropped artificial colorings from its chocolate. "We are committed to making our products using ingredients that are simple and easy-to-understand, like fresh milk from local farms, roasted California almonds, cocoa beans and sugar – ingredients you recognize, know and trust," the company said in a news release. 

46. BMW

BMW

Headquarters: Munich, Germany

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: BMW served as an official sponsor of the United States Olympics team in 2014, and the automobile company sponsored social campaigns with incentives for consumers, like its #BMWborntoslide campaign, wherein consumers who photographed themselves sliding could a win a trip to Utah to ride in a real bobsled.

45. Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren

Headquarters: New York, New York

Place on last poll: 30

Why it's hot: Ralph Lauren's brand is available at more than 11,000 stores worldwide. The brand has become more active on social media and hired Sports Illustrated cover model Hannah Davis to model its resort collection. The brand also encouraged consumers to be a part of its "Project Warehouse" campaign last year, which Moosylvania says created an emotional connection between the brand and its consumers.

44. Kellogg's

Wikimedia Commons

Headquarters: Battle Creek, Michigan

Place on last poll: 39

Why it's hot: Cereal sales might be declining, but the company has mastered digital campaigns, which certainly appeals to millennials.

43. Coach

REUTERS/Fred Prouser

Headquarters: New York, NY

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot:  Coach's social media activity and campaigns have made the luxury brand accessible to younger shoppers who don't have as much money. But, Coach's ubiquity and accessibility have hurt the brand's reputation as a luxury retailer, so the brand has been focusing on toning down its promotions to help it become more exclusive again.

42. Honda

Newspress

Headquarters: Hamamatsu, Japan

Place on last poll: 31

Why it's hot: Honda's fuel-efficient, compact cars appeal to millennials. But most importantly, the company's YouTube campaigns for Honda Fit excited millennials. Honda has partnered with major companies such as iHeartRadio, Live Nation, and REVOLT for its YouTube channel.

41. Chevrolet

Chevrolet

Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan

Place on last poll: 23

Why it's hot: Chevy's compact, Trax SUV is a hit with urban millennials. The brand's emoji-themed campaigns also appeal to millennials, who communicate that way.

40. Best Buy

Flickr/Kevin McShane

Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Place on last poll: 28

Why it's hot: Best Buy has been successfully growing sales and revenue through its television business. Executives at Best Buy have made it clear that 4K Ultra High Definition televisions are the future of the business. Last year, the brand appealed to consumers during the holiday season by encouraging them to post what they wanted online with a #hintingseason hashtag.

39. Macy's

Kena Betancur/Getty

People enter the Macy's store at the Newport Mall on November 27, 2014 in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Headquarters: Cincinnati, Ohio

Place on last poll: 16

Why it's hot: Millennials are spending less money on clothes, which is bad news for Macy's. In order to attract younger shoppers, the brand has been investing in trendier clothing lines and other categories like home goods and cosmetics. But Macy's has been also focusing on its social campaign, like its #MacysLoveMoms. For every photo memory or tweet shared, the company donated $3 to a charity.

38. Express

Facebook/Express

Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Express rewards shoppers by not just using their store credit cards, but by getting involved with Express in other ways, too — like retweeting its tweets and singing up for its text message alerts. For every 2,500 points, shoppers earn $10. This helps Express ensure customer loyalty.

37. Aeropostale

AP

Headquarters: New York, New York

Place on last poll: 46

Why it's hot: Despite falling out of favor with the teen set, Aeropostale still maintains some loyalty with the 20-somethings who wore it in high school. The brand's status, however, is falling fast as young people increasingly move away from logos. The brand has appealed to millennials by incorporating YouTube personality Bethany Mota into its marketing and fashion plans.

36. Hewlett-Packard

Lisa Eadicicco

Headquarters: Palo Alto, California

Place on last poll: 35

Why it's hot: Young consumers love Hewlett-Packard's relatively inexpensive laptops. Still, they remained threatened by Apple's dominance in the industry.

35. Gap

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

Headquarters: San Francisco, California

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Although Gap's "Dress Normal" campaign generally misfired, it succeeded on some points. Moosylvania points to tis "Play Your Stripes" game in collaboration with Blood Orange, where people could 'play' the stripes on their clothes to create music. 

34. Frito Lay

Hollis Johnson

Headquarters: Plano, Texas

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Lay's won big with its Do Us A Flavor contest. People who shared their digitally designed flavors online were eligible to win bags of their designed chips — and some even got to have their flavors nationally produced. (Business Insider went ahead and tested some of these wacky flavors).

33. Toyota

Toyota

Headquarters: Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Toyota has teamed up with YouTube stars like Rhett & Link for campaigns, proving it knows how to cater to its audiences. Moosylvania also highlights its 2014 #CarsThatFeel campaign, which incorporated LED lights into Priuses for the 2014 Vivid Light Festival in Sydney Harbor. The cars had 'personalities' and 'feelings' and interacted with people, which is certainly intriguing.

32. McDonald's

Foodbeast

Headquarters: Oak Brook, Illinois

Place on last poll: 17

Why it's hot: The brand has been introducing more fresh ingredients and customizable burgers to compete with fast casual brands. It's #PayWithLovin campaign also appealed to millennials. 

31. H&M

Flickr/Mike Mozart

Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: H&M knows what its consumers want. Moosylvania points to the racy campaign where shoppers could choose how David Beckham would appear in one of its ads — with or without clothes (he was wearing briefs, of course!). H&M has also managed to lure many sartorially minded shoppers with its high-profile collaborations. 

30. Under Armour

Facebook/Under Armour

Headquarters: Baltimore, Maryland

Place on last poll: 45

Why it's hot: Under Armour has exploded in popularity in recent years thanks to signing famous athletes like Stephen Curry and smart marketing of its performance-wear. The brand is rapidly catching up to competitors Lululemon and Nike, especially as it incorporates more technologically-focused apparel into its lineup. 

29. Levi's

@levis on Instagram

Headquarters: San Francisco, California

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Levi's has benefited from young consumers' tendency to wear denim and casual clothing to work. But now, many millennials are abandoning denim entirely, choosing to wear athletic attire instead. To combat this problem, Levi's has been designing jeans that are stretchy and more form-fitting in nature, to put them in line with athleisure-style apparel.

28. Dell

Lisa Eadicicco

Headquarters: Round Rock, Texas

Place last poll: 15

Why it's hot: Dell is another company benefiting from millennials' reliance on technology. The company's laptop and desktop computers are especially popular with the young set. But most crucially, Moosylvania explains that Dell really appealed to millennials by sending YouTube celebrities Smosh on a road trip, chronicling it all with a Dell Venue 8 Tablet.

27. Vans

Flickr/_Nicole90_

Headquarters: Cypress, California

Place on last poll: 25

Why it's hot: Vans started out selling skater shoes, but has since gone mainstream. The company has benefited from athletic footwear becoming more fashionable than dress shoes.

26. Hollister

Mike Mozart/Flickr

Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Hollister signifies a beachy lifestyle. The company owned that attitude by renting a beach house in California in summer 2014, tapping top artists to perform. The brand had stylists give consumers advice online, too. The brand proved that it was in touch with its consumers favorite celebrities while also engaging in a conversation with its shoppers.

25. Victoria's Secret

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio

Place on last poll: 38

Why it's hot: Victoria's Secret is the undisputed leader of the lingerie market, controlling 35% of share. The company's marketing strategy, which includes its famous Angels, is seen as one of the best in the business. 

24. Kohl's

hattiesburgmemory/Flickr

Headquarters: Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Kohl's rewards program ensures customer loyalty without needing a store credit card. In fact, customers can earn points by doing the simplest activity such as pinning images on Pinterest. Kohl's lower prices can also lure millennials.

22. Hot Topic

flickr / camknows

Headquarters: Industry, California

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Hot Topic is more than just a destination for clothing for millennials — it's become an entire lifestyle, with its focus on the music industry and pop culture. The store even sponsors shows. 

23. Old Navy

AP Photo/Ed Betz

Shoppers wait in line to pay at an Old Navy store in Deer Park, N.Y.

Headquarters: San Francisco

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Old Navy's digital campaigns have been massive hits — Moosylvania points to its 2014 Christmastime Vine campaign, but the company's "#Unlimited" viral video, which has over 12 million views on YouTube. The company has also delivered quirky spots starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Old Navy understands how to market content to the Internet generation.

21. Disney

Jennie Park Photography/Flickr

Headquarters: Burbank, California

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: Moosylvania points out Disney's unique campaign "Disney Side," wherein shoppers would walk by a billboard a the Westfield Sunrise Center in Massapequa and see iconic Disney characters. This was a huge social media hit.

20. LG Corporation

REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino

A model holds a curved G Flex smartphone by LG Electronics during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona February 24, 2014.

Headquarters: Busan, South Korea

Place on last poll: 48

Why it's hot: LG's funny #MomConfessions campaign proved the LG knew how to cater to millennials — through humor and social media.

19. Ford

REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

The new Ford Vignale is presented during a media preview day at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) September 10, 2013.

Headquarters: Dearborn, Michigan

Place on last poll: 19

Why it's hot: Ford is repositioning its brand to seem more luxury and compete with auto-makers like BMW and Mercedes with the launch of the new Vignale brand. The new line of compact sedans could resonate with millennials, who prefer smaller cars then their parents'. Ford has also embraced social media with Instagram contests.

18. Converse

Converse on Facebook

Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts

Place on last poll: 20

Why it's hot: Converse has seen sales boom as more millennials wear sneakers to work and other occasions. Athletic apparel and footwear is set to outperform the industry for the next five years, according to Morgan Stanley. Converse's "Made By You" campaign allowed consumers to show off their unique attributes and lives — using Converse as a vehicle for it all.

17. American Eagle

American Eagle on Facebook

Headquarters: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Place on last poll: N/A

Why it's hot: American Eagle has managed to avoid the fate of many of its competitors by not falling victim to the low sale prices utilized by many fast fashion stalwarts. Most crucially, American Eagle has won the heart of millennial females with Aerie, its lingerie subset, which proudly boasts Photoshop-free ads. Since nixing Photoshop, sales have soared.

16. Starbucks

Flickr/bargainmoose

Headquarters: Seattle, Washington

Place on last poll: 22

Why it's hot: Starbucks has been expanding its menu to include more food options such as sandwiches and salads — and even wine at some locations. It has also added drive-thrus to many locations. Additionally, it allows consumers to have a say in its products — like when it had consumers vote on new frappuccino flavors in the summer, granting the winning beverage a lower price, Moosylvania notes.

15. Pepsi

Thomson Reuters

Cases of Pepsi are displayed for sale in Carlsbad

Headquarters: Purchase, New York

Place on last poll: 10

Why it's hot: PepsiCo has introduced a beverage sweetened with natural sweetener Stevia called Pepsi True. The company says the new product "will continue to provide consumers with the crisp, refreshing zero-calorie cola taste they expect from Pepsi." It also removed artificial ingredient aspartame from Diet Pepsi. The brand's 2014 YouTube hit, "Unbelievable," was a smash with viewers, garnering over 7 million hits.

14. Jordan

Flickr/neilp17

Headquarters: Beaverton, Oregon 

Place on last poll: 9

Why it's hot: Many of Nike's Jordan brand sneakers are prominent on the billion-dollar reselling market.  A growing culture of so-called sneakerheads buy collectible footwear on eBay, Craigslist, and other sites. Jordan's "We Are Jordan" campaign had an interactive element, too.

13. Adidas

XMODE/Adidas centaur

Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany

Place on last poll: 14

Why it's hot: Adidas is going to start offering customized shoes to appeal to millennials. It also is working to reduce the time between when products are designed and when they hit shelves. Still, the brand continues to lose market share to Nike. 

12. Forever 21

REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Women shop for clothes in clothing retail store Forever 21 in New York.

Headquarters: Los Angeles, California

Place on last poll: 36

Why it's hot: Forever 21 offers fast fashion at unbeatable prices and has expanded tremendously in two decades. 

10. Coca-Cola

Donald Bowers/Getty Images

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

Place on last poll: 8

Why it's hot: Coca-Cola remains the clear leader in the soda market. The brand also scored high points for its "Share a Coke" campaign, which featured common names on Coke bottles. Now, with its "Tweet a Coke" campaign, people can send Cokes to others. Still, Coca-Cola's partnership with Keurig for the Keurig Kold failed to resonate with consumers.

11. Nintendo

YouTube/cobanermani456

Headquarters: Kyoto, Japan

Place on last poll: 13

Why it's hot: Many millennials feel nostalgic toward Nintendo because they played its games as kids. This has led to brand loyalty in adulthood. 2015 was also the 30th anniversary of Super Mario, and the brand encouraged users to participate in a campaign called "Let's Super Mario," allowing users to submit their own Mario-related content — all of which would be shared on a site where many could see it.

9. Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart

Headquarters: Bentonville, Arkansas

Place on last poll: 5

Why it's hot: Wal-Mart gave its workers a raise this year and has pledged to adopt more humane standards for the meat it sells. It also opened smaller format stores that resonate with millennials more than supercenters. Its "Neighborhood Market" grocery concepts could rival those of Whole Foods, and its app helps consumers find savings throughout the store.

8. Google

AP

Headquarters: Menlo Park, California

Place on last poll: 12

Why it's hot: Google's smartphone apps have become essential for many millennials. Its Gmail program is also extremely popular. Google continues to find ways to be a part of users' everyday lives.

7. Amazon

REUTERS/Phil Noble

Headquarters: Seattle, Washington

Place on last poll: 11

Why it's hot: This year, the company started offering one-hour delivery for members of its Prime service and expanded its grocery delivery business to New York City. The company also announced a new gadget called the Dash Button, which will make it easier for consumers to order household items, such as detergent, when they are running low. Amazon has also connected with Twitter. 

6. Target

Associated Press

A Target employee hands bags to a customer at the register at a Target store in Colma, Calif.

Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Place on last poll: 6

Why it's hot: Target invented the idea of "cheap chic" two decades ago. Today, the company is revamping its grocery selections for millennials. Target has also worked to cement itself as the premiere destination for back-to-school college goods. 

5. Microsoft

Microsoft

Nick Parker, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s OEM Division, and Felicia Guity, general manager in Microsoft’s OEM Division

Headquarters: Redmond, Washington

Place on last poll: 7

Why it's hot: Cloud computing, mobile apps, and holographic computing are driving Microsoft to record profits. The brand recently did a demo showing how personal computers could become holographic. Its Microsoft Band even features Uber and Facebook apps — two very popular apps. Microsoft has also been using LinkedIn to comunicate with its consumers. 

4. Sony

REUTERS/Toru Hanai

Sony Mobile Communications Inc President and CEO Hiroki Totoki poses with Sony's new Xperia Z4 smartphone after a news conference in Tokyo April 20, 2015.

Headquarters: Minato, Tokyo

Place last poll: 4

Why it's hot: Sony's Playstation, gaming, photo, and music businesses are booming. Sony is aggressively investing in these areas. The company also has popular smartphones. Sony also utilized a concept called One Stadium Live for the 2014 World Cup, creating a single platform for all World Cup-related social media.

3. Samsung

Flickr/Kārlis Dambrāns

Headquarters: San Jose, California

Place last poll: 3

Why it's hot: Samsung's Galaxy phones and tablets are extremely popular with millennials. The brand's latest Galaxy S6 smartphone received rave reviews. 

2. Nike

Nike on Instagram

Headquarters: Beaverton, Oregon

Place on last poll: 1

Why it's hot: When it comes to active wear — and apparel in general — Nike is the go-to brand. Data also shows that millennials believe exercise is essential for health, while their parents only focused on their diets. Nike has focused on incorporating top-tier technology into its clothing. 

1. Apple

Business Insider / Matt Johnston

Headquarters: Cupertino, California 

Place on last poll: 2

Why it's hot: Apple has a fanatical following, and many of its customers are millennials. The company's iPhones, iPads, and Macbooks are wildly popular. This year, Apple made headlines with its new watch. 

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