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It costs $7,000 a gallon and it’s less useful than water!

Updated February 2026

By Jim Connolly | February 21, 2026

marketing, story telling, jim connolly, 2026

Photo by Daniel Schludi

People buy stories. When you figure this out and put it into action for your business, you can make a fortune. Here’s an example you already know about.

This product costs $7,000 for 1 gallon. It sells all day, every day. And literally no one needs it. It’s less useful than water! Unlike water, this liquid isn’t life-preserving–you can’t drink it. It isn’t life-giving either–so you can’t water crops with it.

Have you guessed what it is yet? The liquid I’m referring to here is Chanel No.5 perfume. So, why does a pleasant smelling liquid sell for such a huge price?

People buy stories

Chanel has successfully built a story around their perfume. It’s a story about style, opulence, beauty and sensuality. It’s nothing whatsoever to do with fragrant smelling liquid. It’s all about the feelings associated with the Chanel No. 5 story.

How the story works for Chanel’s marketing.

  • When we buy Chanel No. 5 for someone, they know they’re receiving an expensive, classy gift. They then connect us with the feelings they associate with the Chanel No. 5 brand. Beautiful people. Stylish locations. Wealth.
  • When we buy Chanel No. 5 for ourselves, the story we’re telling ourselves is that we’re now connected to the aspirational lifestyle embodied by the Chanel No. 5 brand. Beautiful people. Stylish locations. Wealth.

People buy the Chanel No.5 story. They have no need for the actual liquid. But the story behind the brand makes them want it.

The story behind your brand

If you’re like the vast majority of small business owners, you won’t have a compelling story to motivate people to want to hire you specifically or buy from you specifically.

So, ask yourself: why should someone buy from you? Then get to work on building your story.

Because make no mistake, your ability to answer that question with a compelling story, could be the difference between you making a living… and making an absolute fortune.

IMPORTANT: If you want to make more sales, boost your profits and grow an amazing business, this will help you!

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Jim Connolly

Hi! I'm Jim Connolly and I use creative marketing to help small business owners increase sales, boost profits and build amazing businesses. Read more here.

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