Everything old is new again

Are there no new ideas anymore? Everywhere you look, the past is resurfacing. Bands going on reunion tours, athletes coming out of retirement, racks of clothing straight out of the 70’s in stores. Seems like the only organization that doesn’t get “do-overs” is a marketing agency.

Hollywood is one of the biggest offenders of re-using ideas. “A Star is Born”, the smash hit currently in theaters is on its third iteration. On TV, we’ve been treated to numerous resurgences including Will & Grace, Murphy Brown, Roseanne (The Connors) and Hawaii Five-0 –most with original cast members. And, look for 92-year-old Dick Van Dyke to make a cameo appearance in “Mary Poppins Returns” this holiday.

In the magical world of books, I’m wondering how many editions Harry Potter can pull out of his hat. We’ve got the first editions, the illustrated versions and now the 20^th anniversary editions. Unless there’s a transformation spell on the words within, I just need the original.

Boo Berry, Franken Berry and Count Chocula made their annual return to the grocery aisles this year. Next up – those deliciously fake Planters Cheez balls in a can coming soon to a store near you. Stock up on the napkins.

On the retail side, does it seem like Herbergers and Toys ‘R Us just closed? In fact, they did. But they’re already on their way back. Herbergers posted “We’ve got great news. We’re coming back” on their website even as their final stores were closing. And cry no more for Geoffrey the Giraffe, Toys ‘R Us is coming back from the dead just months after it dearly departed.

What about you? Marketing is changing at the speed of light and there isn’t typically any nostalgia around outdated or overused ideas. Are you tired of saying and doing the same things in your marketing job? A primary reason ideas are overused is limited time or resources to generate and refine them. If you need new ideas, give d.trio a call. We can bring fresh, innovative marketing solutions to help your business grow or evolve. Go ahead – give something new a try! You’ll be glad you did.