Nostalgia

People love to think back on fonder times in their lives. This is why nostalgia is such an effective strategy used in advertising. Advertising can remind us of our childhood through products that we associate with memories from the past or it can tug on your nostalgia strings by depicting how the product has changed over time just as you have changed over time as well. The latter strategy creates an even stronger connection between the consumer and the product because it is something that has always been there for us and has been changing along with us.

My dad is a dedicated Coca Cola drinker; he refuses to drink Pepsi unless Coca Cola isn't offered. He buys the glass bottles in bulk from Costco and I like to think this is more than just because of the natural sugar vs. high fructose sugar debate.

There is a Japanese drink called Ramune and whenever I drink one he MUST tell us his "When I was a kid..." stories. The marble concept is still the same, but they changed the spout from metal to plastic. This drink in particular serves as nostalgia for my dad because it brings him back to those summer days when he would go to Japan and drink Ramune with his cousins after a hot day of catching insects.

Something as simple as a fizzy beverage can serve as so much more than just a thirst quencher. It can bring back those fond memories that you might otherwise have forgotten.