RETRO Obsession

A few years ago, I visited Las Vegas with my teenage daughter to celebrate her acceptance into college. Being a teenager, she has a pretty typical sweet tooth.

So when we passed by a store called I Love Sugar...we just had to go in.

There was candy as far as the eye could see -- bulk candy, boxed candy, chocolate candy, gummy candy and more.

But the one section that caught my 50+ year-old eyes was one called “I Love Retro Candy”.

Seems like retro is everywhere these days…

In fact, we offered our clients a chance to order a “Retro Favorites” merch box filled with old school classic samples for their next branded merch program.

The response was overwhelming!

Why do we Americans love all things retro?

There’s just something so sentimental about the good ol’ days.

I think we are attracted to retro because the products offer an escape, like watching old movies (I’ve seen Ferris Bueller more times than I’d care to admit!)

It’s no secret that we’re in an intensely nostalgic place these pandemic days.

Our songwriters, our video game designers, our barbers, tailors, chefs and bartenders (and even politicians) all seem to be fixated on a golden age of American life that likely never existed but that nevertheless holds a mythic power over our imaginations.

Why do YOU think Americans are so obsessed with all things retro?