As innovation continues to push boundaries, businesses are tapping into the opposite – nostalgia. Nostalgia evokes powerful emotions, reminding people of their childhoods, college days, or times with friends/family.
Therefore, major brands are incorporating classic and retro marketing campaigns. Because consumers love the past, we delve deeper into which industries are incorporating nostalgia into their marketing strategies.
Fashion
As fashion trends change regularly, it’s no surprise that big fashion houses are bringing back retro designs. Take the German sportswear company Adidas, which has released a variety of retro-inspired soccer jerseys for teams like Germany, Colombia, and Argentina.
In soccer, it’s not only the jerseys that are taking a trip back in time. Everything else the players wear, including hats, hoodies, and tracksuits, has that nostalgic feel. This means the apparel has become fashionable, where customers can wear it on a night out rather than just to a soccer match.
Popular trends from 30+ years ago are starting to come back. For instance, baggy jeans and t-shirts are all the rage. This is in part due to celebrities bringing back vintage looks, working closely with the most famous fashion houses like Balenciaga and Coach.
One area of fashion that has used nostalgia to increase sales is sneakers. Many old designs, including Nike Air Maxes, Converse All Stars, and Vans, are back in fashion. In addition, with limited edition sneakers, some of the most sought-after ones sell for thousands of dollars.
Gaming
In gaming, huge companies such as Nintendo are using nostalgia to boost sales. For instance, the company released the classic controllers for the NES on the Switch. These appeal to older players who are familiar with the classic design from when they played games as kids.
Similarly, many casino games are based on classic themes. Games such as the one-armed bandit prove popular as they remind players of a bygone era. Playing free classic slots has never been easier, with hundreds of options developed by top-notch companies like Pragmatic Play, Playtech, and IGT.
As video games move towards a subscription service, it’s no surprise that Xbox and PlayStation offer retro games as part of the monthly fee. These range from Crash Bandicoot and Halo to Duke Nukem and Fable. All are available to download with a monthly subscription and transport us back to our childhoods when we played these games with our friends.
Finally, as nostalgic games are common in the industry, companies also sell relevant merchandise to increase their revenue. Consumers can buy everything from t-shirts to mugs, all with their favorite gaming characters.
Music
In the music industry, we’ve seen vinyl record sales hit a 20-year high as consumers are turning to nostalgia. Many of the best-selling records are from old-school artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Oasis, and The Cure.
The idea of owning something physical appeals to many music lovers. Spotify and other streaming platforms continue to grow, but the yearning for something tangible in music still remains in place.
Nevertheless, streaming platforms and radios also offer nostalgic playlists to keep consumers happy and allow them to reminisce about old times. Many radio stations offer songs from particular decades, such as the 1970s, 1980s, or 1990s.
Lastly, artists are using samples from old songs to keep things interesting while at the same time taking advantage of great beats. This not only appeals to older listeners but also introduces younger people to the sounds of the past.
TV/Movies
It’s fair to say that TV shows and movies made decades ago will never be made again. This is because of the change of attitudes, especially towards comedy, where things that were acceptable then aren’t today.
However, the demand for nostalgic movies and TV series continues to grow. Classic TV shows such as Friends still remain one of the most popular streamed series on platforms such as Netflix.
In recent times, we’ve also seen many classic movies given a sequel, including Happy Gilmore, Coming to America, and Gladiator. Consumers love the classic characters in the franchise, so it’s no surprise that production companies are giving them what they want.
Moreover, many TV series made today are set in the past, including The Goldbergs, Stranger Things, and F is for Family. This can be due to various reasons, such as the writer drawing from personal experiences or deliberately excluding modern technology from the storyline.
Lastly, revivals and reunions can be popular as fans want to see the gang back together on screen again. Many of the most popular TV series and movies have produced reunions like American Pie and Friends.
