The term retro refers to experiences, objects, or memories that illicit nostalgia and bring people back to a time in life that has particular meaning for them. Retro marketing can be a highly effective way to attract and excite customers and give your business an edge.

Every generation relates to iconic moments, music, objects, and people they enjoyed at pivotal times in their lives. Tapping into their emotions and offering them a blast from the past is a great way to engage them and earn their business. Here are some fun ways to introduce retro marketing into your business:

Use storytelling in your advertising

Storytelling is an excellent way to evoke memories or trigger nostalgia. Tying a story to a collective memory and relating it to your goods and services is an easy way for people to connect the dots between something they loved as a child that you offer today.

For example, a local hot dog shop offers a ‘dreamsicle’ drink. The orange and vanilla soda is reminiscent of an old-school ice cream called the 50/50 bar. This nostalgic take on a modern beverage takes people back to their childhood and is a fan favorite on the menu.

Use imagery, color, and fonts in advertising

Subliminally, our brains are attracted to nostalgic imagery. Creating branding and marketing material with retro colors, images, and fonts can take viewers back to a specific time in history giving them happy feelings and creating interest in your business.

For example, vintage t-shirts with band or business logos on them are a timeless way for people to feel connected to their past. Brands like Burger King have recently retro branded back to their earlier branding making them more popular than ever, especially with an aging customer who recalls the specific time of their youth.

Package something new in an old-school way

It’s possible to connect the dots between something iconic with something totally new and innovative. Your packaging can be reminiscent of something timeless or nostalgic while offering something brand new.

For example, Nike is offering retro styled sneakers. The lightweight shoes look like their iconic forefathers, but have all the comfort and features of today’s technology.

Showcase a blast from the past

Choose an icon to represent your goods and services. Use social media to tie your marketing to a song or an image that triggers fond memories from the past.

For example, creating reels on Instagram is an excellent way to tie a visual story with an iconic song. Done well, the viewer will be taken back to a nostalgic time in their lives and see feel a connection to your goods and services in relationship to the song and their memories.